Radio România Internațional

Tag: 1989 anti-communist revolution

  • December 23, 2024

    December 23, 2024

    COALITION – The president of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, has designated Social-Democrat leader Marcel Ciolacu for the position of Prime Minister. The new pro-European coalition stands good chances of continuing Romania’s good track record, following the undeniably good economic results obtained and the Schengen accession, the president said. “I believe they will successfully deal with current issues such as budget construction and the calendar for the 2025 presidential election”, the president went on to say. Also today, the new ministers will appear before Parliament’s special committees, which will be followed by the debate and the confidence vote in a joint plenary sitting. Previously, the leaders of PSD, PNL, UDMR and the leader of the group of national minorities signed a political agreement to form a Parliament majority and a government. Social-Democrat president Marcel Ciolacu stated that the duty of the parties is to defend democratic values, Romania’s trajectory in the EU and NATO, as well as national values ​​and identity. PNL interim leader Ilie Bolojan said that his party signed the agreement to form a stable government, which will carry out reforms during a difficult period. He announced that former Liberal leader Crin Antonescu is the coalition’s joint candidate for the upcoming presidential election. UDMR president Kelemen Hunor stated that the current coalition seeks to gain people’s trust in order to overcome the political deadlock, and the first challenges are adopting the 2025 budget and organizing the presidential election as soon as possible next year. The representative of national minorities (other than the Hungarian one), MP Varujan Pambuccian, said that this coalition seeks to maintain political, economic and social stability.

     

    PARLIAMENT – PSD MP Ciprian Șerban was earlier today elected Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies in the new Parliament. The interim leader of PNL, Ilie Bolojan, was elected Senate Speaker. We recall that four pro-European parties entered Parliament – ​​PSD, PNL, USR, UDMR – and three self-proclaimed sovereigntist parties, AUR, SOS Romania and POT.

     

    FORECAST – The National Strategy and Forecast Commission has significantly downgraded its economic growth forecast for 2024 from 2.8% previously to 1%, amid an accelerated decline in activity, especially in industry and agriculture. The only sector with a positive estimated impact was services. In its autumn forecast, published in November, the European Commission estimates that the Romanian economy will report an economic slowdown this year, up to 1.4%, but the gradual recovery of external demand, the easing of financial conditions, resilient private consumption and an acceleration of investments will support economic growth up to 2.5% in 2025 and 2.9% in 2026.

     

    COMMEMORATION – In a message conveyed on Revolution Victory Day, President Klaus Iohannis said that Romania is “at a turning point” and must firmly reject attempts to revise history, which aim to “defame the memory of the heroes of democratic Romania and mystify the truth about the dictatorial regime”. The head of state pointed out that the freedom for which the heroes of the Revolution sacrificed themselves is “more alive and present than ever” today, 35 years on. A number of events were held throughout the country to mark the anti-communist revolution of 1989, with participants recalling protesters’ aspirations back then for democracy and a European path for Romania.

     

    BORDER POLICE – The border police in Romania expects a significant increase in traffic flows ​​at the border checkpoints, especially on the Hungarian border, given that many Romanian citizens are coming home from the holidays from European countries. Over 3,500 border police officers carry out nationwide surveillance and control activities on a daily basis, also with a view to preventing and combating cross-border crime. According to a press release published by the Border Police, if the situation requires it, additional lanes will be opened up to the maximum working capacity in crossing points that get crowded. (VP)

  • December 16, 2024 UPDATE

    December 16, 2024 UPDATE

    SANCTIONS – EU Foreign Affairs Ministers on Monday greenlit the 15th package of sanctions against Russia since the launch of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The new economic measures are designed to combat Russia’s efforts to bypass existing sanctions and to weaken its army and defense sector. Another 52 ships believed to be part of Putin’s so-called “shadow tanker fleet” were blacklisted. 32 companies were added to the list of export restrictions for contributing “to the technological enhancement of Russia’s defense and security sector”, the EU Council announced. Some of these entities are located in China, India, Iran, Serbia and the United Arab Emirates. 84 individuals and entities will be subject to fully-fledged sanctions (travel ban, asset freeze, prohibition to make economic resources available) “for actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine”. At the same time, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, has denied information according to which the EU was planning to deploy a peace-keeping corps to Ukraine. Representing Romania at the Foreign Affairs Council meeting was Foreign Minister Luminița Odobescu.

     

    CANDIDACY – Bucharest Mayor General, Nicușor Dan, has announced his intention to run as an independent candidate in the 2025 presidential election. At present, Romania is facing the most difficult period in its history after the 1989 anti-communist revolution, Nicușor Dan said, arguing in favor of a fundamental change in the way the authorities meet citizens’ expectations. The candidacy was not negotiated with pro-European parties in the new Parliament, the Bucharest official told journalists. Nicușor Dan needs to gather 200 thousand signatures to be able to run for the presidential office. We recall that last week the Constitutional Court of Romania annuled the second round of the presidential election slated for December 8 after allegations of Russian interference with the election process.

     

    NEGOTIATIONS – Leaders of pro-European parties (PSD, PNL, USR and UDMR) met on Monday for a new round of talks regarding the structure of the new government. The governing program and budget estimates have generated tensions. Finance Minister Marcel Boloș told leaders that the budget deficit will exceed 8% this year, and that the only way to boost budget revenues is to increase taxes and cut public spending. USR representatives criticized the Minister and argued against any tax increases, calling instead for slashing public spending and the disclosure of public data linked to the budget execution for November before deciding on the 2025 budget. A new meeting is expected to take place to decide on the final list of ministries that each party will control.

