Iohanis: Governments' reservation frustrating for the mayors, politics for local communities must be transaparent

The governments'reservation is frustrating for the local authorities, and also for the Romanians, and promises were made to the mayors that were not kept, on Monday said President Klaus Iohannis, attending the General Assembly of the Romanian Municipalities' Association.

"Romania is changing, and you must be the part that is inducing the changes the citizen is feeling immediately and directly. I am aware of the achievements you've got in the municipalities you represent and they are impressive. Things are moving very fast and very well. (...) Sometimes, from within, one cannot realise how things are moving or the progress that has been made, but from the outside one can better see and it is obvious that you are moving. (...) Sadly, things are not moving equally well for everybody. Regardless of how good a mayor could be, they are not alone in the Romanian political space and they must relate and interact with other mayors, with other communities, with the local counselors, with the county counselors, and usually with the ones from the central authorities. And here, at least this is what it used to be back in time and things have never changed, the biggest discontents occur. The mayors wish to move, the governments are usually more reserved. This reservation is frustrating most of the times and I assure you that it is not only for you, but it is frustrating for me, too, and worst of all, for the Romanians," the president said.

He recalled "just a few of the promises that remained on paper", decentralisation being among them.

"Everybody knows that certain things have to be managed locally so that they can work better. (...) This is something that cannot go on anymore. The politics towards the local communities must be transparent, predictable and sustainable," Klaus Iohannis concluded.