National Press Review, January 17

‘Today, Romanian drivers have begun their fight against gas stations and, for three days, they will not be filling their gas tanks, as a result of their dissatisfaction towards fuel prices’.

‘This way – drivers hope – those who run oil companies will understand that fuel prices are ‘exaggerated’- the Evenimentul Zilei reads.

‘The resistance movement at the pumps’- the Jurnalul Naţional also headlines.


The boycott of gas stations scheduled for three days, starting today, was preceded over the weekend by buyers blocking several gas stations in the big cities and paying with kilograms of pennies.

The newspaper reviews the way the protest against excessive fuel prices was carried out in several cities.

And, by the way, about the high fuel price, the România Liberă reads that ‘Romanian drivers have finished paying the Bancorex ‘rates’ for Petrom’.

In 1997 the state took over as public debt the credits that Petrom had made at Bancorex. Then, starting 2000, buyers payed once cent more per liter of gas. Although the debt has been covered since October 2010, the state continues to collect, without any explanation, the one cent per liter tax – the newspaper reveals.

The Gândul reveals the state’s business of making winter tires mandatory.

According to a draft ordinance of the Ministry of Transportation, starting November the 1st this year, the owners of over 4.2 million vehicles in Romania will be obliged to pay for winter equipment for their cars.

After the sale of tires now only will manufacturers benefit, but also the state, which will bring no less than 445 millions of euros to the budget from VAT only – this calculation is present in the very basis note of the ordinance, quoted by the newspaper.

The Adevărul draws the attention on the increasing aggressiveness of the Romanian society, arguing that ‘Romania tends to become the Wild East of Europe.’

In one night only – Saturday to Sunday – four assaults with firearms took place. Of two cases two deaths resulted and, after an armed robbery at a gaming hall in Galaţi, a loss of 40 thousands lei.

The Jurnalul Naţional draws a warning: ‘An old forest in Ceahlău awaiting the end’.

‘A financial engineering made by a mayor in Neamţ and a businessman with reputation in Bacău will leave Ceahlăul without alomost 33 hectares of forest.’

‘Juastice contributes also through the terms it gives in the process of trying to stop cutting this forest near the National Park Ceahlău’- the newspaper states.

The România Liberă brings good news about environment protection, according to which ‘Authorities promise investments for the Romanian shore, attacked by erosion’.

‘The Water Basin Administration Dobrogea wants to get 100 million euros, European money to save the Romanian beaches which have been suject to a continuous process of erosion for decades ‘.

‘If no action is taken, the beach in Mamaia will disappear almost entirely in the next 20 years. This plan of the authorities is so far in the project phase’ - let’s hope it will not stay this way!

From România Liberă you can learn what the Village Museum in the Capital brings new, after the expansion.

‘School, traditional inn, workshops and section for minorities will be the attractions of the new wing of the Village Museum which will be inaugurated in spring.’

‘According to the director of the institution, the 18 century church in the new wing could be a place to officiate wedding ceremonies’.


Translated by: Manuela Stancu

MA Student, MTTLC, Bucharest University