Radio România Internațional

Tag: Alexandru

  • January 21, 2023 UPDATE

    January 21, 2023 UPDATE

    ASYLUM Romania’s immigration department on Friday registered 40 asylum applications.
    Most of these, 24, were filed by citizens from Bangladesh. The General
    Inspectorate for Immigration has also issued 394 permits for those who applied
    for temporary protection, out of which 388 for Ukrainian nationals. Last year 4,398
    Ukrainian citizens applied for asylum in Romania and they benefit from all the
    rights stipulated in the national legislation. The total number of Ukrainians
    who entered Romania since the beginning of the invasion is around 3.5 million.
    Almost 29% of the accommodation facilities for these refugees have been
    occupied.










    DAY
    The Day celebrating the Union of the Romanian Principalities will be marked by
    the representations of the Romanian Cultural Institute in Chisinau, Rome,
    Warsaw, Venice, Istanbul and Vienna. The Romanian Cultural Institute in Chisinau
    stages a scientific event devoted to 164 years since the Union of the Romanian
    Principalities – Moldova and Wallachia. The Romanian Institute of Culture and
    Humanistic Research in Venice is staging a conference meant to emphasize the
    cordial Romanian-Italian relations during the rule of Alexandru Ioan Cuza (1859-1866)
    and the symmetric destiny of the two peoples in the process of completing their
    national unity. The Academia di Romania in Rome is also celebrating the Union
    day with a film screening about the portrait of Romanian ruler Alexandru Ioan
    Cuza made by photographer Carol Popp of Szathmari. The Romanian Cultural
    Institute in Warsaw will be screening on the Youtube platform a film with
    Polish subtitles entitled ‘The 1859 Union of the Romanian Principalities’
    directed by Radu Gaina. The Romanian Cultural institutes in Istanbul and Vienna
    are also screening films about the aforementioned union and the personality of
    ruler Alexandru Ioan Cuza.










    FAIR Romania boasts a national stand at the
    International travel Fair taking place in Madrid until Sunday. The stand has
    been developed by the Ministry of Entrepreneurship and Tourism jointly with
    several field associations and is promoting cultural trips, rural tourism and
    city-break packages. Among other things, the Romanian programme also includes
    meetings with relevant players from the public and private tourist sector with
    the view to introducing Romania’s touristic potential to Spain. At the same
    time, the fair is a good opportunity of promoting the city of Timisoara as
    European Capital of Culture in 2023.








    TENNIS Romanian tennis player Gabriela Ruse and her Ukrainian partner
    Marta Kostyuc have qualified for the round of 16 of the women’s doubles in
    Australian Open after their 3-6, 7-6, 6-0 win against Nicole Martinez of the
    USA and Ellen Perez of Australia in Melbourne on Saturday. Ruse and Kostyuk
    will be next taking on the winners of the game pitching the Czechs Miriam
    Kolodziejova and Marketa Vondrousova to Beatriz Haddad Maia of Brazil and Shuai
    Zhang of China. Also in the round of 16, the
    Romanian-Swiss pair made up of Monica Niculescu and Viktorija Golubic
    will be taking either on the fourth-seeded pair made up of Storm Hunter of Australia
    and Elise Mertens of Belgium or Timea Babos of Hungary and Kristina Mladenovic
    of France.






    AID
    The European Commission has approved a 44 million euro assistance scheme for
    the cattle breeders in Romania. The government in Bucharest has proposed this
    support scheme against the backdrop of the war Russia is presently waging on
    Ukraine. The aforementioned scheme consists of direct grants aimed at
    offsetting the effects of the latest price hikes in energy, fuel and fodder and
    helping the farmers to overcome the financial difficulties caused by the
    present geo-political crisis. The aid, which doesn’t exceed 250 thousand euro
    per farmer, will be granted until December 31st this year.










    (bill)

  • January 21, 2023

    January 21, 2023

    ASYLUM Romania’s immigration department registered 40 asylum requests on
    Friday. Most of these, 24, were filed by citizens from Bangladesh. The General
    Inspectorate for Immigration has also issued 394 permits for the beneficiaries
    of temporary protection, out of which 388 for the Ukrainian nationals. Last year
    4398 Ukrainian citizens applied for asylum in Romania and they benefit from all
    the rights stipulated in the national legislation. The total number of
    Ukrainians who entered Romania since the beginning of the invasion is around
    3.5 million. Almost 29% of the accommodation facilities for these refugees have
    been occupied.










