Categorie: English

AFP: Romanian president steps up attacks ahead of poll

Claudiu Padurean

Campaigning intensified Saturday ahead of Romania’s presidential election with incumbent Traian Basescu attacking the opposition and the media in his bid for a second term. While his Social-Democrat opponent Mircea Geoana is offering more investment to beat recession Basescu is pledging to cut spending ahead of the vote on Sunday November 22. „I will not abandon the fight against parliament and the media moguls. I want a second term,” Basescu told thousands of supporters gathered in Cluj 600 kilometres (370 miles) northwest of Bucharest).

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Blackburn Rovers should look at Cluj for new striker

Claudiu Padurean

If Blackburn Rovers are still looking for a target man in January, should Franco Di Santo return to Chelsea, might I point them in the direction of a young chap from Cluj. Not the most obvious of places to look, granted, but if you’re searching for a 19-year-old, 6ft 6in forward who has pace, finishing skills and the ability to hold the ball up and win headers as a lone striker, he seems to be the fellow.

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Prices of old two-room apartments continue to fall

Claudiu Padurean

The average calling price asked by sellers for a two-room apartment situated in the blocks built before the Revolution, in the main cities of Romania, fell slightly in October, by 2-4,5%, a trend that will continue into the next period, too, according to a survey of imobiliare.ro.In the Capital, in October, the average calling price asked by sellers for a two-room apartment situated in the blocks built before the Revolution fell 2%, from 70,414 euros to 69,284 euros. By mid-month, prices fell below the threshold of 69,000 euros, but the trend was relatively upward in the last decade. In districts such as Drumul Taberei or Military, calling prices for two-room apartments start at 42.000-43.000 euros, the offers being guaranteed by real estate agencies.

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BM: When holidays are a luxury

Claudiu Padurean

Less than three quarters of Romanians went on holiday this year, caution being the keyword, with increasingly more people deciding to give up their holiday altogether or cut the budgets allocated for it. The effervescent spending of the past few years, which saw bank clients borrow money to go on holiday is a thing of the past. Now, the tendency is to cut spending. As a result, only 57% of Romanians in urban areas decided to go on holiday this summer, reveals a survey conducted by market research company 360insights. Another 18% said they intended to go on holiday, but at a later time, in September-October. „Most people choose to travel within Romania, and the range of destinations is not very wide,” says Manuela Danila, Omnibus project manager at 360insights. As concerns those who did go on holiday, seven out of ten decided to spend it in Romania, while the preferred destinations for those travelling abroad were Greece, Italy, Bulgaria, Turkey and Spain. „I think during the winter holidays, a large number of tourists will remain in Romania, more than in other years,” believes Sorin Stoica, CEO of Eturia travel agency.

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