The unrealistic promises of the candidates at the Presidency: “The president cannot intervene in the government policies” analysis

The presidential elections in May bring to attention an older problem in the Romanian society. The choice of the head of state is always the poll of the citizens, which is also noticed from the higher presence in vote compared to other scrutins. However, the powers of the head of state are limited by the Constitution, a context in which, according to the promises made in the campaign, the electorate becomes disappointed. However, this does not discourage candidates, who continue to float every time.

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“The President of Romania represents the Romanian state and is the guarantor of national independence, unity and territorial integrity of the country. The President of Romania watches over the Constitution and the good functioning of the public authorities. For this purpose, the president exercises the mediation function between the state powers, as well as between the state and the society”, Shows the first article in the Constitution of Romania regarding the duties of the president, which the citizens are to choose on May 4 and 18.

According to the fundamental law of the state, the president represents the state external, having duties in foreign policy and defense. He is the supreme commander of the army and convenes the CSAT. He also appoints the prime minister and promulgates laws.

The candidates for the presidential elections in the month seem to be preparing for a position at the top of the Executive and not for the first position in the state, which has completely different attributions to some proposals that they submit in their programs.

Presidential candidates' programs

A common point found on the agenda of the candidates is the change of government. Elena Lasconi proposes the current interim president Ilie Bolojan, and Nicușor Dan will not keep Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu at the head of the Romanian Government. Moreover, however, Victor Ponta, who promises a new government in his program “To implement effective and transparent policies.” Only Crin Antonescu does not give guarantees that he will change the government, but that he will maintain it.

Although the president appoints the prime minister, his appointment is the attribute of the parliamentary parties, as a result of the formation of some majorities, being practically impossible to change the executive without a political understanding.

Candidates have several proposals that do not concern the duties of the president: reduction of labor tax in Romania, justice reform, change of electoral law, administrative-territorial reform and even change of constitutional judges.

Why are the candidates proposals not honest

The political scientist Cristian Pîrvulescu emphasizes that the programs of the current candidates “are not achievable“And they are not”have no programs. (…) He no longer shakes his head with the programs, because it doesn't matter much anyway. (…) For the simple reason that I know I can't respect it. In addition, people do not know and are not interested in the duties of the president ”.

“There is an imaginary president who has to deal with all kinds of things, which is of major importance because he is chosen by direct vote, and the Constitution is a certain matter. Including the scandal in the last months of the annulment of the elections made some believe that the Constitution is an act and does not have an extraordinary importance. It is not a radical change. They seem to live in a “Trumpist” world that disintegrates under our eyes “, also explains the politicalologist Cristian Pîrvulescu.

Also, Cristian Pîrvulescu emphasizes that the result of the presidential elections has an indirect effect on the economy, and the last election year produces harmful effects, the economic model that allowed the development of Romania being dependent on political stability: “The markets react (…) So not only do a false campaign, but they mislead the public opinion that will be absolutely unhappy, because all those things cannot be achieved. (…) Romania fully pays the adventurism, the amateurism of the politicians and the anarchism of the voters ”.

The political scientist points out that a head of state “Nothing should promise us.”

“It should have a very clear program regarding the duties of the president, who are related to the three reserved fields, that is, the public order, and here they can refer to a whole system related to public order, international relations and defense. They are correlated, they are called what the Royal functions of the state, the management positions of the state. Russia, with the United States, with China, the dynamics of the European Union we belong to. says the analyst.

“We do not have a presidential regime. The president cannot intervene in government policies”- Cristian Pîrvulescu, political

“The President of Romania is absolutely weak”, Cristian Pîrvulescu also points out, explaining that the powers he has regarding the dissolution of the Parliament, the appointment of the prime ministers or even the convening of the referendum are difficult to access, being also at the hands of the Parliament, which can suspend it. “The whole political force is in the prime minister. (…) We do not have a presidential regime. The president can intervene in government policies except in his fields of competence. The Constitution is very clear.”also emphasizes Cristian Pîrvulescu.

According to the political scientist, the candidates bypass the real problems they should focus on, not for a lack of knowledge, but to “stimulate the public ”context in which I can also use misinformation such as the scenario of resumption of tour II: “We must say that it is not chosen. It rejects us. So we talk about rejections. We call them elections, but there are rejections. The other candidates are rejected. They are not chosen. ”