Before the Charlemagne Prize was awarded, the Aachen Bishop Helmut Der paid tribute to the winner and President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis. He highlighted the services of the president against corruption and for judicial reform.
“Since you took office in 2014, it has been the European values and the idea of Europe that you have made effective in your country: the idea of democracy, the rule of law and the separation of powers and thus an independent judiciary,” he said, according to the speech manuscript on Saturday at the pontifical office in Aachen Cathedral . Iohannis mobilized the people in the country “resolutely” against corruption and strengthened the rule of law with a judicial reform.
“With all these achievements you have brought your country forward decisively and convincingly made the European values work in the engine compartment of Romanian politics,” said the bishop. The 62-year-old Iohannis will receive the Charlemagne Prize 2020 in Aachen on Saturday. Originally, the award should have been presented in May of last year. The date was postponed due to the corona pandemic.
Most important European honor
The Charlemagne Prize Board decided in favor of Iohannis because of his commitment “for freedom and democracy, the protection of minorities and for cultural diversity”. The award given annually in Aachen is considered one of the most important European honors. The award has been given since 1950 to personalities and institutions who have made a contribution to the unification of Europe.
It is named after Emperor Charlemagne (742-814). He is considered the first to unite Europe and at the end of the eighth century chose Aachen as his favorite Palatinate. In 2019 the Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, received an award.
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