National Press Review, 26 January

We find out from the press review how do the newspapers interpret the statement Băsescu made yesterday and the decision of the Constitutional Court on combining elections.

The România Liberă writes ‘President Băsescu does not give up’.

In the first public appearance after almost two weeks of manifestations, he did not announce any of the resignations asked by the demonstrators.

The head of state admitted that the Arafat episode was a mistake and said that that he did not have anything else to reproach himself for.

He will not leave Cotroceni and will not change his options.

On the first page in the Adevărul, ‘Correct diagnosis, no treatment’.

Traian Băsescu recognised that many Romanian people had lost their faith in him, but he did not suggest any political solutions for the manifestations.

The Evenimentul Zilei extracts the following words from President Băsescu’s statement: ‘The Romanian people have done their job. Now, it’s the politicians’ turn’, they must bring their contribution to the carrying on of the modernisation process.

As for the ruling the Constitutional Court gave yesterday against combining elections, the Jurnalul Naţional writes that this is tantamount to the lack of validity of Băsescu’s regime and it should ask for the Prime Minister’s resignation.

The Jurnalul writes that the judges have convinced themselves that the President and the Government are staggering and they are abandoning Traian Băsescu.

Also, in the Jurnalul Naţional, ‘Negotiations with IMF under pressure of manifestations’.

Jeffrey Franks arrived in Bucharest on the 13th day of manifestations.

It remains to be seen how much the IMF and European Commission are willing to do in order to calm down the demonstrators, who are worn out after three years of austerity measures imposed by the loan agreements.

The Evenimentul Zilei writes that it surprises people to see that precisely the Monetary Fund is telling us that Romania has exaggerated with tightening the belt.

From the Adevărul we find out about ‘A secret plan for unused European funds’.

France and Germany propose that a quarter from the unused funds be directed towards economic development and jobs.

The member countries would have to take a series of measures against unemployment since because of it Europa might go into recession.

On the other hand, the money will be managed by the national authorities but by the European Commission.

The România Liberă writes ‘New chance for Jucu’.

The Italian producer of De'Longhi appliances has bought the Nokia’s production facility and will create over 1 000 jobs.

Due to this transaction, a great number of the people who lost their jobs after the Nokia departure will find employment.

In the Ziarul Financiar, ‘the National Agency for Fiscal Administration informs us that we can send our applications via internet in order to avoid waiting in line’.

Yet, not everyone has this option.

It requires a digital certificate which amounts to 50 euros, according to the Ziarul Financiar.

Also from the same newspaper, we find out that the state could receive a billion euros from Orange, Vodafone, Cosmote and RCS&RDS for the telecom licenses.

This year, it is scheduled the biggest auction for the sale of mobile communications licenses that has ever been organised by the Romanian state.


Translated by: Ana-Maria Petrache
MA Student, MTTLC, Bucharest University