National Press Review, 29 June

Evenimentul Zilei headlines: "Băsescu, prevented from executing his term", referring to the members of the delegation who travelled to the European Council in Brussels, and offers a detailed account on President Traian Băsescu’s statement given yesterday on the topic.

The author of the article notes that “the head of state did not want to create an image problem for Romania, so he gave ground in the war over who will represent our country at this reunion, but he believes that the state subject to the rule of law is at stake at the moment”.

Under the title: "How much is the Brussels photo group going to cost Ponta" România Liberă analyses the possible effects of the Prime Minister’s decision to participate in the European Council.

The daily comments that “Victor Ponta seems to have won the battle between him and the President, but how he got to Brussels may cost the leader of the Democratic Liberal Party more internally than he has managed to win externally.”

România Liberă recounts the tactical ploys used in the dispute over representing Romania at the European Council, claiming that "Traian Băsescu seems to have prepared Victor Ponta an ambush upon his return, and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Andrei Marga, could be his first victim.

The publication Adevărul poses a rhetorical question: "Who rules the Romanian law?", explaining that "The government has chosen to take over the Official Gazette from the Chamber of Deputies in order to control when particular legislative acts are published”.

According to the newspaper, the Prime Minister motivates his ordinance to modify the law concerning the organisational structure of the Official Gazette by stating that the government is experiencing major dysfunctions.

On the other hand, the press has speculated that this shift in power may result in postponing the issuance of the Constitutional Court of Romania’s decision on going to Brussels in favour of Traian Băsescu.

Referring to the leaders of the Official Gazette, Adevărul believes that things could be more complicated than this and concludes with the member of the European Parliament and the Liberal Democratic Party, Traian Ungureanu’s reaction to this matter, expressed by yesterday’s critique of the decisions made by the government.

Changing the topic, Jurnalul Naţional writes: "The Năstase case – denounced internationally ".

The headline alludes to the announcement given by the president of the College of Physicians, Vasile Astărăstoaie, concerning his intention to submit the notification of international authorities to the National Council, as well as a complaint to the Superior Council of Magistracy against the investigators in the Adrian Năstase case.

The purpose of the legal action is aimed at enforcing compliance with the professional independence of physicians - the paper emphasizes, also revealing the latest details on the request for suspension of the former Prime Minister’s sentence.

Translated by: Cristina Baciu,
MA Student, MTTLC, Bucharest University