The "zero degree" meeting, as Pop called it allegedly took place on February 10.
Former minister Liviu Pop argues that during the meeting they allegedly talked about the bribery case file Uioreanu was charged in.
"We have clear indications that President Basescu had a zero degree meeting on February 10 this year with Mr. Antonescu whereby the leader of the Liberals was informed that there were bribery incriminating evidence and records relating to the Cluj County Council president, Horia Uioreanu. There was only one goal to it, it seems that Basescu asked Antonescu to withdraw from the presidential elections, advancing the option of Ponta - President, Antonescu – premier, a scenario emerging from Basescu's statements the next day. (. ..)
Mr. Antonescu, is it true that you were requested to withdraw from the presidential elections in exchange for an united right wing under Basescu’s leadership? Mr. Basescu, do you acknowledge that you have provided protection to Antonescu in this case? ", the press release signed by Liviu Pop reads.
The Social Democrat added Monday in a telephone intervention on Antena 3, that he had his information from presidential sources.
"The information comes from the Presidential Administration area, I could not have had them from elsewhere", Pop argues.
Moreover, the former minister is of the opinion that "starting there on the USL began rocking ".
To clarify the situation, Pop asked the two to tell if they really had a meeting.
"And this is somewhat related to what happened the next day, on February 11, when Traian Basescu said he no longer envisaged the Ponta-Antonescu duo, but Antonescu- premier and Ponta - president," Liviu Pop said.
Horea Uioreanu arrested for acts of corruptions. President of CJ Cluj is being prosecuted under charges of bribery, forgery of private documents and abetting money laundering.
Horia Uioreanu, at his first term as president of the Cluj County Council, has been a PNL member since 1990, and for a time he led the Cluj municipal branch of the Liberal Party, then he was vice president of the county organization.
On September 14, 2013, Horia Uioreanu ran for the office of president of the PNL Cluj branch, but the elections were canceled on September 20 by the central leadership of the Liberal Party, unhappy with how they were organized and Horia Uioreanu was appointed acting president of the branch.