     

    TIMIȘOARA – The city of Timișoara (west) on Monday marks 35 years since the start of the anti-communist revolution of 1989. 35 years ago on December 16, parishioners of the local reformed church gather to voice support of Pastor László Tőkés, who was to be evicted by the former political police, the Securitate. Their protest quickly escalated into a genuine uprising, which triggered reprisals from the authorities. 100 people were killed and several hundreds were wounded. On December 20, Timișoara became the first city free of communism in Romania and the flame of revolution engulfed the entire country. Under the motto, “35 years of freedom”, the city this week is hosting a series of commemorative events devoted to the martyrs of the 1989 events, such as conferences, exhibitions, shows, concerts and film screenings. The ‘Freedom Portal’, an audio-visual installation, which reproduces the sounds recorded during the revolution, was inaugurated on Monday. Later in the evening the traditional march, “Heroes Never Die” took place. The city will observe a day of mourning on Tuesday, while the series of events will end on December 20 with a concert entitled ‘Rock for Revolution’. (VP)

  • December 21, 2023

    December 21, 2023


    Commemoration. Memorial services are being held in Bucharest today for the heroes who died for freedom in the anti-communist Revolution 34 years ago. December 21, 1989 is considered the first day of the Revolution in the Capital, after the failed rally called by the dictator Nicolae Ceauşescu, followed by the erection of barricades in the center of the city and the bloody repression of the anti-communist demonstrators. Ceauşescus speech, full of promises and in which the achievements of communism were evoked, was interrupted by the booing of the participants. The rally, broadcast on radio and television, ended earlier. In the evening, groups of demonstrators gathered, and the repression forces opened fire on them killing and wounding many of them. Also, many others were arrested. Launched a week before, in Timisoara (west) and propagated in other big cities, the Revolution culminated in Bucharest, on December 22, with the escape of Ceausescu from the headquarters of the central committee of the communist party. Captured and tried summarily, Ceausescu and his wife, Elena, were executed on December 25. Romania was the only communist country in Europe where the regime change was done with bloodshed, with more than a thousand people killed here in December 1989.



    Mortality. Romania ranks 1st in the European Union in terms of the number of deaths from preventable and treatable causes, according to the 2023 State of Health report. 358 preventable deaths per 100,000 people were registered in Romania, almost double the EU average (180 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants) and 235 deaths from treatable causes per 100,000 inhabitants, 2.5 times higher than the EU average of 92 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants. Spending on health-care per capita in Romania remains the lowest among EU countries, while numerous categories are exempt from paying health insurance. Romania allocates only 6.5% of the GDP to health. Life expectancy at birth in Romania, increasing until 2019 to 75.3 years, decreased by almost 3 years to 72.8 years between 2019 and 2021, currently being the third lowest in the European Union and by 5.4 years lower than the EU average.



    Investment. Bucharest government has approved today a bill on the development of investments in the field of offshore wind energy in the Black Sea. According to the normative act, the Ministry of Energy is the authority in the field of offshore wind farms. “The adoption of a legislative framework for starting the exploitation of Romanias offshore wind resources is a vital step in ensuring Romanias energy independence and resilience, being, at the same time, a commitment of our country in the National Recovery and Resilience Plan”, reads a press release issued by the Ministry of Energy. World Bank data show that Romania has an offshore wind potential of 76 GW of installed power, being a favorable environment for the development of this type of renewable energy. Through this project, Romania is making progress in achieving the desired transition and decarbonization of the energy system, as well as in consolidating its status as a regional leader in the field of energy.




    TAROM. The Romanian state-owned airline TAROM has announced through a press release that it will resume operating flights on the Tel Aviv route, with two weekly flights, starting January 1, 2024. The company has announced that it continues to monitor the security situation in Israel and communicates on a regular basis with the local and international authorities with a view to resuming the operation. In the context of the change in the current situation in Israel, the flight schedule will be adjusted accordingly and will be reflected in the booking system.



    Migration. MEPs and representatives of EU member states and the European Parliament reached an agreement on Wednesday regarding a comprehensive approach to migration and asylum policy. The document aims, among other things, to standardize and speed up the procedures for checking migrants at the Unions external borders, to develop a solidarity mechanism and to send back those ineligible for refugee status. This reform of the European asylum policy provides in particular a consolidated control over the entry of migrants into the EU and the creation of centers near the external borders of the community block to facilitate the repatriation of those without the right to asylum, but also a mandatory solidarity system that will consist of mandatory quotas for the redistribution of migrants arriving in front-line countries to other EU member states. Countries that refuse will have to pay financial contributions for each rejected migrant. More on this after the news.



    Ukraine. Ukraine has announced that it was subjected to a new massive attack by the invading Russian army, with 35 Iranian-made Shahed drones, of which 34 were shot down. The attacks took place “in waves” during the night and came from occupied Crimea on the eastern shore of the Sea of ​​Azov, as well as Kursk, a Russian city near the border. Russia launches drone and missile attacks against Ukraine almost every night. Kyiv accuses Moscow of trying to terrorize civilians and destroy energy infrastructure in order to plunge the population into darkness and cold, just like last winter. Kyiv, however, has since strengthened its air defense systems with Western weapons, which make it possible to destroy most drones or missiles sent by the Russians. (MI)

  • December 18, 2023

    December 18, 2023

    BUDGETS – The government has submitted the recently adopted state
    and social security budgets for 2024 to Parliament for debate. A tight deadline
    has been set for discussions in committee and plenary meetings, with a final
    vote scheduled for Wednesday. The government expects an economic growth of
    3.4%, with the goal of increasing tax collection and reducing tax evasion.
    Investments and transports will receive additional funds. Investments will also
    increase to nearly 7% of the GDP next year, while education will have the
    largest budget in history. Pensions are also expected to increase by 13.8%
    starting January 1, with a recalculation slated for September. The draft budget
    also allots funds to increase allowances and social benefits and teachers’
    salaries. The government also wants to raise public sector salaries by 5%. The
    opposition has filed hundreds of amendments, claiming the budget’s plans are
    unrealistic, quoting data compiled by economists, according to which tens of
    billions were left out of the estimated budget, which could thus deepen the
    budget deficit.




    WAR IN GAZA – The Israeli army has published new details confirming
    that the accidental killing of three hostages from Gaza by Israeli armed forces
    is a breach of rules of engagement. The Israeli troops opened fire on three
    people that walked out of the building without their shirts on, to prove they
    had no bombs strapped and carrying a white flag bearing the message SOS and
    Help 3 hostages. According to Radio Romania’s correspondent on the ground,
    the incident has further inflamed tensions, putting additional pressure on the
    Israeli government to reach an agreement with Hamas for the liberation of the
    approximately 120 hostages still being held captive in Gaza. Meanwhile, the IDF
    announced the discovery of the biggest tunnel used by Hamas Islamists in Gaza.




