Motto: "Before becoming history and even before taking place, a lot of major events are prepared in laboratories" The first decisive attitude Traian Basescu took after being validated by the Constitutional Court and right before becoming head of the state - for he did not take the Parliament oaths yet -was to refuse to go to Brussels next to Ion Iliescu. With not hesitation at all, Basescu took a different plane. This was his natural reaction to the political crime that Iliescu committed in secret, after elections. It was such a crime to set Miron Cozma free. The latter is the man who jeopardized the new democrat state of the Romanians many a time and managed to delay Romania's integration for years. Yesterday it was the last day when some Romanian citizen could have doubts about the alliance of Iliescu and Miron Cozma, related to the plotting on the coal miners' attacks, with the war wagged by Romanians against Romanians and also with coups. But yesterday things became clear. It's not only that they were allies. They even had an agreement on setting Cozma free. And the omerta - the bandits' law - was behind it. Train Basescu is the newly - elected President of Romania, the first to have 5 - year mandate. As new president and also on behalf of the Romanian citizens, Traian Basescu was offended by Iliescu's decision. And in his turn he had to take firm attitude. The first and most important consequence is that it is hard to assume that the following days can bring efficient dialogue between the former and the future president. Maybe such dialogue would have been highly necessary. But the effects of this huge scandal that Iliescu has caused are multiple. And we have to study them. Ion Iliescu is the most skilled politician. He is representative of a left communist wing reshaped and forced by history to leave the Kazakioc and take up the Vienna waltz, to simulate democracy, pro - European attitude and pro - West orientations in general. This politician accomplished mission, by getting to rule in that special way and by confiscating a great popular revolt. He has kept history behind times as long as he could, due to his rare skill. He has had the knowledge on how to keep that balance that favored him and the ones that he pushed towards the political, economical, financial and defense system nomenclature. He was a good actor. Many a time he made surprising democratic gestures, in order not to unveil his real intentions. Tyrant by nature, he tried and sometimes managed to get people see him as the learned. Still, he could not possibly stay in the stage exit as he is doing now. He is no more and no less than the prisoner of his own education and allies. But is he leaving the stage? Things have it that most often Iliescu plays on two fields in the same time. He managed to make Nastase sign the document and Nastase signed just like the mayor. I am fully convinced that these days the prime - minister has been signing piles of documents and that he had not idea he took the first step to release Cozma from prison. He was fooled and humiliated as much as possible. Still he is not to be seen as victim. He should have watched out. And the effect of it is the radicalization of society on a new battlefield. But this time there is crashing majority on one side. And Iliescu's team is left with just a few. But it was this highly - experienced politician who caused scandal. Iliescu is too cynical and too cautious, sometimes even too selfish to have set Cozma free just because the latter had obeyed his call and jeopardized his own freedom. Maybe Iliescu wanted to make impossible a cohabitation project that could have led to a large coalition government. He wants to seize PSD (the Social - Democrat Party) no matter what and he is not at all interested in a weak Executive, lacking sufficient political support. He does not want a weak Executive as the responsibility of PSD. He is probably pushing things so that PSD would stay in the Opposition. He is taking advantage of Basescu's firm attitude, which is pushing D.A. ("Truth and Justice") alliance to rule. PSD as Opposition party would be dangerous, even killing to a fragile government. No matter Iliescu's plans, the effect is a clear one. As he is negotiating nothing, he has got nothing to lose. The one who has got what to lose is Nastase. The release of Cozma is like Iliescu is blowing of his own image. It also turns to bring Nastase at high disadvantage, in his attempt to keep on ruling. And Nastase is sealing his fate for he missed it, for he did not take real action. PSD might now break to pieces. Sides can get separated now, due to such scandal. And right now PSD can Ieave Iliescu behind. And the renewal may begin, and PSD will get renewed as Opposition party. But beware: Iliescu is no political suicide. He has been after something. And he is going to try something. But Nastase is mad with the desire to keep on ruling and he is not getting first slaps from directions he just can't anticipate.

Sorin ROSCA STANESCU