National Press Review, December 9

Today's newspapers cover the paternal leave possibilities that mother will have to choose from in order to raise their children, comments on the tensions between the Democratic Social Party and analyses the role civic sense plays in settling street conflicts.

The Evenimentul Zilei reads: "Parental leave for mothers, money for government".

After almost three weeks of uncertainties, discussions, contradictions, the members of the Coalition reached a compromise on the mothers" problem last night.

The România Liberă reads: two days after the announcement regarding the halving of the paternal leave, Premier Emil Boc changed his mind because of the governing partners" discontentment.

Therefore, women who give birth after January 1st will have to choose between two types of parental leaves: a two-year leave and less money or a one year and a half leave, sums up the newspaper.

Power and opposition in today"s newspapers.

The Gândul writes about how the deputies in power saved Monica Iacob Ridzi from prosecutors by denying the request for extending the criminal proceedings against the former minister, the Jurnalul National suspects that the Liberal Democratic Party is after the wind energy business for which the European Union is willing to allocate a considerable budget.

The România Liberă is investigating the situation that has arisen inside the Democratic Social Party.

"Is Mircea Geoană forcing his exit?" – asks the newspaper.

The former chief of the party insists on accusing the present leader,Victor Ponta, of relaunching his political career.

This is how Geoană sees things, according to the România Liberă: if Ponta expels him from the party, he risks dissolving the party, if he doesn't, people will see it as a sign of weakness.

Today's newspapers comment on the preventive arrest of some guy named Plăcintă, who ran over a citizen that bothered him while he was brutally beating his girlfriend.

The Gândul brings to the public attention an older discussion: what should you do when you witness aggression on the street?

Chief Superintendent Cristian Ciocan tears down the story about "civic sense" and how it should determine us to fight for justice.

"It's a wrong thing to do, stay away, don't interfere!" – says the Chief Superintendent.

If you step in, you risk being beaten to death, just like that man from Braşov who tried to stop an exchange office from being robbed or the student from Craiova who wanted to help a friend that was being assaulted.

And there's one more risk, ends Cristian Ciocan: if you interfere, although with the best intentions, thinking it's the right thing to do, you might end up behind bars because you never know what crime you could be committing.

Translated by Raluca Mizdrea
MA Student, MTTLC, Bucharest University