Journalist Cristian Tudor Popescu claimed that PNL president Nicolae Ciucă’s performance in Monday night’s election debate, on Antena 3, was his best public appearance so far and he withdrew the “title of Natantol”.
Cristian Tudor Popescu withdraws the title of Natantol from Nicolae Ciucă Photo: Inquam Photos
“Mr. Nicolae Ciucă was this evening (Monday, October 28, ed.) as if he woke up from a long sleep or a hypnotic trance in which he was until now. He seemed perfect and responded on the spot to the questions of the counter-candidates Lasconi, Ciolacu and Geoană, unsuspecting of having been communicated in advance. He gave an acceptable answer for the blunder of not knowing that Romania produces diesel fuel, even though he was prime minister. The family sequence, with the wife, niece and daughter-in-law, managed not to be pathetic and tear-jerking. He skilfully broke away from Klaus Iohannis and his superluxury plane, also avoiding landing on the golf course. He failed to remove the black stain of plagiarism from his doctoral thesis“, wrote Cristian Tudor Popescu, on Facebook, in the post entitled “The Romanian has woken up!“
During the electoral debate, Nicolae Ciucă signed a statement pledging that PNL will no longer govern with PSD. According to the document, the commitment is valid during the period in which Ciucă is in charge of the party. The paper was completed and signed live.
“PNL under my leadership will not form a government with PSD“, wrote Nicolae Ciucă on the paper which, later, remained with the organizers of the electoral debate.
Nicolae Ciucă PHOTO Inquam Photos / George Călin
“He looked competent and serious enough for a high position in the state. He played hard, writing and signing a paper live that he will no longer form a government with the PSD“, CTP also specified.
Journalist Cristian Tudor Popescu also claimed that it was Nicolae Ciucă’s best public appearance: “The oohs are considerably toned down, he had moments of intelligent spontaneity. It was his best public appearance to date. I withdraw the title of Natantol that I granted him“.
During the debate, Nicolae Ciucă answered several questions related to his relationship with Klaus Iohannis. The Liberal leader said he has never played golf with the president because he doesn’t play golf. He also stated that he has never been on the aircraft that Iohannis travels with on foreign trips.
“I was never a communist”
The PNL president was asked by Marcel Ciolacu, through a video clip, if he was a member of the Romanian Communist Party. Ciucă said that all the officers had to join the party and said that he did not hide this fact.
“I was never a communist. Before 1989, every officer of the Romanian Army was a member of the party, but I was never a communist, as such, until 1989 that was, for all the soldiers of the Romanian Army, for all those who graduated from the military school“, explained Nicolae Ciucă.