Traian Basescu, photo: Inquam Photos – Sabin Cirstoveanu
Former President Traian Basescu stated, in an intervention at Digi24, that he did not make a decision on his participation in taking the oath by the new president Nicușor Dan, the reason for hesitation being that the Parliament does not recognize him as a former head of the state.
Traian Basescu stated that he could be missing from the ceremony by which Nicușor Dan will officially take over the duties of president of Romania. Basescu said that his hesitations are related to the fact that the Parliament took the rights of former president, reference to the law by which the rights of the heads of state are not granted to those who collaborated with the Security
“I have a great doubt whether to go or not. I confirmed that I go, but that to have all the options open (…) I received the invitation from the Parliament, a Parliament that took all my rights. Why would I go? Only out of respect for Nicușor Dan …” said Traian Băsescu.
He stated that the non -granting of the rights that the other heads of the state benefit would represent a non -recognition of the state of former president. “When you want to call me for festivities, you call me, but you do not recognize me as a president for an event 45 years ago,” said Basescu.
He mentioned that the invitation he received at the Monday ceremony in Parliament is signed by the presidents of the two Houses of Parliament, not by the president elected Nicușor Dan.
At the observation that not the current Parliament, withdrew the rights of the former head of the state, Traian Basescu replied: “The Parliament is like the Government of Romania, it does not matter who leads him.” But in the event that he will still decide to participate in Cermonia, the former chief said: “I will try to maintain the decency of the event.”
The benefits lost by Traian Basescu
According to Law 406/2001, the persons who had the status of head of the Romanian state benefit during the life of a series of rights and advantages.
a) free use of a protocol housing, with the destination of residence, which also includes a space with the destination of work office, framed with a position of counselor and a post of secretary;
b) a monthly allowance in the amount equal to 75% of the allowance granted to the President of Romania in exercise (about 25,000 lei);
c) guard and protection, as well as free use of a car, permanently provided by the protection and security service, according to the regulations in force.
According to a modification made in 2021 to the law, a final decision to collaborate with the former Security attracts the loss of rights granted for the rest of their lives. As Basescu received such a decision, pronounced on March 23, 2022 by the High Court of Cassation and Justice, he no longer benefits from the previously mentioned rights.
Nicușor Dan will take the oath for taking over the mandate of president on Monday, from 12:00, at the Parliament Palace, in a joint meeting of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate.
In addition to the parliamentarians, a number of other officials of the Romanian state will participate in the joint meeting of the two Chambers of Parliament, according to the law on official ceremonies, 215/2016, including:
- the prime minister in office (Cătălin Predoiu);
- former heads of state, in the chronological order of the first term;
- CCR president (Marian Enache);
- ICCJ president (Corina Corbu);
- Romanian MEPs;
- ministers;
- presidential advisers;
- the president of the Romanian Academy (Ioan Aurel Pop);
- chief of the General Staff (Gheorghiță Vlad);
