Băsescu gently stepping over Isărescu

Former president Traian Băsescu recently attacked NBR governor Mugur Isărescu, including him on the list of those who don't realize the responsibility that having a significant position entails, together with interim Bucharest mayor Răzvan Sava, chief prosecutor of the National Anti-corruption department of the DNA Laura Codruţa Kovesi and former prime-minister Victor Ponta.

Traian Băsescu posted the following on Facebook: "I have frequently witnessed our «glorious» NBR governor, Mr. Isărescu, giving lessons on banking prudentiality and monetary policies, but never taking even an ounce of the responsibility his position involves for the drama of those who have taken out loans which have now become impossible to repay. People have gotten poorer now then they were then, feeling hopeful, they have taken out the loan, but they are the only ones being made responsible".

The former president's attitude towards NBR governor Mugur Isărescu has changed since 2008-2010, when all he had for him was words of praise.

This is another historic moment.

Now, Traian Băsescu is no longer Romania's president, just the president of the People's Movement party.

Traian Băsescu is making aggressive statements at a moment which is favorable for his political self-promotion. Hence why we can suspect that he is getting ready to run for mayor of Bucharest.

In politics, no attacks occur without a reason behind them.

For months after the end of his presidential term, Traian Băsescu was silent, with the exception of some small interventions in favor of Elena Udrea, a few accusations against Laura Codruţa Kovesi, the chief prosecutor of the National Anti-Corruption Department, and the deputy director of the Romanian Intelligence Service Florian Coldea, tied to that case. Other than that, almost nothing.

Meanwhile, a policeman had a motorcycle crash while escorting deputy prime-minister Gabriel Oprea, then came the fire of the Colectiv club, where 63 young people died.

Oprea, who was interim prime-minister, stumbled, and then Ponta fell along with him.

After these events, Liviu Dragnea became the president of the PSD and Cioloş became prime-minister.

Under Dragnea's leadership, the PSD has initiated the defamation law, has introduced the cap on the loan that the law of giving in payment would apply to and has threatened to overthrow the government if the ANAF forecloses on the buildings of the Intact group.

As for current president Klaus Iohannis, he sided with the TV stations owned by Intact against the ANAF even though he unconvincingly said afterwards that it had been simply a misunderstanding.

Don't you feel that under these circumstances Băsescu's path to the Mayoralty of Bucharest has been paved for him?

All of a sudden, Băsescu is exercising his social vocation, including by broaching the issue of bank debtors.

What has gotten into him?

Is it the mayoralty?

Băsescu's evolution in his relationship with Isărescu

• 17 iun 2009

Băsescu: "I have a great relationship with NBR governor Mugur Isărescu"

• October 16th, 2009

President Traian Băsescu said that the ideal prime-minister option would have been Mugur Isărescu, but in a period of crisis you can't move the NBR governor away from the NBR and to the government.

The president had the following to say about the designated prime-minister Lucian Croitoru, saying that he has gone for "the option of an excellent independent professional".

• January 26th, 2010

President Traian Băsescu granted Mugur Isărescu the Chain of the National Order "Steaua României". The NBR governor was the third Romanian to receive this award, which is the highest award of the Romanian state, after George Emil Palade and Patriarch Teoctist.

NBR governor, Mugur Isărescu, received the aforementioned award "on the proposal of the prime-minister, as a token of high appreciation for the exceptional results obtained in the researching and dissemination on an academic level, of the economic phenomena, for the exceptional effort that he has undertaken as governor of the NBR to successfully draw up and implement the monetary policies which have assured Romania's financial stability".

President Traian Băsescu has also decorated the other members of the Board of Directors of the NBR in 2004-2009 in a ceremony in the Cotroceni Palace.

• June 16th, 2013

Băsescu: "When the exchange rate weakens, Vasilescu comes out on TV, when it gets stronger Isărescu comes on. Depending on who comes on we know if things are it's good or bad".

• October 18th, 2013

Băsescu, on a possible candidacy of Isărescu for president: "A joke. First of all, I am convinced that he doesn't want to, I know the governor well. Second of all, Romanians see Mugur Isărescu as a good governor, not as a good president".

• February 12th, 2014

Băsescu picked on the so-called "electoral installment", claiming that the measure had been initiated by the NBR. "I couldn't believe that the National Bank would be involved in the preparation of such a program, because it is a fake, it is a scam. I've checked and the idea had indeed originated from the NBR", the president said, who asked for a public reaction from the governor of the NBR. "I want the NBR to immediately abandon the line of being controlled by a corrupt government. It must do so immediately", Băsescu insisted.

• July 30th, 2015

Former president Traian Băsescu said that the decision of president Klaus Iohannis, to send the Fiscal Code back to the Parliament for reexamination has been influenced by the position of the National Bank of Romania: "I think that the position of the National Bank of Romania was the one that influenced Iohannis. I do not agree with what the National Bank has done, because it is not their job. It was the job of the Fiscal Council, not of the National Bank of Romania, but little Mugur wanted to huff and puff a little. (...) The National Bank is not the institution that advises him, thje president has the Government and the Fiscal council (...). Iohannis made a mistake- he did not consult with the Government before sending the code back in the Parliament".

He also said that he was "upset" with the management of the NBR for lying when it said that the flat tax rate was the cause of the critical socio-situation of 2009, which was not true.

• August 3rd, 2015

Traian Băsescu criticizes the Macroprudential Oversight Committee, led byNBR governor, Mugur Isărescu. According to the former Romanian president, the Macroprudential Oversight Committee has merely an advisory role, and anything that goes beyond that is outside the Constitution.

"The committee has no role in making governing decisions and the ones who have written its roles should look at the recommendations of the EU and see that this entity is merely advisory. It cannot have any roles that do not match the Constitution, meaning they can't override the government or be more important than the president", said Traian Băsescu.