A day of a former president's life

Rocks, ores and quartz, instead of NATO, political parties, FNI or “?igareta II.” Speaking to his first year students at Geodesy and Geophysics Faculty within the Bucharest University, Emil Constantinescu seems more relaxed than on TV or in the gloomy halls of Cotroceni Palace.

“I have never regretted my withdrawal from the political stage,” the former Romanian President says. Constantinescu avoids publicity and he doesn’t even watch the newscasts.

As he must stay informed, Constantinescu daily reads a press digest. Wearing casual clothes, Constantinescu, who is also the Honorary President of Bucharest University Senate, delivered a class yesterday as he used to do before his four-year mandate.

Though he is far from the TV cameras now, the former President preserved some of the gesture he used when he spoke to the nation.