PDSR (Party of Social Democracy) leader Ion Iliescu on Friday launched the programme of his candidacy for the presidential elections, promising to diminish the critical touch of his speech in favour of an "appeal to tolerance addressed to all forces that are willing to participate in Romania's reconstruction."
"Close to people, together with them" - this was the slogan under which Ion Iliescu announced his electoral offer, at the reunion of the PDSR mayors' League.
He pledged to finalise the process of retroceding confiscated properties to former owners "without tensions, illegalities and injustice," to accelerate the privatisation process for the companies that are not essential for assuring minimal public services in strategic domains.
"The rich people in Romania have to help the poor," the PDSR candidate said and added that he would fight for "this country's wealth to be equitably shared between all those working for it."
As far as foreign policy is concerned, Iliescu believes that the European Union and NATO joining is essential, and added that he would promote the national interest.
He promised to eradicate poverty, bureaucracy, to build a functional market economy, to undertake fiscal reforms, to reduce the VAT for basic products and drugs.
Iliescu also pledged to "fight" for the reinforcement of state institutions. "The Orthodox Church deserves its status of National Church, but this status does not involve its domination over the other cults," Iliescu said.
The PDSR candidate added that he did not want to ignore "justified criticism" or to minimise his responsibility for the mistakes he made while he was the president of Romania, but he did not provide any specific examples.
Although he announced he would have a "positive, constructive and tolerant electoral campaign," Iliescu accused Emil Constantinescu of having supported those who instigated people to violence in June 1990, during the incidents that occurred in Targu Mures.
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