Prime Minister-designate Adrian Vestea said on Saturday that the National Liberal Party's history and identity are being 'trashed', arguing that through the congress convened by party Chairman Ilie Bolojan, the 'true' liberals are being pushed out of the party leadership.

'Sadly and predictably, the Congress convened for Sunday, June 21, by PNL Chairman Ilie Bolojan, in fact means the elimination of all true liberals from the leadership of our political formation. Practically, the entire history and identity of the party are being trashed,' Vestea wrote on Facebook.

He also noted that in the new leadership being shaped, only one locally elected official - Resita mayor Ioan Popa - would remain, calling it 'unacceptable that almost all the people in the party leadership who were validated at the ballot box, who brought votes for PNL, are being sidelined in favour of outsiders and opportunists.'

On the other hand, Vestea remarked, 'two persons who literally joined the party yesterday (...) become part of the smallest leadership structure in the party's recent history,' referring here to the new PNL entrants Oana Gheorghiu and Dragos Pislaru.

'No wonder that, most likely very soon, if nothing changes, PNL will become USR's keychain, both literally and figuratively,' Vestea predicted.

In his view, long-standing liberals 'no longer find a place' and are 'treated with contempt'.

He warned that 'out of Mr Bolojan's desire to become president of the country in 2030, if the PNL remains under this ill-fated star, the party will be turned into a mace meant to shatter trust in Romania's state institutions. This process is already visible through the unleashed and unjustified attacks against the President, against the judiciary, against Parliament and, in general, against anyone who dares to disagree with Mr Bolojan.'

Vestea also told his liberal colleagues who feel disappointed that 'the PNL has gone through tougher battles and emerged victorious', adding that he hopes a government he is prepared to lead 'responsibly, in the spirit of the values this party has defended for more than 150 years' will be formed as soon as possible.

This Cabinet - he wrote - would include more liberals than the Bolojan government or 'the new leadership now taking shape' within PNL.

'I am optimistic that once the new Government is installed, many of the wrongs of recent times will be corrected. As I said, the priority now is governing Romania, and after achieving this objective, we can discuss at length what is happening inside the PNL,' Vestea concluded.

PNL Chairman Ilie Bolojan submitted on Saturday his candidacy for a new term as party leader, to be validated at Sunday's Extraordinary Congress. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Marinela Brumar; EN - writing by: Simona Klodnischi)