    DAY
    The Day celebrating the Union of the Romanian Principalities will be marked by
    the representations of the Romanian Cultural Institute in Chisinau, Rome,
    Warsaw, Venice, Istanbul and Vienna. The Romanian Cultural Institute in Chisinau
    stages a scientific event devoted to 164 years since the Union of the Romanian
    Principalities – Moldova and Wallachia. The Romanian Institute of Culture and
    Humanistic Research in Venice is staging a conference meant to emphasize the
    cordial Romanian-Italian relations in the period of Alexandru Ioan Cuza (1859-1866)
    and the symmetric destiny of the two peoples in the process of completing their
    national unity. The Academia di Romania in Rome is also celebrating the Union
    day with a film screening on the portrait of Romanian ruler Alexandru Ioan Cuza
    made by photographer Carol Popp of Szathmari. The Romanian Cultural Institute
    in Warsaw will be screening on the Youtube platform a film with Polish
    subtitles entitled ‘The 1859 Union of the Romanian Principalities’ directed by
    Radu Gaina. The Romanian Cultural institutes in Istanbul and Vienna are also
    screening films about the aforementioned union and the personality of ruler
    Alexandru Ioan Cuza.










    FAIR Romania has a national stand at the
    International travel Fair taking place in Madrid until Sunday. The stand has
    been developed by the Ministry of Entrepreneurship and Tourism jointly with
    several field associations and is promoting cultural trips, rural tourism and
    city-break packages. Among other things, the Romanian programme also includes
    meetings with relevant players from the public and private tourist sector with
    the view to introducing Romania’s touristic potential to Spain. At the same
    time, the fair is a good opportunity of promoting the city of Timisoara as
    European Capital of Culture in 2023.








    TENNIS Romanian tennis player Gabriela Ruse and her Ukrainian partner
    Marta Kostyuk have qualified for the round of 16 of the women’s doubles in
    Australian Open after their 3-6, 7-6, 6-0 win against Nicole Martinez of the
    USA and Ellen Perez of Australia in Melbourne on Saturday. Ruse and Kostyuk
    will be next taking on the winners of the game pitching the Czechs Miriam
    Kolodziejova and Marketa Vondrousova to Beatriz Haddad Maia of Brazil and Shuai
    Zhang of China. Also in the round of 16, the
    Romanian-Swiss pair made up of Monica Niculescu and Viktorija Golubic
    will be taking either on the fourth-seeded pair made up of Storm Hunter of Australia
    and Elise Mertens of Belgium or Timea Babos of Hungary and Kristina Mladenovic
    of France.






    (bill)

  • Opposing Ceaușescu: Alexandru Bârlădeanu

    Opposing Ceaușescu: Alexandru Bârlădeanu

    During his 25 years in power in Romania, between 1965 and 1989, Nicolae Ceaușescu exercised a brutal, fickle and intolerant management style. In the economic field, his thinking was a disaster, as proven by the living standards of Romanians in the 1980s, in particular. Unfortunately, not many had the courage to stand up to him, and those who did were either removed, or had to step down.

    Born in 1911 in the south of the Republic of Moldova, then a part of Tsarist Russia, Bârlădeanu joined the communist party in 1943. Since 1944 he held senior positions in the party hierarchy. He was one of the aides of Romania’s Stalin, Gheorghiu Dej, he was a cabinet minister and held offices in the legislative assembly. After Dej died in 1965, he became a reformist and got in conflict with the new leader, Nicolae Ceaușescu. In the summer of 1989, he was one of the 6 authors of a letter asking Ceaușescu to initiate reforms. In 1990 he became a member of parliament, until 1992, and he passed away at 86, in 1997.

    In an interview to Radio Romania’s Oral History Centre in 1995, Bârlădeanu reminisced about his divergencies with Ceaușescu, which started as early as the 9th Communist Party Congress in 1965, when Ceaușescu was elected party president. They disagreed with respect to the investments/consumption ratio.

    Alexandru Bârlădeanu: There was this dispute with Ceauşescu concerning the break-down of national revenues for consumption and accumulation. I discussed that in my speech, I said that increasing the investment quota means sacrificing living standards, and that reducing investments means delaying development. I also said, and we disagreed in this respect too, that this ratio depended on a leader’s political art or sense of politics. He insisted that this was a matter of science. It was not a matter of science; it was a matter of politics.

