* NEWS *

EDITORIAL

Traian Basescu is taking us for fools – Rares Bogdan – Ziua – read here -
“One more year elapsed and Traian Basescu finds it is time for some tension in a country half covered by snow and with the other half watching TV and rejoicing that God has saved them from such snow and snowstorms. Although they can still feel the smell of stuffed cabbage and traditional sausages, Romanians are going back to reality because of some authority or high official reminding us that summer is not like winter or because of some presidential tricks done on the public stage, rather lethargic right now. The President elected by less than one third of Romanians has ruminated under the Christmas tree in Cotroceni Palace and he has decided to come out and assail the ex Liberal bothers and also kick those so indecent to hope that this new year will bring less scandals and vendettas. Those keeping an eye on Traian Basescu can expect something to cast light on him, somehow shadowed by the winter holidays”.

POLITICS

Liberals insist for Norica Nicolai – Ovidiu Banches – Ziua – read here -
“According to the Romanian PM Calin Popescu-Tariceanu, there is no legal argument why Liberal senator Norica Nicolai mustn't be appointed a Romanian minister of Justice and he is therefore demanding the President of Romania Traian Basescu to appoint her "as soon as possible". In the letter the PM wrote yesterday to reply to the President's letter, there is mentioned that the head of state may not prefer someone else simply because of his "political and personal antipathy" for the person recommended. The PM has dismissed the President's request that he should recommend someone else instead. In his letter the PM points that, were it about public image, there should be added those controversial cases involving Traian Basescu himself when he was a general mayor of Bucharest: the Fleet case and the house in Mihaileanu Street“.

Local elections are up to PSD and PNL – Cristian Andrei – Ziua – read here -
“According to the PSD (Social-Democrat Party) president Mircea Geoana, his party has got no intention to postpone local elections, but party sources claim a final decision hasn't been reached yet. Wishing to do away with allegations, the PSD official has mentioned that the issue hasn't been tackled with the Romanian PM Calin Popescu-Tariceanu yet. Still he has argued that to hold the two elections the same day would save up some funds and also shorten the electoral campaign. Still there is information that the Social-Democrats would like the local elections to be held in the autumn and the idea of a law change doesn't scare them”.

Swoboda: "Romania's image is deteriorating" – D.I. – Ziua – read here -
“After the Romanian President Traian Basescu's refusal to appoint Liberal Norica Nicolai a minister of Justice, Hannes Swoboda, a vice president of the socialist group in the Parliament of Europe, has commented that Romania's image is deteriorating because of such arguments, just as the lack of a minister is harming the Justice reform. He has told the RFI-Romania that such attitude may give the international community aren't approached properly”.

SIE generals earn billions – Doru Dragomir – Ziua – read here -
“The generals enjoying official positions in the SIE (Foreign Intelligence Service) earn twice as much as the President of Romania. Silviu Predoiu and Vasilica Sarca, the two generals who ruled over the SIE until Mihai-Razvan Ungureanu was appointed a chief, have just released their statements on personal properties. They don't own many cars and houses, but in terms of earnings they top the list of state institutions' employees”.