PSD's Ciolacu announces withdrawal from presidential race regardless of vote recount result

Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu announced on Thursday that he will withdraw from the race for the Presidency of Romania even if, following the recount of votes, it is proven that he was disadvantaged, stressing that he is not interested in the second place.Ciolacu added that it must be clearly known whether the vote was tampered with, "more directly, if it was stolen," and he recommended that the Central Electoral Bureau urgently allow the accreditation of all civic associations to participate as independent observers in the vote recount process."How manipulation works: 1. If the PSD wins, it means they want all the power; 2. If the PSD loses, they behave with dignity and don't make a circus like others with all kinds of complaints, it means 'they know something'; 3. If an MEP elected on the AUR lists contests at the CCR and the CCR makes a unanimous decision to recount the votes, it means it was put forward by PSD, who wants to steal; 4. If the USR rummages through the ballot bags or keeps people on the street in 40-degree heat because they want a recount, it is called a DEMOCRATIC initiative!," Ciolacu wrote Thursday evening on Facebook.He highlighted that Romanians have the right to know the truth and that people of good faith are fed up with "nonsense propaganda.""I, and all the good people in this country, are fed up with this nonsense propaganda! Do you know anything?! Romanians have the right to know the truth! The whole truth! We must know clearly if the vote was tampered with. More directly: if it was STOLEN! For this, I recommend that the Central Electoral Bureau urgently allow the accreditation of all civic associations, especially those who have already been present in election offices and have experience in elections, who want to participate as independent observers in the recount of votes from the presidential elections. And if someone stole, they should answer to the Romanian people!" said the Social Democrat.Marcel Ciolacu pointed out that the truth is more important than his candidacy for the Presidency."And to calm down the propaganda: if it is proven after the recount that I was disadvantaged, I inform you that I will withdraw from the race for the Presidency of Romania. I don't want second place! I don't care. I just want the Romanians to know the truth, which is more important than my candidacy. And then the Romanians will know how to punish those who stole, faster than the institutions will do it! And to my colleagues and all honest and hardworking Romanians, I say this: the most important battle is on December 1! First place in the parliamentary elections means that the future government will have an PSD prime minister! This means the continuation of the projects started and the development of this country! For the future of Romania - LET'S FIGHT!," concluded Ciolacu.The Constitutional Court of Romania requested on Thursday that the Central Electoral Bureau recount the valid and invalid votes from the first round of the presidential elections.According to a statement from the CCR, the Plenary of the Constitutional Court examined the request for the annulment of the presidential election held on November 24, 2024, formulated by Cristian Vasile Terhes, and with unanimous votes, it ordered the reverification and recounting of all the ballots containing valid votes and invalid votes for the position of President of Romania.