RSS
President Iohannis: authorities will take "even tougher measures „ to restrict the spread of the virus
The Romanian authorities will take "even tougher measures the moment they become absolutely mandatory" to restrict the COVID-19 spread, President Klaus Iohannis said on Monday.
"We are confronted with an unprecedented situation, in which the life of each citizen is up to firm decisions. I want each Romanian to understand we shall not stop and we will take even tougher measures the moment they become absolutely mandatory to restrict the spread of the virus," the head of state said during a press statement held at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace.
Iohannis pointed out that, together with PM Ludovic Orban and the ministers, he is constantly assessing the development of the infection spread.
"The restrictive measures so far have been taken gradually, depending on the stage in which we were from the point of view of the virus being transmitted inside the community. As a man who loves democracy, any restriction on the exercise of fundamental rights troubles me deeply. The generations that have had the most to suffer from the deprivations of a regime that suppressed our rights and freedoms for decades in a row probably understand best how difficult it is to take such measures today. It is not an easy decision, but it is necessary to protect the health of Romanians and their families," said Iohannis.
The head of state also spoke of the aid to be given to those in need.
"Nonetheless, we shall equally continue to help all those affected by this crisis. The social and economic measures adopted recently will be added a new package, meant to solve the problems of even more categories of entrepreneurs and businessmen confronted with great difficulties," Klaus Iohannis said.
During these times, the President stressed, people should not look for "scapegoats," and he spoke about the reality in the medical and economic areas in Romania.
"Romania is not where we all want it to be, in the medical or in the economic area, but now this is not even by far the time to blame or look for scapegoats for the long series of wrong decisions of the past. However, I can assure you of one thing only: everything we have available, all the fiscal and economic instruments, all the resources, including the ones that we can obtain from the European Union, are put to the service of the health of the Romanians and to grant help to the companies and the employees that are going through dramatic moments these days," he said.
He also underlined the aid to which Romania has access within the community of the European Union.
"Today we have the advantage of belonging to the big European family and working together with our partners I am confident that we will overcome the social and economic shock caused by this crisis more easily. At crossroads, when we are faced with the toughest challenges, it is when we show who we really are. It is the time for compassion, generosity and altruism, the defining traits of a people hard tried by history," Romania's President underscored.
He called to responsibility and criticized politicians' attempts to use the coronavirus crisis in the electoral battle.
"Let us be responsible and not contribute to the prolongation of a difficult period for everyone. In these dramatic moments, the attempts by some politicians, including local elected officials, to use the coronavirus crisis in the electoral battle are all the more reprehensible. It is not time for political battles. To try to gain political capital in these moments denotes a frightening cynicism and an unimaginable lack of responsibility," said Iohannis. He stressed that the gravity of the situation is unprecedented and requires unity.