Brussels, 06/04/2009 (Agence Europe) - Romania's three biggest political parties announced on 30 March 2009 that they have decided on the people who will be on their electoral lists for the June 2009 European elections. Three are three big surprises: 1) Monica Macovei - the former justice minister whose work on judicial reform and tackling corruption has been recognised in Brussels - is second on the Liberal Democratic Party list (PDL), just after the premier-vice-president, Theodor Stolojan. Third on the PDL list is Cristian Preda (currently an advisor to the President of Romania), with journalist Traian Unguranu and current MEP Marian Jean Marinescu fourth and fifth. The PDL is currently in power and is closely connected with the President, Traian Bãsescu. It is hoping to field 15 of the 33 Romanian MEPs at the European Parliament; 2) outgoing parliamentarian and former finance minister Daniel Daianu is not on the National Liberal Party (PNL) list. The PNL's new president is Crin Antonescu, who hopes the party will win 7 or 7 seats at the EP. PNL vice-president Norica Nicolai, is first on the PNL list, ahead of current MEPs Adina Valean, Ramona Manescu,Cristian Busoi and Renate Weber; 3) The biggest surprise is the announcement by the Social Democratic Party (PSD) that Lavinia ªandru has left the PDL to join the PSD. This move has been soundly criticised by socialists, including the former Romanian president, Ion Iliescu. Other famous names on the PSD list include Adrian Severin, Rovana Plumb, Adriana Ticau and Daciana Sarbu.
The NGO Qvorum-Institut européen pour la démocratie participative recently published a league table of the work of Romanian MEPs in 2009-2009, ranging from 'poor' to 'excellent'. Using both qualitative and quantitative information, the league table coves activity reports (provided by the MEPs on a voluntary basis), the content of websites and blogs and attendance levels in plenary and on EP committees. The MEPs' relationship with citizens is also assessed, along with the degree to which their work is transparent, representative and relevant to the EP's business. The aim of this type of league table, explains Qvorum, is not only to measure how MEPs are helping encourage participatory democracy, but also to give people more confidence in the European Parliament by enabling them to make an informed choice in the June 2009 European elections. Six MEPs come top of the league, namely Marinescu, Severin, Daianu, Popa, Ticau and Valean. Bottom of the list are Lazlo Tokes and Csaba Sogor. The full league table can be found (in Romanian) at: http: //http://www.qvorum.ro/ (Y.P. trans fl)