What the newspapers say: May 15, 2008

Political conflicts have already sprang out as local June elections are getting nearer. Also in the news today, Health minister Nicolaescu plans to build 32 hospitals – for his political well-being. And gas prices in Romania are skyrocketing.

Cotidianul reads on Thursday about former Social Democrat (PSD) President, Ion Iliescu and his envisioned post-electoral alliances for the June 2008 local elections. Thus, it seems that Iliescu favors a collaboration with Liberals more than with any other party on the political stage.

Nonetheless, he was clear on separating Social Democrats of the current Democrat Liberals (PD-L), seen as President Basescu’s party. His main reason is that PD-L lacks any political vigor or essence. Iliescu declared that it is a party formed over the night solely to gain political advantages.

At his turn, Romania’s President Traian Basescu did not miss the chance to attack Iliescu again claiming that he was a specialist in coups d’etat.

Elsewhere in the news, Gandul reads about Health minister’s plan to build 32 hospitals in four years of which 11 are in Mures, central Romania – the county which he represented in the House of Deputies. Journalists wonder whether the move is a political one, to increase the minister’s political capital in the area.

When contacted, Health minister Eugean Nicolaescu said that his political interests have nothing to do with his decision. Moreover, he stressed the fact that journalists should take things as they are.

Romania Libera reads about the increasing price of gas, as of a ticking bomb. The newspaper reads that Romanians pay more than their counterparts in Bulgaria or Cyprus even though our country produces half of the gas consumed by Romanians.

Economy ministry experts declared they would investigate whether the financial operations of gas-related companies are legal. However, the state is probably the main beneficiary of the price increase, since almost half percent from the price of gas goes to the state.

Romanians pay for gas just as much as their European counterparts, except for the fact that Romanians do not earn as much as them.