Representatives of the opposition National Liberal Party (PNL) have been negotiating since early August with second-tier leaders of the governing Democratic Liberals (PDL) a possible accession to government, sources close to the talks told HotNews.ro. A first term of the Liberals would be the exclusion of heavyweight PDL ministers such as Radu Berceanu, Adriean Videanu and Vasile Blaga from the government, according to the sources. For their part, the PDL negotiators demanded proof of loyalty from the Liberals. PNL senators voted on Tuesday a series key bills pushed by the parties supporting PDL leader Emil Boc's government.

The bills were a new law regulating the National Agency for Integrity (ANI), a series of laws on low-level justice reform and a significant change to the law on the functioning of the Constitutional Court. Without the vote of the Liberals, these bills would not have passed the Senate.

Negotiations are said to be ongoing, but PDL representatives seem skeptical about their conclusion with a PNL accession to government. Some claim these are pseudo-negotiations by which PDL are allegedly looking to devide PDL and create the necessary circumstances to suspend president Traian Basescu. Officially, the Liberals are denying holding negotiations with PDL.

According to information obtained by HotNews.ro, the talks appear to have been attended by top PNL leaders Crin Antonescu and Radu Rusanu. PDL was allegedly represented by MPs and leaders from across the country. The talks appear to have started in early August, after Social Democratic (PSD, main opposition group) leader Victor Ponta and PNL leader Antonescu had a tough exchange of words and the PSD even accused PNL of being interested of joining the PDL-run government.

PDL sources told HotNews.ro that talks took place with the Liberals for an alliance starting