USR (Save Romania Union) chairwoman Elena Lasconi, one of the candidates in the May presidential elections, claimed, in an interview with AGERPRES, that she will file challenges with the Constitutional Court, the Permanent Electoral Authority and the court because she is prevented from campaigning, showing that, through the decision taken by 'a handful of people' in her party to cut off her access to funds, she does not have the same rights as the other opponents, which is a crime.

Elena Lasconi stated that, if she becomes president of Romania, she wants a different government and that she would not nominate Marcel Ciolacu [incumbent prime minister - editor's note] for the position of prime minister, but Ilie Bolojan [the current acting president - editor's note].

She also said that she will be 'a president for the people,' that she has no 'skeletons in the closet' or 'gangs' around her.

AGERPRES: What motivates you to continue running, after the decision of the USR to withdraw your support and cut your campaign funds?

Elena Lasconi: Injustice. In fact, this is what bothers all Romanians and that is probably why a lot of my colleagues in the country and a lot of Romanians reacted to this like they did. (...) What is happening right now is very serious and, basically, the fact that they cut my access to funds means that they deny me the same rights that the other opposing candidates have. And I believe that this is against the law, and I mean now article 385 of the Criminal Code, because they do not let me campaign. But I will take all the necessary steps and I am sure that all the decisions of the National Bureau will be annulled and that I will have access to the money again.

AGERPRES: The BEC (Central Electoral Bureau) has decided that USR cannot campaign for another candidate...

Elena Lasconi: Yes, but they are stubborn about doing this because they think maybe the party is their little business. So, try to think about the following: at the moment, I don't think they are so irresponsible as to have used money to pay for something for Nicusor Dan's campaign, but I am sure that my colleagues, who are taking over the airtime that is rightfully mine, are making a serious mistake and are also endangering Nicusor Dan's candidacy. And what I mean by this is that they could have his candidacy invalidated. (...)

AGERPRES: How many of your colleagues, USR members, still support you?

Elena Lasconi: (...) For example, today I saw that the entire Olt [county] organization is on my side, Mehedinti [county] as well. There are more people who are starting to organize and distance themselves from the wrong and anti-democratic actions that these colleagues of mine have taken, and I want to thank them for that, because it means a lot to me, it's important. (...)

AGERPRES: How do you think that the public welcomed what happened in your party? Was it like a wave of sympathy or not?

Elena Lasconi: Well, I actually think that all that has happened proved that I am the only independent candidate, the only candidate that it's truly anti-system, the only one that even these bullies in the party cannot control. (...)

AGERPRES: Nicusor Dan stated that he is not involved in this.

Elena Lasconi: But he is involved all the way through. When he says that USR will decide and then he says that USR did the right thing, he becomes a party to this whole thing. So, I think that, if the law is observed in this country, it is possible for this to happen, for him to be invalidated. It is possible, because there are many mistakes being made (...).

AGERPRES: And after the BEC decision that USR should not campaign for another candidate...

Elena Lasconi: Yes, they continue to do so. They will end up in court, they will end up with some big fines. Don't think it's easy. I will challenge this with the Constitutional Court, with the AEP (Permanent Electoral Authority) and to the court.

AGERPRES:What do you think about the visit of the American congressional delegation, which is currently in Romania?

Elena Lasconi: I greet them, because I saw that the delegation is made up of congressmen from both parties and I think it is very important to communicate. It is true that democracy in this country has some flaws and it would be good to admit this. (...)

AGERPRES: In this context, if you became president, how would you strengthen the Partnership with the United States so that Romania's decision-making sovereignty is not lost?

Elena Lasconi: We are a sovereign state, and we won't lose anything. I believe that through dialogue and honesty. The United States also has interests in Romania and the first of such interests that come to mind most quickly is Deveselu [military base, where an anti-missile shield is located - editor's note]. It is true that we also have a Strategic Partnership with the United States, but I think that the priority in the coming period is to stay close to Brussels, because from there we have a predictable policy, the messages are predictable, they are constant. And, if you ask me, the president must fight for Romania and for the priorities that Romania has. And now, given our geographical position, our priority in the eastern area is security and we should stay close to Poland and the Baltic States and take Poland as an example and do this too. Now, if we still have some money from the European Commission, for security, we should make the state companies that produce weapons more efficient and also invest a lot in infrastructure. (...)