    EVACUATIONS – A group of 14 people consisting of Romanian citizens
    and their families were safely evacuated from Gaza and arrived in Romania, the
    Foreign Ministry reports. The people were evacuated to Egypt on Saturday,
    crossing the Rafah checkpoint, where representatives of the Romanian Embassy in
    Egypt accompanied them to Cairo. Here they boarded a flight to Romania. So far,
    302 people, Romanian citizens and family members, have been evacuated from the
    Gaza Strip. The Romanian MFA says it remains in permanent contact with the
    Israeli and Egyptian authorities to help evacuate the remaining citizens,
    depending on the developments on the ground.




    REVOLUTION – The city of Timișoara (west) commemorates the people
    who lost their lives in the anti-communist revolution of 1989 in Romania. A
    religious service will be held at the Heroes’ Chapel in the Revolution Memorial
    Museum, followed by a procession to the monuments devoted to the Revolution. 34
    years ago, under orders from the communist regime, security forces opened fire
    on the crowd of protestors, killing nearly 100 people and wounding a few
    hundreds. On December 18, martial law was declared in Timișoara after the
    massacre of the previous day, when dozens of people were killed. Hospitals were
    overrun, the streets were blocked by tanks and tactical vehicles and a general
    curfew was in place. This was the day when several young people were gunned
    down on the steps of the Orthodox Cathedral.

  • December 17, 2023

    December 17, 2023

    Budget. The 2024 state budget and social insurance bills enter parliament debate in Bucharest on Monday, the two draft laws being analyzed by the specialized committees. On Tuesday, the two Chambers will start the debates in joint session. The final vote is expected on Wednesday. The Romanian government approved, on Thursday evening, the draft laws on the state budget and the state social insurance budget for next year. In 2024, the executive relies on the absorption of European funds and counts on increasing the collection of fees and taxes through a better functioning of the National Agency for Fiscal Administration and of the customs, as well as on reducing tax evasion. Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, the leader of the Social Democratic Party, spoke of an increase in revenues from 27% to 30% of the Gross Domestic Product. He says that in the 2024 budget, the sums allocated for investments, but also for education, are the largest in the history of Romania. The opposition claims, however, that the budget is based on unrealistic figures, and a major problem next year will be the payment of pensions.



    Commemoration. Its a day of mourning today in the western city of Timisoara, in memory of the heroes who lost their lives during the anti-communist Revolution of December 1989. December 17 is the day when dictator Nicolae Ceauşescu ordered the repression forces to open fire on the demonstrators. Today, memorial services are held in churches and at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Timisoara, and wreaths are laid by local authorities and revolutionary associations at the monuments dedicated to those who sacrificed their lives for freedom. Saturday was an open gates day at the Museum of the “Revolution Memorial” Association in Timisoara.. There were also exhibitions, concerts, a festive meeting of the City Council and a march in memory of the martyred heroes. The revolt against the communist regime in Romania broke out in Timişoara on December 16, 1989 and then spread, starting December 21, to Bucharest and other cities across the country. In total, over 1,000 people died and around 3,000 were injured in the fighting that took place in the only country in Eastern Europe where the regime change took place violently.



    Hostage. Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu has stressed that Romania is with the international community in supporting the efforts of the State of Israel to release all the hostages kidnapped by Hamas. “The death of the 27-year-old artist Inbar Haiman, aka Pink, killed by Hamas terrorists, deeply saddened me. My heart goes out to her family and friends “, he wrote on social media today. According to the prime minister, negotiations to resolve conflicts are the viable solution for restoring peace and security in the region. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bucharest had announced, on Saturday, the death of another hostage with dual citizenship, Israeli and Romanian, in the Gaza Strip, and the Embassy of the State of Israel in Bucharest announced her identity. The MFA communique reiterates the need for the release of all hostages in the Gaza Strip and emphasizes that, currently, only one Romanian with dual Israeli and Romanian citizenship is still a hostage there. The Romanian Embassy in Tel Aviv is in permanent contact with the Israeli authorities.



    Schengen. Hungary will veto Bulgarias entry into the Schengen Area if Sofia does not remove the transit tax for Russian gas, the Hungarian Foreign Ministry announced on Saturday in a statement, Reuters reports. While Western European countries have made great efforts to get rid of Russian gas, landlocked Hungary has received 4.5 billion cubic meters of gas a year from Russia under a deal signed in 2021, mainly via Bulgaria and Serbia. We recall that at the European Council on Friday in Brussels, the Netherlands officially announced that it agreed with Bulgarias entry into the European area of ​​free movement. In this context, the only country that should change its position and accept the accession of Romania and Bulgaria – states that technically meet the necessary criteria – to Schengen is Austria. Over the last year, Vienna has spoken out against the enlargement of the free movement area, citing the fact that it is not functional as many unregistered migrants arrive in central and western Europe. Late last year, Austria voted against the accession of either country in the Schengen area, while the Netherlands opposed only Bulgaria.



    Alert. The population of several communes in Tulcea county, in the south-east of Romania, received a new RO-ALERT warning message on the night of Saturday to Sunday about the possibility of objects falling from the airspace, in the context of the war started by Russia against neighboring Ukraine. Citizens were advised to take protection and shelter measures, if the situation required it. According to the Inspectorate for Emergency Situations, the structures responsible for the defense of the territory of Romania and NATO have identified possible attacks on some Ukraine targets in the border area with the Romanian state. Following the RO-ALERT message, no call was received to signal the fall of objects on the territory of Romania. We recall that three days ago, a drone used by Russia in the attack on the Ukrainian region of Odesa fell near the border with Romania, in the area of ​​a locality in the same county. The, too, the citizens received a warning message. (MI)


  • December 22, 2022 UPDATE

    December 22, 2022 UPDATE

    Commemoration. Events commemorating the anti-communist revolution of 1989 continue in Romania. Religious ceremonies and laying of flowers have been heldin all major cities across the country. December 22, 1989 was the day when tens of thousands of people took to the streets and forced dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu to flee the country in a helicopter that took off from the building of the former Central Committee of the Communist Party. The revolution that toppled the communist regime broke out in the capital city on December 21 with a huge rally staged by Nicolae Ceaușescu, who thus hoped to appease the population and stay in power. The rally turned violent and the memory of the heroes who were killed that day was honored on Wednesday through ceremonies and laying of flowers in emblematic venues. President Klaus Iohannis paid a floral tribute at the roadside cross in University Square, also observing a moment of silence. We recall that the spark that ignited the 1989 anti-communist revolution was lit in Timișoara, western Romania. The revolution quickly spread to Bucharest and other cities. Overall, 1,000 people were killed and some 3,000 wounded in clashes with the security forces. Romania is the only country in Eastern Europe where the transition from communism resulted in bloodshed.



