policy
USR deputy Viorel Băltărețu, the candidate of the United Right Alliance for the position of mayor of Cluj, spoke about his entry into politics and about the problems facing the municipality of Cluj-Napoca at present, in an interview for monitorulcj.ro.
USR deputy Viorel Băltărețu, candidate of the United Right Alliance for the position of mayor of Cluj/Photo: Viorel Băltărețu – Facebook
USR deputy Viorel Băltărețu, a candidate for Cluj-Napoca City Hall, explained that he entered politics because he wants to show the citizens that politics can be done in a different way.
“Our general perception of politics is that it’s something nasty, that it’s ugly. I can say that I had the same perception. It was difficult for me when I said I was entering politics. All my friends told me I was crazy. I entered politics because I was fed up. I’m just tired of seeing the kind of political people who are tricksters, who have done nothing in their lives but spin and tricks, who suddenly become something and tell us they’re extraordinary. I can’t quite believe them. We have people who are clearly corrupt, there are people who are definitively condemned and yet they are there. I thought and decided to enter politics to change something. I did not plan to be a deputy in 2020. My political career plan was that in 2024 I would run for the position of local councilor within the party. Things went much faster, much better. Since I’ve been in Parliament, I’ve wanted to resign from everywhere twice. I thought it was disgusting, but I realized that I had to somehow resist and try to show that another kind of politics can be done”, declared Viorel Băltăretu.
“Maximum 2 mandates at Cluj-Napoca City Hall”
USR Deputy Viorel Băltărețu stated that, if he becomes the Mayor of Cluj-Napoca, he will remain in that position for 2 mandates. He explained that 2 mandates are enough to show what you can do and prove the work done.
“I have no intention of staying like Boc 20 and I don’t know how many years at the City Hall. I proposed to stay at the City Hall for a maximum of 2 mandates. It’s something I want to stick to, because if you don’t prove what you’re capable of in 2 mandates, you won’t prove it in several years. Unfortunately, at the moment Mr. Boc, those who lead, are disconnected from reality, they no longer understand, they think that only their opinion is good. I struggle to admit that not all of my ideas are the best. That’s why we have to work as a team, to work with people. As Mayor, you are the representative of the people, you have to work for them. We need to be more relaxed. Good intention is missing. We have come to stop believing even when someone says something good, we look to see what is wrong. I want to show that we can do things differently”, said Viorel Băltărețu, for monitorulcj.ro.
READ ALSO
“In 20 years, Cluj can be compared equally with Prague, Vienna or Budapest” – Viorel Băltărețu, candidate for Cluj-Napoca City Hall.
Solutions for traffic and congestion in Cluj-Napoca
Viorel Băltăreţu spoke about the major problems facing the municipality of Cluj-Napoca. He explained that traffic and crowding are the big problems facing the city.
“From all the studies we have done so far we have seen that there are some major problems. There are problems with congestion and traffic in Cluj. This is everyone’s perception, I certify it as well. Things are statistically speaking. The problem cannot be solved with just one measure. There are several measures”, declared Viorel Băltărețu.
The USR deputy, the candidate of the United Right Alliance for the position of mayor of Cluj, explained that the main solutions for reducing congestion and traffic would be the construction of the Metropolitan Belt, the construction of parking lots and dedicated lanes for public transport.
“The Metropolitan Belt would save a lot of time for many citizens. I sit and think how come Mayor Boc and the authorities do not understand this matter. The belt can save much, much time, which means money, reducing pollution. The belt is a solution for reducing traffic. We also have the problem of parking. A few have been built, but from my point of view things are moving very slowly. Neighborhood parking lots could solve the congestion problem. Now we have a lot of cars parked on the side of the street. The garage demolition project is a good thing and must continue. Those garages are no longer garages, they are all kinds of warehouses. Above ground or underground parking lots can be built. At the same time, we need dedicated lines for buses. It is hard to digest the fact that we should give up a traffic lane for cars. We need to find a balance where it is useful to take public transport. We need continuous dedicated lanes. The councilors of USR, my colleagues, in the City Council proposed a dedicated lane from East to West. From Ira to the entrance to Floreşti”, stated Viorel Băltărețu.
READ ALSO
Viorel Băltărețu, USR deputy: “Less bureaucracy for those who want to start a business”
“We can change the direction we’re going”
Viorel Băltăreţu explained that both Cluj-Napoca and the entire country can go in another direction. He explained that the whole country needs politicians who provide directions and who maintain correct relations with the citizens. At the same time, Viorel Băltărețu also mentioned the young people who have to go to other countries for studies and work, stating that the latter could think of returning to the country only if there are changes.
“I was scared when I saw that my children were gone. I thought about what we can do, how we can bring back all the Romanians who are away in other countries. I have no way of changing Romania in a few years, but we can change the direction in which we are going. The moment we change direction, people will regain their confidence. If I were to become Mayor, one of the things I would do quite quickly would be to set the tone for the correct relationship with the citizens. Cluj is really much more advanced anyway compared to other cities, other areas. If we change this attitude, if we change the experience Romanians have when they come home, the way we welcome investors and companies, I think many Romanians will say they are coming home. The young people who are now away for studies, when they return, they will be the force that will change Romania. But we need politicians to give directions. It can be done in Romania. I think that I, my colleagues, the USR, can be this force to reform. I say that in 4-8 years you will see some big changes, because we are obliged, Europe is pushing us”, Viorel Băltărețu also declared for monitorulcj.ro.
USR deputy Viorel Băltărețu, the candidate of the United Right Alliance for the position of mayor of Cluj, is one of the entrepreneurs from Cluj who have succeeded, starting from scratch, in developing competitive companies, with activity not only in Romania, but also in Europe. He created and developed, since 2003, a furniture production company for the HoReCa field. He has also invested in and mentored other SMEs and startups, brave local initiatives.
Read monitorulcj.ro and on Google News
READ ALSO:
