What the newspapers say: December 21, 2009

Most newspapers on Monday, read about the ministers designated for form the new government lead by Democrat Liberal Emil Boc. Until now, three ministries changed their nominees several times. Meanwhile, the designated PM Emil Boc just published a sketch of his governance program: to be able to pay its dues, the state should fire about 450,000 budgetary personnel. As holidays are around the corner, one newspaper reads that Romanians might as well buy their necessary from Hungary, where prices are 30% lower than those in Romania.

Cotidianul reads about the new designated ministers for the Emil Boc government. Even though other names were rumored among the press and political parties, finally, others gained their way in.

The paper reads that the new proposals are totally in accordance with what Basescu wants, and not with what Democrat Liberals want. Nonetheless, one thing is clear: diplomat Bogdan Aurescu, who won the case in Romania vs. Ukraine on the Bastroe Channel was replaced by Teodor Baconschi.

The newspaper reads that Baconschi, currently Romanian Ambassador to Paris, was awarded for his support for Basescu. The paper seems to imply that as Ambassador to Paris, Baconschi made Basescu’s win possible – as the majority of the winning votes came from the diaspora.

Gandul, on the other hand, focuses on the economic part of the governing program sketched so far. PM Emil Boc announced that in the first part of 2010, he will have to take a series of unpopular decisions, but failed to mention them.

The newspaper reveals those unfortunate decisions: 2.5 billion euro will have to be taken from the budget to cover pensions while another 3.5 billion euro to cover the gap left by salaries. The newspaper calculates that, to be able to pay salaries and pensions and to maintain the IMF agreed targets, the Romanian state should lay off over 450,000 budgetary personnel.

Moreover, it seems that the numbers could have been lower is Boc would have taken these measures in 2009. The solutions remain a set mix measures: like unpaid days each month or a renegotiation with the IMF to increase the deficit target.

Elsewhere in the news, as holidays are just around the corner, Romanians living in the West, are better off by shopping in Hungary, where prices are 30% lower because Hungarian shops are much more acceptable for the lower salaries and the quality is better, Cotidianul reads.

The most visited shops are those just about the border with Hungary: Battonya, Mako o Szeged. Hungarians promote their products in various ads, in both Hungarian and Romania. Most shops have promotions for basic goods.