Liberals must stand by Ilie Bolojan, Bucharest Mayor Ciprian Ciucu said, arguing that the prime minister saved the party 'from a single-digit disaster' in the November 2024 elections.

In his view, Ilie Bolojan is being 'hammered daily' in the media in a manner that is 'entirely unfair'. Had all the measures agreed within the ruling coalition been implemented last year, 'including cutting privileges', the country would now be in a far better position, Ciucu wrote on Facebook on Friday.

'It is completely unfair! Ilie Bolojan is being attacked day after day in the media. Across all media. Yet no one says that if all the agreed measures had been taken last year, including cutting privileges, the country would now be in a much better state. No one! They allowed only the measures that affected the population to pass, then blocked the necessary reforms and then began undermining the credibility of the only person willing and courageous enough to do what had to be done after the budgetary disaster they themselves left behind,' said Ciucu, who is first vice-president of the National Liberal Party (PNL).

According to him, Bolojan has put his 'credibility on the line' and has not responded to 'the slanders'. Meanwhile, 'repeat offenders are giving lessons', and those who have become 'obscenely wealthy' from business with the state and from privileges are scrutinising the prime minister 'down to the watch on his wrist'.

'Liberals must stand by Ilie Bolojan. In November 2024 he saved the party from a single-digit disaster! He put his credibility on the line and gave Romanians hope! Some forget or pretend to forget! Without Bolojan, we would now be saying goodbye to the governing coalition! Because yes, there is already a pattern: we always come after left-wing populists to repair the disaster they leave behind. And throughout all this time, Ilie Bolojan has remained silent. He has not responded to the slanders,' the mayor wrote.

Ciucu added that six months ago 'no one was rushing' to take on the position of prime minister. A 'more or less reformist' governing protocol was signed, but any reform that would have reduced privileges was subsequently postponed and compromised.

'They were trying to feign ignorance and were looking for technocrats to push forward. They could not even find those! The great political men! The great figures who now demand responsibility! The great critics! They knowingly signed a governing protocol that was somewhat reformist, but with the intention of sabotaging the government as soon as the difficult measures for the population had been adopted. And then they postponed and compromised every reform that would have curtailed their privileges. We have a looted country, looted cities, looted state-owned, national and municipal companies - by those with privileges,' the Liberal leader said.

Politics and public communication today are 'only about narratives', promoted by those with the most money, Ciucu added, describing it as 'a grotesque, repugnant spectacle'.

'It is a deceitful 'narrative' they are pushing - that Bolojan is against the people. In fact, they are! Bolojan took responsibility for the measures needed to keep our country afloat, with the promise, enshrined in the governing protocol, that public systems, administration, municipal companies and the so-called 'special' categories would follow. The country of the privileged! Politics and public communication today are only about 'narratives'. And about money: whoever has more money can push their narrative! People forget - political memory is short. And only the narrative matters,' Ciprian Ciucu added. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Irinela Visan; EN - writing by: Simona Iacob)