National Press Review, 16 February

The headline on the front page of the Gândul promises exclusive disclosures about, and I quote:

"How Boc tricked Basescu and why Blaga does not want to be Prime Minister.The Liberal Democratic Party spoiled the President"s plans, when he seemed sure he wouldn"t manage to impose the version of the independent Prime Minister. "

According to sources in the National Liberal Party, several branch leaders had a discussion with Boc, communicating that they still want him at the Victoria Palace.

"Before reaching Boc, the same presidents of organisations, particularly in the area of Transylvania, have tried to persuade Vasile Blaga to accept the leadership of the Government. Blaga rejected the proposal.

"In addition, Blaga fears that the offer to become Prime Minister is a trap laid by Băsescu"– I quoted from the disclosures in the Gândul.

"The contest for Prime Minister, postponed ten days" – the Evenimentul Zilei also headlines.

"Băsescu told the Liberal Democratic leaders that maintaining the current formula equals the burial of the party and the loss of governance" – the quoted newspaper states.

"Keep the current formula and in two or three months you will no longer have the support you need. You will come to me and I will tell you I am sorry. Just think that all congressmen have expectations and they wonder what they will do in two years."

"If you don't analyse the situation this way, you stand no chance", the President communicated the Liberal-Democrats, drawing the attention to their deficiencies in organisation and communication, according to the Evenimentul Zilei.

"The Head of state would like Prime Minister Boc to resign and be the only candidate for the presidency of the Liberal Democratic Party", - claims the Jurnalul Naţional , which reveals that Băsescu would have wanted to appoint the current Minister of Justice, Cătălin Predoiu, Head of the Government, but he is not a party member.

The overthrow of Traian Băsescu"s plans was caused by the DAHR, which does not like the idea of an apolitical Prime Minister.

"Basescu-Boc, history of a fall" – is the headline, in capital letters, on the front page of the Adevărul, which publishes the results of the Barometre of Public Opinion conducted in January by the IMAS.

Thus, public confidence in the President is of only 13.9 percent, in the Parliament is of 11.4 percent and in the government 8.9 percent.

Among political leaders, the President of the National Liberal Party, Crin Antonescu, enjoys the highest degree of confidence from the population, with a 27.9 percent.

According to journalists in the Adevărul, "the results of this poll would have determined Traian Băsescu – who is increasingly worried of the fate of the National Liberal Party – to seek a solution in changing Boc."

With all the hustle and bustle on the political stage, the newspaper did not forget about the bribery in customs. The România Liberă claims that they traced down the cartels in customs.

I quote the newspaper: "The self-denunciations of customs officials, who claim they were forced to take bribes in order to be able to pay for the monthly protection fee the trade union SED LEX leader, Vasile Marica, complete the image of the constant corruption in customs and reveal the complicities between politicians, leaders of state institutions, smugglers and traffickers" – end of quote.

The newspaper reminds of all the scandals, starting 1990 until today, related to the smuggle of gas, cigarettes, alcohol, coffee and others, which, eventually, were hushed up and forgotten.

"Moldava – first in smuggling" –the Adevărul reads, publishing the results of a study on the black market of cigarettes.

Thus, over 30 percent of the cigarettes sold illegally in Romania came into the country through the customs in the Republic of Moldova, which aren"t yet controlled by the National Anti-Corruption Directorate.


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