Putin-Basescu scenario

The Russian President's announcement that he might become a PM after the presidential elections in March 2008 has bewildered the whole world. The tough man in Kremlin will go on ruling the Russian Federation as PM by placing an obedient President. An idea such as Romania's slide towards totalitarianism of the Russian kind has recently been analyzed in Bucharest. Sorin Rosca Stanescu mentioned a hypothesis such as President Basescu turning into a PM. The ex Romanian President Emil Constantinescu and Doina Cornea have also accused the Romanian President of authoritarian tendencies resembling those of Vladimir Putin.
ZIUA prediction on Basescu-Putin
In his editorial published in September 15 and titled 'The deadly shift', Sorin Rosca Stanescu opined that Traian Basescu would give up presidency to become a PM and thus attain his goals. He was arguing as follows: "Traian Basescu has got a solution that may turn into a lethal weapon for his political adversary, given the approaching elections. It consists in a surprising shift in the President-government relations. Traian Basescu can practically announce that he is no longer joining the electoral confrontation for the 2009 presidential elections because of striking back to the leadership over a coalition made up of the PD (Democrat Party) and the PLD (Liberal Democrat Party) and aspiring to the PM job, whereas presidency would go to Theodor Stolojan. Not only that such a solution would really confuse the other parties, but it would also be lethal to them due to the final score. This may provide comfortable majority to the present presidential coalition and reliable political support to the future government. Not last, it may be Traian Basescu's chance to get himself reloaded for his second mandate as President, in 2014". There was also the idea that Theodor Stolojan might reach Cotroceni Palace: "Given these, the solution considered in the Cotroceni political lab, the second great shift between Traian Basescu and Theodor Stolojan, is not only spectacular and surprising, but also realistic. It is a play typical of Traian Basescu. If he gets to head the PD again, Traian Basescu will manage to restore discipline in his party, do away with the rebels and those who drew criminal cases for themselves and be a firm ruler, persuading the party into rejecting the idea of sharing work and success with the PLD. The pride of the PLD would be satisfied with a candidate to Presidency in the person of Theodor Stolojan".
Constantinescu's accusation: Basescu is Putin's clone
In September 16 the ex Romanian President Emil Constantinescu claimed in an interview to Mediafax Agency that the Basescu regime was a parody of the Putin regime, as the Romanian President was controlled by the secret services wishing to coordinate Romania economically and politically. (...)
Doina Cornea: Basescu causes separation
In her interview to ZIUA in September 22, Doina Cornea commented: "In my opinion, Basescu is a politician who, by his moves, makes us all feel insecure. His attitude has even managed to separate the Magyars. He dismembered everything on his way, starting with the National Christian-Democrat Party, my party, when he dismembered the Ciorbea government. When he was a minister of transport, he used to say Romania didn't need highways and this is how a lot of time was wasted. Now it is him who criticizes the government for not building enough highways, as if they could be built in one single day. How come he dares criticize the government for this ? It is only the intriguers and immoral people who use such means. I am sorry I have to say such things".

L.P., A.M.L. & G.D.
Ziua tuesday 2 october 2007 http://www.ziua.net/english