Matteo Renzi: I know Victor Ponta and I believe he would be an excellent president

Italian Republic Council of Ministers President Matteo Renzi on Thursday evening reiterated the support for the candidacy of Prime Minister Victor Ponta in the presidential elections, voicing his conviction that he would be a good president for Romania.

'It is an important moment for you, Romanians, you have the chance to choose your future. I am here, in the first place, because I am a friend, because I know Victor Ponta and I believe he would be an excellent president of the republic. But I am also here as Prime Minister of a European state, who wants to say that all of Europe expects with very much attention the results of the vote on Sunday. You have a great responsibility, try to make the most of it, because Europe needs Romania and I believe Romania also needs Europe,' Renzi said on Antena 3 private television broadcaster.

When asked what piece of advice he would give Victor Ponta, the Italian Prime Minister said he rejected the idea of someone going to another country and telling the people there what they had to do.

'He knows very well what needs to be done in Romania. (...) No one from the outside should come and tell you what you need to do. If someone came to Italy to tell me what to do, I would ask them how dare they tell me what the priorities of my country are. Victor knows the things that need to be done, but I believe it is very important that the Romanian citizens elect the future president not only for what he could do in Romania, but for what Romania will be able and will have to do in Europe. Therefore, the thing that I allow myself suggest to Victor is to do what he already knows to do,' Matteo Renzi said. AGERPRES