National Press Review, 9 January

The possible reshuffle of the Government, electoral and legal novelty for this year, the effects of weather on agriculture and the causes of food consumption decline are some of the subjects in today’s newspapers.

The Evenimentul Zilei headlines "A reshuffle of the Boc Government for the sake of the party".

The newspaper comments on the fact that "the democrat-liberals are taking into account a strategy shift within the Boc cabinet, with the purpose to boost the trust of the DLP party before the autumn elections".

The Evenimentul Zilei also quotes the voices which support such an approach and presents the list of the ones targeted by the possible change, which has circulated during the last months.

The decision regarding the moment, and also the opportunity of a reshuffle will be taken by Prime Minister Boc, according to the Minister of Labour, Sulfina Barbu.

The Jurnalul Naţional reads "2012: the year of elections, debt and free days".

The newspaper reminds that this year new year will bring a double election premier – bundling local elections with the parliamentary ones – possible referendums, but also more free days, if the Legislature adopts the laws in regards to declaring 10 May – The Independence Day, and 30 November – Saint Andrew’s Day, as free.

Moreover, the Jurnalul Naţional reviews the debts and loans that Romania has already and will contract this year and concludes that the debt per capita will be of 800 euros.

The Adevărul draws the attention "The weather endangers the cultures", supporting its hypothesis based on the data provided by many agriculturists, according to which 30 percent of the wheat was lost due to the late autumn and the perpetuate drought last year.

The article also provides information about the situation of ground water reserves according to the area and reiterates the statement of the Minister of Agriculture who gives assurances that "there is no question that Romania remains without wheat for bread, because last year the production was good, Valeriu Tabără mostly expressing his worries for fruit trees and grape-vine.

The România Liberă answers the question "Why does food consumption decline?"

The publication notes that "the decrease in income, on the grounds of the price increases registered especially in fuels and utilities had as direct effect the reduction of food consumption".

The sales values over the last years are also presented, 2011 being qualified by the President of the Trade Unions for Food Industry as the worst year from the crisis period 2009-2011.

The same source claims that most production costs in the food industry create, most of the times, a breach in the development of black and grey markets.

Translated by: Manuela Stancu

MA Student, MTTLC, Bucharest University