National Press Review, 10 November

The researches made by the National Anticorruption Directorate on the actions of the Cluj mayor and the decision of the Executive Committee of the PSD to possibly exclude Mircea Geoanã from the head of the Senate – are topics discussed by most newspapers today.

”The Cluj mayor, in the criminal league”, the Adevărul headlines on the case of Sorin Apostu, the mayor chief of Cluj-Napoca, arrested yesterday by NAD prosecutors.

The newspaper reviews the journey taken by the prosecutors – who raided the mayor’s office and his home, as well as other persons involved in this case – and reveals the fortune of the Apostu family.

The Evenimentul Zilei notes that “the mayor is accused of freely giving out works worth hundreds of millions lei to a Turkish-Romanian company, an old subscriber to public money” and adds that “auctions for roads and city sanitation are being investigated”.

The newspaper recounts how the “Cluj corruption scandal” first started and gives details of the persons concerned and the charges against them.

The Evenimentul Zilei also adds:”The hatchet of the PSD barons will cut off a head: Geoană or Ponta”.

The article describes the atmosphere inside the social-democratic party before the Executive Committee next week, when it will be decided if Mircea Geoană stays or not the President of the Senate.

Moreover, the author states that”in the conflict with Geoană, the PSD leader, Victor Ponta is decided to go all the way: kick him out of the party and implicitly, the Senate presidency”.

The situation inside the PSD is also reflected by the România Liberă, which announces:”the PSD branches are picking a side, if they have not done it already, in the war between Victor Ponta and Mircea Geoană”.

Before the Executive Committee, Geoana’s first trial will take place on Sunday, at the Integrity Commission.

The publication presents the supporters of the two sides and mentions that Ponta went to Brussels to “find support at European Socialists and PSD MEPs”.

Eventually, the Jurnalul Naţional comments: “the IMF took away the billion lei toy from Elena Udrea”.

This is regarding the recommendation made to the Government by the IMF to restrict the expenses in 2012 though the National Infrastructure Development Program, from 4 billion euros to only 240 million.

You will learn reading the newspaper about the projects of the Tourism Ministry and also the alternatives proposed by the IMF representative for Romania, Jeffrey Franks.

Translated by: Manuela Stancu
MA Student, MTTLC, Bucharest University