Alternating between confessions and future plans, Romania’s suspended President, Traiana Basescu offers “Evenimentul Zilei”’s readers his last insights before tomorrow’s referendum.
In 1992, he voted with Ion Iliescu and in 1995 against the Laws on property. Today, he has a totally different opinion on both matters.
Traian Basescu proves he has changed, moving past the label as a “politician of the transition”. He considers he is one step ahead of the Romanian political class and that, in order to change the system, the most important people are the insiders.
In an interview granted to EVZ, Basescu talks about the mistakes he made in the past and about future projects.
He warns over the risks that European funds could be oriented towards oligarchs’ business’s interests.
He told Romanians they are faced with a decision: either go from a transition period to another transition period gradually, or do a harsh reform.
Basesecu said he wants to negotiate the agenda of political and administrative reforms with the people.
What follows are fragments of the full interview granted to EVZ by Romania’s suspended President, Traian Basescu. Ioana Lupea (political columnist) : You were minister a few times, then you were a Mayor. Are you a product of the post-Revolution transition period?
Traian Basescu: Yes I am. I didn’t just come from nowhere. I am a product of the current political class.
Razvan Ionescu(Editor in Chief) : In your speeches you say that you have changed, that things are seen different when you consider them as a President.
T.B.: I keep saying that I managed to evolve and be at least one step in front of the political class and at the same pace with Romania’s citizens. This is the role of a politic person. A political character cannot be thousand of steps ahead but at the same time fall behind people’s wishes and expectations.
R.I.: You have talked about people. How do you get along with your former counselor who resigned, Weber, Saftoiu, Plesu?
T.B.: We are neutral. The only one who did not stay neutral is Renate Weber. I do not understand what happened. R.I.: You have yourself to blame for the relation with them?
T.B.: I was not prepared with a truly presidential team. It is not good to have a party team at the Presidency. I think that now only, I have unemotional and non-subjective team. The relation should be strictly professional .
I.L.: Do you consider you made a mistake concerning the “little note affair” ? T.B.: Ye , I did. After Elena Udrea started the whole thing I did not manage the crisis well. The note should have been made public but I was away at that time. I delayed managing the issue for one week.
R.I.: Will you reiterate the issue of the necessity of creating a strong right-center-oriented party by PD’s fusion with PLD?
T.B. It is their own concern. However, I will support the necessity of creating such force in Romania. I am convinced that political coalitions no longer work.
I.L.: You said you would win because you are right. Are you the only one that is right?
I am not the who’s who is right, the people is right. By pure chance, the person that currently represents the people’s point of view is me but it could have been anyone.