Romania's Nicusór Dan formally commences presidency, kicks off tenure with a plea for reforms
Romania's New President, Nicuşor Dan, Outlines Policy Priorities in Inaugural Address
Nicuşor Dan, the newly appointed President of Romania, formally began his mandate on Monday during a joint session of Parliament. The ceremony was attended by dignitaries, political figures, and institutional leaders, including former presidents Traian Băsescu and Emil Constantinescu, Princess Margareta, and Patriarch Daniel.
Following the court's decision validating his electoral win, President-elect Dan took the oath of office and delivered his first speech, outlining the main directions and priorities for the coming years. He emphasized the need for reform and unity in Romanian society.
Thanking Romanians for their civic involvement during the presidential elections, Dan commented, "People have shown they care about the direction Romania is heading. Society has proven itself to be alive and strong."
The President expressed his conviction that Romania requires "fundamental change within the rules of law" and invited citizens to continue being actively engaged to pressure the Romanian state for reform. He assured the public that he would be an open and responsive president.
Several key policy areas were highlighted in Dan's speech, including:
Fiscal Stability and Economic Reform- Focusing on reducing the budget deficit by implementing spending cuts over tax increases to maintain economic stability.- Enforcing anti-tax evasion measures to better distribute resources.- Improving management of state-owned companies by streamlining spending and reducing waste.- Simplifying access to EU funds and investing in infrastructure projects.
Governance- Advocating for a stability-focused government backed by a parliamentary majority to carry out fiscal reforms.- Encouraging all political parties to act in the national interest and prioritize Romania’s present and future.
Healthcare- Encouraging the digitalization of healthcare services.- Aiming for a balanced healthcare system that addresses primary care, outpatient services, and hospital needs.- Developing a coherent funding strategy for the health sector.
Education- Supporting increased teacher salaries.- Emphasizing critical thinking skills in education and aligning education outcomes with labor market demands.- Implementing measures to reduce school dropout rates.
Justice System Reform- Encouraging prosecutors to focus on eradicating high-level corruption.- Reducing case resolution times and reforming the promotion procedures of magistrates.- Reviewing the laws governing the Constitutional Court for better governance.
Environmental Protection and Urban Development- Implementing reforms to strengthen environmental protection and urban development systems.- Expanding the Environmental Guard's activities and making structural changes at Romsilva (state forestry).- Carefully managing urban growth to ensure the balance between economic expansion and environmental preservation.
Nicușor Dan's next significant task will be to nominate a new Prime Minister capable of securing a majority in Parliament. He has expressed his preference for outgoing interim president Ilie Bolojan, but he must first consult with all parliamentary political parties before making an appointment.
With the presidential transition now complete, Romania faces the challenges of high poverty and inequality, corruption, failing public institutions, and rebuilding national unity and trust in the midst of regional insecurity due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and domestic political fragmentation.
irina.marica@our website
(Photo source: Inquam Photos / George Călin)
- President Nicuşor Dan, in his inaugural address, highlighted the need for policy changes, particularly in the areas of migration, as he discussed the importance of addressing war-and-conflicts' impacts on Romania and envisioned stabilizing the country's borders through comprehensive policy-and-legislation and politics.
- As a part of his policy priorities, President Dan emphasized the significance of monitoring general-news developments at the national and international levels, particularly focusing on addressing the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and its impact on migration patterns, to ensure a united and secure Romania.
