„To be respected abroad, we must not be weak at home,” declared Ilie Bolojan on Friday at the National Union of County Councils in Romania. He emphasized that without political stability, Romania cannot face economic and international challenges. Distrust in institutions, social divisions, and the complicated global context require coherent governance, Bolojan said, emphasizing that collaboration between the President of Romania and the parliamentary majority is vital for the country’s development and strengthening its external position.
Bolojan: Romania is going through a crisis after failed elections
Interim President Ilie Bolojan stated that the country’s stability depends on close collaboration between the Presidency, the Government, and the parliamentary majority, in the spirit of „fair play and correctness.”
Bolojan stated that Romania is going through a crisis after last year's failed elections and that the country is facing strong distrust in state institutions. The interim President stated that overcoming this crisis lies in the collaboration between local and central administration. "We cannot perform if there are no clear public policies," Bolojan said.
"We are coming after the elections that did not conclude last year.
We have strong distrust in both institutions and the political world. We must not shy away from these things.
And there is clearly a significant societal divide.
This is a reality we cannot avoid. We have a complicated situation internationally, with the war, which is still close to our borders, not very clear how it will end.
We see that there are commercial circumstances that do not look very promising and can influence our economy. And in this situation, I believe that, from a central point of view, we are aware of a few things. In order to change things, to deal with challenging and problematic situations that will arise, I think we are all aware that we need political stability. This is a mandatory condition.
It is not sufficient, but it is absolutely necessary. If we do not have this stability in the upcoming period, things will not look good because you cannot keep things heading in the right direction, react, make reforms if you do not have stability.
"And in this month and a half, during which I had the honor to serve as president, I have seen that if you really want to contribute to stability, the President of Romania must collaborate with the Government, with all decision-makers, because, think about it, you go to a European Council, competitiveness, energy are discussed, and when you come home, if there is no collaboration with the Government, if there is no consultation to align and implement what is agreed there, you not only fail to be serious in relation to those you meet, but you put our country in a complicated situation.
From this point of view, I believe we are aware that without stability, without collaboration between the President of Romania and a parliamentary majority, in the spirit of fair play and correctness, you cannot have stability, and that is a necessary condition.
One thing we need to be aware of is that we cannot redistribute what we do not have," Bolojan said.
"To be respected abroad, we must not be weak at home"
"And for that, I believe we need to be pragmatic, to be aware, as the Prime Minister also said, that good budget management is needed, which means reforms, a reduction in state spending because without such an issue, which is not done very easily, we will not be able to move forward, and that is a necessary condition for the saved money to be truly directed towards development, co-financing of European funds, and investment projects in health or education.
And I think we are all aware that the best formula for well-paid jobs, prosperity, better conditions for Romanian citizens' families is a strong and competitive economy. This is a top priority direction, and I believe, and for this issue, correct policies are needed to lead the Romanian economy to a more competitive area and to face the significant challenges ahead.
But for that, how can I put it, to be respected abroad, I believe we are all aware that we must still be stable inside and not be weak at home because if we are in this situation, it is hard to assume that we will be strong in representing our country. I think we are all aware that in order to project a future we desire, prosperous, for our country, we must manage the present. And this present includes the presidential elections in May," the interim president stated at the National Union of County Councils in Romania.