President Iohannis refuses to comment rumours on alleged bid for the European Council’s helm

Asked on Thursday if he is considering a relocation to Brussels amid information he might run for the Presidency of the European Council, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis has replied that “it is not good to comment on rumours.”

“If this is someone’s opinion, then it is no problem to me, but I don’t think it is good in this moment to comment on rumours. We are starting negotiations for the European Commission’s Presidency. We have no significant progress yet in these negotiations, so, let’s wait and see how the discussion is going on today, maybe tomorrow, maybe next week. Everybody agrees that negotiations must be quick so that we should have a name for these positions,” President Iohannis stated before attending the European Council meeting.

Also questioned if he is preparing his toothbrush and pyjamas for a long night of negotiations, the Romanian head of state retorted: “It’s not absolutely sure I will need a pyjama“.

Rumours on a potential bid of Klaus Iohannis for the presidency of the European Council have been reactivated by a Financial Times article some days ago, claiming that the Romanian President is one of the politicians who could become the head of the European Council.

First rumours about the Romanian President’s potentially running for the European Council top position appeared in March this year.

On the other hand, Iohannis has dismissed the possibility, announcing his candidature for a second term at the Romanian Presidency since June last year.