Chairman of the ruling Social Democratic Party (PSD), Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu expressed his „firm conviction” that incumbent NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoana will throw his hat in the 2024 presidential ring, adding that he and Geoana had no discussion about the current security crisis in the latter’s capacity as a senior official of the military alliance.

„We have two ongoing conflicts, we have a war in Ukraine and a conflict in the Middle East, and then we have Romania. The Romanian state and Romania have the chance of having Mr. Mircea Geoana serve as NATO’s Deputy Secretary General. I thought that Mr. Geoana deals with wars, this is NATO’s job, not book releases. I got it, Mr. Geoana is campaigning, he will put in his bid for president. I am not being ironic, but I assume that the Romanians expect me to talk about what I do at the government first. I had no discussion whatsoever with the Romanian Mircea Geoana regarding the security crisis we are experiencing. Believe me, I had it with all those responsible in the field,” Marcel Ciolacu on Sunday told private broadcaster Antena 3 when asked about Mircea Geoana’s possible plans to run for president.

Ciolacu underscored that he had discussions on security „with everyone, less with Mr. Geoana, the Romanian.”

„I got it, Mr. Geoana is campaigning, he’s releasing books and people are urging him to run. (…) Fine, but I am firmly convinced that he will put in his bid. (…) Very good for democracy,” Ciolacu added.

AGERPRES