Viorica Dancila, a former prime minister and leader of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), was elected president of the new Nation People Together Party (NOI) on Tuesday evening, April 12. As the sole candidate for this position, she received 247 votes in favour and only two against, local Libertatea reported.

During the same congress, which was NOI's first, Francesco Serban was elected executive president, and Cornelia Bolos was appointed general secretary.

In her speech at the congress, Viorica Dancila said that she decided to return to politics to create consensus and replace personal and party interests with national interests.

"For me, all the achievements during my time as prime minister of Romania represented the fulfilment of a duty of honour for the Romanian people. I admit that not everything was perfect, but there were many good things for Romania and the Romanians. I further express my belief that everyone must be judged according to the real legacy they left at the end of the term, not according to the perceptions induced and artificially maintained by certain environments vitiated by obscure interests," Dancila said, according to Agerpres.

"I am convinced that my return to politics will attract a lot of criticism, but, as someone who loves the country, as a good Romanian, I can't stay away when I see that things are not going well. I assure you that I will not give in, I will not take any steps back, no matter what attacks or misinformation come. I am a strong, persevering person, and I assure you that I decided to join the "Nation People Together" Party the moment I was convinced that I am more determined than ever to return to the political scene and fight for the good of my country," she added.

Viorica Dancila announced at the end of March this year that she decided to leave PSD after 26 years because she no longer agrees with the decisions taken by the current leadership. In turn, she joined the new party NOI.

At the same time, the local media reported that Dancila also resigned from the central bank BNR, where she was hired in 2021 as an adviser to Governor Mugur Isarescu.

Viorica Dancila served as prime minister of Romania from early 2018 to fall 2019 when she was dismissed by no-confidence vote in Parliament. She was the first woman in Romanian history to hold the office of prime minister.

irina.marica@romania-insider.com

(Photo source: Inquam Photos/Octav Ganea)