Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis on Sunday said his country was “very much part of the EU, and greatly appreciated in NATO” urging Romanians to vote to stay on the same course.
His comments made on election day come as Romania faces a surge in hard-right parties whose commitment to the EU and NATO is not guaranteed. Radical hard-right candidate Calin Georgescu shocked the political class by winning the first round of presidential elections last Sunday.
Calculating the impact on Sunday’s election, Mr. Iohannis said today’s vote was ” very important… because laws are voted in the Parliament, and the Government is voted by Parliament.”
“It is very important to know how to position ourselves when we come to vote. Romanians have chosen the Euro-Atlantic path and they have chosen well and we are well integrated into the European Union, we are well positioned and highly respected in NATO,” he said.
“But in order for it to remain like this, we have to vote like this. In conclusion, welcome to vote. I voted for a European Romania,” the 65-year-old president said as he left the polling station.
Voting was brisk on Sunday with more than 28% of the electorate casting their vote by 2pm, compared to about 17% in 2020 parliamentary elections.
Romania’s president is in charge of national security, intelligence agencies and foreign policy, while the prime minister heads the government and manages the economy.
Romanians cast their ballots in crucial parliamentary elections
