As someone who maintains a site (nearly) exclusively focusing on Romania, it’s certainly incumbent upon me to mention that 2014 is a presidential election year in this country. After two turbulent 5-year terms in office, Basescu is required by law to step down this year. Who will replace him is anybody’s guess but yesterday I saw that Emil Boc, former Prime Minister and current mayor … Continue reading Don’t follow leaders
Yesterday night, the press was ready. Camera crews and journalists circled the property, everyone ready to spring into action when they heard the shot go off. Last summer the comically tragic long-running drama called Politics in Romania was dominated by the story of the conviction of former strongman PSD party leader and ex-Prime Minister Adrian Nastase. Bam, they got him! A win for the good … Continue reading Merry Christmas, Mr. Prime Minister
Living in Romania you’d never know there was a country next door called “Ukraine” that covers half of this country’s borders. Unless there’s a fistfight in the parliament* you almost never hear about what’s going on there. Lately though Ukraine’s been in the news because of the ongoing protests, boiled down in black and white as the “evil” pro-Russia government of Viktor Yanukovich versus the … Continue reading The people have spoken
I often complain about a real lack of transparency in Romania but there is one notable exemption – the activities of the parliament are duly noted and rapidly updated on its website. Likewise, although there’s no American-style CSPAN with a live feed of the parliament floor, the media (and public) are allowed to witness the proceedings. Mind you, there are some shortcomings in the parliament’s … Continue reading A commercial enterprise of the people, by the people and for the people
It’s snowing beautifully here in Unicorn City as I write this and I can see that all the news channels are busy pumping the one bit of good news that they have, that the Republic of Moldova has signed a free trade agreement with the European Union at the summit in Vilnius (overshadowed globally by the fact that Ukraine was scheduled to also sign it … Continue reading Forever Put Asunder
