Former President Traian Băsescu argues that the current political crisis is the result of the „shameful organization of the elections” in 2024 and calls for the reconstruction of the PSD-PNL-UDMR-minorities coalition to avoid major blockages related to European funds and defense projects.
In an intervention on TVR Info, Băsescu stated that Romanians „had no chance to understand what they were voting for” due to the overlap of multiple election rounds and changes in the electoral calendar. The former president spoke of „a crisis of theft” and said that the „origin of the political situation” lies in the „election theft in 2024.”
Băsescu described the current political situation as „a crisis of theft,” stating that „the origin of the political situation we have is in the theft of the 2024 elections.”
He criticized the way local, European, parliamentary, and presidential elections were organized, stating that voters were faced with a confusing calendar.
„What is the Romanian supposed to understand when going to vote, if they have to vote for the mayor, councilor, the list of MEPs – which is the joint list of PSD, PNL? (…) So, total confusion,” declared the former head of state.
He continued by saying that the overlap of elections and the cancellation of the first round of the presidential elections fueled mistrust and political chaos. „What we have now is the result of the shameful organization of the elections. They didn’t give Romanians any chance to understand what they were voting for,” Băsescu affirmed.
– Băsescu, after the B9 Summit: Europe can defend its security on its own in 5-7 years. „Americans no longer do it, we do it for ourselves”
– Băsescu believes that Romania cannot afford early elections and that the current majority must be quickly rebuilt to avoid losing important funds. „There is only one solution: to resume the functioning of the coalition,” Băsescu said.
He warned that Romania risks losing European funds if it remains with a provisional government for too long. „We have a country that needs to have the documents signed by May 30 for the 8.3 billion endowments on SAFE and another 10 billion to be collected from the PNRR by August,” the former president stated.
Băsescu insisted that the PSD-PNL-UDMR-minorities alliance must be rebuilt even if there are political tensions: „Dead, alive, if it’s dead, it must be revived.”
– „The annulment of the elections is a Dambovita affair”
Traian Băsescu also commented on the annulment of the presidential elections in November 2024, stating that he does not believe that there will be evidence proving Russia’s direct involvement in the election.
The former president noted that the public explanations provided by the Constitutional Court of Romania referred to issues related to campaign financing and influences on the electoral process, not to a proven Russian operation.
„Lady President of the Constitutional Court came out and stated the reasons for canceling the election of the president. They were related to funding, influences, and so on. Nothing related to Russians. Nothing,” Băsescu declared.
He argued that, in his opinion, the scandal surrounding the annulment of the elections has more internal causes. „What I’m telling you, with the instinct I’ve developed, is a Dambovita affair,” stated the former head of state.
Băsescu then accused the Romanian political class of trying to shift responsibility externally. „The Russians, in their dishonesty, when they saw suspicions arise, played it propagandistically. Everyone was talking about the Russians stealing our president. No, we stole him. And it’s not the first time,” he said.
– Attack on PSD: They have the habit of meddling in elections
The former president also made a direct reference to the PSD, recalling the presidential elections of 2009. „PSD should not tell me that they don’t have the habit of meddling in elections. I lived through them, I felt them on my skin,” Băsescu declared.
He recalled the tensions of the 2009 election, when the results were contested and recounted. „In the end, I won them,” Băsescu said.
The first round of the presidential elections in November 2024 was canceled after the declassification of documents discussed within the CSAT, citing suspicions of external influences and irregularities in funding.