Crin Antonescu validated as presidential candidate by the National Council of PNL

Crin Antonescu was unanimously confirmed as the common candidate of the ruling coalition in the presidential elections by the 664 delegates present at the National Council of the PNL.

The Liberals are convinced that he can offer Romania the stability, vision and courage to overcome the current challenges.

The electoral campaign for the presidential elections is the most important political battle for Romania since the fall of communism, was the message of the interim president of the PNL, Ilie Bolojan.

He stressed that firm action, good governance and transparency are needed to regain Romanians' trust.

Ilie Bolojan: Romania needs an experienced, mature president, dedicated to democratic values and to Romania's membership of the Western world, and it needs a president who says things by their name, speaks with sense and courage and does not shrink from difficult political situations, neither internally nor for our country. We have jointly decided that this candidate for President is Mr. Crin Antonescu.

Crin Antonescu gave assurances in his speech that he will be the president of all Romanians.

Crin Antonescu: I want to tell you clearly that I am not running for you, I am not running for the National Liberal Party, I am not running for myself. What unites us, by running and supporting you, by running for all the citizens of Romania and for Romania, what unites us are common ideas and aspirations.

Delegates voted unanimously to nominate Crin Antonescu as their candidate for the May elections. The Liberals were the first to officially validate the candidacy. UDMR will vote next week, and on February 2, the Social Democrats will vote at the extraordinary PSD congress.

Translated by: Radu Matei