Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta, the head of the Social Democrat Party (PSD), said he will support the Social Liberal Union (USL) co-leader Crin Antonescu for the presidential seat in 2014, but he does not rule out running himself in 2024. “I would not be a politician if I said no, never. But there is a long way to go. On the other hand, in 2024 I will be 52. In my opinion, a country's president must be over 50,” said Ponta on TV, when asked whether he will run for the 2019 or 2024 presidential elections. By law, any citizen above 35 can run for presidential elections in Romania.

Victor Ponta has been the leader of the PSD since February 2010, and PM since May 2012, when the previous Government was overthrown. He was named for a second mandate in December 2012, after the USL won the general elections. Ponta, now 41, has been an MP since 2004, as well as state secretary in the Government between 2001 and 2004. He is a prosecutor specializing in economic and financial crime.

editor@romania-insider.com

(photo source: Victor Ponta's facebook page)