Looks like Dick Morris has just entwined himself deeper into Romanian politics.
If you're interested, read below.
My translation of
this article follows. All errors are mine.
PUR joins forces with Dick Morris
Effective yesterday, the American strategist Dick Morris is now the campaign manager for the PUR party for their candidates running for local and national elections.
The President of the PUR, Dan Voiculescu, announced yesterday that the PUR had signed a contract with the consultant Dick Morris to help out their local and national election bids. The PUR leader refused to disclose the amount of money in Morris' contract, emphasizing that this is only important to Morris, not to the voters. The American strategist addressed this by smiling and saying "I'm very pleased".
Previously having worked with both Clinton and Boris Yeltsin, Morris said that the PUR party will finish in the top three. "I believe that the scientists and engineers will vote for PNL but everybody else will vote for PUR. All the economists will vote for PUR as well as young people" stated the American strategist, detailing that "people in Romania want something besides the bad government now and the bad governments of the past".
Lia Robert's Campaign Manager
The American strategist also clarified that he will continue to work for Lia Roberts' campaign for President and denied that he has been negotiating with PD leader Traian Basescu. According to Morris there is no conflict of interest between his two employers. "Lia Roberts does not have any candidates for the local and national elections and the PUR does not have a president candidate. Thus, both are working to bring about a chance in Romania" he said.
The PUR has not yet made a formal decision whether to field their own presidential candidate or to support Lia Roberts. "The decision will be made after local elections" said Dan Voiculescu.
Couple of notes. What I have translated as "national elections" is actually nationwide elections for parliamentary positions. It's akin to the American House of Representatives. The "local elections" are akin to American statewide elections.
I have written other Diaries on these subjects: here, here and here.
The PUR website has further comments from Dick Morris:
Dick Morris says it will be easy to work with the PUR party, "The PUR is a new party. Here in Romania when we speak of something new we are not speaking of a certain "age" but rather about an attitude. We are talking about people who want their country to be part of Europe, about people who understand the current difficulties but don't want to return to the past. The PUR has found people who are brave and determined to work for change in Romania. I am happy to be working for them and I think you will be surprised by the percentage of votes the PUR will win in the next elections. Because the moment has come that the people must choose what is best for them. Romanians want a change from the bad government of 1996 and the bad government of 2000. I am a campaign strategist. People who want Romania to have a chance will vote for PUR" added Morris.
I realize here I should add that PUR is the "Romanian Humanist Party" and the PNL is the "National Liberal Party". Also:
From 1990-1996, Ion Iliescu and company, all former Communists, ran the government.
From 1996-2000, Constantinescu was the President
From 2000-present, Iliescu and company back in power
Pace
-Soj