The daily “Evenimentul Zilei” writes about the “Parliament Stars, at Their First Photo Shooting,” and says that upon taking office, each new MP has brought something, “from projects for the future to photogenic smiles.” And the newspaper goes on to say, quote “Meanwhile, a drama takes place, far from the eyes of the public. The MPs who failed to get re-elected are sneaking up to the pay office to collect their last salary as representatives of the people.” In turn, the daily “Jurnalul National” says “the Parliament Palace halls are too small to welcome the newly increased herd of MPs.

There are not enough seats for the lawmakers to rest on, so some of them may be moved to the balconies.” The online publication “Cotidianul” notes, “high-profile politicians, including three former ministers, have got into Parliament after coming out second or even third in their constituencies. The 79 Deputies who are in this position are starkly inferior, because they represent a very small number of voters. This is precisely why they are dubbed second-rate MPs.” Another online publication, “Gandul,” warns that “for the first time in 22 years, the Parliament building no longer seats them.”

Under the headline “Fewer of us, more of them,” the Gandul columnist writes, “They need to order Cordovan leather and cherry-tree wood, and to summon the carpenters and upholsterers, to make another 80 chairs.” And the journalist goes on, “While in quantitative terms the MPs have reached an all-time maximum, in qualitative terms, their moral and intellectual fiber has not improved. Our old acquaintances subject to criminal investigations, those with conflicts of interests and old Securitate informers, the protégées, and the truants, have taken their seats back.”

The conclusion, according to “Gandul,” is that “This is what Romanians are worth, these are our political values after 20 ill-shapen years.”