Nicusor Dan insists that Popescu Piedone give an answer regarding participation in an electoral debate / The Mayor of the Capital announces that he has collected 300,000 euros from donations

The general mayor of the capital, Nicuşor Dan, said on Thursday that he expects an answer from his opponent Cristian Popescu Piedone regarding participation in an electoral debate, reports Agerpres.

The mayor emphasized that such a discussion must take place at a television station and be moderated by a journalist, who will set the topics for discussion.

“I addressed this invitation to Mr. Cristian Popescu Piedone. I am still waiting for the answer from his lordship. (…) You should know that I have great respect for the job of a journalist, and then I think that a debate must take place, moderated by a professional from your trade, who will set topics. I mean, it’s very easy for a discussion, especially with certain characters, to degenerate into a circus. I want a debate to be useful for the citizens of Bucharest who are watching, in which they want to find out what are the projects of each of the candidates for this city, if it is about former mayors, what each of them has done in these three and a half years. This is the purpose of the debate. (…) Yes, on a television, of course, and the teams must discuss what the conditions are”, he specified, during a press conference held on the occasion of submitting the candidacy for a new mandate.

Regarding the donations he received in this campaign, the general mayor declared that they amount to 300,000 euros and that he will receive another 100,000 euros from USR.

“At this moment, we are approaching 300,000 euros from donations from individuals. USR will finance me with 100,000 euros; USR is a parliamentary party and receives subsidies”, said Nicusor Dan.

He recalled that, according to the party and campaign financing law, candidates for the mayor’s office can spend 200 minimum salaries, representing 650,000 lei, money that they intend to borrow, and later take to be reimbursed by the state.

Regarding the accusations of the AUR representatives who announced that they will file a criminal complaint against him and asked him to specify the real cost of the street advertising with which he “strewn” Bucharest, Nicusor Dan replied: “Caragiale said that the hardest thing for a Romanian who knows how to read is not to write. I urge them to write.”

The Edil General specified that 57,000 Bucharest residents signed for his new candidacy at the Capital City Hall.