What the newspapers say: May 5, 2008

The first scrutiny of the local elections led to victory no less than ten officials investigated for various frauds. As a whole, the elections were won by Democrat-Liberals, the party supported by president Basescu, but only with a few thousand votes in front of the Social Democrats. The news slowly return to the everyday scandals, frauds and financial crisis.

Steaua Bucharest football team was sanctioned, losing 6 points from their final championship score, after their boss, Gigi Becali, was found guilty of attempting to bribe another football team. Steaua remains on the second place in the top, but may lose its right to participate in the European competitions next year. At the same time, Becali was banned from assisting to the Steaua games for two years, Evenimentul Zilei and most other newspapers inform.

In the local elections final results, Liberal Democrats (PDL) won a few votes more than Social Democrats (PSD), but PSD won more County Council seats, same Evenimentul Zilei reads. Romania Libera adds that dozens of candidates were under criminal investigation for various frauds when they decided to run for the offices, and ten of them even managed to win from the first round.

Not so surprising, when a piece of investigative journalism in Gandul points at the fact that institutions that should protect the law promote, in fact, the fraud. The state authority in charge with the construction discipline, ISC, sued the Bucharest City Council for not discussing the project for its new headquarters. The project was previously rejected by the Urban Commission, a fact that makes the lawsuit appear as simple political pressure.

In the everyday life, the money is still the problem. On one hand, Central Bank Governor Mugur Isarescu says that the international financial crisis is an opportunity for Romania, since it leads to a decrease of the current account deficit (Cotidianul). On the other hand, Jurnalul National points at the rising prices: edible oil is 50% more expensive now than it was in April, fruits price increased 24% and the average price for food jumped 12%.