Martin Schulz on Romanian President’s recent statements: I think President Basescu is wrong

The President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz stated, referring to the recent statements of the Romanian President, that Traian Basescu is wrong, adding that he always defended Romania and Moldova’s European integration. Schulz stated that he has an institutional responsibility and he respects the institution of the Romanian President. “I will not answer at the same level,” he said at local TV station Antena 3, reports news agency Mediafax. “I think he was wrong, maybe one of his advisers gave him incorrect documents,” said Schulz. On Saturday, April 26, after the launch of PSD-UNPR-PC candidates for the European Parliament, Martin Schulz said that he was surprised by Traian Basescu’s comments, adding that the Romanian President didn’t read his statements carefully and that he would personally ask Basescu what he meant. This came after on Friday, April 25, Romania’s President Traian Basescu said that the elections for the European Parliament would foreshadow the name of the future head of the European Commission, who could either be socialist Martin Schulz or EPP’s candidate Jean-Claude Juncker. Basescu said that it would be important to debate in the campaign the reasons why the European Commission should be led, from now on, by Jean-Claude Juncker or by Martin Schulz, “especially if we look at things from the view of latest statements and actions of the socialists”. “For Mr. Schulz, the annexation of Crimea was a fact and that’s it and we have to remain calm about it. He would probably have the same approach if other negative developments happen against Romania,” said Basescu. The President added that there might be a debate on this topic, namely “What is in Romania’s advantage? To have a socialist President of the Commission, or one from the European People’s Party?”. “Not to mention the fact that we also need to take a look at the size of countries. Don’t we risk to create an incredible force to a single state, that is however very influential, by creating the conditions for Mr. Schulz to become President of the European Commission?” added Traian Basescu. Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com