Tuesday, April 8th

President Traian Băsescu calls for an investigation into the Nana farming land case

Romania's President Traian Băsescu called on prosecutors to open an investigation into a controversial case concerning the acquisition of farming land in the Nana village by the president's elder daughter Ioana. An enquiry by the Prime Minister's Control Body suggested the deal was illegal which made Mr. Băsescu call on prosecutors to look into the findings. President Băsescu attended a meeting organised by the country's Interior Ministry for its annual report on Tuesday. Participants also included Prime Minister Victor Ponta, Defence Minister Mircea Duşa, Development Minister Liviu Dragnea, Intelligence Service (SRI) chief George Maior, and DNA chief Laura Codruţa Kövesi. Everyone must obey the law and should be held accountable even if the case was supposed to involve the country's president, Mr. Băsescu said as quoted by RADIO ROMANIA.

Constantza City Hall and its mayor under investigation

Romania's National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA) launched raids and searches at the City Hall of the Black Sea port of Constantza on Tuesday. DNA prosecutors are looking for documents concerning the controversial construction of the Henri Coandă district of social homes in the city. In another move early on Tuesday, DNA prosecutors raided the home of City Mayor Radu Mazăre. As RADIO ROMANIA reported, Mr. Mazăre is currently in the capital Bucharest where he was expected to attend a summit of the governing left-wing Social Democratic Party (PSD). He told a local radio that the homes of his brother and mother were subject to similar raids during the day. Radu Mazăre said he would call a press conference for further details on the matter. The Constantza mayor is under investigation for his alleged involvement in a corruption-related case. A number of Constantza City Hall officials are also under investigation.

New permits for Chevron operations in Romania

US Chevron Corporation was awarded a new permit allowing the company to start a shale gas exploration drilling in Puieşti, a village in the Romanian north-eastern county of Vaslui. The move comes after a similar permit in Pungeşti, a village in the same county, raised protests across Romania. The Vaslui County Council gave its final approval following a Chevron request submitted almost six months ago. The concession covers an area of 2 hectares some 1.4 kilometers away from the nearest community and 300 meters away from the stream of Tutova. Chevron Romania is owner of other three permits in the Vaslui county awarded one year ago for shale gas explorations in such villages as Siliştea, Pungeşti, Păltiniş, Băceşti and Popeni Găgeşti, RADIO ROMANIA reported. Thousands have taken to the streets to protest against plans by US energy giant to drill for shale gas on Monday. Hundreds of people gathered in the capital's University Square as similar protests were held in dozens of towns and cities across the country.

Deputy Radu Stroe to be ousted from PNL

The National Political Burreau of the opposition right-wing National Liberal Party (PNL) will present its Permanent Delegation with a demand to oust Deputy Radu Stroe from the party as PNL deputies repeatedly accused Mr. Stroe of supporting the rival party of PSD. Mr. Stroe, a former Interior Minister, said his dismissal was called at the request of party leader Crin Antonescu who failed to understand properly some of his public statements. He believed that PNL decision to withdraw from the governing coalition had been a political mistake but that was a personal view with no intent to damage the party's credibility, Mr. Stroe said as quoted by RADIO ROMANIA.

Aleandru Danga

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