The Romanian President Klaus Iohannis conveyed a New Year message to the Romanian citizens
Romania is a stable, democratic, secure and pro-European country, a reliable partner for our foreign allies, acting President Klaus Iohannis said in his New Year message. He recalls that, in 2024, Romania made significant economic progress, reduced the gaps in relation to the other European Union member states and achieved important objectives, such as full accession to the Schengen free movement area, and the elimination of visas for the United States. The living standards and incomes continued to increase in 2024, although the external context was not at all simple, the acting president also said.
He acknowledged that, amid justified dissatisfaction at society level, the country is in a watershed moment. “To overcome it successfully, we need to strengthen solidarity and regain trust in the political class,” Iohannis said. Only if we preserve our democracy and the values that have defined us as an authentic part of the European family will we get through this difficult stage, he said, adding that “the political class must show that they learned the lesson of 2024 and respond with concrete and rapid measures to the needs of society.” Together, we can keep Romania on its pro-Western path, guided by the fundamental principles and values that define us – justice, freedom and democracy – the Romanian President concluded.
On December 21, 2024, Klaus Iohannis’s second and last five-year presidential term, which the Constitution entitles him to, was due to expire. However, his mandate was extended until the election of a new head of state, to be validated by the Constitutional Court.
