Romania’s future seen by its politicians
Romanias Parliament held a special meeting to celebrate the Great Union of 1918.
România Internațional, 03.12.2015, 13:27
The speaker of the Romanian Senate Calin Popescu Tariceanu called a special senate meeting on Wednesday to celebrate the National Day of Romania on December 1st, which coincided with the 97th anniversary of the union of all Romanian provinces within a single state. The meeting was attended by the former president Emil Constantinescu, prime minister Dacian Ciolos and his technocratic cabinet, the presidents of the Constitutional Court and the Court of Accounts, war veterans and foreign diplomats. President Klaus Iohannis and the former presidents Ion Iliescu and Traian Basescu were not present.
Calin Popescu Tariceanu said he would propose that a special meeting of both parliament houses be held every year to mark the National Day: “In my opinion, holding a special meeting to celebrate Romania’s National Day is not only appropriate, but also obligatory. This is why I have called this meeting. I will propose the joint permanent bureaus that both houses of Parliament hold a special meeting dedicated to our national holiday every year.”
In his address, the former Romanian president Emil Constantinescu warned that Romania is going through a profound moral crisis, saying Parliament plays an essential role in solving it. Emil Constantinescu: “Given that the plunder of national resources is the result of legislative void and chaos and compromise and negligence on the part of Parliament, the administration and the judiciary, it is necessary now, until we run out of time, to revise the legislation and urgently pass clear laws that entail drastic penalties and for Parliament to exercise strict control of how the law is complied with by us all.”
In his address, prime minister Dacian Ciolos said it was necessary to create a project for the entire country with the support of political parties and the country’s major institutions. He also spoke about unity amidst a troubled international climate. Dacian Ciolos: “I urge all Romanians to understand that amidst violence and conflict, instability and changes on an international level, it is important, now more than ever, to stay united and show active solidarity with one another, our peers, our partners in Europe and NATO and our brothers and sisters in the Republic of Moldova. Just like on December 1st 1918, today, 97 years later, I am convinced that only together can we succeed.”
In Alba Iulia, which hosted a congress of the Romanian diaspora, a petition was launched calling for the union of the Republic of Moldova with Romania and signed by 70 Moldovan leading public figures.
(Translated by Cristina Mateescu)
