ROMANIA'S PRESIDENT ILIESCU RIDING OUT OPPOSITION ATTACKS

• Document Type: FOIA
• Keywords: EASTERN EUROPE
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005657430
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: June 24, 2015
• Document Release Date: July 14, 2011
• Case Number: F-2011-01070
• Publication Date: July 8, 1994

Intelligence.Report
1. President Ion Iliescu presides over a loose and increasingly fragile
parliamentary coalition composed of the former Communist Party of Social
Democracy in Romania (PDSR) and several small ultranationalist and communist
parties. The refomust opposition parties, led by Emil Cons[antinescu's Democratic
Convention of Romania (CDR), recently intensified their campaign against the
government of Prime Minister Nicolae Vacaroiu, straining his already weak
mandate and forcing Iliescu and Vacazoiu to rely more heavily on the pro-
government, ultra-nationalis[ parties, according to press reports.
? CDR Chairman Constantinescu and Corneliu Coposu, chairman of the
National Peasant Party-Christian Democratic (PNT-CD)-the largest single
constituent CDR member party, have launched several no-confidence motions
against Vacaroiu, accusing him of tolerating corruption and failing to make
progress on reform.
? Opposition leaders have also recently orchestrated an impeachment motion
against Iliescu for allegedly interfering with the independence of the judicial
system. The motion was defeated, but the effort to impeach the President
reflects increasing opposition boldness.
? Vacaroiu's coalition partners are wavering in their commitment to his
government as opposition attacks increase; the Democratic Agrazian Party of
Romania (PDAR) supported the no-confidence motion against Vacazoiu,
while the Socialist Workers' Party (PSM) abstained. Press sources indicate
that Iliescu promised concessions to the extreme nationalist National Unity
Party of Romania (PUNK) to retain its support.)
Intra-Party Conflicts
2. Strong interpersonal rivaL-ies among party leaders dominate Romanian
internal patty politics and have undermined the ability of both govemment and
opposition leaders to maintain stable coalitions. Internal strains have also weakened
art disci line in voting on key political and economic reform issues, according to
Press reports.
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 ? Iliescu, along with PDSR Executive Chairman Adrian Nastase and
Honorary Chairman Oliviu Gherman, favors a moderate but more rapid
pace of economic reform, according to press His
efforts to implement reforms have been stymied by prominent PDSR
hazdliners, including Senators Ion Solcanu and Vasile Vacaru, who reflect
the PDSR rank and file's wariness about economic reforms; the hardliners are
concerned that reforms would erode the wealth they gained through their
control of state and party bureaucracies under former dictator Nicolae
Ceausescu. To maintain his pazliamentary majority, Iliescu has also scaled
back his efforts in deferrence to his anti-reform nationalist and communist
panners, according to press
? Strong differences between the uncompromising, anticommunist Coposu and
moderate Civic Alliance Party leader Nicolae 111anolescu divide the CDR.
Manolescu is willing to work with other opposition
orces an re ormtst eaders in the PDSR, while Coposu refuses to cooperate
with the PDSR or with Petre Roman's Democratic Part -National Salvation
Front, Romania's second-lazgest opposition party.
Foreign_Policy Consensus
3. In contrast to his domestic reform efforts, Iliescu has faced little opposition
to his pro-West foreign policy. Top PDSR and opposition leaders alike see Romania
as an island of stability in the Balkans and support increased contacts with the
West-including participation in the Partnership for Peace program and eventual
they lack influence over his foreign policy decisionmaking.0 ..
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ecret