The Vice-President of the European Parliament Victor Negrescu (PSD) states on Wednesday that the result of the elections in America has concrete stakes for Romania – from the financing of European security, the American military presence, the support for the Eastern Flank, the security of the Black Sea, to the commercial relations between the United States and the European Union. “Romania must work effectively with both the democrats and the republicans”, Negrescu believes.
“The result of the American elections changes the balance of power in Washington. For the next two years, President Donald Trump will have to work with a Congress in which Democrats hold the majority in both chambers. It is a change with concrete implications. Congress adopts legislation and approves federal budgets, the Senate confirms numerous important appointments, and parliamentary majorities can influence foreign policy, defense and economic priorities,” he wrote on Facebook on Wednesday. Vice President of the European Parliament Victor Negrescu.
According to him, for Romania, the stake is higher than it seems at first glance: “We are talking about financing European security, the American military presence, support for the Eastern Flank, Black Sea security and trade relations between the United States and the European Union.”
“I am part of the European Parliament Delegation for relations with the United States and I understood, from the dialogue with American partners, that political influence in Washington is built through constant relations with both parties, with members of Congress, with the administration and with the representatives of the American states. Unfortunately, in Bucharest, some politicians and political commentators were far too partisan and ignored the need for a balanced approach. I can already see how some of those who declared themselves convinced Republicans until yesterday are suddenly changing their minds the speech on television and boast of relations in the democratic camp that they never had”, the social democrat also transmitted.
According to him, the new majority will also bring changes in the management of parliamentary committees, including those that manage foreign policy, defense and budgets.
“For Romanian diplomacy, this means new interlocutors and the need to strengthen political and institutional relations. Perhaps the time has come to change our approach as well.
There is also a broader political lesson. The elections demonstrated once again the importance of the economic and social concerns of the citizens. The cost of living, prices and economic security were central themes of the American campaign. They are equally relevant topics for Europeans and Romanians. They were, moreover, among the themes that contributed to the return of President Donald Trump to power”, Negrescu also declared.
He is of the opinion that Romania must work effectively with both the democrats and the republicans.
“The strategic partnership with the United States must remain above electoral cycles. The political change in Washington must not only be observed from Bucharest or Brussels. It must be understood and transformed into concrete opportunities for Romania’s security, economy and international influence”, concluded the MEP.
Democrats have taken control of both houses of Congress, according to US media projections, handing President Donald Trump’s Republicans a crushing defeat in the midterm elections.