    Diaspora. Bucharest is hosting the conference titled “Romania beyond the borders”, organized by the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR). The meeting with representatives of Romanian communities abroad is designed to identify clear-cut and realistic solutions to some of the problems facing the Romanian diaspora today. The conference put up for debate a few of the most important measures and decisions Romania needs to take with respect to Romanians living abroad: boosting the number of polling stations abroad to provide Romanians with real chances of casting their vote, providing unconditional protection to every Romanian citizen abroad, introducing dedicated classes of Romanian language, culture and history addressing children and young people living abroad by cooperating with Bucharest authorities and host countries, as well as making more consular staff available and providing them with special training. Other measures include simplifying proceedings for unlocking activities in Romanias representative offices abroad or opening community centers in the Diaspora that should hire qualified staff to provide legal and administrative counseling.



    EU funds. The European Commission has allocated 9.6 billion euros to Romania for the Transport Program. The main objective is to bridge the gap in the development of Romanias transport infrastructure, ensuring at the same time the achievement of the European objectives of sustainable and safe mobility.One of the projects under the “new investment projects” chapter, according to the approved plan, is the A13 Bacău (northeast) – Braşov (center) highway, with a funding of almost 2.4 billion euros. Under the Transport Program, the financial support is aimed at improving road connectivity, increasing road safety, the efficiency of Romanian railways, the attractiveness of rail passenger transport, the development of sustainable mobility in urban nodes, but also naval and multimodal (combined) transport.



    Ukraine. Support for Ukraine is not an act of charity, but an investment in global security and democracy, Ukraines president Volodymyr Zelensky said in a speech before the US Congress. The Kyiv leader also called for maintaining support for Ukraine. Washington is by far Ukraines most important weapons supplier, and American equipment delivered to Ukraine, such as Javelin anti-tank systems or HIMARS missile launchers, have been instrumental in repelling Russian attacks. On this occasion, the United States have promised a new assistance package worth 1.85 billion USD, which includes an anti-air missile system, requested by Ukraine a while ago, considering that cities and infrastructure are constantly targeted by Russian shelling. During his meeting with president Joe Biden, Volodymyr Zelensky said it will take more Patriot systems to fend off Russian attacks. Zelenskys surprise visit to Washington occurred 300 days since the start of Russias invasion, and was his first visit abroad since the start of the war on February 24.



    Minorities. The Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs terms as regrettable the fact that the law on national minorities in Ukraine was adopted by the Supreme Rada in Kyiv, in the absence of a new consultation of the Venice Commission. It is also regrettable that the law was adopted in the absence of an adequate consultation of the representatives of the Romanian community in Ukraine, as requested by the authorities in Bucharest, says the MFA. According to the cited source, the Romanian side constantly invoked in the contacts with the Ukrainian side the promise of the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, according to which the people belonging to the Romanian community in Ukraine would benefit from the same treatment that the people belonging to the Ukrainian community benefit from in Romania. Adopted a few days ago, the law does not solve the problems of education in the Romanian language and does not give minorities more rights.



    Holidays. The Romanian Ministry of the Interior announced, on Thursday, special measures to maintain public order on Christmas and New Years Eve. According to the source, over 24,500 policemen, gendarmes, border guards, firefighters and employees from other structures will be mobilized every day. The traffic police will act with 290 radar devices and with devices that signal the consumption of alcohol and prohibited substances while driving. As the authorities expect a new wave of tourists in the mountain resorts of the Prahova Valley (south-central), they announce that they have also trained specialized teams of mountain gendarmes. (MI)



  • December 20, 2022

    December 20, 2022

    Visit. Romanias President Klaus Iohannis receives today his Portuguese counterpart, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, on the occasion of his visit to the 1st Training Battalion Olt in Caracal (south), the Presidential Administration has announced. The visit of the President of Portugal takes place in the context of an intense, high-level bilateral dialogue, but also of work, and close coordination within the European Union and NATO. The field of Defense is a key part of bilateral cooperation, with Portugal participating in the multinational NATO force in Romania to strengthen the allied defense on the Eastern Flank with a contingent of land forces stationed in Caracal. Todays discussions between Klaus Iohannis and Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa concern the intensification of Romanian-Portuguese cooperation both in the field of Defense, economic, commercial, digital agenda, renewable energy sources, health and education. The security situation in Ukraine is also addressed, with an emphasis on the intensification of humanitarian assistance to the neighboring country Romania in the context of the coming of winter, as well as on the support in facilitating grain exports.



    Schengen. The President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, spent two days in Bucharest, against the background of Austria and the Netherlands blocking Romanias accession to Schengen at the latest Justice and Home Affairs Council. In a speech in Romanias Parliament, she stated that the decision to continue to keep Romania outside the Schengen area was wrong. Roberta Metsola also discussed this issue with President Klaus Iohannis.



    Visit. The Romanian Foreign Minister, Bogdan Aurescu, continues, today, his official visit to the neighboring Republic of Moldova (ex-Soviet, predominantly Romanian-speaking), at the invitation of his counterpart, Nicu Popescu. Yesterday, he had meetings with the head of state, the pro-Western Maia Sandu, with the Speaker of Parliament Parliament, Igor Grosu, and with the prime minister Natalia Gavriliţa. Minister Aurescu reiterated “the full support from Romania in managing the wide-ranging crises faced by the Republic of Moldova and its citizens and in advancing at a determined pace the reforms necessary for joining the European Union”. In Bucharest, USR and AUR, in the opposition, accused Aurescu (independent, supported by PNL) of having gone to Chisinau to avoid, on Monday, giving explanations in Parliament, where he had been summoned after the failure of the Romanian candidacy for the Schengen .



