Presidential candidates Traian Basescu, Mircea Geoana and Crin Antonescu met on Friday evening for a public debate at the Parliament, in an electoral confrontation organised by the Institute of Public Policy. The show's moderator is journalist Robert Turcescu, and TV channels have been invited to broadcast the event live.
Corneliu Vadim Tudor, presidential runner up for PRM, protested in front of the Parliament Palace for not having been invited to take part in the debate.
Incumbent president Traian Basescu arrived accompanied by his wife and younger daughter Elena. Crin Antonescu arrived a minute later, joined by his wife. Mircea Geoana arrives third, alongside his wife, in the applause of his supporters. The three candidates shook hands and Robert Turcescu started the show at 7 pm.
Why I want to be the president
Mircea Geoana held the first speech. He committed to having a government elected by Christmas should he win elections. He also stated he had a plan to get Romania out of the economic crisis. Geoana pledged to give his project to the future president of Romania. Crin Antonescu was the second to hold a speech. He said that he did not owe anything to other people and that his political career has been built by respecting principles. He claimed to be a "normal" man making politics. He said that Romania is being led by "the same political people, Romania is being led by the moguls that you use". Traian Basescu was the third to hold a speech. He said he had made a priority out of Justice during his mandate, which did not lack unfulfilled tasks, unintended nevertheless. He said that the uninominal vote, wished by Romanians, had become reality. He reminded the fact that he condemned the communist period and its crimes. Finally, Basescu said he did not make compromises with anyone and that he had fought for the Educatio
