The Lustration Bill currently under debate is nothing but a typical form of the Romanian politicians’ moping around on a generous topic. Not only does the bill include unconstitutional provisions, but for 70% of the population communism was a good thing which Ceauşescu managed to ruin. And it wasn’t even him, it was Elena Ceauşescu; he would have been a good guy, if it weren’t... 

In ’68 a protest broke out which was explicitly rooted in a doctrine – a motley doctrine, it’s true, but one with a comprehensive message of revolt against institutions, against the establishment, of regaining all liberties, including the erotic one. Now it all started out from a law paragraph. Disquieting events are taking place in France. Students’ massive protests over a... 

Paradoxically enough, the most hesitating Government since 1990 may take credit for the most notable change so far: turning corruption from a fuzzy intellectual concept into a concrete, tangible entity. With good reason Monica Macovei is seen today, primarily in Brussels, the symbol of Justice. Unfortunately, she has less support at home. The Premier, who should stand by her side, is forced to cope,... 

V. M.: A drawing in a Danish publication sparked a crisis dubbed “the cartoon war.” Isn’t “war” an overstatement? Or are we about to see the start of what Huntington called the clash of civilisations? You have criticised him, and now he’s quoted everywhere. M.M.: The crisis is serious and is has taken forms similar to a major conflict. From hundreds to hundred... 

The latest opinion polls reveal a significant rise of extremist parties. Greater Romania Party (PRM) and New Generation Party (PNG) total some 20 per cent of the vote intentions. An alarming score, particularly since – ahead of the prospective EU accession – their share is likely to continue to grow, as it happened in the other former communist states accepted in the European family in... 

The Patriciu scandal is fading away, as Monica Macovei is still under attack, which once again proves the recent scandal was particularly targeted at her, with the Premier and Patriciu only collateral victims. In fact, the whole affair resembles a lazy student who would do anything but his homework. Considering that Monica Macovei is essentially responsible for Adrian Năstase’s fall, “certain”... 

In one of its features last issue, “Cadran Politic” was arguing in favour of the consolidation of Mircea Geoană’s power position as a solution to the PSD internal crisis. Motto: “So foul a sky clears not without a storm” (W. Shakespeare) Within a month after Adrian Năstase’s self-suspension as executive president of PSD, signals indicating a fast, in-depth... 

The Năstase case is not an exception in PSD. Actually, just about the whole leading team has image problems arising from corruption suspicions. Which made Victor Ponta say recently that he can’t think of any clean person among the party’s top three-four leaders. “Operation Aunt Tamara,” which could have been an opportunity for the reform of PSD, eventually turned into a... 

Identification of PSD with an Opposition party seemed clearer in early 2006. Last year both the Alliance and the media acted, strangely enough, as if the Social Democrats had been still in power. As ruling parties were striving to lay hands on all leading offices in most sectors (Parliament, Justice, local administration, healthcare, etc), they faced firm opposition from PSD or persons close to this... 

For the readers who never heard the name of the great mathematicians, father and son, founders of non-Euclidian geometry, Bolyai stands for nothing but discord in the Romanian education system. In Cluj, plans are afoot for the segregation of the University-, while in High School- has become, as of this year, an education unit with exclusively Magyar tuition. The political community managed to...