    Over the years, the gap between them grew deeper. Another bone of contention came up in 1966, when abortion was banned in Romania.

    Alexandru Bârlădeanu: Along the way, we had several misunderstandings or opposing views in relation to some concrete issues. One of them was the issue of abortions. Just in the summer when he was elected, he convened a meeting of the Executive Committee while I was on holiday at the seaside. I went from Costinesti to that meeting, and he unexpectedly tabled the issue of abortions. I stood up against it. I said that the problem had not been studied, that we had to analyze it and not make an immediate decision. My stand was also backed by Maurer who said that, indeed, we had to study the matter. But Ceausescu had a nervous outburst. He said, Comrade Bârlădeanu, with this proposal, seeks to support prostitution in Romania.

    Another reason for disagreement was related to the size of the courtyards of the peasant households. Then followed the moment when Bârlădeanu decided to retire invoking an illness.

    Alexandru Bârlădeanu: He wanted to reduce those courtyards to 500 square meters. I do not remember the data, but there were always divergent views that deepened, at least on my part, a feeling of rejection of Ceausescu. Until one point when, in 1968, we argued on an issue and I said I could no longer accept it. By then, I had already attempted to leave a couple of times. As I had had a blood disease in the incipient phase, a professor in Paris, a famous hematologist who examined me, agreed to give me a certificate saying that if I was not released from work, if I continued to do that work, there would be 7 out of 10 possibilities that I could die. And I presented him with that certificate. Said Alexandru Barladeanu.

    Therefore, Bârlădeanu’s self-marginalization occurred in 1968, because that continuous conflict could not bring anything good.

    Alexandru Bârlădeanu: I was leading the Science Council, and, in that position, I also had disagreements with him. At one point, I presented him with a paper on how I saw the reorganization of the Council and the field of science. I waited a few days before he gave me an answer. And I asked him if he had read my material. His response was eloquent: Are you teaching me what science is? That’s what he understood from my material, that I was teaching him what science was, when I had actually proposed several measures! In 1968 I decided to part with the policy he was promoting. It was clear to me that, on the economic line, it would lead to disaster. In fact, I had told others about it as well, I didn’t hide.

    Ceaușescu’s victory against his opponents meant a regime of extreme austerity for Romania. Which ended in 1989, alongside the other regimes in Central and Eastern Europe. (AMP, LS)

  • Athlete of the Week

    Athlete of the Week

    Last week Tel Aviv,
    in Israel, played venue for a major judo competition in the Grand Slam category.
    At the event, which brought together over 400 athletes from 60 countries,
    Romania was represented by 9 judokas. Out of the Romanian delegation in Tel
    Aviv, Alexandru Raicu obtained the best performance in the contest of the
    73-kilogram category and for this performance Radio Romania has designated him
    Athlete of the Week.




    The Romanian
    managed to defeat Lukas Reiter of Austria in the first round and Victor Sterpu,
    a challenger from the Republic of Moldova, in the round of 16. Raicu
    outperformed Israeli Tohar Butbul in the quarterfinals and Nugzari
    Tatalashvilli of Georgia in the semis. In the finals, the Romanian clinched a victory
    against Giovanni Esposito of Italy and stepped onto the first step of the
    podium.




    Alexandru Raicu was born on 20th December 1996
    and got his first good results in the cadets and junior competitions. As a
    senior athlete he became Romania’s champion twice, in 2018, in Cluj, and in 2019,
    in Iaşi, in the 73-kilogram competitions. He shot to international fame in
    February last year in a competition hosted by the Austrian city of Oberwart.
    His victory in Israel is a confirmation of his latest progress and brings him
    1,000 points in the international ranking of the 73-kilogram category pushing
    him to the 30th position.




    (bill)

  • Athlete of the Week

    Athlete of the Week

    Last week Tel Aviv,
    in Israel, played venue for a major judo competition in the Grand Slam category.
    At the event, which brought together over 400 athletes from 60 countries,
    Romania was represented by 9 judokas. Out of the Romanian delegation in Tel
    Aviv, Alexandru Raicu obtained the best performance in the contest of the
    73-kilogram category and for this performance Radio Romania has designated him
    Athlete of the Week.




    The Romanian
    managed to defeat Lukas Reiter of Austria in the first round and Victor Sterpu,
    a challenger from the Republic of Moldova, in the round of 16. Raicu
    outperformed Israeli Tohar Butbul in the quarterfinals and Nugzari
    Tatalashvilli of Georgia in the semis. In the finals, the Romanian clinched a victory
    against Giovanni Esposito of Italy and stepped onto the first step of the
    podium.




