Romanian opposition tries to cash in on protests

The Romanian opposition alliance USL, comprising social democrats (PSD), liberals (PNL) and conservatives (PC) is trying to capitalise on the ongoing protests and has announced a march to the Palace of the Parliament in Bucharest for today, Thursday. The daily Adevărul writes that the opposition is overestimating its sway with the public: "The people are not chanting 'Down with Băsescu, up with the USL!' ... On the contrary, until now the protesters have hesitated to align themselves with any political group. The major risk of the USL march is that it could meet with the disapproval of the demonstrators. Manifestos critical of the entire system are circulating even now. Some are laying the blame for the situation on the entire political system. In times of protest it's difficult to explain that it's not democracy that's to blame, but the incomplete development of democracy in Romania and above all abuses of it that are passed off as democracy. ... The power of the [liberal democratic governing party] PDL is crumbling. But that doesn't automatically mean people are going to roll out the red carpet for the PSD and the PNL so that they can move victoriously into parliament."

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