Cristian Diaconescu, who recently concluded his advisory role to Romanian presidents, publicly addressed challenges faced during a period of political transition adn the fallout from the annulment of the 2024 presidential election. In an interview Saturday, Diaconescu characterized his tenure under interim President Ilie Bolojan and President Nicușor Dan as a time of stabilizing Romania amidst both domestic and international scrutiny. He detailed the extensive diplomatic efforts undertaken to reassure international partners following the unprecedented decision to cancel the election,a move that prompted questions from allies regarding the countryS commitment to democratic processes.
Cristian Diaconescu. Sursă foto: Inquam Photos / Sabin Cirstoveanu
Cristian Diaconescu, who served as a presidential advisor to both interim President Ilie Bolojan and later Nicușor Dan, described his time in office as a “transitional” period marked by challenges to Romania’s stability. The former advisor stated that during his tenure, “many of what represents Romania’s will and capacity to remain on the right path…were questioned through all sorts of attacks,” but emphasized that those difficulties have since been overcome.
Appearing on Digi24’s “În fața ta” program on Saturday, Diaconescu downplayed any drama surrounding the end of his collaboration with President Nicușor Dan.
“We had a discussion and agreed to stop this collaboration… There’s nothing spectacular to it. It simply falls into the normal functioning of this institution,” the former head of the Presidential Chancellery explained.
Diaconescu affirmed he has no regrets about taking on the role at the Presidential Administration.
“It was an extremely complicated period, a transitional period, in which many of what represents Romania’s will and capacity to remain on the right path…were questioned through all sorts of attacks. With my contribution, and that of many of our colleagues, this stage has been overcome,” he added.
Concerns Over Election Cancellation Addressed
The former top diplomat revealed that Romania received “a lot of questions” from international partners following the annulment of the 2024 presidential elections, but assured that those concerns were addressed.
“We received a lot of questions during that period from our partners regarding, of course, the exceptional moment of canceling elections in a democratic state. This concern was obviously well-founded. We answered these questions, and the situation has now been clarified,” Diaconescu stated.
He characterized his working relationships with both Bolojan and Dan as “very good.”
“Given the constitutional competencies of the presidential institution, there are elements related to involvement in the field of security and national defense. These areas needed to remain in a logic of continuity, because otherwise, one could enter a situation that we would never even want to imagine. This aspect was preserved, even in the context of interim periods, with very good collaboration with Mr. Bolojan and, subsequently, with Mr. Nicușor Dan, precisely because of their understanding of certain aspects—which, beyond internal and international debates, evaluations, and hybrid attacks—needed to remain in a state of permanence,” Diaconescu concluded.
