The editor in chief at the Romanian Ringier-owned daily Evenimentul Zilei, Razvan Ionescu, tabled his resignation on Thursday, during an editorial board meeting. Razvan Ionescu declared for HotNews.ro that the resignation was caused by a difference of opinions between himself and the Ringier officials. Ionescu says he doesn’t have another offer, nor is he negotiating with another employer.

Rumors existed in the Ringier group for over a month, some claiming Ionescu will move to Publimedia, the publishing division of the Pro group. Razvan Ionescu denied the rumor, saying he didn't discuss yet his future destination.

Razvan Ionescu became the editor in chief at Evenimentul Zilei in December 2004, after previously working for the paper between 1992 and 1998.

Iulian Comanescu's blog recently noted that the number of copies at Evenimentul Zilei has drastically dropped, reaching for the first time in its history figures below 60,000. Catalin Tolontan published on his weblog a letter sent by Razvan Ionescu to the Evenimentul Zilei editorial staff, claiming that he leaves the newspaper because the paper is years behind its commercial behavior. Most of the distribution, marketing and sales plans, put up at the beginning of 2005, are still simple papers.

"Our solutions, the solutions suggested by the editorial team, may be good or bad. The decisions of Ringier are completely absent", said Ionescu.