Undoubtedly, December 22nd 1989 has been one of the days I could never forget. To this day, it still stands at the crossroad of my life. Twenty years ago I was a little younger but much more restless unwilling to buy all that propaganda cooked-up by a communist regime and put in practice through a mad dictatorship. Amongst many things that have been said about the so-called Romanian Revolution one part is indisputable: it was a coup d’etat well designed by Moscow and blessed at the Malta Summit. In 1989, one country after the other – from Hungary to Bulgaria, was removing from power the leaders of the Communist Party. Romania remained the last soviet bastion in Eastern Europe where Ceausescu seemed like he had not received the Warsaw Pact memo labeled “The Communism Is Dead”. Continue reading ‘Remembering The 1989′
Tag Archive for 'Romania'
There are many appalling things I have learned to tolerate over the years except one: the lack of common sense. You can correct uncivilized manners, you can control vulgar speech, you can put a stop to violence but you can never treat stupidity. Few days ago I have read in the papers something utterly outrageous. According to Gheorghe Pogea – the Romanian finance minister, “in 2015, the public sector employees’ average salary will be in excess of RON 3,400, while the private sector employees will earn 31% less, averaging around RON 2,350”. He then added that “the 25% gap between the public employees (currently earning around RON 2,200) and the private employees (currently earning around RON 1,760) will become 30% in the coming years”. Let’s all move a step back, take a deep breath and start dissecting this common sense atrocity. Continue reading ‘Upside Down Meritocracy’
The Election Conundrum
The presidential election campaign started last Friday in Romania. According to the polls, there are four major contenders: incumbent President Traian Basescu – a Liberal-Democrat (PDL), Mircea Geoana – a Social Democrat (PSD), Crin Antonescu – a Liberal (PNL) and Sorin Oprescu – an Independent. Without any political affiliation, I will impartially scrutinize the presidential candidates’ economic platforms. Among the many topics included in the abovementioned presidential aspirants’ programs, I will put the spotlight on two critical economic issues: near-term economic stimulus and fiscal policy. Continue reading ‘The Election Conundrum’