A new political scandal seems to be about to burst, with president Traian Basescu once again claiming that he was called to influence Justice in several cases. Except for this and the peak of the electoral campaign, the news is much like everyday: Romania is a paradise for counterfeit products, the Arab embezzlers are suspect if involvement in financing terrorist networks and the natural gas waits for the elections results before growing almost 20%.

In the middle of the electoral campaign, Romania president Traian Basescu is once again about to fuel a huge scandal, claiming in a TV show that he was asked by politicians to influence Justice in several occasions. Basescu offered no names to support his statements but, as many recall, in a similar situation some two years ago, he launched a scandal involving prime minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu, Evenimentul Zilei and most other newspapers note.

Also in Evenimentul Zilei, the European Commission found that the counterfeit products are found more and more often. Authorities confiscated 264% more cosmetics and hygiene products than one year ago, 51% more drugs and 62% more IT equipment and food products. In Romania, some 40% of the "brands" are counterfeit, Romania being the country that receives the unlabeled clothing in order to add "famous", still illegal, labels.

Gandul quotes another European Commission document: one in five Romanian youngsters has only 8 grades in school and 53% of the pupils under 15 have a low competence in readings. The figures are about double, compared to other EU states. Except for Bulgaria (51%), all other former Communist countries have better results - the Czech republic - 24%, Hungary - 20% and Poland - only 16%.

In other news, the price for natural gas is about to increase 20% after the elections. The main operators, Distrigaz Sud and E.On,