Sorry

Sorry for my absence these summer months, i've been abroad for some family business. The news will go on!

Students with problems

Problems.. problems. In Timisoara only 10% of the students starting this year on the 1st of October have a place to sleep in dormitories provided by the universities. The rest have to rent an appartment or even buy one. Real estate dealers say that the price for renting a place vary from 170 to 350 euros. This is a little expensive for most romanians. A well known paradox is that students fight for a place in the dormitories although they are unclean and cramped, 2 to 4 students may very well share a 20 square meter space.

Source: click the title

Bucharest Mayor

All welcome Dr. Sorin Oprescu, the new mayor of Bucharest, and the first independent mayor (isn't affiliated with any political party, although Oprescu broke from the SDP)
Here are some of his statements, translated into English:

"Inainte de orice fel de discurs doresc sa le multumesc bucurestenilor. Aceasta zi de Rusalii, duminica 15 iunie, va ramane in istoria Bucurestiului si in nistoria Romaniei ca una dintre cele mai frumoase zile ale democratiei. Sunt primul primar independent din istoria recenta a Capitalei noastre"
Translation: Before any speech I would like to thank my fellow citizens. This holy day (15th of June is, according to the orthodox church, the day of the Rusalii, a holy celebration) will remain in the history of Bucharest and Romania as one of democracy's best. I am the first independent mayor of Bucharest.

"Nu eu am fost cel care a facut istoria, votul vostru a scris astazi istoria. Votul dumneavoastra a fost mai puternic decat interesele lor. S-a terminat cu bordurile"
Translation: I am not the one that made history today, but you, the voters. Your votes have made history. Your vote was stronger than their interests. Gone with the street side campaign (referring to former mayor Videanu's campaign (more info here)

"Ceea ce am trait eu in aceste ultime saptamani nu a fost o telenovela. Cei care vor repeta mereu ca sunt produsul unei telenonovele ma jignesc. Am rezistat la nenumarate tentatii, am primit numai lovituri, dar am rezistat numai cu ajutorul dumneavosatra, pentru ca stiam ca astazi 15 iunie am o intalnire cu dumneavoastra, de la care nu pot sa lipsesc"
Translation: What I lived these days wasn't a soap-opera. The people that tell me that are offending me. I rejected many temptations, got many kicks, but resisted on belahf of your help, because I knew that today, 15th of June, I have to honor a meeting with you, the voters, and I cannot run away.

"Cand puterea ni se urca la cap, cetatenii o iau inapoi. [...] Sunt in seara aceasta fericit pentru ca voi m-ati facut fericit. Votul dumneavoastra a fost mai puternic decat interesele lor. De maine, la munca, ca avem treaba. Promit ca nu o sa va dezamagesc"
Translation: When we have too much power, the citizens take it away from us. [...] I am happy tonight because you made me happy. Your vote has been stronger that their interests. The work will start tomorrow, because there is work to be done. I won't dissapoint you

"N-am de reprosat nimic PSD-ului pentru ca nu m-a desemnat candidat. Tot ce a fost rau a fost din cauza mea, tot ce a fost bun a fost datorita bucurestenilor. [...] Presedintelui ii urez numai bine".
Translation: I don't have anything to object the SDP because they didn't want me to run for mayor (that's why Oprescu left the SDP and became independent). What went wrong was my fault, the good things happened courtesy of the citizens of Bucharest [...] I don't have anything to object to Mr. Traian Basescu, the president of Romania.

Source: http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-politic-3271012-sorin-oprescu-sunt-primul-primar-independent-capitalei-15-iunie-ramane-istorie-una-dintre-cele-mai-frumoase-zile-ale-democratiei.htm

Illiterat gypsys of Sintesti

In the small, rural settlement of Sintesti, mayoral elections in the second scrutiny are going bad. That's because Sintesti has a procentage of illiteracy in Romania, many being registered gypsys. The problem is that they can't read the vote paper, so they gotta enter the election booth with another person that reads the paper and asks the voter what does he want to vote. This is, in my oppinion, a strict violation of the secrecy of the vote, but is a required compromise. The law says that romanian citizens over 18 years old have the right to vote, and doesn't say anything about literacy. This process is clogging up the election system, generating riots town-wide. In other news, 40 Sintesti citizens didn't found themselves on the electoral lists and had to use the complimentary lists, courtesy of the vote commission, slowing the democratic process even more.

