National Press Review, January 28

Political tensions on the domestic scene moved yesterday to the European Council – this morning"s newspapers read.

"Premier: we do our laundry in Strasbourg" – the Adevărul headlines.

The scandals in Bucharest, exported to Strasbourg.

The representatives of the Opposition did not participate to Băsescu's speech in the plenum of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

The leaders of the Social Democratic Party protested against "the lack of democracy" of the Băsescu regime and the President accused them of "outsourcing" the domestic political conflicts.

On topic, the Jurnalul Naţional headlines: "Traian Băsescu is moving the war to Strasbourg" and recounts the events.

The representatives of the Social Democratic Party stated that the presence of the President at the General Meeting of the Council of Europe is an expression of cynism on the part of the one who is leading, in Romania, a police state.

The President replied that the outsourcing of an issue the social-democrats have, is not honourable.

România Liberă debates under the headline: "Penal panic in Arges" yesterday's events in the file of the President of the County Council.

While the SDP loudly defends him in the European Parliament, the investigation of the National Anti-corruption Directorate in the case of Constantin Nicolescu, suspected of having favoured the access of several companies to public money, continued yesterday with his arrest.

Upon learning the decision, the Chief of the County Council suffered a heart attack. The file could branch out to other big names of the administration – the România Liberă adds.

And once again politics in today's newspapers.

"The ones chosen by the power will be encouraged with a tranche from the budget" – the Evenimentul Zilei announces.

The Prime Minister is preparing the congressmen in the coalition a new government decision to allocate money for schools and kindergartens in colleges.

Emil Boc is thus securing the majority in Parliament – the Evenimentul Zilei argues.

About cigarette smuggling the Gândul writes today: "The stamp-free tobacco appears on the market also because... the guards are stealing confiscated cigarettes from warehouses. Until they are destroyed by incineration, the cigarettes disappear from the warehouses where they are being stored after the seizure – the Minister of Interior informed his government collegues."

We conclude with the Adevărul, where we meet today, on the front page, the "saviour with the tractor".

For 15 years, Gheorghe Sânpetru from Buzau, helps people that are trapped by the snow with the equipment he uses in his household. Compared to the authorities, the man is never surprised by the winter.

His tractor has all the time a new cord and enough diesel.

Last week was consumed the most recent stunt of Gheorghe Sânpetru – Saturday night he drifted 25 people out of the snow.

Nobody is asking him to do it – the Adevărul adds – but he does.

And he never asked for anything in return.

Translated by: Manuela Stancu
MA Student, MTTLC, Bucharest University