Romania's president has a change of heart about retirement: long holiday after 2014 but back to politics

Romanian president Traian Basescu, who will end his mandate in 2014, has had a change of heart about retiring. After saying he does not want to go back to politics after ending his presidential mandate, Basescu changed his mind and recently said he intends to stay politically active, but he does not yet know in what capacity. “I had around three days when I didn't do anything and I was restless, so I started asking myself what I'd do if I didn't have anything else to do. So I think I'll stay active in politics and public life. I concluded I cannot be a pensioner,” said Basescu during a meeting with Romanians in Austria.

But he definitely sees himself taking a longer break after stepping down: he will go on a three-week holiday with his wife and make sure nobody contacts him in the meantime. “The president of Romania does not have a legal break. So even if you manage to take two – three days off, you have to have all communication systems on, all security systems with you and are available to sign a decree, an important paper, approve something, and so on. So I would like to have three weeks with no obligations to the state, and then I'll see what I do next,” said Basescu. When talking about his change of mind, he reminded of his other promise to step down: “I also said I would resign in five minutes,” he recently said, laughing, during a TV show. Basescu is currently in his second presidential mandate. His comments stirred political reactions, starting with the future presidential candidate and Basescu's replacement while he was suspended, Crin Antonescu, the leader of the National Liberal Party. Antonescu said that not going back into politics should perhaps be included in the Constitution for former presidents. Antonescu is in fact leading a commission which will propose changes to the Constitution this year. He said that preventing the president from going back into politics after the end of his mandate will increase the chances of him being impartial during his mandate. But Antonescu also said he expected Basescu's change of mind, as in 2014 he will still be young for politics. “At a bit over 60, a politician is still young for politics. Age in politics is different to age in sports or other activities,” said Antonescu, who is 54, eight years younger than Traian Basescu. editor@romania-insider.com (photo source: presidency.ro)