Many analysts, economists, citizens and journalists, have constantly been asking since 2009, why the profitable companies of the state, especially the ones in the energy sector, have to be privatized. The authorities have not rushed to give any answer, but they didn't rush to implement the privatization program either. They have preferred to keep the companies under political control, as piggy banks for the political campaigns.

Yesterday, Dan Radu Ruşanu, a notable liberal and a man of influence in the party, head of the Budget Commission of the Chamber of Deputies, has brought up this "taboo" subject at the meeting with the IMF, criticizing the representatives of the Fund that they have made a mistake with the austerity measures in Romania.

The dilemma concerning the privatizations has remained unsolved, but Mr. Ruşanu caused enough of a ruckus, to cause some people to suspect that he is vying for the helm of the Financial Oversight Authority (ASF). But that was a simple gossip yesterday in the Parliament, perhaps coming from jealous colleagues. Our political sources told us that it has already been established that the helm of the ASF will go to the PSD.

The representatives of the IMF have admitted some time ago that the austerity they imposed in some countries, after the onset of the economic crisis, did not produce the desired effects, like in the case of Romania for instance. According to the IMF, the cuts in public spending and the reduction of the deficits have led to effects which weren't taken under effect the moment the austerity measures were enacted. The IMF questioned the austerity as an effective means of coming out of the crisis, thus delaying the economic recovery.

Romania has privatized the distribution and the supplying of electricity and natural gas, influenced by the financial international institutions, but had no b