Ilie Bolojan, First Romanian President to Live in Cotroceni
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Loading... - Cecile Sanchez
- 14 Feb 2025
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Ilie Bolojan has made history as the first Romanian president to reside in the Cotroceni Palace during his term as interim president. This decision was announced by the Presidential Administration on Friday, emphasizing the aim to streamline activities and reduce accommodation and transportation expenses.
Instead of living in the traditional protocol villa, Bolojan will be accommodated in a designated space within the Cotroceni Palace Complex. The administration stated, “In order to streamline the activity and to limit the expenses regarding daily accommodation and transportation, the interim President of Romania, Ilie Bolojan, has decided to live, during the term of office, in a space within the ‘Cotroceni Palace’ Complex.”
Bolojan assumed the role of interim president on Wednesday, following the resignation of Klaus Iohannis. He will serve until a new president is elected in the upcoming elections scheduled for May. This marks a departure from previous presidents, such as Emil Constantinescu, Ion Iliescu, and Traian Băsescu, who resided in protocol villas managed by the Autonomous Administration of the “Administration of State Protocol Heritage” (RA-APPS). Iohannis, for instance, lived at Vila Lac 3 in the Primăverii neighborhood.
In addition to his accommodation decision, Ilie Bolojan has appointed four new advisors to the Presidential Administration:
i. Cristian Diaconescu - Appointed as presidential advisor for defense and national security, replacing Ilie Oprișor, who stepped down at his request. Diaconescu has a background in military and defense roles.
ii. Bianca-Teodora Firezar - A former journalist and spokesperson for the Bihor County Council during Bolojan’s term, she will serve as a state advisor in the interim president’s office.
iii. Simona-Livia Maftei - Returning to the team after previously serving as a state counselor and presidential counselor, she brings experience from her time in the Presidential Administration.
iv. Bogdan Mazuru - A seasoned diplomat with extensive experience, including roles as ambassador to several countries and positions within NATO, he will take on the role of presidential advisor for foreign policy.
Additionally, on the day he took office, Bolojan appointed Luminița Odobescu, Romania’s former Foreign Minister, as a presidential advisor.
Ilie Bolojan's decision to reside in the Cotroceni Palace and his appointments of experienced advisors reflect a strategic approach to his interim presidency. By prioritizing cost-effective measures and leveraging the expertise of his team, Bolojan aims to navigate the responsibilities of the presidency effectively until the upcoming elections.