Source: http://www.realitatea.net/romii-analfabeti-din-sintesti-au-intrat-la-vot-insotiti_299322.html

Angry Gypsy

The town of Stefanesti has been in the spotlight for the last 2 weeks. It has been witness to an election scandal between the SDP and a new and frankly stupid party, the NGP (New Generation Party). The NGP candidate says that the SDP rigged the elections, turning the fillage into a battleground for gypsys and romanians alike. Today, a film crew was attacked verbally and physically by a gypsy because he was filmed. It is worth mentioning that he was recorded on the street, in a public place, so no law protects him.


Source: http://www.realitatea.net/video_393482_o-echipa-realitatea-tv-agresata-la-sintesti--inainte-de-alegerile-locale_299081.html

18 years..

Yesterday, students went into the University Square and fought with pillows, "commemorating" the fights between teenagers and the miners. 18 years have passed since the events of june 1990. The Mineriads (Golaniads) took place when first president of the new democrat state: Romania was considered a comunist. When the people took the power from Mr. Nicolae Ceausecu in the Revolution of December 1989, the first prerogative was that all members of the Romanian Communist Party cannot take part in the new democratic institutions. But that law was broken, Iliescu being a low-rank member, like many Romanian politicians at that time. In fact, yesterday was an alarm signal: even to this day there are doubts about Miron Cozma's guilt).

And now, this is how the fighting really looked like:


Source: http://www.antena3.ro/Rememorare-inedita-a-mineriadei-din-199-Tinerii-au-organizat-o-bataie-cu-perne_act_50542_ext.html

Rainwater makes good savings

It would seem that the people Ceaucescu moved by force, from the rural areas of Romania to the thriving cities created on the backbone of the great romanian socialist industry haven't died. I was taking shelter from the big bad thunderstorm that caught me by surprise. I was staying at the entrance of an apartment building when a woman came and put her buckets underneath the pipe that evacuated water from the rooftop. I calculated with my friends. She made 7 trips with the buckets, getting a cool 280l for free. The cubic meter of water is about 0.36 RON, that means a whopping 13 cents. That's why Romania has the worst public health, because people are stuck with their poor, unhealthy habits. I asked the woman and she isn't affiliated to any water convervation group, she just does this because "it's free", said the woman.

Source: http://366blinks.wordpress.com/2008/06/09/la-noise-poate/

Election Bureau president got arrested

We're talking about a preventive arrest of 29 days. That's because Mr. Unknown (the name was not provided.. I can't undestand why) is suspected of election fraud. He was the president of the Ulmu Election Bureau, Ulmu being a small settlement in Braila county. The accusation is forging the results: he tried to declare more votes for the SDP (Social Democrat Party) candidate, so that he would get the mayor seat in the first round (getting the majority). This arrest is a follow-up of the local scandal, when about a hundred citizens took to the streets in a march, protesting about the rigged elections. The president was not found, so he did not comment anything about this.

Source: http://www.realitatea.net/presedintele-bec-ulmu-a-fost-arestat-pentru-29-de-zile_295416.html

Romanians suffer from boss syndrome

Recent studies show that more than 75% everyday romanians want a well-payed job, but don't have the required education for it. They also wish to work in a honorable, well-known company. Experts call it the "Stalinist way". Also, the study says that most Romanians get this kind of job, but not due to their brilliant education, but because they bribe or rig the interview using friends or relatives with influence. Transition to Democracy at it's best.
It is a well known fact that in Romania, the concept of post-university studies has risen to become a fashion. Education, in my opinion is an institution dominated by corruption, like the public health and justice systems. So a Master Degree isn't hard to earn without studying, and people seem to get them just to give their CVs more weight. The problem: incompetence. This problem has made bosses to loose touch with reality and develop an aggressive attitude, psychologists say. Bosses tend to create a sort of totalitarian regime in their offices, neglecting other pieces of external advice.

Source: http://www.antena3.ro/Aproape-trei-sferturi-din-romani-sufera-de-sindromul-sefiei_act_50245_ext.html

Geoana gives green light for alliance

I don't really get it. For the county council in Valcea, the SDP(Social Democrat Party) and the DLP(Democrat Liberal Party) have made a political alliance, with the blessing of Mr. Geoana, the Social Democrat president. It is clear that politics in Romania is diluted: how can a Socialist party and a Liberal party forge an alliance, when their doctrines aren't compatible. More info when I have it.
Foto: Mr. Goana speaking, and behind him is former president Ion Iliescu, honorary president and senator

Source: http://www.realitatea.net/geoana-si-a-dat-acordul-ca-psd-sa-faca-alianta-cu-pd-l-la-consiliul-judetean-valcea_295032.html

Is Cluj the second Venice?

