When Protocol Defeats You, But You Still Want the Presidency
It doesn’t matter what political color you wear or what percentage you hold in the polls if, the moment you step out of a car, you look like a lost tourist searching for the airport exit. There is a code, there are books on protocol, and above all, there is common sense. A man who aspires to the office of President of Romania should not need to be babysat by staff or SPP officers like a child on his first day of kindergarten. If you want the seat at Cotroceni, you should "eat" the code of etiquette for breakfast, not wait for someone to whisper in your ear which way is left and which way is right.
Fleeing the Red Carpet and Playing "Hide and Seek" with the Army
Recently, in Focșani, we witnessed a moment of absurdity worthy of a comedy movie. A red carpet was rolled out—the ultimate symbol of official honor and respect. What did Nicușor Dan do? He climbed out of the opposite side of the car, avoiding the carpet as if it were a minefield, and stepped directly into the road. Instead of walking solemnly toward the guard of honor standing at attention for him, our "leader" was busy with something much more "important": he was standing on his tiptoes, bewildered, trying to see where his car had driven off to.
Let’s be serious—it’s a laughingstock! The Army stands at "attention," the people look on with hope, and he hides behind a car door as if he’s afraid the military honors might bite him. There is no excuse like "no one taught him." Once you reach such a position, you are obligated to ask if you don't know. But him? He spun around dozens of times, back and forth, as if he were playing "blind man's buff" with the State protocol in the middle of Focșani square.
A Leader "Picked from the Park" and Put in a Suit
If you take a simple man from the countryside and put him in front of the flag, he would likely have more of an instinct for solemnity. To stare at the stars while the National Anthem plays, or to desperately fumble for your gloves in your pockets instead of standing with your hand over your heart, is pure amateurism. We look like a country led by people picked straight out of Cișmigiu Park or off a street corner and thrown into suits three sizes too big—people who don't understand that presence of mind is not optional.
This is a clear sign of personal incompetence. You cannot have pretensions of being a national leader when you get lost between a car door and a patch of red carpet. A man who doesn't know how to receive a military salute will never be capable of commanding respect from the world's great powers. Ultimately, education isn't just about the diploma everyone talks about; it’s about knowing how to stand tall when "Deșteaptă-te, române!" is sung.
Conclusion: The Confusion That Insults Us All
You cannot be the "clumsy guy of the hour" when you want to be the Supreme Commander. His ignorance isn't a "cute gaffe"—it is an insult to the institution he wishes to represent. If Nicușor Dan thinks he can lead a nation while standing on his tiptoes, gazing longingly after a limousine, it means he has understood nothing about what it means to be President. Romanians need someone who steps firmly on the red carpet, not someone who looks like they went for a stroll in Unirii Square and accidentally stumbled into a military parade.