Seven out of a total of 11 candidates for president of Romania participated last night in the final pre-election debate, organized by Antena 3 CNN television tonight in the parliament building in Bucharest - the second largest building in the world after the Pentagon, BTA reported.
In front of a huge audience, they answered journalistic questions, but also asked each other questions, and the main emphasis was placed on the economy.
“In difficult economic conditions for the country, I will cut the defense budget. We do not want additional armaments“, said the independent candidate for president of Romania, John Ion Banu-Muscel. He added that he would give up his presidential salary and donate it to a non-governmental organization. During the debate, John Ion Banu-Muscel also spoke out against special pensions.
His call was supported by the candidate of the Humanist Social Liberal Party, Lavinia Shandru.
The other female candidate for the presidency in Romania, Elena Lasconi, announced that she would work to grow the economy by attracting investment. She expressed the opinion that the number of MPs should be reduced from 464 to 300. According to her, many institutes, inspectorates and agencies that do not have a clear purpose should be abolished and closed, because a lot of money is spent there.
In turn, independent candidate Daniel Funeriu expressed the opinion that both the government and the institutions can function with fewer employees.
The candidate of the ruling coalition, Crin Antonescu, categorically ruled out raising taxes and reducing pensions and salaries in serious economic conditions for Romania.
“Deficit means inflation. I was in this situation four years ago in the Municipality, when it had huge debts. Whoever buried you will not get you out of the hole”, said independent candidate and current mayor of Bucharest, Nicosor Dan. As possible measures, he pointed to reducing spending and increasing the absorption of EU funds.
Cristian Terhes from the Romanian National Conservative Party was even more categorical. “I will not sign a single budget that increases taxes and fees. It is not normal for 45 percent of Romanians' salaries to go to taxes and fees”, he shared.
There was no lack of emotions in the hall. They reached a peak when Nicosor Dan stated that in the upcoming presidential elections, Romania has four options and appealed to Elena Lasconi's voters to reconsider and support him.
“Otherwise, it will be Simion-Ponta or Simion-Antonescu”, said Nicosor Dan.
In another context, Elena Lasconi asked “Don't you want us to take the polls to the Constitutional Court and have it decide who will be president”.
During the debate, Nicosor Dan proposed that the members of the Constitutional Court should come from the judiciary, Crin Antonescu demanded that equality between women and men be more clearly defined in the Constitution, Lavinia Săndru declared herself a presidential republic following the example of America, Cristian Terheş insisted that the definition of marriage as a union between a man and a woman be enshrined in the Constitution, Daniel Funeriu launched the idea of referendums being mandatory, and the removal of the president must be approved by the Constitutional Court of Romania.
Far from the cameras tonight were the favorite for the seat held in all sociological surveys and leader of the nationalist party “Alliance for the Unification of Romanians“ Gheorghe Simion, the independent candidate for president of Romania Victor Ponta, the candidate of the “League of National Action“ Silviu Predoiu and the candidate of the “New Romania“ party; Sebastian Popescu.