What the newspapers say: April 5, 2011

The judge ruling on media mogul Sorin Ovidiu Vantu’s trial was changed for fast forwarding the trial, on reasons that are not in the penal law. The Higher Court decided to release under judicial control Senator Catalin Voicu and businessman Costel Casuneanu is allowed to leave the country. One newspaper reveals the counties across Romania most affected by the crisis or even avoided by it. Environment Minister reveals Renault’s intentions to produce electric cars in Romania. Last but not least, Bucharest hosts the seventh edition of the International Film Festival.

Evenimentul Zilei reads that judge Camelia Bogdan, who was ruling the case involving media mogul Sorin Ovidiu Vantu, indicted for favoring Romanian fugitive Nicolae Popa, was changed on reasons that are not found in the penal law like: the trial is too fast. Her superior, Elena Burlan will be investigated for the Superior Council of Magistracy for serious negligence when deciding to remove Camelia Bogdan from the case.

Romania’s general prosecutor Codruta Kovesi made an official complaint to the Council of Magistracy to investigate judge Elena Burlan, suspected of not respecting procedural norms. The newspaper quotes from Burlan’s motivation for her actions who says that judge Camelia Bogdan’s fast forwarding trial terms might lead to the opinion that the judge already considers the defendant guilty which is why she wants to solve the case fast.

From the very start of the trial, Camelia Bogdan was not a pleasant judge for Vantu as she decided to set short term trials, from one week to another. Her attitude drove crazy Vantu’s lawyers who started complaining that they are harassed and formulated requests to change the judge.

Other decisions involving important political figures were taken: Gandul reads about the Higher Court’s decision to release, under judicial control, Senator Catalin Voicu, accused of corruption. In the same file, businessman Casuneanu, accused of bribe offering is allowed to leave the country now.

Senator Catalin Voicu together with usinessmen Florin Costiniu, Costel Casuneanu and Marius Locic were indicted by anti graft prosecutors for corruption.

Romania libera reads that the recession increased the gaps between Romania’s counties. Cluj, Central Romania and Arges South Romania were two counties that were not hit by the crisis, the newspaper reads. In Arges, GDP increased by 3.9% in 2009 and by 4.6% in 2010 while in Cluj it increased by 0.5% in 2009 and by 1.5% in 2010.

The two counties host the biggest exporters in Romania: Dacia and Nokia. Five other counties in Romania managed to pull out from the crisis in 2010: Timis and Arad, West Romania with 1.4% increases, Sibiu with 0.8%, Prahova with 0.5% and Brasov with 0.4%. Unemployment increased most in Transilvania, central Romania while in Bucharest it still can be neglected at 2.3%.

The biggest GDP per inhabitant in Bucharest, is three times higher than the national average and six times higher than the lowest county, Vaslui with 2,500 euro.

Exclusive for Gandul, Environment minister revealed Renault’s intentions to produce electric cars in Romania. Dacia deputy President Constantin Stroe confirmed that he had a meeting with the minister but said he cannot offer more details. Environment Minister Laszlo Borbely declared that Renault is interested to produce some electrical vehicles at Mioveni.

The only facility offered by the state for those purchasing electric cars is an exemption from the registration tax but the minister said this will change.

Bucharest hosts the seventh edition of the International Film Festival and the festival airs a series of films released for the first time in Romania, Evenimentul Zilei reads. Among well known movies: Cirkus Columbia, Greenberg, Outrage, Carlos and Somewhere.