PM Dacian Ciolos at Antena3TV – tough retorts about criticism and lies, about ‘getting down into the mud’

At the debate, called “The country project, between politics and technocracy”, organised by the Group for Social Dialogue and ‘Revista 22’ on Tuesday and moderated by Gabriel Liiceanu, PM Dacian Ciolos made some disturbing statements for Antena3 TV, its host in the evening.

Asked by Liiceanu why would he attend the talk-show, Dacian Ciolos explained his choice to attend a talk show at Antena3 TV Tuesday evening, saying his aim is to inform the viewers of that very TV station, who otherwise would not have access to his point of view. He compared this to the situation of an agronomist, when sometimes one has to get down into the mud.

“In order to do your job properly, one has to wear rubber boots to get into the mud in order to avoid getting dirty all over,” Ciolos said. “I will attend the show out of respect for the people who, for a reason or another, I don’t have in hand all the reasons to judge, watch this TV station or exclusively this TV station – people who do not receive any other information about the prime minister or about a minister, but receive only the information supplied by the TV station,” Dacian Ciolos said.

Mihai Gadea, the host of ‘Sinteza zilei’ talk-show Tuesday evening, having Dacian Ciolos as guest, was – as expected – tensioned and full of retorts. The anchor accused Ciolos of offending the TV station’s viewers by saying he is to get down into the mud in order to attend the shos. Dacian Ciolos explained he was referring to the lies the TV station has repeatedly broadcast in regard to him and not to the viewers. “I was referring to the systematic lies told about me,” Ciolos said. The dialogue in such terms continued intermittently throughout the entire talk-show.  Mihai Gadea accused the cabinet ministers (Dan Costescu – ex-transport minister and Raluca Pruna – justice minister) of telling lies in their turn. Ciolos claimed their statements were taken out of context and that he should have been asked about various issues before broadcasting information about his activity.

The TV station’s anchor Mihai Gadea said the PM has been invited several times to Antena3 TV and turned down the invitations. Ciolos replied he cannot be available every time lies are being told about him. “You can’t stand criticism,” Gadea said. “I can’t stand lies,” Ciolos replied.

In the end, Mihai Gadea invited PM Dacian Ciolos to watch a promotional film about Antena3 TV activity, claiming he would hear the station’s viewers. However, the film included only references to the station’s achievements. Dacian Ciolos watched the film for a while, then turned around and looked to the camera to the very end.