Romania politics review, January 7 - 14, 2013: PM and President row, UK fears of Romanian immigration, Nastase early release

After the festive season lull PM Victor Ponta's newly formed cabinet got back down to normal business in the last week. And in Romanian politics what could be more normal than an argument between PM and President? They started the year by blaming one another for delays in passing legislation to allow local authorities to set their own taxation levels.

As well as the habitual falling out with President Traian Basescu, PM Ponta hinted that he may run for President in the future. However, he said he would support USL co-leader Crin Antonescu in the next presidential elections and wouldn't consider running until 2024, on the grounds of his age. Romania's jailbird former PM Adrian Nastase got the best possible news in the last week: he could be up for early release. Nastase has reportedly been behaving himself in the nick and kept busy by writing books and joining in with the other prisoners in activities. Romania has made political news in the UK over the last week, with several politicians raising concerns over immigration when the transitional controls end in 2014. It appears that even the maximum 7-year restriction period on the rights of Romanians and Bulgarians to live and work in the UK is not enough for some sections of the British political scene. Other arguably more rational voices say that in reality, emigration from Romania to elsewhere in the EU has already peaked and that only 10,000 to 20,000 are expected to go to Britain. The new Government announced plans to make the provision of housing for politicians and the civil service more transparent but a decision on amendments to the road tax was delayed. Romanian PM clashes with President over law allowing local authorities to choose not to increase taxes Romanian PM could run for president in 2024 Former Romanian PM could get early release from prison Another British politician spreads fear of Romanian influx to UK and impact on housing market Romania wants to publish list of all Govt. workers and officials in state provided homes Romanian government postpones decision on motor tax amendment for a second time