President Klaus Iohannis sent a message on Constitution Day on Sunday, saying that Romania is at a moment of „profound responsibility” towards the values that define it as a nation and calling on Romanians to remain united „in defending democracy”, Agerpres reports.
„Today, as we celebrate Constitution Day, the foundation of our democratic state and fundamental rights, we are at a moment of profound responsibility towards the values that define us as a nation. (…) In the face of challenges of any kind – political, social, economic, geostrategic – we have the responsibility to remain united in defending our democracy and to build a better future, under the protection of a Constitution that ensures and guarantees democratic balance,” said the President in a message sent by the Presidential Administration.
Iohannis highlighted that Romania’s NATO membership and European Union integration, based on democracy and the rule of law, are „irreversible constitutional directions, guarantees of the values enshrined in the Constitution and the expression of the will of Romanian citizens to provide stability in the political, military, and economic plan of our state.”
He brought to mind that 35 years ago, the collapse of the totalitarian regime in December 1989 also marked the beginning of the reconstruction of the state, „and the aspirations of citizens gained the expression of a new fundamental law to govern our society – the Constitution of Romania.”
The President pointed out that this document laid the foundation of a state governed by the rule of law, in harmony with the democratic developments of European countries and with the common values of European constitutionalism.
„The Constitution of Romania defines the framework in which the state and political life operate, serving as a shield against threats to democracy. In tumultuous times, state institutions are called to act with calm, wisdom, and respect for the law, the Constitution, and democracy. However, this duty also falls upon us individually,” added Klaus Iohannis.
He stressed that the fundamental law is the most important legal act designed to ensure national sovereignty, political pluralism, and the independence of the Romanian state, „a commitment to democracy, freedom, and the defense of citizens’ rights, which must be respected not only in its letter but also in its spirit.”
„During my two terms as President, I have ensured the respect for the Constitution and its fundamental values in the exercise of my constitutional role, and the decisions I have made have been based on the principle of defending democracy,” Iohannis also said.
