President Klaus Iohannis on Wednesday said that the presidential election can take place in September, October or November, adding that if something else is desired, legislation has to be amended and the President of Romania should be elected by Romanians and not by parties.

„As for the presidential election, under the legislation in force, it can take place in September or in October or November, and that’s all. If something else is wanted, legislation has to be changed and I think it is too late. It doesn’t matter, in my opinion, if it takes place in September, October or November, what matters is the opinion of Romanians. It is important to me to emphasise that the President of Romania must be elected by Romanians and not by parties. That is why we have direct voting and that is why I think it is important for Romanians to be informed and interested, regardless of whether during the campaigning they are in the mountains, at the seaside, at the office or anywhere else,” Iohannis said at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace, after welcoming the President of Italy, Sergio Mattarella.

He said that it is clear that, for the next five years, these elections are the most important.

„There is a lot of talk about how much power the president has or does not have. I can tell you that he has enough power to make the presidential election the main stake of this year’s elections. Equally important is the general election, the local and the European elections, but we know that for Romanians the stake is the election of the president and I think it is good that way. That’s why I don’t want to say when the election should be held or who should run. That is established by the parties.”

He added that „Romanians should be aware of the importance of these elections for Romania and go to vote.”

„That concerns me the most,” said Iohannis.

AGERPRES