Independent presidential candidate of Romania John Ion Banu-Muscel announced that he advocates for the introduction of the death penalty in the country and the right of citizens to own firearms, writes BTA.
„The government has a first obligation to protect its citizens, to create a climate that limits crime. We want our citizens to live safely, without fear, and how can we do this without a scarecrow somewhere in the wheat field? I want to be the leader of Romania, not an administrator, and it is my duty to propose, to come up with ideas that lead to the security of Romanians. This is not my decision, this is the people's. I would hold a referendum. We need to have a civilized society and that's why we need to give the people a voice again“, said John Yon Banu-Muschel in the program “A President Before the Nation“ on Antena3 TV.
On the air, he commented that every citizen has the right to defense.
“The government should give them this right. If we take an 80-year-old woman, alone in her apartment and in danger, how do we protect her? If we know that the criminal is wondering if (she) has a firearm, he will not deal with her. It doesn't have to be the Wild West on the street, but for defense, and let's not forget that democracy is defended. We must trust state institutions”, added John Ion Banu-Muscel.
Although the death penalty is not allowed in the EU, the independent presidential candidate expressed the opinion that a campaign could be waged to change the laws.
Who is John Ion Banu-Muscel
John Ion Banu-Muscel is one of the lesser-known candidates for president of Romania in this campaign, local media write about him. He has lived in the United States of America since the 1980s. He is the founder of the Romanian-American League association in Florida. A mechanical engineer, currently an entrepreneur. He returned to his homeland to participate in “Repatriot” – a repatriation through entrepreneurship project created by the Romanian government to encourage the diaspora to return and invest at home.
Political career
In 2017, he founded the party “The Romanian Nation”, whose motto was “Trust, Unity, Prosperity“ and which started with 130 members and 1,000 sympathizers and activists. In 2018, he stated that his party is based on the quality of its members, not the quantity. He ran for president in 2019, and in 2024 announced his intention to run again, but withdrew.
Wealth
The businessman stands out among the other presidential candidates with his accumulated wealth, notes the newspaper "Adeverul" and cites his declaration of status, which makes it clear that he has several villas and apartments, both in Romania and in the United States of America. He owns an apartment in Bucharest (80 sq. m.) and one in Florida (110 sq. m.), a 380 sq. m. house in the city of McCormick in the American state of South Carolina and another 410 sq. m. house in Florida. The list also includes 74 hectares of land in Romania and a 135-hectare farm in America.
John Ion Banu-Muschel has three cars - a BMW, a Porsche and a Deer pickup truck. Also on the list of assets is a painting valued at $30,000 and a collection of bronze statuettes and objects worth $25,000.
He has approximately $400,000 and 300,000 lei in his accounts, as well as financial assets in the United States of $248,000, after having a salary of $75,000 last year as a manager at the company "Ocean Test" (Ocean Test) and $180,000 as a doctor. He also benefits from an annual pension in the United States of $21,000 and has earned $48,000 from the farm he owns in the town of McCormick.
In the 2019 presidential election, he received 0.3 percent or 27,769 votes, which placed him in last place.