President Traian Basescu Showed the Media the Note PM Calin Popescu Tariceanu Sent Him

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 Tariceanu’s handwriting:

"Dear Traian,
Please find attached a document drafted by Petromedia soil company at the core of a prosecutor’s 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 prosecutors’ on the matter?"

Basescu’s take on Tariceanu’s 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 Tariceanu’s 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 Tariceanu’s 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, Tariceanu’s 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 beneficial partnership, and explain what could his end of deal could have been.

Basescu first tried to dodge the question, saying he did not understand it, and then said he had "nothing to offer in return but respect for the rule of law and promises made during the electoral campaign."

Basescu also reminded other instances in which Tariceanu wanted to help his friend Dinu Patriciu, president of Rompetrol, during the latter’s investigation by prosecutors, concluding that that was already a pattern of behavior for Tariceanu.
Basescu listed among those previous attempts made by Tariceanu the phone call he placed to the then Prosecutor General Ilie Botos in the very day Patriciu was taken in custody.
Or the meeting of the Justice minister Monica Macovei with Patriciu, which Tariceanu arranged to take place in his office.

"I would say that the PM was pretty consistent, and not in the least naïve. My take is that this is the PM’s way of thinking, which will lead to only one conclusion: making the ruling coalition loose credibility," said Basescu.

When asked if he expected Tariceanu to resign, Basescu said "no", reminding that he had no prerogatives to sack him, but the Parliament had. He added that he will keep his communication with Tariceanu within the limits of the two institutions cooperation.