National Press Review, December 15

"Romania in 2011 described by Traian Băsescu: a little trimming of the state workers and another six billion loan."

The President devised yesterday the country"s economy for the following two years – writes the Gândul.

He also announced that the reducing of social expenses and number of jobs would continue.

The Evenimentul Zilei writes about yesterday"s conference: "Traian Băsescu blames the justice department for a possible failure on Schengen."

Those responsible for the damage done to Romania – said the President, are some members of The Superior Council of Magistrates, who believe themselves to be God."

The Adevărul chose to open today"s edition with a political headline: "Udrea is on the Titanic and she is asking for champagne".

PDL Euro-MP Cristian Preda has attacked Elena Udrea after she pleaded for his expulsion from the party.

Cristian Preda mocks Elena Udrea"s political ambitions and reminds her that it was around last year"s presidential campaign that she had to "lay low" because of her lack of credibility.

"The Generals of the Romanian bribe". The România Liberă writes that superior officers of the Army are accused of corruption for "fixing" entrance examinations at the School of Officers.

Among them there were also two generals.

If this is true, the price for which the generals would sell themselves is amazing.

The România Liberă writes that the generals" honor costs 1000, 1500 euros, that is the sum the network off Army leaders demanded in return for entering the military school.

Closer to day to day life, the Evenimentul Zilei writes in today"s edition that "The price of petrol has caught fire at the end of the year".

Fuel prices have increased three times in just ten days and new such increases await us on New Year"s and so even the cheapest petrol will exceed 5 lei per liter.

The prices today are well above those from the summer of 2008 when oil fuel on the global market reached new levels – says the Evenimentul Zilei.

Yes, but now the leu has receded and that is why we increase the prices – said our oil companies and they are fine, a fact that not even the governor of BNR Mugur Isărescu cannot quite understand.

And another prediction for next year: "2011, a dark year for real estates" – predicts the Gândul.

Half of a billion euros projects risk going bankrupt. Many skyscrapers in construction throughout the city, which had been thought to serve as headquarters of successful firms and corporations, are now "frozen" because of the crisis.

Translated by: Iris Butnariu
MA Student, MTTLC, Bucharest University