    Pensions. The opposition Save Romania Union submitted to Parliament a draft law on the elimination of the special pensions received by former Securitate employees, who have received final court rulings. There are 1,300 former officers from the political police of the dictatorial regime before 1989 who receive such pensions, even though there are final court rulings on their names stating that they were Securitate employees and carried out actions by which they suppressed or restricted rights and fundamental human freedoms, in order to support the communist power. According to the USR leader, Cătălin Drula, the elimination of these special pensions is a minimum moral reparation that can be made to all those who fought for freedom. The modern democratic Romanian state cannot be allowed to reward with privileges those who beat, tortured or killed, he also said.



    Cernavoda. The Romanian Government approved, this week, through a bill, the support agreement for the units 3 and 4 of the Cernavodă nuclear power plant (south-east), the Government spokesperson Dan Cărbunaru has announced. He said that both units will increase the contribution of nuclear energy to the national energy system from 20 to 36%. At the same time, new jobs will be created in the field and the supply chain will be developed. Dan Cărbunaru also said that, according to estimates, unit 3 of the Cernavodă power plant would come into operation at the end of 2030, and a year later, unit 4. After approval by the Government, the support agreement will go to Parliament.



    Victory Day. In Timişoara, western Romania, events commemorating 33 years since the anti-communist Revolution culminate today with the celebration of Victory Day. On December 20, 1989, after tens of thousands of Timisoara residents took to the streets demonstrating against Nicolae Ceauşescus dictatorial regime, Timisoara was proclaimed the first city free of communism in Romania. In memory of that day, a symposium is taking place today, and in the evening a video mapping show is scheduled, with images from the time of the Revolution projected on the facade of the Opera House. The revolt against the communist regime in Romania broke out in Timişoara on December 16, 1989 and spread, starting December 21, to Bucharest and other cities of the country. In total, more than 1,000 people died and around 3,000 were injured in the fighting that took place in the only country in Eastern Europe where the change of the regime was done with bloodshed. (MI)

  • December 16, 2020

    December 16, 2020

    Negotiations — President Klaus Iohannis on Wednesday signed the decree summoning the new Parliament on Monday, December 21. According to the Constitution, the newly elected Parliament meets upon the President’s request 20 days at the most after the elections. The Chamber of Deputies and the Senate are considered legally set up after the validation of two thirds of the MP mandates and after the MPs being sworn in. In another development, the negotiations between the PNL, USR-PLUS, UDMR for the formation of a center-right government coalition were again suspended on Tuesday after a failed attempt to re-launch talks. The 3 parties continue to argue over the distribution of the positions of PM and speakers of the Senate and Chamber of Deputies. The Liberals support the former PM Ludovic Orban as Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies while the co-president of the USR-PLUS alliance Dan Barna proposed Catalin Drula for this position. Barna also suggested three positions of deputy prime minister for each party, suggestion that was criticized though by the PNL and UDMR. Against the backdrop of tensions, PSD threatens to boycott Monday’s meeting for the validation of the new Parliament, as they are discontented with the way in which the three aforementioned parties are trying to distribute the key positions in Parliament and the future government. The Social Democrats are convinced that the correct solution in the context of the pandemic would be a national union government which should include all political forces that entered Parliament. Professor Alexandru Rafila is the Social Democrats’ proposal for the position of PM while PNL support the current finance minister Florin Citu for that position. The representatives of AUR – the Alliance for Romanians Union say they will attend the meeting and that a possible boycott will be a gesture of political irresponsibility.



    Consultations — The Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu is today having political consultations with his counterpart from Northern Macedonia, Bujar Osmani, who is paying an official visit to Bucharest. The talks focus on the stage of and the perspectives for consolidating bilateral cooperation in all domains of common interest including in the economic field. During the talks the two officials will also tackle Romania’s support for Northern Macedonia’s European agenda and for the EU’s enlargement policy, the security issue, the relations within NATO, cooperation at regional level as well as within international organizations. Minister Bogdan Aurescu will reiterate Romania’s availability to provide assistance to the Republic of Northern Macedonia in the context of preparations for opening accession negotiations with the EU, the Romanian Foreign Ministry shows.



    Commemoration — The western Romanian city of Timisoara and the revolutionary associations there have today started manifestations to commemorate the 1989 anti-Communist revolution. Manifestations will take place until December 22 and will be restricted in the context of the current COVID-19 pandemic. The festive meeting of the Local Council, to which the US Ambassador Adrian Zuckerman has been invited an an honorary guest, opens the series of manifestations devoted to the revolution heroes from Timisoara. Thursday will be a day of mourning in Timisoara, which back in 1989 became the first city free of Communism in Romania, after 45 years of Communist dictatorship. On Tuesday, the Hungarian Parliament started its session by paying homage to the 1989 people’s uprising in Timisoara which led to the fall of the Ceausescu regime. János Latorcai, the vice-president of the Hungarian Parliament, recalled that hundreds of Hungarians and Romanians tried to prevent the evacuation of the reformed pastor László Tőkés, and when their attempt failed, the extended people’s protest turned into a mass demonstration that led to the fall of the Communist regime. The revolt against Ceausescu broke out in Timisoara on December 16, 1989 and extended as of December 21 to Bucharest and other cities of Romania. More than 1,000 people died and around 3,000 were injured in the fighting that took place at the time in Romania, the only country in the Eastern Bloc where the change of regime occurred violently and the dictators were killed.



