The Mayor of Bucharest, Nicușor Dan, has announced his candidacy for the presidency as an independent.
„We are at a critical moment. The most difficult moment since the Revolution. Romanians have sent a message in the recent presidential elections that things cannot continue as they are, that there has been too much deception. There is a need for a fundamental change in how the state responds to the needs of its citizens. I announce that I intend to run in the 2025 presidential elections. (…) I will run as an independent. I am open to discussions with pro-European parties,” stated Nicușor Dan.
Nicușor Dan's candidacy has not been negotiated with the pro-European parties, USR, PNL, PSD, or UDMR, so it would follow the model of his candidacy for the Mayor of Bucharest in 2020, which was announced before receiving any support from a party.
"Why run now, after the people of Bucharest have given me their vote? There are 3 issues"
"There are 3 major issues where the role of the president is crucial.
First: corruption and the functioning of institutions. Large areas of the state are controlled by interest groups. They act in the interest of the group. And institutions do not function because party relationships prevail over competence.
There will be a tough battle between those defending the public interest and those defending the interest of the group. It will not be a shouting contest of 'There is corruption in Romania.' We all know there is.
(...) The president must establish administrative mechanisms, be able to foster political collaborations, and understand legal mechanisms. These are the reasons that led me to make this announcement today.
Second issue: Romania lacks direction today. There are studies and strategies. But they clash and are poorly adapted to reality.
On the other hand, Romania has significant competence resources in both the public and private sectors, as well as in the diaspora, which the Romanian state has not tapped into.
And this is the role of the president. To identify these competences. To organize them so that together they can propose public policies for Romania's most important issues.
Third issue: Romania is divided into sociocultural categories that are in opposition to each other. Because their concerns have not been understood by the political class. From the pandemic to the war in Ukraine. Where the government has not played the appropriate role.
It is the role of the president to address these categories, to state the values that unite us, those that make a difference, and to signal those exaggerations that make a difference in our society!
A legitimate question: why am I coming with this candidacy when the people of Bucharest have just entrusted me with their vote in local and referendum elections? Because the people of Bucharest cannot thrive if Romania is not doing well.
In recent years, we have managed to give Bucharest a direction. But the speed at which we have moved in this direction has not been adequate. And it cannot be, in the coming years, if something fundamental does not change in the Romanian administration.
I will run as an independent. I am open to negotiations with pro-European parties. It is necessary for the reforms announced by the parties in these days to be followed through in governmental activities. I am convinced that society will reflect, understand what needs to be changed, and will be strong," stated Nicușor Dan.
When asked by the press, Nicușor Dan stated that he had presented his intention to run for the presidency to the pro-European parties and that negotiations will take place. However, he cannot say now who will support him, as these negotiations are running parallel to those for forming a new government.
Asked how those in the extremist zone will perceive his candidacy, Nicușor Dan replied:
"We will have an electoral campaign, and I invite people to inform themselves. There will be enough time for everyone to see what each candidate has to offer," added Nicușor Dan.
Negotiations for forming a new government also involve designating candidates for the presidency from political parties. In this context, Nicușor Dan stated that his candidacy may "interfere" with the negotiations for forming the government. However, he is not interested in getting involved in those negotiations; he has simply made an honest proposal: he is running and giving parties the opportunity to support him through negotiations.
Will anyone support him?
Cristian Ghinea (USR) was asked on Monday about the candidacy of the Mayor of Bucharest.
"I have seen that this information has appeared from sources, from USR's point of view, we have a candidate, we have 1.7 million people who voted for Elena Lasconi, I don't see why we would change this, but it does not depend on me. USR is a democratic party. At this moment, we have a USR congress that has decided that Elena Lasconi is the presidential candidate, and personally, I don't see why we would change this, given that it has been a successful candidacy," replied Ghinea, as quoted by News.ro.
On the other hand, the President of the Chamber of Deputies, Daniel Suciu (PSD), says it is very difficult for him, as a social democrat, to believe that he could vote for Nicușor Dan.
"I believe that this country, at this time, has some very important priorities, such as building an assumed, credible government. This is the priority, less the individual destiny of a general mayor. As a personal choice, it is very difficult for me to believe that, being a social democrat, I could vote for Nicușor Dan. I am not interested in Nicușor Dan's political career aspirations," said Daniel Suciu, President of the Chamber of Deputies, at the Parliament.
Suciu was asked if Nicușor Dan could be the candidate supported by the coalition being formed.
"I believe a very serious discussion about a presidential candidate is taken very carefully and by calculating absolutely everything that has happened, including in the presidential elections. An impromptu announcement by a political figure, and there is nothing negative in what I said, who does not belong to any group, any party I mentioned, seems to me to be a forced move. And let me tell you, we are not puzzled by this potential announcement of candidacy, but rather we have seen those from the Save Romania Union more concerned because, from what I understand, they have a candidate, and now this would be the second on their track, but it is not our problem," explained Suciu, also quoted by News.ro.
Where did the idea come from
The European Romania Coalition, made up of several personalities and civic associations, has proposed the joint support by pro-Western democratic parties and civil society of Mayor Nicușor Dan as an independent candidate for the 2025 presidential elections.
The European Romania Coalition includes: ICDE (Initiative for European Democratic Culture), Timișoara Initiative, Together for A8 Association, Voices for Democracy and Justice (VeDem Just), Diaspora 360°, Nürnberg, Euroregional Center for Public Initiatives, CentrulPolitic.ro Platform, #ActivAGPitești Association, Diaspora Agreement and several personalities.
The Mayor of Bucharest, Nicușor Dan, stated about the proposal that the analysis is just beginning at this moment and it is not at the level of individuals, but at the level of all pro-European parties, emphasizing that it is a very serious matter.
What's next
The Mayor of Bucharest must gather 200,000 supporting signatures, like any candidate.
Nicușor Dan is not required to resign from the Bucharest City Hall; he can take leave during the electoral campaign.
There has been a situation in the past where the Mayor of Bucharest ran and won the presidential elections: Traian Băsescu in 2004. Then, we had another mayor who became president, Klaus Iohannis from Sibiu.
The presidential elections were annulled by the Constitutional Court, after independent candidate Călin Georgescu and USR candidate Elena Lasconi had reached the final round. The issue was the non-transparent financing of Călin Georgescu's campaign and support from Russia. The presidential elections will be organized again in the spring of 2025, after the entire electoral process with signature collection, submission and validation of candidacies, electoral campaign, and the two rounds of voting.