President K. Iohannis, press release

RADIO ROMANIA NEWS (December 7, 18:00) - Producer: We are now contacting the Cotroceni Palace. President Klaus Iohannis is speaking.

Klaus Iohannis: Good evening! The elections are over and I can draw the first conclusions. Let me first thank all those who left the house, went to the polls and voted. I guarantee that every vote will be taken into account. At the same time, however, we must accept the truth. Turnout was low and it is very clear that many Romanians have either not received enough information about these elections, or are simply dissatisfied with me, the parties, the entire political class or certain measures that have been taken. I see these things and it is important for all of us, politicians, to see these things, to analyze them and to understand the Romanians who did not go to the polls for various reasons. These reasons need to be clarified and in the next period of time I am very determined, together with the government that will be formed, to consider all these issues with the utmost seriousness.

The election results show that there is no clear winner of this election. And if we look at the results that are currently called provisional, and also keeping in mind almost all the votes were counted, we see that PNL in 2016 had obtained 20%, now it has obtained 25%, so a clear increase; USR, meanwhile together with PLUS, obtained in 2016 8%, increased now to 15% - obviously an improvement; PSD, which obtained 45% in 2016, dropped dramatically to 29%. It is therefore clear, if we gather these results, that the center-right parties, together, obtained over 50% of the cast votes.

I can also tell you with all sincerity that this was my goal and for this reason I had to express myself a little more often in public in recent weeks. In this way, the PSD can, finally, after a whole cycle of elections - European Parliament, referendum, presidential - remain outside the political decision.

Now, what follows: a center-right coalition is already forming quickly, which will be able to propose a coalition government. In just a few days, I will convene consultations with the parties that will be found in the new parliament, consultations to find the best solution for Romania. The new government that will be formed will manage the necessary measures in the pandemic, will urgently present long-awaited and often delayed reform measures, will manage the vaccination campaign and will certainly, in the shortest time, present a draft budget for the year 2021, together with the way in which the European money will be brought to us.

Thank you and I wish you good health!

Translated by: Radu Matei