Deputy Catalin Drula from the Save Romania Union (USR) launched on Sunday his candidacy for the capital's mayor with a slogan similar to the one that shaped Nicusor Dan's presidential campaign. The December 7 elections - Drula said - are the choice between continuing the 'honest path' paved by Nicusor Dan, and leaving Bucharest in the hands of 'influence-peddling groups' that have brought the city into a 'critical state of decapitalization'.

'We are holding elections for a new mayor of Bucharest on December 7, but more importantly, the choice we have to make on December 7 will be between continuing along the honest path paved by Nicusor Dan, and leaving Bucharest again in the hands of those influence-peddling groups that, unfortunately, also swarm around the political parties and that have brought this city into a critical state of decapitalization,' Drula said.

He added that the citizens are wondering if there is still room in society or in the administration for honesty.

'And I want to tell you that 'Yes, there is'. And we have examples. We have the example of Nicusor Dan's term at the City Hall, which meant that he stood firm in the face of the real estate mafia, that he cleaned up the City Hall from a fiscal point of view, that - from the regrettably insufficient resources of the Bucharest City Hall - he invested in really important projects, that is in district heating pipes, in public transport, in projects that matter for the city,' Drula explained.

He also spoke about several aspects of his program, starting from transportation, public spaces, safety, urban planning, and ending with sports and culture, mentioning that he will have discussions with Bucharest residents in the coming weeks, in which he will detail these topics.

The candidate criticized the diversion of Bucharest residents' money - collected through taxes and fees - toward secondary administrative units like the city's sectors and Ilfov County, arguing that this leaves the Capital City Hall without sufficient resources for its own projects.

In his opinion, the local referendum held on November 24, 2024 highlights 'a very simple thing', namely that a single metropolitan budget is needed, and the sector budgets should be put together only after that.

He stressed that the fact that a significant portion of Bucharest's local tax revenue no longer goes to the Capital City Hall, but is redirected to the sectors, is the deliberate result of political decisions meant to weaken the General Mayor - especially during Nicusor Dan's term - and this undermines the city's ability to meet its real needs. He made it clear that this has to change.

The event launching Catalin Drula's candidacy for Bucharest Mayor was also attended by President Nicusor Dan. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Marinela Brumar; EN - writing by: Simona Klodnischi)