AGERPRES: Investments in education, health or defence?

Elena Lasconi: No, there is no 'or'. The priorities are horizontal, they are not vertical. So, if we think about it, I would also tell you about drugs. It seems to me that this is a phenomenon at a national level and I said that, if not at the first, at the second CSAT (Supreme Council for Country Defence) meeting, I want to discuss this, because it does not seem normal to me that people are afraid to send their children to school thinking maybe who knows what will happen to them. (...) And, regarding health and education, I have said it countless times that we need more doctors, that every year over 100,000 Romanians are diagnosed with cancer in this country. We have extremely few oncologists and I really want to start screening programmes. Come on, before you start building anything, start these programmes, because you can save lives. (...)

AGERPRES: How do you see Romania's role in the context of the war in Ukraine? A logistical support or can we have our own strategic voice?

Elena Lasconi: Romania's longest border is with Ukraine. This war has been going on for three years. Russia is the one that invaded Ukraine. Nobody gave them more than two or three days to hold out. And I am really, how can I say, amazed and I am even proud of the Ukrainians because they were able to withstand so many years in the face of the aggressor that is Russia. The manner in which peace will happen in Ukraine will affect us too, because we do share the longest border with Ukraine. If we have peace, I would like it to be a lasting peace and to be on the terms imposed by Ukraine, because I see that discussions go on now between the United States and Russia, as if Ukraine did not exist. Moreover, if there is to be a lasting peace, and I say this because everyone is only talking about fake news, that we are sending soldiers, that we are not sending, so if there is to be a lasting peace and there is a need for peacekeeping troops to arrive there, the following conditions must be met first: a ceasefire, a peace, lasting peace, that Ukraine wants it and, then, a very important thing - let's discuss at the table of the 26 countries, with us being the 27th, at the level of the European Union, plus the UK, and let's see what our strategy is, what we want to do. (...)

AGERPRES: What are the first three measures you would take as president?

Elena Lasconi: (...) First of all, I will look at the prime minister. As I said, I will not nominate Ciolacu under any circumstances and I want to move forward with Mr. Ilie Bolojan, as I said, my word is a contract. I do not change my mind so easily, I do not make statements just for the sake of making statements.

AGERPRES: You said that you will enter the second round. Who would you prefer to be with in the second round or who do you see as your main opponent?

Elena Lasconi: I will be the president of Romania. I have no preferences. I do not know, because honestly I do not really trust the polls, because the same thing happened last year. No poll has reflected the reality at the polls. But, as the polls show now, if I were to take them into account, Simion would probably have the best chances, but I do not think he will enter the second round. (...)

AGERPRES: Do you think that a reform of the Constitution and/or the Constitutional Court is necessary?

Elena Lasconi: The Constitutional Court for sure. Regarding the Constitution, I think we have a very good Constitution, but the state institutions should have a balance, so that none of them can grab more power than the Constitution grants them. (...)

AGERPRES: What message does your candidacy send to the women in Romania who do not feel represented in politics?

Elena Lasconi: I would ask the women in Romania to understand that we are the majority in this country and no one can fight more for the women in this country except me, since I know what women go through. I know vulnerable women. I know women victims of violence, I spoke to them, with victims of domestic violence (...) If we give the signal that the mentality in Romanian society has changed and a woman is president, then believe me, I will be the best president in Romania. (...)

AGERPRES: Do you want to send a message to the voters?

Elena Lasconi: For all people of good faith, for all honest people in this country, for all people who are ignored, for all minorities, from all directions, for vulnerable people, for women, please give me this chance and you will see what I can do in five years. I am extremely hardworking, I am open, I am honest and I will work for each of the Romanians with dignity and honour. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Alina Novaceanu, EN - writing by: Cristina Zaharia)