Elena Lasconi denied a series of information about her that appeared during the campaign, such as the fact that she would like to send Romanian men to the front in Ukraine or that she “wants to make our children gay”. She assured that she would not involve Romania in the war and that she does not want military service to be mandatory, “as Georgescu said”. She stated that she believes that a family is made up of a man and a woman and denied that USR has in its program the support of concepts such as “parent 1 and parent 2”, plus a promotion of LGBTQ.
The USR presidential candidate said on Tuesday evening on Antena 3 CNN that it is “proven Russian manipulation” that they would like to impose an “LGBT dictatorship” and added that she has “the slightest interest in what people do in their bedrooms and it is not the job of politicians to do this”.
“You should know that I have suffered for showing my faith. I was born an Orthodox Christian, I was baptized in church, an Orthodox Christian. (…) On the other hand, I have been criticized even by my colleagues for having this cross that I wear, which I have had since 1999”, Elena Lasconi began her response.
She then recalled “how difficult” the moment was when she revealed that she voted “yes” in the family referendum: “How much I suffered both personally and how much it affected my political career, because I was removed from the list of European Parliament candidates”.
“But, despite all this, I have not renounced the word of God and God, because I feel Him every day in my soul. But I have not set out to come up with populisms like this and to make propaganda, because I have Him in my life and in my soul. I have faith that God this year, these days, will not take His eyes off Romania. I have this faith,” declared Elena Lasconi, when asked how she responds to rumors according to which if she becomes president, children will be taught in schools that they must be gay and that it will be propaganda that will twist the minds of children. She urged Romanians to vote for her, as she is the only guarantee that Romania will remain on the European and Western path.
Russian-style manipulation
“Think that as mayor I have officiated over 600 marriages. There are three important moments in life: birth, marriage and death. At birth and death you don’t really know what the deal is. But at the wedding I absolutely wanted to be there, because it is such an important moment,” she continued.
She then confirmed that from her point of view marriage is “between a woman and a man”. “Religious marriage is between a woman and a man and is a mystery from God. But, on the other hand, I have learned, as a good Christian, that the most important lesson you have to learn in this life is love for your neighbor. That is how I was raised by my grandmother. And when I say that, that also means tolerance. Tolerance goes hand in hand with love. Not hatred, not division, not violence”.
“We have so many very serious problems right now, with Russia blowing our noses now, that, believe me, I have the slightest interest in what people do in their bedrooms and it is not the job of politicians to do this. I would like people to be interested. It is a Russian-style manipulation, it is obvious, it is demonstrated”, Lasconi also said.
The USR candidate for the elections also stated that she does not want the introduction of compulsory military service. She also told Romanians who have relatives abroad that they might not see them again if her opponent in the competition for Cotroceni, Călin Georgescu, becomes president, because he will take the country out of the EU and free movement will be affected.
Lasconi emphasized that Georgescu wants military service to be mandatory, but she only wants an army of professionals. “Another little thing is that I want to send men to the front. God forbid! We will only become cannon fodder if we leave NATO, I am not the one who said that he wants compulsory military service, Mr. Georgescu did that. I want an army of professionals. The Romanian army must be strengthened, and the soldiers better paid. Without NATO, we would be trampled underfoot. “This is not possible, because we are in NATO and we are just a millimeter away from losing,” explained Elena Lasconi, who assured that she would not involve the country in the war in Ukraine, which is also impossible from a legal point of view.
Retraction about Coldea, Basescu, Kovesi
Elena Lasconi stated that it is manipulation that she would like to bring back to power in our country the former deputy director of the SRI Florian Coldea, the former head of the DNA Laura Codruța Kovesi who currently heads the European Prosecutor’s Office or the former president Traian Băsescu.
“First of all, I do not know Mr. Coldea, Mrs. Kovesi, I have never spoken to them. Yes, I believe that corruption is a big problem in Romania, and yes, justice must be functional, but this by holding magistrates accountable, but in no case will I come with the people of the past, but with the people of the present. In no case will this happen. So it is a total lie,” said the USR candidate in the presidential elections.
She also stated that she spoke with Băsescu “maximum three times”. “But there was never any talk of that (a plan to bring Traian Băsescu back – ed.). It was not in the plan and he did not even participate in the electoral campaign as an advisor. I paid for advisors from the US. No, I tried and I try to take what is good from the presidents that Romania has had, even from the mayors, because it seems important to me to be a good steward even when you are at the head of the country. Not for a second was it about that. It is a lie”, explained Lasconi.
Elena Lasconi will face Călin Georgescu on December 8, in the second round of the presidential elections.