President Traian Basescu Wednesday made public for the first time a note PM Calin Popescu Tariceanu sent him two years ago. Basescu briefly waved the note in the air, but that was enough for photo cameras to capture the text in Tariceanuâs handwriting:
"Dear Traian,
Please find attached a document drafted by Petromedia soil company at the core of a prosecutorâs investigation into alleged fraud of the Romanian state, along its mother company, Rompetrol NV, TRANS NOTEt regarding the on-going investigation. If you have the opportunity, would you speak to the prosecutorsâ on the matter?"
Basescuâs take on Tariceanuâs words was that the latter was actually putting forth a proposal for a partnership in supporting inner-circles of businessmen, close to the current center-right ruling coalition.
Jurnalul National asked Basescu why he was not making public yet the content of the note Tariceanu sent him two years ago. Basescu said he waited for Tariceanu to confirm that was the actual letter he sent him.
Basescu reiterated that the meaning of Tariceanuâs words was that "now it was our time" to have our friends ripping the spoils, after the friends of the former social-democrat coalition did the same.
Basescu said that was "unacceptable," since the ticket both he and the ruling coalition won the elections was one specifically promising to end corrupt individuals and cronies.
However, Basescu said he did not make public Tariceanuâs attempt to use his position for a friend because the Government just took office, and "would have lost its credibility," making it more difficult to accede to the European Union. Furthermore, Tariceanuâs letter produced not effects, since he did not follow to act on it, Basescu said.
Jurnalul National asked Basescu to elaborate on his take that Tariceanu was suggesting a mutually benefici