And yet, what is more important? The electoral connotations of a government meeting or the fact that a stadium is being built in Timisoara?

Symbolically, last week, right in Timişoara, the Government Decision was approved that gives the green light to the financing from the national budget of the construction of the new big stadium of Timişoara. The organization of the government meeting in Timişoara was not exactly a first – something similar happened in Iasi in 2014 – but it was undoubtedly a far-reaching event. Being on the threshold of the election campaign, everything turned into a new political battle, forgetting the very essentials.

Since a few random days have passed, let’s take a cold look at how things have been. The story of building a new stadium in Timişoara began about two decades ago, during which time it was filled with promises from the leaders of most political parties. Only now has a truly decisive step been taken, the Government Decision actually meaning the budgeting of this long-awaited investment. That the organization of the meeting in Timişoara also had an electoral charge is as true as it can be. But the responses from the USR and Alin Nica were just as electoral. There would be a difference here, however, and it is not easy for me to write it. If the government’s approach, as electoral as it was, was constructive, that of some local authorities was destructive.

It started with trivializing the meeting, that there were not many ministers, as if this mattered a lot. Then Alin Nica, the president of the CJ Timiş, tried some somewhat childish retorts. He refused to make a County Council room available to the Government, arguing that a debate on regionalization was being organized. A debate organized on its knees, ridiculing a very serious subject. Anyway, the debate was not held, the organizers arguing that the participants were threatened by the PSD. Of course, without any evidence to this effect. Why these obstacles to the school yard, when he could very well stick to the project by showing what he did for the stadium? “Strange”, to use a word from the same school yard.

Instead, USR organized a small protest in front of the building where the government meeting was held, requesting… the cutting of special pensions. And a generous subject, a legitimate request, but in that context it was like a nut driven desperately into the wall. It really didn’t make sense in the context in which the decision was made for one of the most anticipated investments in Timişoara. USR also issued a press release, in which it accused PSD of cynicism because it offers the people of Timisoara a gift (the stadium) from their money. Basically and theoretically, USR is right, but what was the alternative? Exactly the same from the last 30 years, namely that the money of the people of Timişoara should end up somewhere other than in Timişoara.

So what is most important in this story? That the Government made an election campaign in Timisoara for Alfred Simonis (who fought for this investment anyway)? Or that an important investment for the city was given the go-ahead? Not to mention that, basically, just the fact that he brought the government to Timisoara demonstrates Simonis’s influence within the coalition. Otherwise, yes, normally Timişoara should not be reaching out to the government to receive the money it deserves. It is not normal for the money to be divided according to political, clan or mass punching criteria. But for that we need decentralization legislation, by which Timişoara does not expect money from the government, but the government… waits for Timişoara’s money.

Why should the money of the people of Timisoara (but also of the people of Bucharest, Constanta or Cluj) go to Bucharest, where it will be divided according to the most subjective criteria possible? The money of the people of Timişoara must stay in Timişoara, and a share must go to Bucharest for the maintenance of the state, but a minimal state. And I’m not referring here in the libertarian sense, but to a government that does away with all the belly dancers who now fill the ministries. Yes, the state must function, maintain an army, police, various institutions, the construction of objectives of national interest (highways, national roads, regional hospitals, etc.). Yes, Timişoara must contribute to the maintenance of this state apparatus, including helping financially to adjust some regional disparities. And that’s it. But until then, every county would like pragmatic and persistent politicians like Simonis.

PS In any kind of controversies, there must also be a prankster, one who definitely wants to show off his ridiculousness. And here we are talking about the same Nicolae Robu, who again jumped to shout that the project and the merits for the new stadium are his, on the way Marcel Cioalcu, Sorin Grindeanu and Alfred Simonis joined him.