    Covid-19 — More than 6,000 new COVID-19 cases and over 200 related deaths were reported on Tuesday in Romania, according to data provided by the Strategic Communication Group. There are more than 565 thousand cases of contamination and the death toll is nearing 13,700. 1,255 people are in ICUs. The National Defense Ministry will make available to the Public Health Directorates across Romania almost 600 military to support the general efforts to fight the Covid-19 pandemic in the coming period. They will work as call-center operators, PC operators to fill in data bases that are being made as part of the actions to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and also will undertake contact tracing activities. The authorities have recommended Romanians to limit their travels during the winter holidays in order to contain the spread of the virus. The first vaccines against COVID-19 will arrive in Romania most probably between Christmas and the New Year. (tr. L. Simion)

  • December 22, 2018 UPDATE

    December 22, 2018 UPDATE

    SUMMIT – The Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dancila spoke in Belgrade, at the Romania – Serbia – Bulgaria – Greece summit, about the countrys priorities during the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the EU, focusing on the cohesion policy. “During the presidency of Romania, starting January 2019, we must respond to many challenges, perhaps unique challenges for the EU, and I am convinced that together we will be able to draw a future that is closer to citizens”, the Romanian official stated. Also, the Romanian Prime Minister highlighted the support given to the European integration of the Western Balkans. The four prime-ministers discussed in Belgrade cooperation in fields such as energy, infrastructure, tourism and sport.



    ORDINANCE – The Romanian Government, formed by the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats, adopted in Fridays session an emergency ordinance on the fiscal measures recently announced by the Finance Minister Eugen Teodorovici. The measures are contested by the countrys president, Klaus Iohannis, by banks and big energy and communications companies. The Social Democratic Party, the senior partner in the coalition, says though that the measures will boost Romanian economy. The measures adopted under the emergency ordinance include, among other things, capping the price of gas and electricity for the next three years for domestic consumers and lowering commission to private pension funds from 2.5% to 1%. Another measure concerns taxation of financial-banking institutions according to the evolution of ROBOR, the reference indicator used by banks in lending, which, at least in the past year, has fluctuated to the detriment of both companies and natural persons. Also, the Romanian Government has approved the setting up of an investment and development fund, which will provide funding for local community and university development projects, with a budget of approximately 10 billion Euros. As of January 1st, all employees will receive two minimum wages per year in the form of food allowance.



    STOCK EXCHANGE – The Financial Supervisory Authority has announced the commencement of an analysis of the transactions carried out at the Bucharest Stock Exchange on Wednesday, as there are suspicions of abuse. If the investigation concludes the law was broken, the Authority will take measures that will be made public. On Wednesday, the Bucharest Stock Exchange registered a record low. The biggest losses were registered by the shares of banks and energy companies. The plunge occurred after the Romanian Finance Minister Eugen Teodorovici had announced a number of measures, which in the meantime have already been adopted by means of an emergency ordinance.



    1989 REVOLUTION – Events commemorating the heroes of the December 1989 anti-Communist Revolution were held on Saturday in Bucharest and other cities across Romania. 29 years ago, protesters laid siege to the headquarters of the Communist Party, and dictator Ceausescu fled Bucharest on board a helicopter. In the capital, commemoration events started at the monument in the Revolution Square and continued at the Romanian Radio Broadcasting Corporation, the Romanian Television and the Telephone Palace. The participants included revolutionaries, relatives of those who died, people who were in the army in 1989 and were called to defend the public institutions from what officials back then termed as terrorists. All orthodox churches in the country and abroad held a commemoration mass to honour the heroes who sacrificed themselves in December 1989. More than 1000 people died and some 3,400 were wounded in the shootings in Romania, the only country in the Eastern Bloc where the regime was toppled violently and the communist rulers were executed.



    MARCH – On Saturday, more than one thousand people gathered in Victoria Square in Bucharest for a manifestation announced in the social media as 22 December – Our Revolution. The crowed marched towards the University Square and the Revolution Square. According to the organizers, the main goal of the event was to commemorate the victims of the 1989 Revolution. “They believed in freedom at a time when Romania was going trough the darkest of times” said the organizers.



    UNEMPLOYMENT – In November, the unemployment rate in Romania stood at 3.3%, lower than in the previous month and under the value registered in November 2017. According to the National Employment Agency, the total number of unemployed individuals, in late November, was 289,000 people, of whom 57,000 were receiving unemployment benefits. Most of the unemployed were aged 40 to 49.



    EUROBAROMETER – 52% of the Romanians have a positive image about the EU, as compared to 43% , which is the European average. According to a Eurobarometer survey, the number of Romanians who have a positive image about the EU is on the rise and above the European average. Half of the Romanians trust the EU and believe that their voice counts in the EU, 56% of the Romanians have a positive view of the situation of the European economy, and 48% of Romanians are optimistic about the labour market situation. The survey also shows that most Europeans believe, for the first time, that their voice matters in the EU. Moreover, 20 years since the introduction of the single currency, support for the economic and monetary union and the Euro remains at a record high, with three quarters of the respondents in the Eurozone in favour of the single currency. On the other hand, immigration remains the main concern at EU level. It is mentioned twice more often than terrorism.



    TRAVEL – Over the past few days, traffic at the Romanian border crossing points has intensified, as many Romanians who have settled or are working abroad are coming back to the country for the winter holidays. Also, many Romanians have planned a holiday abroad in the coming period. The General Border Police Inspectorate has reminded citizens that, by accessing the on-line application Average waiting times at border crossing points open to international traffic, they can visualize all border crossing points and the traffic situation, differentiated in various colours. The Romania Police too have announced that more than 8,500 police officers from public order and safety structures will be on duty across the country in the coming period. In another move, the Romanian Railway Company has increased the number of trains leaving from Bucharest to the big cities and mountain resorts in the country, until January 6th, 2019.


  • December 22, 2018

    December 22, 2018

    SUMMIT – The Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dancila is attending in Belgrade the Romania – Serbia – Bulgaria – Greece summit. The main topic on the agenda is the Western Balkans Region and the projects aimed at interconnecting it with the EU. The summit is a fresh opportunity for the continuation of the dialogue between Romania, Bulgaria, Greece and Serbia on regional cooperation, starting from common interests in ensuring stability, prosperity and security in the region. According to the head of the Romanian Government, Romania is interested in building a cohesive and better integrated region, which includes the Balkan states. Recently, in Varna, Viorica Dancila has stressed the importance of this cohesion policy which, in her opinion, is and must remain the main EU investment policy, as it contributes significantly to promoting the balanced development of the Member States and regions.



