Chairman of the National Liberal Party ( PNL, the Opposition, ed.n.) Ludovic Orban stated on Saturday that the organization of the Liberals' regional electoral rally in the Union Square in Iasi, around the statue of Prince Alexandru Ioan Cuza, was not randomly chosen as it has ample historical connotations but also because it is the place where the May 9 counter-manifestation took place, against the Social Democratic Party (PSD, major at rule, ed.n.) rally.
With regard to the rally organized by PSD on May 9, Ludovic Orban said that, like Cuza, he kisses on the cheeks the Romanians who "have the courage to respond to these people without virtue."
"Alexandru Ioan Cuza, when Goodman Ion Roata came to him and complained about a boyer spitting in his face, kissed him on the cheek. I kiss on the cheek all the people of Iasi who had the courage to fight against the red plague and tell Dragnea that he has no place at Romania's helm. I kiss on the cheeks all the Romanians who have the courage to respond to these people who lack honour, education and common sense and their 7 years at home [saying in Romania: a well-bred man is said to have had his 'first seven years at home', ed.n.] that they have to step down," the PNL leader added.
He criticized PSD leader Liviu Dragnea, accusing him of lack of patriotism.
"What kind of patriot is Dragnea if he did not come on January 24 in Iasi alongside the people of Iasi and of Moldavia to celebrate the Union of the Principalities? What kind of patriot is Liviu Dragnea if on March 27 he did not set foot in Chisinau to celebrate the Centennial of the Union with Bessarabia? What kind of patriot is Dragnea and his clique if on November 28 they did not set foot in Bucovina to celebrate the Centennial of Bucovina's Union with Romania? What kind of patriot is Liviu Dragnea who on December 1, 2018, when we celebrated 100 years since the Greater Union, did not set foot in Alba Iulia, the capital of the Union? They are not patriots, they are traitors of the nation and the country, and they are the people who want to destroy Romania. They are the people who want to keep us in servitude and servility. There is only one force to defeat the red plague. This force is PNL," Orban said in his speech.
For the first time in the electoral campaign, President Klaus Iohannis went on the stage placed in front of the Unirea Hotel. Also present were Raluca Turcan, Theodor Stolojan, Daniel Fenechiu, Vasile Blaga, Siegfred Muresan, Rares Bogdan, Gheorghe Falca, as well as leaders of the PNL organizations in the region of Moldavia.