Due to the incompetence of some workers, the central street of transylvanian city Cluj gets flooded every time it rains. The problem is that when people poured tar and remade the Paris street, they clogged up the drainage holes. Local people try to destroy the tar and let loose the sewer holes, so that the half-meter high water would have a place to drain, freeing the main street. Pedestrians are obliged to do high-wire acts to avoid getting their feet wet. City Hall officials promised that they would sue the company that they hired to remake the avenue.

Source: http://cluj.realitatea.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1769:LAC-%C3%8EN-STRAD%C4%82-%E2%80%93-Pe-strada-Paris-s-au-format-b%C4%83l%C5%A3i-uria%C5%9Fe-dup%C4%83-ploaia-de-ieri_2008-06-06-10-05-09&catid=12:social&Itemid=13

Cleanup in the DLP

The Democrat Liberal Party has started a general cleanup. It is based upon the results of last week's local elections. Each candidate who didn't get the position for mayor or didn't make it to the second round will be expelled. This measure was suggested by the winners of mayor chairs on behalf of the DLP. On account of the Central Electoral Bureau, the Social Democrats won 662 mandates, the Liberal Democrats 473 and the National Liberals 355.

Source: http://www.realitatea.net/pd-l-a-decis-sa-i-inlature-din-partid-pe-cei-care-nu-au-fost-votati_294166.html

Post-totalitarian blues

According to CSAFS (the Council for Studies of the Archives of the Former Securitate), 20 candidates for mayor worked with the secret police during the communist regime. The council has not pointed the persons, but stated that 14 were mere informers (the lowest rank), four were officers and two were collaborators. Their files were sent to the Court of Bucharest for further investigation. CSAFS also stated that they are sure that 407 candidates don't have ties linking them to the oppression apparatus of the old regime.
Note: Thousands of files were burned in the events of December 1989.
Source: http://www.realitatea.net/20-de-informatori--colaboratori-si-ofiteri-ai-securitatii-au-candidat-la-alegerile-locale_290852.html

Nastase says that Basescu is "a historical accident for Romania"

Former prime minster and counter candidate of Traian Basescu in the 2004 presidential ellections Adrian Nastase attacked the president today. Nastase is upset because the president, who in his oppinion hast to be impartial in internal affairs, has made a statement sustaining Vasile Blaga, the DLP candidate for mayor of Bucharest. Nastase said that Mr. Basescu has "a psychiatric problem" and that he is "a historical accident for Romania". It is worth mentioning that before he become president of Romania, Basescu was a high-ranking member in the DP (who united this year with the LDP, becoming the DLP more history here).

Source: http://www.realitatea.net/a--nastase-traian-basescu-este-un-accident-istoric-pentru-romania_293531.html

Pension for "retired" commys

A communist-investigation institute passed a law project in which the old people who had jobs in the oppression apparatus of the Communist Party will be payed a 500 RON pension. This sum of money represents the minimum wage in Romania. Officers who were working in the Securitate have a huge allowance, the average being almost 7 times greater than the usual pension. Mr. Ilie Merce (who once was a Securitate officer and now is a deputy in the parliament, on behalf of the BRP - Big Romania Party) has a pension of roughly 2100 RON. Former general Nicolae Plesita gets arround 5500 RON, for having a key position in communist Romania's secret police.

Source: http://www.realitatea.net/tortionarii-comunisti-ar-putea-primi-pensii-de-maxim-500-de-lei_293447.html

Traian Basescu supports Vasile Blaga

The president has played his card. Basescu said today that he will sustain Mr. Vasile Blaga, the counter candidate of Sorin Oprescu. He does that because when the NSF (National Salvation Front) broke up in 1992, Mr. Blaga joined Mr. Petre Roman in the DP (Democratic Party), now DLP (Democrat Liberal Party, more information about the Romania's party system here), while Mr. Oprescu takes without opposition the recomandation of Ion Iliescu, who opposed the DP.

Source: http://www.realitatea.net/t--basescu--acceptarea-valorilor-lui-iliescu-este-lipsa-de-respect-fata-de-bucuresteni_293132.html

Quarrl in the SDP

It would seem that most of the SDP leaders agreed to sustain Sorin Oprescu (who left the SDP prior to the mayoral elections) in the second scrutiny, on the 15th of June. I said most because Mr. Cristinan Diaconescu, the party's candidate for mayor, disagreed, stating that Oprescu, if elected, will return in the party as mayor of Bucharest and will demote the high-ranking members. Diaconescu even told Mr. Ion Iliescu (first president of post 1989 Romania, rumored to have been a key member in Ceausescu's regime, honorary president of the SDP) to act as a mediator between him and Oprescu. Iliescu should tell the independend candidate to stop attacking the SDP, because the party will support him.

