Romanian PM and President sign entente cordiale, no more 'animal analogies'

Romania's President and Prime Minister have signed an official agreement on the nature of their relationship. The document includes a commitment to use the formal second person plural (dumneavoastra) when PM Victor Ponta and President Traian Basescu are addressing each another. The two will also have to refrain from using derogatory nicknames and comparing one another to the less beloved members of the animal kingdom. The document was presented to some European Union officials last week by president Traian Basescu. PM Ponta likened the preliminary discussions with President Basescu via intermediaries to Israeli/Palestinian peace talks. Joint Social Liberal Union (USL) leader Crin Antonescu said the agreement should be published as soon as possible but added that in his view such an agreement should not be signed. Mr Antonescu did not indicate his reasons for being against an agreement. This came after the Romanian PM and President exchanged harsh words earlier this year and have been constantly bickering and quarreling, which got Romania a scolding from high level European Union officials. editor@romania-insider.com