The first message transmitted by Ilie Bolojan, with voice and demeanor, in his capacity as interim president, marked several essential elements, and we can consider it as a significant milestone in the difficult ascent of calming Romanian society.
It was essential, first and foremost, for Romanians to hear that the head of state, whether interim or not, addresses them directly and openly after so much presidential silence. And, more than that, he addresses them with the first report. Mr. Bolojan has already explained what he did on his first day in office, who he spoke with, what he aimed for, and what his priorities were.
"From yesterday until today, I have had discussions with officials and familiarized myself with the urgent issues in the fields of Defense, Foreign Affairs, and National Security. These aspects require appropriate solutions and must be approached with seriousness and balance."
Therefore, a president who went to Cotroceni to work and even explains what he has worked on. Serving the citizen and the need to regain their trust represent, in fact, the leitmotif of President Bolojan's first message.
Furthermore, it is very important that Mr. Bolojan has defined his priorities. Firstly, political, economic, and social stability because "the risk of facing a major crisis is real. That is why the collaboration of the entire central and local public administration is needed so that there is good governance, and citizens can trust that the state functions to fulfill their legitimate expectations."
Mr. Bolojan is already taking on the role of a mediator between institutions, demanding good governance and conveying a clear message that the state must function to serve the citizens. Coming from Mr. Bolojan, with his track record from Oradea, the signal is credible.
The interim president draws attention, without panic but firmly, to the danger of a real crisis. When? When extremists ignite the Molotov cocktail of the motion, counting on the fact that the USR members will be their useful idiots, to blow up the country. The institutions must work, and the state must function, not to fail in the deadlock of a real crisis, this is what Ilie Bolojan publicly demands.
Speaking about stability and, towards the end, about the imperative of regaining trust, Mr. Bolojan denies, in my opinion, implicitly that he has the slightest thought of jeopardizing the coalition agreements to assume a presidential candidacy on his own. This does not mean it is absolutely excluded, but not as a unilateral decision of the interim president or the PNL.
The second priority is foreign policy, and Mr. Bolojan addresses the fear starting from the fact that this is the area where he has the least experience. In this context, the swift appointment of a foreign policy advisor, Mrs. Odobescu, a highly experienced individual (we are not discussing her exercise here), was an inspired move.
Mr. Bolojan made sure to aim for a healthy nationalism: "Our country will be well represented internationally, with dignity and seriousness. What will come first will be the interest of our nation, so that every citizen feels protected and defended." Romania first can be done without extremist hysterics.
And, of course, the priority of elections, which the interim president guarantees to be transparent and free. Can they be so without a better explanation for canceling the election? We shall see. But combined with Mr. Bolojan's previous statements, it seems unlikely.
Mr. Bolojan's emphasis was on regaining trust in institutions, which needs to be restored, showing an understanding of an essential issue: the most severe crisis Romania is going through is one of widespread distrust.
"Here, in front of you, Romanians, I tell you that I assume with all responsibility the position of interim president of Romania to do everything in my power for each citizen to feel that they can trust those who represent them.
For all of us in public services, no matter where we work, there is no alternative but to serve the people, and I expect every institution and every employee to work for the citizens.
My goal, as interim president, is to restore trust in public institutions, and at the end of this period, to be able to look you in the eye, knowing that I have worked in your best interest and convinced that I have acted with integrity, dignity, and care for Romanians."
How many officials, I wonder, have started and carried out their mandate with the thought that they will have to be able to look people in the eye at the end? This is an essential benchmark.
To paraphrase a famous saying, seldom has so much depended on one man. If Mr. Bolojan will succeed in exactly what he stated on the second day of his mandate or, at most, nothing more, that is, to project the image of a politician dedicated to the country working in the public interest and being accountable, with a sense of responsibility and shame, in the end, I have no doubt that he will decisively influence the outcome of the elections in May and will cut off a significant part of the extremists' momentum.
An impulse provoked by distrust, the disdain of officials, and the malfunctioning of the state.