Gabriela Firea, the PSD candidate for the Capital City Hall, denied, in a televised interview, that she would like to take over the leadership of the party and gave assurances that if she wins the elections, she will not accept to lead the formation even if the president of the formation asks her to social democrats.
Gabriela Firea: I don't want to have a political springboard Photo: Archive
“Definitely not. I was general mayor before and there was another president of the party and I did not express my (intention No. ) for 4 years – in fact, I was in office longer, because the pandemic came and, as you know, the mandates of local elected officials were extended. So I had a mandate for more than 4 years and I did not show that intention. I don't want to have a political springboard. I am more than honored for the political positions I have, first vice-president of the PSD and also the president of the Bucharest organization. I definitely don't want to. Even if Mr. Marcel Ciolacu were to ask me, personally, ever, to take this position as president of the PSD, I will not do so and I will tell you why. I believe that, in the real way, Romanian society is not ready for these number one positions in the state or in the leadership of a party to be occupied by women“, stated Gabriela Firea, in an interview broadcast on stirileprotv.ro, after she was asked if she would try to take over the leadership of the party in the situation where she would end up as General Mayor of the Capital.
The PSD senator said regarding President Trăian Băsescu, who accused the existence of a collusion between Marcel Ciolacu and Cristian Popescu Piedone, that “acts like a kind of oracle”and that he does not give much importance to what was said.
“With all due respect for the presidential position, the highest in the state, which Mr. Traian Băsescu held, I allow me to say now that he behaves like a kind of oracle and speaks in sentences. I think that period has passed when you really had it all in politics, and let's not forget how your lordship became such a last-minute candidate and a general surprise (…) I wouldn't give very, very, very much credit prophecies“, said Gabriela Firea.
Firea: I will go to the City Hall or the European Parliament
The PSD candidate for the Capital City Hall said that she is not giving up her place on the coalition list for the European Parliament elections and that if she does not win the local elections in Bucharest, she will opt to be a Member of the European Parliament.
“After the elections, on June 10, we will certainly see what the result of the local elections is. If I am re-elected, I will definitely opt, in the 15 days, for the term of general mayor, if not, definitely, because it was work and to be in that third place on the list, I didn't even get there as a prize for consolation, and for no other reasons, and also as a result of my political activity, my colleagues proposed me on this list, so practically nothing changes. After June 10, depending on the citizens' vote, I will go to the City Hall or the European Parliament“, stated Gabriela Firea.
Asked who she considers to be her main counter-candidate for the Capital City Hall, Gabriela Firea indicated the current mayor, Nicușor Dan.
Regarding the possibility of withdrawing the candidacy of Cristian Popescu Piedone, the PSD senator stated: “Honestly, I would like to win with Mr. Cristian Popescu Piedone being in the race“.
The scandal of the asylums of horror
The PSD senator said that she has no involvement in the “horror asylums” scandal.
“Dif I had known with one person, not two, three, 10-15, going through a difficult situation, I would definitely have acted. (…) Almost a year has passed, public opinion was able to ascertain that I had not the slightest involvement, neither me nor my husband, because it would have been found out, there would have been public communications”, said Gabriela Firea.
