Klaus Iohannis Speaks before Parliament

Romania's president Klaus Iohannis held a speech in Parliament to mark one year as president.

Roxana Vasile, 16.12.2015, 13:52

On November 16,
2014 Klaus Iohannis won the presidential election in Romania. Only a few days
later, on December 21, he officially took over his mandate from his predecessor,
Traian Basescu, and became the new head of state. Iohannis’s speech before
Parliament on Wednesday was not meant to be an activity report one year after
his taking over the presidential mandate. As Klaus Iohannis himself described
it, this was meant to be a gesture of democratic normalcy. I wanted this year
that ends to be one in which we have won back normalcy, both domestically and
externally, by turning the idea of consultations from an empty concept into a
meaningful one, with concrete effects, Iohannis has said.

According to the
head of state, it has become natural in Romania, in quite a short time, for the
president, parties and civil society representatives to sit together at the
table of talks. The year 2015 has also proven that the current political class
can largely agree on matters concerning the country, one such example being the
unanimous decision to increase to 2% of the GDP the funds earmarked for defense
in 2017. Also, the promise to adopt the postal voting law has been kept. At the
external level, winning back normalcy means, according to Iohannis, to regain
the country’s prestige and to strengthen its strategic partnerships. There have
been several clear goals: strengthening and extending the partnership with the
US, strengthening strategic partnerships with the EU members such as France,
Poland, Britain and Turkey and strengthening ties with neighboring countries.

The stake in 2016 is to rebuilt trust in politics and in its ability to set the
right direction. It’s been 26 years since Romanians stood up against the
communist regime, and the best way to honour the sacrifice of those who gave
their life for freedom and democracy is to make a different type of politics.
For this reason, President Klaus Iohannis has proposed that the theme of the
year 2016 be the reconstruction of the political class. Political parties must
carry out this mission, which involves new ideas, new practices and new people.
President Klaus Iohannis also wants a responsible government, and economic
growth that should mirror not only in figures but also in the living standard
of every Romanian. This is the time for change, Iohannis has said, urging the
Romanian political class to answer the needs of society.