Romania's government spends 60 million euro to refurbish its headquarters despite the economic crisis, one newspaper reads on Monday. Elsewhere in the news, political conflicts loom within the governing alliance as strategies are sketched for this year's Presidential elections. Last but not least, a private company in central Romania finances a series of documentaries to promote Romania's image.
Evenimentul Zilei reveals the government's plan to invest 60 million euro in refurbishment, modernization and expansion works of the government's headquarters. After a controversial attribution procedure, a 10 million euro consolidation project was adjudicated. Another 20 million euro are scheduled to modernize the interiors and 30 million euro to expand it.
Some of the reasons put forward by authorities are that the governmental palace is classed as very risky in case of an earthquake and that the government lacks sufficient office spaces. However, the newspaper reads, the attribution procedure failed to respect legal requirements: there was only one company present at negotiations, even if the law requires three and a decision was taken after a direct negotiation within the two parties.
According to the law, the newspaper reads, the attribution procedure should have been canceled due to a lack of participants. Even so, Aedificia Carpati SA Bucuresti was declared eligible to enter the second stage of the procedure.
Aedificia Carpati SA, Petre Badea, a rich businessman, refused to comment on the issue. Badea's company was offered important contracts for various other official buildings including the House of Parliament, the Presidency and others.
It seems that the governmental coalition is just as unstable as the governmental headquarters. Following recent attacks launched by various Social Democratic ministries, Demo