Iohannis: We need a better parliament that is highly performing and more transparent

President Klaus Iohannis on Monday said that a strong Romania cannot be built unless meritocracy is restored, insisting that the country needs a better parliament that is highly performing and more transparent. 

"I believe we cannot build a strong Romania, a respected Romania, unless we manage to restore and impose meritocracy. How can you be credible in the eyes of others when if you want to advance you have to rather know somebody than know something? No more so! That is why we have to get rid of these procedures that lead to the absence of transparency, procedures that encourage nepotism. We have to return to a predictable Romania, with transparent procedures, educated people and an efficient school and university administration that have to be done for the society, not for some of the society. All this will be in fact the stakes of the general election and always will be, because if we have a highly performing parliament, then the law that a minister sponsors that clarifies doctoral procedures pass instead of being returned by some smart alecks in Parliament. We need a better, highly performing and more transparent parliament," Iohannis told the opening of the new academic year at the West University of Timisoara, western Romania. 

He added that there is no other way for a citizen to put order in politics than by voting. 

"We need politicians who will build a better Romania," said Iohannis. 

"There are very many retrograde anti-justice and revanchist speeches, which do not solve the slightest problem in Romania. They only seem interesting, because there are people concerned with the fate of the nation, but in reality what we have to look for are politicians who get involved for the nation and who want to build for the future," added Iohannis. 

He said students and younger people should also get committed. 

"You have to be a strong voice telling what you want from our Romania. I believe that Timisoara, which has more than proved it understands what speaking up is; I am convinced that this Timisoara will keep existing in the future. That is why I am convinced that students, young people and the faculty staff will raise up in a strong voice to tell how they want Romania;s future to look like," Iohannis concluded. AGERPRES