    ORDINANCE – The Romanian Government, formed by the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats, adopted in Fridays session an emergency ordinance on the fiscal measures recently announced by the Finance Minister Eugen Teodorovici. The measures are contested by the countrys president, Klaus Iohannis, by banks and big energy and communications companies. The Social Democratic Party, the senior partner in the coalition, says though that the measures will boost Romanian economy. The measures adopted under the emergency ordinance include, among other things, capping the price of gas and electricity for the next three years for domestic consumers and lowering commission to private pension funds from 2.5% to 1%. Another measure concerns taxation of financial-banking institutions according to the evolution of ROBOR, the reference indicator used by banks in lending, which, at least in the past year, has fluctuated to the detriment of both companies and natural persons. Also, the Romanian Government has approved the setting up of an investment and development fund, which will provide funding for local community and university development projects, with a budget of approximately 10 billion Euros. As of January 1st, all employees with receive two minimum wages per year in the form of food allowance.



    STOCK EXCHANGE – The Financial Supervisory Authority has announced the commencement of an analysis of the transactions carried out at the Bucharest Stock Exchange on Wednesday, as there are suspicions of abuse. If the investigation concludes the law was broken, the Authority will take measures that will be made public. On Wednesday, the Bucharest Stock Exchange registered a record low. The biggest losses were registered by the shares of banks and energy companies. The plunge occurred after the Romanian Finance Minister Eugen Teodorovici had announced a number of measures, which have already been adopted by means of an emergency ordinance.



    1989 REVOLUTION – Events commemorating the heroes of the December 1989 anti-Communist Revolution are unfolding all across the country. In Bucharest, the events are hosted by the Romanian Radio Broadcasting Corporation, the Romanian Television and the Telephone Palace. According to the press office of the Romanian Patriarchy, all orthodox churches and monasteries in Romania and abroad are holding today a special mass for the heroes who sacrificed their lives in December 1989. On December 22nd, 1989, dozens of thousands of Bucharesters took to the streets and forced dictator Nicolae Ceausescu to flee on board a helicopter. On the same day, public institutions were attacked with firearms. More than 1000 people died and some 3,400 were wounded in the shootings in Romania, the only country in the Eastern Bloc where the regime was toppled violently and the communist rulers were executed.



    UNEMPLOYMENT – In November, the unemployment rate in Romania stood at 3.3%, lower than in the previous month and under the value registered in November 2017. According to the National Employment Agency, the total number of unemployed individuals, in late November, was 289,000 people, of whom 57,000 were receiving unemployment benefits. Most of the unemployed were aged 40 to 49.



    EUROBAROMETER – 52% of the Romanians have a positive image about the EU, as compared to 43% , which is the European average. According to a Eurobarometer survey, the number of Romanians who have a positive image about the EU is on the rise and above the European average. Half of the Romanians trust the EU and belive that their voice counts in the EU, 56% of the Romanians have a positive view of the situation of the European economy, and 48% of Romanians are optimistic about the labour market situation. The survey also shows that most Europeans believe, for the first time, that their voice matters in the EU. Moreover, 20 years since the introduction of the single currency, support for the economic and monetary union and the Euro remains at a record high, with three quarters of the respondents in the Eurozone in favour of the single currency. On the other hand, immigration remains the main concern at EU level. It is mentioned twice more often than terrorism.



    TRAVEL – More than 120,000 people entered Romania and some 82,000 have exited it in the past 24 hours, according to the General Border Police Inspectorate. The institutions recalls that, by accessing the on-line application Average waiting times at border crossing points open to international traffic, people can visualize all border crossing points and the traffic situation, differentiated in various colours. The Romanian Police too have announced that more than 8,500 police officers from public order and safety structures will be on duty across the country in the coming period. In another move, the Romanian Railway Company has increased the number of trains leaving from Bucharest to the big cities and mountain resorts in the country, until January 6th, 2019.




  • December 21, 2018 UPDATE

    December 21, 2018 UPDATE


    EU COUNCIL – On January 1st, 2019, Romania takes over the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU from Austria, which has been a serious and reliable partner, said on Friday in Bucharest president Klaus Iohannis, in a joint press conference with the Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz. The Romanian head of state stressed the very good collaboration between the two countries institutions and the support provided by Austria in ensuring an effective transition to the Romanian presidency of the Council. Also, Klaus Iohannis hailed the results obtained by Austria during its term. In turn, the Austrian Chancellor thanked the Romanian president for taking care of democracy and the rule of law, stressing that the head of state is a guarantor of the two values. With the Romanian PM Viorica Dancila Sebastian Kurz talked about the main issues on the European agenda, such as the future of the EU and the bilateral relation between Romania and Austria.



    1989 REVOLUTION – Ceremonies commemorating the heroes of the 1989 Revolution will be held across Romania on Saturday. In Bucharest, events will be hosted by the Romanian Radio Broadcasting Corporation, one of the hotspots of the Revolution, as well as by the Romanian Television and the Telephone Palace. On Friday, Romania commemorated 29 years since the anti-Communist Revolution extended from Timisoara to Bucharest and the whole country. The Revolution culminated on December 22nd with protesters laying siege to the headquarters of the Communist Party and with dictators Nicolae and Elena Ceausescu attempting to flee Bucharest. Over 1,000 people died and some 3,400 others were wounded in the shootings in Romania, the only Eastern Bloc country where the communist regime was toppled violently and where the communist leaders were executed.



    MOTIVATION – President Klaus Iohannis failed to fulfill his constitutional responsibilities when he did not acknowledge the resignations of two ministers and the vacancy of the two posts, reads the motivation issued on Friday by the Constitutional Court to the decision under which the Court had ruled that there was a constitutional conflict between the Government and the head of state. Also, the prime-minister cannot reiterate a proposal for a ministers appointment, in the sense that they cannot indicate the same person for the same office, at the same ministry, the motivation also reads. The Constitutional Court of Romania is of the opinion that, in order for the conflict to be settled, the president of Romania should issue immediately the decrees acknowledging these vacancies and to respond, in writing, to the proposals made by the Prime Minister. On December 7th, PM Viorica Dancila announced that the Government had informed the Constitutional Court that the president did not make a decision about the appointment of the ministers of transport and regional development respectively. Previously, Klaus Iohannis had refused the proposals, saying they were inappropriate.



