The National Press Review, July 23

"The campaign for the referendum becomes, from one day to another, increasingly aggressive" writes România Liberă and tries to answer the question: "What's next in the political battle?". The publication mentions that in recent days both USL and PDL have radicalized their attitude in order to win the political confrontation on July 29 and gives examples of "drastic measures, serious accusations and ugly insults." Romania Libera elaborates the subject with the help of analysts, who explain the violence of language, but also what surprises may occur in the last week of the campaign.

"Basescu has to pay for stealing the Romanian people", quotes Jurnalul Naţional from the statement made yesterday by Prime Minister Victor Ponta at the meeting held in Iasi by USL. The daily writes down who participated at the meeting and what were the social-liberal arguments in their favor. Also, Jurnalul National exclusively presents an interview with Prime Minister Victor Ponta, accusing the suspended president, Traian Basescu, for the fact that, quote: "he is the first president who attacked his country in order to stay in function". The Chief Executive also answers to questions relating to voting on July 29, to validation of election, as well as to reproaches that has against the President, but also against the reaction of Brussels regarding the situation from the internal political arena.

"USL leaders, panicked that they lost the popular support" – sustains Evenimentul Zilei and comments: "for fear that there will be no presence at the vote, PSD and PNL try to scare various social categories and already flew his thesis of Basescu’s illegitimacy." In addition, the author of the article brings to the fore the affirmations of Presidential Adviser Sebastian Lazaroiu, who says that from the speech of Victor Ponta shows a plan B - respectively "high treason" - because, in his opinion: "The referendum has failed". Also, the paper set forth, with the help of analysts, the meanings of any absence at the voting, as well as the gains or losses of camps pros and cons of Traian Basescu.

Finally, Adevărul makes public an interview with the suspended president Traian Basescu, on the current political crisis. He believes that "Romanians can give politicians a lesson." Regarding the posts on participation at the referendum, Basescu further sustains the presence at voting, despite his supporters’ theory, that his participation in elections would legitimize a "coup". The suspended President also argues why he believe that in Romania was a "coup", which he says is in progress, and talk, at the same time, about the reaction of Brussels regarding the situation in the country, as well as the reaction of Bucharest after the publication of the report on Justice.

Translated by Alexandra-Diana Mircea
MTTLC, Bucharest University