Independent presidential candidate Mircea Geoana says the Romanian public bodies are „extremely politicised,” and if he becomes the chief of state, the prime minister he will appoint will be the person who puts competent people in the „key positions” in the economy and society.

„The world no longer believes in politicians and in the clever words that they sometimes produce. It will be a very complex task to gradually regain people’s trust, that politics can also be done for the people and not for parties or vested interests. The main theme of my candidacy is related to the fact that the current political system and the way in which the Romanian state is administered is outdated by the developments in society: in healthcare, education, economic models. Although Romania’s development is still very uneven, society has progressed. Unequal, but we have all progressed. Romanian politics has been left behind and the extremely harsh politicisation of state bodies makes that, unfortunately, a lot of incompetence, waste and, many times, corruption become the rule of the game and not the exception in our society,” Geoana said on Wednesday at an event where he unveiled a healthcare plank in his electoral manifesto organised by the Romania Renew Movement.

He added that he will act only in the spirit of the Constitution and the separation of powers.

„In my conversation with any future government, with any parliamentary majority – be it one or several in the coming years- this minimum necessary precondition to put competent people in the key places in the economy and society is a precondition for the appointment of any prime minister, of any majority and the inauguration of any government. And I do not abdicate from that, in any form (…), in full constitutional respect for the separation of powers and the role of the Executive, Parliament and President.”

Geoana added that his priorities are education and healthcare, saying that he will promote meritocracy instead of technocracy.

„There is an unacceptable level of politicisation in healthcare as well. It is not normal for the political algorithm, the negotiations between parties to appoint hospital directors in the public sector. It is not fair, and it is counter-performing. It is not normal that the decisions regarding the allocation of resources are made, rather, by the political hues of administration X or mayoralty Y. It is not fair to the citizens of our country who equally need investments and support. True leaders know how to choose both the path to follow, and the real priority of the problems they have to solve. (…) I don’t promise you miracles, it won’t be easy. Education and healthcare are two national urgencies that we must all tackle, with the private sector, with the civic area, the public sector, with our partners abroad, which we still need,” said Geoana.

AGERPRES