National Press Review, December 2

'The National Day, reduced by 25 percent. After the parade, Boc inaugurated another unfinished road - the Gândul headlines and continues to describe yesterday`s celebration as following, quote: 'Unlike other years, the National Day parade was modest: people stayed at home either because of the cold wave, or just because they thought there was nothing to celebrate.'

'Traian Băsescu left for Kazahstan. Present at the Arch of Triumph, Emil Boc received the honours, but he was also booed. Afterwards, the Prime Minister`s tears froze in one of the episodes in the series 'Small and unfinished, but inaugurated roads' - end of quote.

'Children go to the parade, pensionares go for the beans' is the title in the Adevărul.

In Bucharest, about three thousand people went to the Arch of Triumph, compared with ten thousand people last year.

But many more have stayed in line for hours to get the beans with sausages given for free in many cities in the country.'

The Jurnalul Naţional tells us about how it was in Alba Iulia on December 1st, after aknowledging that, quote: 'for Romanian people, patriotism is weather sensitive, with beans and sausages and without any basic knowledge of history. Leading patriots: Miron Cozma and Dan Diaconescu. The rain and crisis have dimmed the effect of populism, specific to the usual celebrations in Alba Iulia years ago.'

'For the first time in the last 20 years, the President missed the National Day parade:' – the Libertatea also headlines and dedicates four pages in today`s edition to the way in which the 1st of December was celebrated.

'Parade duties: Boc received homage and insults' we read in the Evenimentul Zilei also, which writes about the official protocol, too, according to which, in the absence of the president, his prerogatives are taken by the second most important political figure in the state, namely the President of the Senate, Mircea Geoană.'

However, the Prime Minister explained the journalists that he was appointed by President Traian Băsescu to take over the receiving of the honours. Geoană announced that he will request and investigation on this subject.

'So it is possible!'- the Jurnalul Naţional headlines and explaines: \Poland closed 1,200 dreams shops in one single night.'

It took the Romanian authorities two years to identify the 36 substances they have banned. Ethnobotanical herb dealers took only two days to bring new ones.'

'Romania- leader of illegal logging: uncontrolled deforestrations came under the scrutiny of the European Union"- the Evenimentul Zilei writes.

According to the Ministry of Environment, in 2007 alone, almost two hundred thousand cubic metres of forest were illegally cut.

Despite having a plan to combat illegal logging, Romania is last in the Union when it comes to putting in practice and runs the risk of sanctions starting with 2012.

In the Adevărul you can discover who`s putting presure on the national currency in 2011.

'A new political crisis, budgetary slippages, and also turmoil in the euro area could be the main threats to the national currency.'

The business analysts estimate that the euro will remain at 4.3 lei until the end of this year and will increase to 4.4 lei in the first half of next year and then will stabilize at around 4.25 lei.

In the Gândul you can read about the “money factory in the Historical Center of Bucharest” , whose renovation began in 2006.

The work to finalize six streets in the Capital`s old city center, starting with Lipscani, should begin today.

They will be ready by Christman, mayor Oprescu says.

In total there are 14 streets. Next, there is the consolidation and restoration of 14 buildings with historical value, and then the protection and revitalization of the 'Curtea Veche' Palace area and its transformation into a museum complex.

In terms of business strictly, the old Center became a pole of welfare for businessmen in the Capital.

Presently, it generates turnover of about EUR 150 million, including about one hundred restaurants that can accommodate approximately 14.000 customers daily.

The lack of parking spots, one of the major issues in the historical center, could be partially solved with the completion of the underground parking project at the Univerisity.

Translated by Manuela Stancu
MA Student, MTTLC, Bucharest University