What the newspapers say: May 2, 2008

The campaign for local elections begun one day earlier than the legal term. But that is nothing, compared to the days that are about to come. Some newspapers note that the politicians changed the form and content of their speech, turning towards a slangy vocabulary and betting on electoral bribes, instead of programs. Romanians react promptly and run to Turkey and Tunis for their holidays.

The parties begun campaigning one day earlier than the legal term, Evenimentul Zilei informs, taking advantage on the May 1 holiday. Barbecues in parks, free beer, posters, flyers, balloons and talk-shows – all were the ingredients for the campaign about to come.

Sadly, the same newspaper counts the improper language used by politicians lately and finds that the slang is the new fashion: „parrots”, „the blond offering services to the president”, „embarrassing as a man”, „political garbage”, „slime”, „political pimp”, „booze speaking” are just a few of the „compliments” politicians pay each other. The most eloquent is the case of Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu, who chose such expressions after years of posing as an European-size politician.

Romanians may pass through these elections unaffected: most of them just enjoyed their Easter + May 1 & 2 holidays. At least 40,000 tourists went to various locations in Romania, while some 20,000 chose Turkey and Tunis as destinations, Gandul reads.

For a better taste: a Spanish company wants to launch a giant project 40 kilometers away from Bucharest: 54,000 homes, storage and industrial facilities, worth a total over 1.6 billion euro, Cotidianul informs.