President Iohannis: 15 km of highway inaugurated in the past year and a half, ridiculous

President Klaus Iohannis has criticised the Government’s lack of results, during a debate in Pitesti on Thursday.

“We have coloured maps and nice plans, but people want results and the 15 km of highway built in the past year and a half is ridiculously low,” Iohannis said during the debate ‘Auto industry, the driver of Romanian economy. Competitiveness’ growth factors’, hotnews.ro reports.

“I want to see responsible people in executive positions, who look beyond the party interests, in Romania’s interest,” the President said.

The head of state said that, if we add the kilometres promised by the governance during the past 20 years, “we would have motorways as much as China.” He has also deplored the so-called ‘euro-bitterness’, as the government members invent excuses when criticised by Brussels.

President Iohannis said he does not understand why the projects are not implemented, as there is money and the highways are badly needed, adding that European funds are important, as they aim regional development, but the large projects need political will. He argued most infrastructure projects are phased, they were not completed during the 2007-2013 financial term and were listed in the 2014-2020 term, but they will not be completed in this interval neither.

The President offered examples regarding the time needed to transport cars by rail from Craiova to Curtici (western border) – 24 hours, whereas from Curtici to Western Europe it tales only 12 hours. On the other hand, the Cluj-Curtici section is included in the funding plan with European funds, nevertheless CFR (Romanian railways) ‘hopes’ to start the construction in 2022, although the funding cycle ends in 2020.

President Iohannis also mentioned the Moldavia highway. The section Targu-Neamt, Iasi, Ungheni has already been postponed by 4 years. On the other hand, when works start, they are done astray.

The President said there is money but “we lack a serious approach on such issues.”

The head of state has paid a visit to Automobile Dacia at Mioveni, Arges County, to discuss with the management and employees. He has also attended the debate organised by the Romanian Automobile Manufacturers Association.

President waits for more convincing explanations on pension’s issue

Asked by the journalists if he is satisfied with the Government’s latest answers on the pensions’ issue, President Iohannis replied that he is waiting for more convincing responses.

“Let’s wait a little bit more, maybe we get more convincing answers”, Iohannis stated.

As for the statements made by Finance Minister Eugen Teodorovici, who argued that the Constitution doesn’t allow the head of state to talk about such topics as the fiscal policy, Iohannis briefly retorted: “As a matter of fact, I am in a position to talk.”

auto industryautomobile daciaCFRChinaClujcompetitivenessCraiovaCurticidebatehighwaysmanufacturersMioveniMoldaviamotorwayspitesti argespresident klaus iohannisprojectspromisesrailways
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