National Press Review, 12 August

New protests in the autumn. After the fiscal-budgetary strategy of the Government transpired in the press and has been officially confirmed.

"Populists in shock: another three years of austerity", the România Liberă quotes on the first page.

"The fiscal-budgetary strategy for 2012-2014, which includes freezing vacancies in the public sector and delayed pension increase, will force politicians to rethink their campaign speeches", the daily reads. "Civil servants and the elderly have already announced protests".

Apparently union representatives stated for the România Liberă that there will be street protests and a big meeting in Bucharest, but only if they are certain their actions will be effective.

Rich and famous pensioners seem to be more optimistic: "Luxury pensioners at war with the state", the Evenimentul Zilei reads, making reference to the people that lost money last summer.

The Adevărul writes about the "budget ice": "ICE AGE Boc", the daily’s headline reads. Until 2014 pensions and public positions will be frozen, education loses 6 percent of the GDP, meal and holiday tickets suspended.

The Government wants to reduce the budget deficit from 4.4 percent to 3 percent in 2012. Journalists wonder: "Was there another way?" Yes, financial analyst Liviu Voinea claims. He suggests something different: "reduce social contributions and increase minimum wage through a thorough analysis of investment and more absorption of European funds".

The Jurnalul Naţional also addresses the fiscal-budgetary strategy – "Pensioners and civil servants on a diet", the headline reads – the article quotes the statement of Romanian Europensioners leaders: "The September 12 we will set up our tents in Izvor Park and we will peg out ministries".

"The European Commission allows Spain to slam the door in our face". "The EC blocks immigration". "Forbidden to work in Spain until 2013" or "Which Romanians will need a work permit in Spain", are all variations of the same subject.

Until the directive comes into force, that is until the end of next year, Spain has received the EC’s green light to limit Romanian access on work market. To work in Spain, Romanian citizens will need work permits, those already working on the Peninsula will therefore have an advantage.


Translated by: Gabriela Lungu
MA Student, MTTLC, Bucharest University