National Press Review June, 25

JURNALUL NAŢIONAL offers a detailed description of Adrian Năstase’s case and comments: ‘The “Quality Trophy” masquerade played in court will be followed by the enforcement of the unjust sentence’. The publication presents the doctors’ opinion concerning the former Prime Minister’s health, an evaluation which the Police has been waiting for in order to decide whether or not to go through with the enforcement of the imprisonment sentence. In the pages of the newspaper, we also read about the harsh reaction of Monica Macovei, member of the European Parliament, to this topic, who has stated that “The law has been violated in the Năstase case”, presenting counterarguments to support her statement.

‘Năstase’s winding road to the penitentiary’ - ROMÂNIA LIBERĂ headlines, in an attempt to answer the following question: Will the authorities obey the law imposing that Adrian Năstase be placed in prison? The daily describes a series of inconsistencies characterising the arrest warrant enforcement procedure, and expands on the topic with an Anti-Corruption expert.

ADEVĂRUL announces: ‘Băsescu and Ponta, face to face either before the Tribunal or the Court’. The newspaper gives a short description of the possible outcomes of the dispute between President Traian Băsescu and Prime Minister Victor Ponta, on who will represent Romania at the European Council from 28 June. The press has interpreted the head of state’s letter to the Prime Minister, contesting Victor Ponta’s participation at Brussels, as a warning sign that the President intends to address the Court of Justice – the author of the article writes, adding that another possibility would be the Constitutional Court, who settles legal disputes related to the Constitution, arising among public authorities. ADEVĂRUL analyses the situation generated by the constituency of the delegation going to Brussels, and shows Foreign Minister Andrei Marga’s opinion on the subject.

Finally, under the title: ‘The Right is getting ready for election’, EVENIMENTUL ZILEI reveals the right wing political groups’ courses of action on the local political scene, and claims that they are combining forces in view of the coming election battle in the fall. The newspaper provides details on the New Republic Movement’s plans, which has recently become a fully grown party, on Mihai Ungureanu, the former Prime Minister’s intention of launching his Civic Initiative, which will also acquire a political colour in the fall, as well as on the Liberal Democratic Party’s willingness to collaborate in order to form a centre-right pole, as an alternative to the Liberal Social Union.

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