    JUDICIARY – Romanias High Court of Cassation and Justice has continued to suspend the serving of prison sentences received by several high-level officials under corruption charges. Among them are the former chief of the anti-terrorism and anti-mafia directorate Alina Bica, who requested asylum in Costa Rica, the former head of the tax authority, Serban Pop, and former Social Democratic ministers and MPs Dan Şova and Constantin Niţă. They have been released, until final rulings are passed on their appeals. The argument put forth for the suspension of their sentences was that the membership of the 5-judge panels passing the rulings had not been set correctly.



    DEFENSE – A new session of the Romanias Supreme Defense Council will be held on the 28th of December, to analyze the requests made by the National Defense Minister Gabriel Les, concerning some vacancies in the leadership of the Romanian Army, the Presidential Administration announced on Friday. On Wednesday, Gabriel Les had announced that he would not extend the term of the current Chief of Staff, Nicolae Ciuca, whose contract expires on the 31st of December. The previous meeting of the Council was held on December 19th to approve the 2019-2028 army equipment programme and the means and forces to be deployed next year for missions and operations abroad.



    RUSSIA – Romania is open to a dialogue with Russia on topics that do not come in violation of international sanctions, the Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu said on Radio Romania. He explained that one of the goals of the Romanian presidency of the EU Council is to have the Black Sea area acquiring the status of priority area, both in terms of security and also economically. “Lately, we have been very much concerned about the growing Russian military presence in the Black Sea area and on the eastern borders of the EU and NATO. That is why, one of the topics that Romania will focus on while holding the presidency of the EU Council is the Black Sea area and the fact that this is a priority issue for the EU” Teodor Melescanu has stated.



    ICE HOTEL – On December 23, the only ice hotel in Romania will be opened at Balea Lac in the Southern Carpathians. The official inauguration of the entire compound, to also include an ice church and several igloos, will take place next February. The ice hotel, built entirely of ice blocks, is located at an altitude of 2034 meters. This year, the theme that has inspired the hotels decoration is Frozen Love, promoting love and passion for nature, fresh air and trekking in the winter season. A perfume inspired from this theme will also be launched. Bookings for tourists who want to experiment sleeping at minus 2 degrees Celsius were made months in advance, especially by Britons. The Ice Hotel has been built every year, starting 2005.

  • December 21, 2017 UPDATE

    December 21, 2017 UPDATE

    DECEMBER 1989 – 28 years since the December 1989 anti-Communist Revolution, Romanias president Klaus Iohannis has conveyed a message, saying that in 1989, Romanians called for the fall of Communism, an urge that can still be heard today. This should be a warning to politicians, who have proven lately they are not willing to leave the past and its bad habits behind. Upholding the ideals of the anti-Communist Revolution means defending the rule of law, freedom and democracy and respect for citizens, wrote the president on a social network, stressing that the investigation of the Revolution Case File must be completed and the crimes and abuses perpetrated in 1989 must be punished. Romania’s Parliament convened on Thursday in a solemn session to mark the Romanian Revolution. Commemorative events were held in Bucharest and other cities across the country to honor the martyrs of December 1989.After four days of protests, which started in Timisoara on December 16th 1989, during which dozens of dead and wounded were reported, the army joined the population and revolutionaries developed the first democratic platform. Started as a protest staged by citizens of Timisoara against an abusive measure taken by local officials, the revolution spread rapidly across the country, culminating on December 22nd with the presidential couples attempt to flee. More than 1,000 people died and some 3,400 were wounded between the 16th and the 25th of December 1989. Romania was the only country in the Eastern Bloc where the regime was changed violently and its communist leaders were executed by firing squad.



    BUDGET BILL — Romanian Parliament on Friday will cast its final vote on the 2018 state budget and the social security budget. The budgets of some of the most important institutions have been maintained as they were in the draft proposed by the government, as the amendments filed by the opposition were not voted by the majority. The budget was built on an estimated 5.5% economic growth rate, an average exchange rate of 4.55 lei for one Euro and a monthly salary of 565 Euro, as well as an estimated budget deficit standing at 2.97% of the GDP. The priority fields in 2018 are health, education and infrastructure. The right-wing parliamentary opposition has criticized Governments measures, saying the structure of the budget is dangerous and will trigger an increase in the public debt.



    JUSTICE LAWS – The Romanian Senate, the decision making body in this matter, on Thursday adopted the bill modifying the Law on the organization and functioning of the Superior Council of Magistracy. This was the last in the justice law package that the Senators had to rule on, after the adoption of the ones on judicial organization and the status of magistrates. Also on Thursday, the High Court of Cassation and Justice decided to refer some of the articles modifying the justice laws to the Constitutional Court. The changes that the ruling coalition, formed by the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats, has brought to these laws have been vehemently criticized by the right-wing opposition and a large part of civil society. Moreover, hundreds of magistrates have protested in Bucharest and in other cities across the country against the way in which these changes have been brought, saying the process has lacked transparency.



    EMBASSIES — The embassies of several European countries on Thursday called on Romanian authorities involved in the reform of the judiciary to refrain from any action that might weaken the independence of the justice system and the fight against corruption. In an open letter, the embassies of Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden have highlighted the risks the current modifications to the justice laws might bring about. The embassies recognize Romania has reported important progress in terms of building a roadmap and implementing reliable reforms in the field of the judiciary. Still, embassies believe the recently adopted laws, as well as the recent proposals to amend the Criminal and Criminal Procedure Codes, risk endangering this progress, the letter also reads.



    SANCTIONS — The EU has extended by six-months economic sanctions on Russia for its involvement in the Ukrainian conflict. The sanctions affect banks, businesses in the defense industry and oil companies, also forbidding European citizens to invest in Russia. The sanctions were first introduced in 2014, months after the annexation of the Crimean Peninsula. So far, the conflict in Ukraine has killed over 10,000 people, France Press reports.


    (Translated by V. Palcu)