Nicolae Vacaroiu, an Interim President of Romania, seems seized with excess of zeal. After his visit to Cotroceni Palace yesterday morning, he looked determined to settle in one months' time what a head of state usually pursues to settle in four years.
He scheduled meetings with the parliamentary party heads, the Democrats included, with the PM, the presidents of Parliament Chambers, the governor of the National Bank of Romania and ambassadors of NATO and EU states. He even seems attracted to the idea of replacing the secret service chiefs, as he appointed talks with George Maior, chief of the Romanian Secret Service, and Silviu Predoiu, interim chief of the Foreign Intelligence Service.
He explained he would keep his Senate team to work in Cotroceni Palace this month. Andrei Alexandrescu, his spokesman, may also get to be a spokesman for Presidency. The Interim President also announced that all the 8 presidency councilors were on a leave. Vacaroiu added: "But I have demanded them not to hide information from me, to provide it all to me."
During his visit he ran into the suspended President who was taking back home some personal objects: clothes, shirts and photographs. Vacaroiu mentioned: "I proposed he should keep his office, lock it and no one will enter there."
Vacaroiu announced he would talk to the parliamentary party leaders tomorrow, when PM Tariceanu, the governor of the National Bank of Romania and the Parliament officials would also attend.
Mice play
Romanian PM Calin Popescu Tariceanu criticized suspended President Traian Basescu while in the latter's home. During his meeting with the Interim President and the Senate president Doru Ioan Taracila, the PM described Basescu as "the factor harming Romanian society". He emphasized the suspended President was pursuing to weaken the political class and divide Romanian in two categories: those who vote for him and those who don't. (...) (V.D., A.H.)