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Iohannis: Written understanding by EPP to back presidential candidacy
The Christian Liberal Alliance's candidate for Romania's Presidency, Klaus Iohannis , said on Monday the European People's Party (EPP) president Joseph Daul would come to Romania. Asked whether he believed that Romanian parties, members of EPP would follow the request of the EPP president to back him in the presidential elections, Iohannis said “I think so”.He pointed out there had been talks with the general secretary of EPP Antonio Lopez. “I will see Mr Daul when he comes on Monday,”Iohannis said.
The PNL leader was asked if there had been a recommendation for parties in Romania. “No recommendation, but a firm, written understanding between parties members of EPP,”Iohannis said, adding that did not include UDMR.
“It includes all EPP members, therefore it is not optional. It is an assumed obligation within EPP,”said Iohannis. He expressed his confidence that the Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR) will finally decide to back him in the elections.
Upon the remark of a journalist saying that UDMR ( EPP's member) is going to announce on Thursday its decision on which candidate to support in the presidential race, Klaus Iohannis replied: "I can only tell you about my understanding with the EPP, I wouldn't know about what the UDMR members are going to discuss when they meet, but I guess that in the end the result will still be this one."
Iohannis: I will negotiate with no politician for the runoff; I want the vote of Romanians
Iohannis on Monday night stated that he would negotiate with no politician for the runoff, stressing that he wishes the vote of all Romanians.
"I will not negotiate with any politician, but to make it very clear I wish I have the vote of Romanians, I want the vote of all Romanians who believe I could make a difference in the Romanian politics. I invite, I ask them to be alongside me, yet I want their point-blank vote, I want to have an up-front relationship with the voter, not mediated by politicians. As a consequence, I won't negotiate with the out-racers. (...) Should they look for me, they'll probably do that to offer me support. Any citizen is welcome to offer me support, but we never negotiate," said Iohannis, in a news conference.
Being asked whether his call aims at (November 2 presidential candidates) Monica Macovei, Elena Udrea, Calin Popescu-Tariceanu, Teodor Melescanu too he answered he was making an appeal to all the voters who want to be on the Right side and wish to support him.
"My call is as valid for (former Liberal head) Crin Antonescu and for others as well. Whoever thinks we could change things together, if one wishes, one should step forward and say it," Iohannis added.
Likewise, Iohannis made an appeal to the voters of (Prime Minister and opponent) Victor Ponta and the Hungarian community to vote him.
"I have a message for Victor Ponta's voters: I will not negotiate with Victor Ponta, yet I invite his voters who want a change to join me," the ACL candidate said, adding he has also invited the Hungarian community to vote him.
Iohannis does not want Romania breaking up in pieces
Candidate of the Christian Liberal Alliance (ACL) in the November 16 presidential runoff election Klaus Iohannis on Tuesday said he does not want Romania breaking up in pieces, adding that the allegation is a lie of Prime Minister Victor Ponta, his runoff rival.
'I do not want Romania breaking up in pieces; what I want is a strong Romania, something that I said when I ran for my party's national chairmanship. There is no way that I want that. We are witnessing again a lie of Mr Ponta's. Mr Ponta keeps on lying: he is lying when he claims I want to tear Transylvania away; he is lying when he claims that I want Transylvanians to vote against the people of the Oltenia province; he is also lying when he claims I want to cut pensions, and so on. We have got used to such lies. I hope they will end,' Iohannis told a press conference.
As for a possible endorsement for him from the Magyar People's Party of Transylvania (PPMT) in the runoff election, Iohannis says he would enjoy all ballots.
'I will enjoy all ballots for me coming from the Romanian citizens, irrespective of their ethnic or religious backgrounds. If political leaders say they will vote for me, that means my programme have convinced me to do so. As for ethnic autonomy, you know my point of view, which I have voiced often. I am an advocate of regionalisation along administrative lines only if such regionalisation generates a modernisation of the public administration and economic development. Or, regionalisation along ethnic lines will not generate such outcomes,' said Iohannis.