National Press Review, 20 April

‘Is the Labour Minister in the middle of an interest conflict? Should he resign?’, this topic is widely spread in the press of the day.

‘Ioan Botiş three reasons for resignation.’ The Adevărul wrote that European-funded project that has been run by an association of Bistriţa and has been approved by an agency under the Ministry of Labour had three elements requiring the minister a honor decision. The application form was filed just two weeks after Ioan Botiş has been in charge of the portfolio, his wife has been employed by the association and two current advisers of the minister have also been team members of the project, along with the one that has recently occupied the position of head-officer.

‘Botiş resigns only with absolution from NIA’, the Jurnalul Naţional headlined. The Minister said that his resignation was ‘inevitable’ if the NIA would notice that there is a conflict of interest in his wife’s case.

‘Botiş hanged his resignation by NIA’s nail’, the Evenimentul Zilei also said, although he was caught in his house with an NGO running employment programs funded by public money.

The România Liberă inquired ‘What is NAI doing in the Botiş case?’ ‘A receipt for gas, electricity, maintenance, answered the newspaper a representative of the agency- or a housing renovation bill that Ioan Botis has made available for that association, and the bill was paid of European funds. Only by this manner could the conflict of interest be demonstrated legally.’

Other topics in the press of the day.

The Evenimentul Zilei published today, ‘Backstage of Mihai Necolaiciuc extradition.’ The adventure over the ocean of the former manager of CFR, accused of having prejudiced the company with a huge amount, concluded today, together with his landing in Bucharest.

Instead it began a legal battle announcing disclosures. The Evenimentul Zilei recalled that recently in correspondence exchanged in a U.S. prison with a newspaper reporter, Mihai Necolaiciuc made ​​veiled warnings about some Romanian politicians.

The România Liberă: ‘Will electric cars be popular among Romanians?’ Our country could become one of the milestones of the new offensive power - the newspaper wrote. The Government decides today whether to grant a subsidy of up to 5,000 euros for each purchased vehicle with electric propulsion.

We concluded by the interview of the day in the Bucharest newspapers, which was published today in the Adevărul.

The leader of the Socialists and European Democrats Group, Martin Schulz, has answered the daily’s questions. ‘In many EU countries it is not good to support Romania, the German politician said. The head of the European Socialists said the stand toward our country is influenced by the electoral considerations. More specifically, there are reasons related to the internal politics of each state’ - stated Martin Schulz. Or, in the domestic politics of many countries is not very common to be in favour of Romania's entry into the Schengen area.


Translated by: Iulia Florescu
MA Student, MTTLC, Bucharest University