The launch event of the PSD-PNL candidate for the Capital City Hall, Cătălin Cîrstoiu, showed a competitor ready to enter into discussions about the development of Bucharest, but also into political cliches, but being supported from the sidelines by a real party gallery.
Cătălin Cîrstoiu also kept to jokes PHOTO Inquam Photos
The atmosphere at the launch of the candidate of the PSD-PNL Alliance in the capital, although it was announced in the form of a press conference, which would have required the presence of several leaders and media representatives, was transformed by the Coalition into a real training session for the campaign election that will start in less than a month. The event hall had a serious composition of party people, in addition to the presidents of the sectors and some of the leaders of the formation, being present in addition to Nicolae Ciucă, Marcel Ciolacu, Gabriela Firea, Sebastian Burduja and the candidate Cătălin Cîrstoiu, politicians like Rareș Bogdan, Lucian Bode, Marian Neacșu, Ionuț Stroe, Alfred Simonis, Lucian Romașcanu and many others. The possible difficulties of the PSD-PNL candidate for the City Hall of the Capital, at the press conference, were partially solved by the party audience, which started to applaud the doctor, every time he felt that he was hesitating with the answers.
From the confession about the disease to the funny moments
Sebastian Burduja and Gabriela Firea, until two days ago potential candidates for the Capital City Hall, now reconverted into Cîrstoiu's campaign coordinators, came together to the event and both framed the doctor, so far discreetly with public appearances, but who tried to be as popular as possible, make jokes and possibly shoot some arrows.
Towards the end of his speech, Cîrstoiu also made a confession. More precisely, the fact that he fought cancer. “If I were to make a personal confession to you, perhaps one of the obligations towards my patients was to ensure the treatment of serious diseases, cancer, at the University Hospital, and I did it, I say. It has the most modern radiotherapy bunker that exists in Eastern Europe. In a short time it will be functional. Looking at this city, I saw that probably, through various diagnostic elements, it has the same disease, this disease that obsessed me for a long time of my life. In front of you is a survivor of this disease. I am sure, making this confession, which for me is a little painful, that together we will defeat a sick city and together we will make it a healthy one”, testified Cîrstoiu, who spent part of the time talking about the health system, the traffic in Bucharest and the polluted air. In fact, behind it was the slogan “Stability and development”, the argument of stability being often invoked by the Coalition.
There were also moments at the conference that raised eyebrows. One of the moments of fun and amusement was related to the fact that Robert Negoiță had announced the day before that he saw Piedone as more suitable, given his administrative qualities. At the press conference, when Cîrstoiu asked Negoiță's opinion, Marcel Ciolacu called the mayor of Sector 3 on stage. “Come on, Robert, this way. Come on, if he ate you, I told you. Then we also call Rareș Bogdan“, said Ciolacu, laughing.
Negoiță stated that the media representatives interpreted what he said: “I say too directly what I think. And I think I'm thinking. I didn't say I was voting with someone elsea”, pointed out Negoiță, who congratulated Cîrstoiu, then left the stage. The statement that Negoiță will vote with Cătălin Cîrstoiu came from Daniel Băluță, the mayor of Sector 4, who was sitting right next to the mayor of Sector 3.
He did not forget Rareș Bogdan
Nor was Rareș Bogdan forgotten, after two days ago he mocked the current candidate: “If I were a candidate for sacrifice, I would honestly tell you to ask Rareș (no – Bogdan), because he knows better about anatomy. I think he's pretty well on his feet. He had a pain in his spine, but we recovered. (…) To consider myself a candidate for sacrifice is a big mistake”, pointed out Cîrstoiu, PSD-PNL choice for the General City Hall.
Some PSD and PNL representatives received the statements of Cîrstoiu and the two presidents of the Coalition, Ciucă and Ciolacu, with a smile on their faces, while Firea was much more serious. Incidentally, in his speech, Firea never mentioned the name of Cătălin Cîrstoiu, speaking instead of the fact that PSD and PNL shook hands leaving aside the possible “passions” and “arrogances”.
On the other hand, the situation is not resolved in the sectors. Next in the Coalition will be the discussions about the best candidates for the mayors of the sectors 1, 2 and 5, not being given a clear deadline for the completion of their evaluation and selection.
Băsescu's advice for his end
Cătălin Cîrstoiu, who had Traian Băsescu as her godfather, claims that she also discussed with the former president about assuming the candidacy, and the current MEP gave her arguments not to enter the race, but he did not listen. “We had a long talk. His lordship, as in a family, explained to me why it is not good to do this job, giving me strictly personal, human arguments. Something that, honestly, my father also did. I didn't listen, that's how I am. I never listened”, stated Cîrstoiu, who emphasized that he did not enter the race for a personal advantage, but because he believes in the project for Bucharest. Moreover, he recommended everyone to ask Traian Băsescu now if he will vote for him.
