The candidate of the Electoral Alliance „Romania Forward,” Crin Antonescu, said on Sunday, after having filed a list signed by 1.7 million supporters to the Central Electoral Bureau (BEC), that „until the last moment, many efforts were made” to prevent his candidacy, but he „will not waver” and „will not back down.”

After leaving the BEC headquarters, Antonescu thanked the leaders of the parties that support him. He was accompanied by Social Democratic Party (PSD) Chairman Marcel Ciolacu, National Liberal Party (PNL) Chairman Catalin Predoiu, Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania (UDMR) Chairman Kelemen Hunor, leader of the Parliamentary Group of National Minorities Varujan Pambuccian, as well as Emil Boc, Paul Stanescu and Lia Olguta Vasilescu.

„I have submitted my candidacy for the Presidency of Romania. First of all, I thank God for helping me to be here and for helping me in this challenge. I thank my wife, Adina Valean, who has served and continues to serve Romania with honour, dedication and competence in the European Parliament and the European Commission. I thank all the colleagues who are here with me today, leaders of the parties that Romanians have entrusted with their vote to create a parliamentary majority and today’s Government of Romania. I am honoured by the presence of distinguished mayors, people who have the trust of their communities, people who have made Oradea, Cluj, Craiova, Buzau, Targoviste, Sector 4, Sector 6 civilized places, European places, places where these years have brought satisfaction to those who have worked for citizens and their communities,” said Crin Antonescu.

He also thanked the 1.7 million people who signed for his candidacy, assuring them that „he will not back down.”

„I thank everyone in civil society who is here with me today. Their presence honours me. I thank the more than 1,700,000 people who signed for my candidacy. This candidacy has brought joy to all of us. You know that this candidacy did not bring joy to everyone, and you know that until the last moment, many efforts were made to prevent it. With all these people by my side, I move forward. I will not waver, I will not turn back, I will not back down. Together, we will go to these elections for Romania to move forward,” Crin Antonescu added.

AGERPRES