Source: http://www.realitatea.net/pesedistii-de-la-bucuresti-s-au-plans-ca-oprescu-ii-ameninta-ca-se-intoarce-si-ii-da-afara_293117.html

Tariceanu Dances!

Our prime minister, Calin Popescu Tariceanu was caught by the Antena 3 reporters dancing. The song was of Italian origin, with a popular taste. The ocasion was Italy's National Day. After he danced with the fine Italian artist, he enjoyed a glass of champagne along former president Emil Constantinescu and the head of the main opposition party, Mircea Goana from the SDP (Socialist Democrat Party)






Source: http://www.antena3.ro/Tariceanu-a-dansat-Tarantella-la-petrecerea-organizata-de-Ziua-Italiei-VIDEO_act_50037_ext.html

Results

Sorin Oprescu (independent) – 30,52%
Vasile Blaga (DLP) – 27,68%
Cristian Diaconescu (SDP) – 13,12%
Ludovic Orban (NLP) – 11,84%
Cozmin Guşă (NIP) – 6,30%
Fuciu Daniel (NGP) – 3,94%
Codrin Ştefănescu (CP) – 1,73%
Verginia Vedinaş (BRP) – 1,60%

The party names were translated into English:
DLP = Democrat Liberal Party
SDP = Social Democrat Party
NLP = National Liberal Party
NIP = National Initiative Party
NGP = New Generation Party
CP = Conservatory Party
BRP = Big Romania Party

Presence at the election booth:
31% - Bucharest
46% - nation-wide

Source: http://www.antena3.ro/Rezultate-oficiale-partiale-Sorin-Oprescu-35-Vasile-Blaga-277_act_50010_ext.html

Personal oppinions and a little history

Well.. first of all, the voters can be roughly divided into 2 groups. The Social-Democrat voters and the Liberals. The SD's are usually old people that come from the opening hours (8 AM) until 1 PM, the biggest wave being when the church service is over. the SDP (social democrat party) electors had the biggest mistakes in voting. They used the VOTED stamp wrong, so many votes were declared null. In Bucharest, Mr. Sorin Oprescu was a high ranking member of the SDP, but got into an internal fight and was independent in the mayoral election. Then, 2 hours of pause for lunch, when few people came. From 4PM until the closing hour (9PM), the Liberals voted. Most youngsters and about half of the working class are liberals. Two parties were voted by them: The NLP (National Liberal Party) and the DLP (Democrat Liberal Party). The NLP is historical, founded in the XIX Century. 2 years ago, some key members left this party and made their own, the LDP (Liberal-Democrat Party). After 1989, the power was taken by the NSF (National Salvation Front) . In 1991, the NSF split into the DSPR (Democrat Social Party of Romania), which took many forms and name, now being the SDP, and the DP (Democrat Party). This year, prior to the local elections which i observed, the DP and the LDP merged into the DLP. Overall the citizens of Bucharest shown little interest for Mr. Videanu (the ex mayor) and wanted a big change. My opinion is that Mr. Oprescu will overcome. No attemps to fraud the election because each member of the commission was from a separate party. Someone stamped all the zones, trying to vote for all the candidates :) - null vote. Several people tried to make pictures when voting but we're told not to.

Back

Back from the election booth.. it's 3 AM local time.
I was there from 6 AM to 3 AM the other day and am extremely tired. Mis-haps in the morning

Sand Pollution

Industrial sand is suffocating the small town of "Moldova Noua" (New Moldavia) for 2 days now. The sand is a derivate from the local condemned water treatment plant. The plant is closed for 2 years, so it's bay got dry, and was filled after that with industrial sand waste. Wind carried the pollutants and spread it across town into people's wells, houses and lungs. The lake is internationally known, Romania being on the edge of international scandal several occasions, when the sand cloud passed the Danube and go into Serbia

Source: http://www.antena3.ro/Poluare-cu-nisip-industrial-la-Moldova-Noua_act_49908_ext.html

No More Cars

It would seem that Romanians no longer feel the need to spend money on a new car in 2008. The car market will be close to stagnation, economists say. It's perfectly normal for any free liberal market to have it's ups and downs. Romanians have been buying cars like crazy: in 2000, 66.000 people bought a new car. This number reached 315.000 in 2007. The forcast for 2008 is 330.000, marking a 3% increase. Dealers are advertising like crazy here, trying desperate to stay in business, but the good times are close to gone.

