Cătălin Drula promises reforms and a single budget for Bucharest. What does he say about the relationship with Nicușor Dan
The USR candidate for the Capital City Hall, Cătălin Drula, said that he enjoys the support of the former mayor of Bucharest, Nicușor Dan. He spoke about the need to continue local reforms, about his administrative experience and about plans for a single budget of the Capital.
USR candidate for the Capital City Hall, Cătălin Drula PHOTO: Inquam photos /
Cătălin Drula confirmed the support of President Nicușor Dan: “Yes, I have the support of President Nicușor Dan, in his capacity as mayor of Bucharest. We are very interested in what is happening with Bucharest, what is happening with the projects of this city and a style of government that we have had in the last 5 years, a local government that opposed group interests and put the interests of the people of Bucharest first. Here I am also referring to the real estate area, and to the budget consolidation. The two referendums referred exactly to this, and unfortunately they are still not implemented in the law. For one of them I myself submitted, for the referendum for the Capital's budget, I submitted a law discussed with the president Nicușor Dan”. he stated Drula, on Wednesday, at Antena 3 CNN.
He emphasized that Bucharest needs to continue on the path drawn by Nicușor Dan:
“I think that the city needs to continue along these lines of honesty and that the big systems that are suffering, that's what I'm saying, the president is also saying it, the transport system must be developedthe heating system, can only be done if the Capital City Hall has this budget reform, to have the money for the projects“.
Asked if he is Nicușor Dan's favorite for the December 7 elections, Drula qualified: “I cannot speak for him. I also rely on the vote of President Nicușor Dan, but most of all I rely on the vote of the people of Bucharest, they will decide these elections”.
Administrative experience and the fight with the “subway mafia”
Cătălin Drula recalled his administrative experience, especially the fight for the abolition of commercial spaces from the metro:
“I stood up in front of some dangerous group interests, the subway mafia, I saw those transcripts from DNA, I found out that he had put a price on my head, I don't know how many millions, he had said that he would pay some racketeers to execute me because I made order and because I put the interests of the citizens first. I was warned not to interfere“.
Regarding the possible “ruling with a crowbar” in Bucharest, Drula stated that he wanted a leadership “determined and based on realities and truths“.
Plans for a single budget of the Capital
The USR candidate reaffirmed his intention to introduce a single budget for Bucharest, as the people of Bucharest voted in the referendums: “Bucharest has money, while the Capital City Hall has no money“. He explained that, currently, the taxes collected go to the sectors and to Ilfov County, instead of being centralized for the development of the Capital.
