Elena Lasconi files for presidency amid calls from party to quit

By Romania Journal Last updated Mar 13, 2025

Get real time updates directly on you device, subscribe now.

USR President Elena Lasconi filed her candidacy for the May presidential elections at the Central Electoral Bureau (BEC) on Thursday, March 13. Elena Lasconi was accompanied to the BEC by USR MPs, including former USR leader Cătălin Drulă.

Elena Lasconi claims that if she becomes president, her first choice for prime minister remains Ilie Bolojan. She said that USR will never enter government in an Executive led by Marcel Ciolacu.

“I think Marcel Ciolacu needs to go and give some explanations to some prosecutors. Option number 1 is Ilie Bolojan,” said Lasconi. She also said that, in the event that Nicușor Dan wins the elections and goes to Cotroceni, she has no intention of running for Mayor of the Capital: “But, as USR president, I want USR to have its own candidate for Mayor of the Capital in 2028. The myth of independents doesn’t help at all, you need a team.”

Elena Lasconi was asked if she was considering asking for the expulsion of Allen Coliban and Clotilde Armand from the party, who have criticized her in public recently and said she should not run. She answered briefly: “I am considering winning the elections.”

Asked what she would do if at this moment Nicușor Dan proposed that one of them withdraw from the race, Elena Lasconi said that “I am always willing to dialogue”: “I will not withdraw. I am open to negotiations for Romania, do not consider my withdrawal, I will not withdraw.”

“Only corrupt politicians who cling to power who want to take even more millions in bribes, kickbacks, only they want to stay in power to take bribes. My choice is – the thieves should go to prison, be tried and not forgiven, and especially to recover the money they stole from Romanians. As president, I will listen to you, I come from among you,” Lasconi said.

She said that in the coming period she would “organize debates in which I would also speak to my supporters, but especially to those who voted for Georgescu. In the coming weeks I will be among you.”

“Last year when I filed my candidacy, a Georgescu fan asked me: What if Russia wins the peace? I told him to go talk to his parents and grandparents and tell them what havoc the Russians have caused in Romania. I didn’t feel the danger at that moment. Our fate was played at Russian roulette. We need safe, fair elections. I want to thank everyone who voted for me, the thousands, tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands of Romanians who signed for me to file my candidacy today,” said Elena Lasconi after filing her candidacy.

“I know and you know that I am not perfect, but I have the courage to do justice. Last year I was the candidate who passed the most tests in front of Romanians. I did not pass some of them as I wanted, but I learned from my mistakes, I surround myself with people who know better. I believe that Romanians have already made some choices, when I say this I think of people like you, who today no longer have to choose between Russia and the EU. Only politicians who betray the country are in adoration for the Putinist dictatorship. I have the courage to say that my choice is Europe and the strategic partnership with the USA”, Elena Lasconi also said.

DONATE: Support our work

In an ever changing and challenging world, the media is constantly struggling to resist. Romania Journal makes no exception. We’ve been informing you, our readers, for almost 10 years, as extensively as we can, but, as we reject any state funding and private advertising is scarce, we need your help to keep on going.
So, if you enjoy our work, you can contribute to endorse the Romania Journal team. Any amount is welcome, no strings attached. Choose to join with one of the following options:

Donate with PayPal

Donate by Bank Wire

Black Zonure SRL
UniCredit Bank. Swift: BACXROBU
RON: RO84 BACX 0000 0022 3589 1000
EURO: RO57 BACX 0000 0022 3589 1001
USD: RO30 BACX 0000 0022 3589 1002