Source: http://www.protv.ro/stiri/economie/romanii-nu-mai-cumpara-masini-companiile-ii-asteapta-cu-promotii.html

Prime Minister Gives Example

Mr. Tariceanu tried to give an example to fellow citizens, to show them that cars are not indispensable. Bucharest has one of the most congested traffic in Europe, not necessarily because the streets are narrow and they have to handle a large volume of automobiles. The problem is that traffic isn't efficient enough and mass transit vehicles are extremely crowded

Source: http://www.realitatea.net/calin-popescu-tariceanu--la-guvern-pe-bicicleta_290756.html

Observer in election centers

Well it seems that i will be an observer on the behalf of the Pro Democracy Asociation. I will be monitoring the election boxes to spot any attempt to fraud. The local elections will be held Sunday, 1st of June. Stay put for more info.

Last day of the election campaign for mayors

It would apear that Bacau is now on the spotlight. After Videanu used bricks inscribed with electoral messages, Mr Radu Nicolau, Bacau candidate from the Social Democratic Party made clothes for comunitarian dogs. The jackets carry an electoral message. Since these dogs have no masters, they will roam freely on the streets of Bacau. Ingenious..

Romanians eat lesser meat than their fellow europeans

A recent survey states that the average romanian eats about 64 kilograms of meat in a year's time. That's about 140 lb. Poverty, in my opinion, allong with strong belief in god are the most important factors. The orthodox church prohibits eating meat, eggs and milk on Wednesdays and Fridays, and on certain ocasions prior to Christmas and Easter. The averadge meat consumption in the EU is 80 kg. A forecast indicates that romanians will consume meat at european standars as early as 2013.

Source: http://www.antena3.ro/Romanii-mananca-si-beau-mai-putin-decat-locuitorii-celorlalte-state-UE_act_49836_ext.html

Man dies due to poor healthcare services

Tragedy struck in Pitesti. A man died because nobody wanted to give him the vital aid. He was a construction worker, staying at a motel in Pitesti. He fell ill, so his roommates called the ambulance. They got a somewhat inconclusive answer, and didn't know when would the ambulance arrive. They took the matter into their own hands, taking the man to a nearby hospital. It turned out that the hospital was in a fact a home for the elderly. Nobody wanted to take care of him, saying that it's not their competence. They recomended a nearby clinic, but the group with the sick person found out that it was condemned for 2 years. So they decided to take the man back home and urge the ambulance to come faster. Yes, they had to urge. The man died before first aid arrived. Tracic.

Source: http://www.antena3.ro/Un-barbat-a-murit-dupa-ce-mai-multe-spitale-au-refuzat-sal-ingrijeasca_act_49835_ext.html

46% are voting

A survey posted today states that only 46% of the people that have the right to vote (18 or more years of age) will come Sunday to elect the new mayor of Bucharest. This is extremely sad, knowing the fact that 18 years have passed since the events of December 1989 and still transition to democracy casts it's deadly shadow. The saddes part is that people don't go vote and then complain that the mayor (that other people chosed) doesn't do enough for the city. People died for free elections, but freedom can be offered, not imposed.]

Source: http://www.realitatea.net/insomar--doar-46prc--dintre-bucuresteni-vor-merge-duminica-la-vot_289902.html

Ingenious but Illegal

Actual mayor of Bucharest, Mr. Videanu taught that it would be nice for the citizens of Romania's Capital to put electoral messages on the street border. In a beautiful spring morning, people could read "Vote for Videanu" on the little concrete boxes. Although this is funny, it is extremely illegal because:
1. Taxpayers should not pay for Mr. Videanu's electoral campaign. He took money from the local budget to repair the streets and in fact advertised his position as a candidate for mayor.
2. It was done on the 13th of March, nearly 2 months before the official electoral campaign started

Source: http://www.cotidianul.ro/votati_videanu_acum_si_pe_bordurile_proaspat_schimbate-40944.html

Cool Clip

I want to share a cool clip that someone made to urge people to go voting. Voting is very important, being one of your fundamental right as a citizen. The clip is about totalitarian rules. Romania had one of the fiercest regimes in Eastern Europe, led by the stalinist leader Nicolae Ceausescu. Enjoy the clip and hope you have goosebumps.