Crin Antonescu Believes that the "Pro-European Formula Failed”

Former presidential candidate Crin Antonescu believes that Romania has reached its current political crisis after the failure of the governing formula presented to the electorate as "pro-European” and "pro-Western”. He argues that President Nicuşor Dan should have sought a governing solution including without the participation of the PNL and states that, if he cannot contribute to resolving the deadlock regarding the formation of a Government, then he should resign.

• "The formula that was sold failed"

"We ended up in this situation because a formula that was sold since the elections, sold also in the presidential elections and sold in an electoral rhetoric under the formula pro-Europeans, pro-Westerns, more recently, says the president, failed. Why, how, who is to blame? We can each have our own opinions. That's what matters, the fact is that it failed!", stated Crin Antonescu in a TV show. The former PNL president also criticizes interim Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan, about whom he says that, although he frequently invokes responsibility in public discourse, he would not accept any other governing formula than one led by him and supported by the USR. In Antonescu's opinion, if the PNL does not accept another governing variant, the possibility of forming an Executive without liberals must be analyzed. "From that moment on, it means that a formula without PNL must be sought," declared Crin Antonescu, adding that President Nicuşor Dan should have "resolved the problem" regarding the formation of the Government. Asked if the President could want a solution, but not have the possibility to impose it, Antonescu replied: "Wait a minute! What do you mean he can't? Then he must resign!".

Crin Antonescu argues that the President must exercise his constitutional powers and act decisively in the current political context. "I know that we only have suspensions - we didn't even raise the issue and early elections and we don't need a President - but you should know that a President, to be worth having, must be able to. Nothing more than what the Constitution prescribes, but that he must be able to do!", stated the former presidential candidate. In his opinion, Nicuşor Dan has so far adopted an attitude that is too cautious towards political parties. "Mr. Nicuşor Dan is sometimes reprimanding them, sometimes inviting them, sometimes waiting for them, when, in fact, he must act decisively. For three months, Mr. Nicuşor Dan has been asking us, the citizens, to be calm, announcing that we will get through this too - we will get through, of course we will! - and two: asking the parties to be responsible, as they should be. Now, this is the moment when Mr. President, that's why he is President, must act!", Antonescu also said.

• Antonescu nominates Alexandru Nazare for the position of Prime Minister

In another TV appearance, Crin Antonescu claimed that the responsibility for maintaining Ilie Bolojan at the Victoria Palace does not belong exclusively to the interim Prime Minister, but to the President and the parliamentary majority. "Mr. Bolojan is criticized for many things, I also criticize him for many things, the governance he had and has, (...) but one reproach is unfounded, namely that he is clinging to his seat and not leaving. Mr. Bolojan will leave when Mr. Nicuşor Dan and a parliamentary majority invest a government. Until then, the responsibility for this delay does not belong to Mr. Bolojan", said Antonescu. The former liberal leader specified that, if he had won the presidential elections, he would not have designated Ilie Bolojan for the position of prime minister. "I was the only one who never said that he would appoint Mr. Bolojan as prime minister", he said. In contrast, Antonescu says that he would have designated the Minister of Finance, Alexandru Nazare, if he had managed to form a parliamentary majority. "I can also tell you who I would have nominated if, of course, we could gather a parliamentary majority for this. Who should Mr. Nicuşor Dan have nominated for three months, in my opinion, obviously, if he still wants to end this crisis honorably and with a governing solution, he should nominate Alexandru Nazare," declared Crin Antonescu. He argued that Nazare represents "the only solution that meets the essential points" needed to occupy the position of prime minister.