Newly elected national leader of the Save Romania Union (USR) Dominic Fritz said on Friday that he is aware that he is taking over the leadership in challenging times, but promising for an 'engaged' party.

'I am aware that I am taking over the leadership of USR in challenging times, but I believe that there are also promising times for an engaged party. There are enough energies, ideas and solutions both within USR and in the Romanian society to get Romania through this crisis and to get out of this crisis. My mission in USR is to reconnect with our voters, with our allies in society and, for sure, I will be a chairman who opens up the party,' Fritz said.

He added that politics is often viewed with scepticism. 'But, we see what is happening everywhere in the world, our democracy is based on people who get involved voluntarily and without interests in political life. I am also enormously proud that USR continues to attract new people who take this step, the vast majority of them without any payment, but as volunteers. In the last three weeks, we received over 2,000 applications to join USR to which I say 'Welcome' to all new members. And I also make an appeal: if you want to put your shoulder to the wheel in this construction, then now is a good time to join USR.'

Fritz added that he will remain mayor of Timisoara, as leading the city is 'the great honour of his life.'

'And who knows, maybe it's not even that bad that Romania is ruled not only from Bucharest. In the coming days and weeks, we will focus on negotiating good solutions for Romania in the government. We are a party that is ready to own responsibility for governing, to work alongside President Nicusor Dan, and, at the same time, after our Congress convention next Saturday, on June 21, we will also embark on reconstruction and new energy in the party,' Fritz said. AGERPRES (RO - editing by: Catalina Matei; EN - writing by: Corneliu-Aurelian Colceriu)