    Alexandru Raicu was born on 20th December 1996
    and got his first good results in the cadets and junior competitions. As a
    senior athlete he became Romania’s champion twice, in 2018, in Cluj, and in 2019,
    in Iaşi, in the 73-kilogram competitions. He shot to international fame in
    February last year in a competition hosted by the Austrian city of Oberwart.
    His victory in Israel is a confirmation of his latest progress and brings him
    1,000 points in the international ranking of the 73-kilogram category pushing
    him to the 30th position.




    (bill)

  • From Covid hospitals to vaccination

    From Covid hospitals to vaccination

    One of
    the controversial issues confronting the Romanian society during the pandemic
    is the one concerning the access to the medical services of the patients
    suffering from other conditions than the Covid-19 infection. Their access to
    these services has been limited in this period when the system was trying to
    cope with the new challenges, turning a series of hospitals into specialized facilities
    aimed at treating those infected also hindering the activity of the medical
    personnel due to the anti-Covid protocols.




    The situation
    proved to be a real challenge for a frail medical system like Romania’s. In the
    past year, the Covid hospitals have exclusively treated those infected and it is
    high time now we change this concept, the opposition Social Democrat MP Alexandru
    Rafila said at the meeting his party had with representatives of the main
    patients organisations and trade unions in Romania’s healthcare sector.




    According
    to doctor Rafila, all those attending the meeting have agreed on the need for
    the conclusion of a national agreement in the country’s healthcare sector
    backed by all the political groups and civil society.




    Alexandru Rafila: Obviously, patients organisations want an
    easy and sure access to healthcare services and medicine. Maybe it’s the right
    time for Romania to change this concept as it is happening in other EU
    countries where hospitals are treating patients separately in order to increase
    access to healthcare services. I believe that a National Agreement in the
    country’s healthcare system would be ideal and make a good example for other
    fields of activity.


    In turn,
    a representative of the patients has underlined the fact that during the
    pandemic, those with chronic conditions were being neglected by the public
    healthcare sector and this situation has to be improved.




    In
    another development, the head of the national Committee for the Coordination of
    the anti-Covid Vaccination, physician Valeriu Gheorghiţă, estimated that the
    third leg of the immunization campaign destined for the population is due to
    kick off in April unless there are more delays in the supply chain. Gheorghita
    explained that it is important for the authorities to implement the principle
    of 75%, making doses available to the vulnerable population, people with
    chronic conditions, the elderly and for 25% of the people working in the
    country’s key sectors. According to Gheorghita, 750 centers totaling roughly
    1760 vaccination points have been made available for the immunization of people,
    able to provide 100 thousand daily doses at full capacity.


    (bill)





  • Geopark Hatzeger Land mit Preis für nachhaltige Entwicklung ausgezeichnet

    Geopark Hatzeger Land mit Preis für nachhaltige Entwicklung ausgezeichnet

    Auf der von der rumänischen Regierung organisierten Gala für nachhaltige Entwicklung ging in diesem Jahr die Auszeichnung in der Kategorie Eigenkapital an den UNESCO-Geopark Țara Hațegului (dt. Hatzeger Land, auch Wallenthal genannt). Es ist ein von der Universität Bukarest konzipiertes und durchgeführtes Projekt. Die Motivation für die Vergabe der Auszeichnung lautet: Der Begriff der Gerechtigkeit leitet sich aus der Idee ab, dass Gerechtigkeit die erste Tugend der Gesellschaft ist und sich in einer Vielzahl von Konzepten niederschlägt, die auf einem moralischen Grundprinzip beruhen, nämlich der Achtung der Rechte aller. Wir sprechen über eine Reihe von Werten, darunter Gleichheit, Gerechtigkeit, Menschlichkeit, Ehre, gleichberechtigten Zugang zu Ressourcen und Chancen und vor allem ehrliche Zusammenarbeit. Ein Vorbild für das weitläufige Feld der Gerechtigkeit ist das Projekt des Dinosaurier-Geoparks Hatzeger Land“, so die Regierungsvertreter.



    Der Preis wird an Alexandru Andrășanu, Professor an der Fakultät für Geologie und Geophysik, verliehen. Das Konzept des Geoparks geht von der Idee einer nachhaltigen Entwicklung auf der Grundlage von Gerechtigkeit aus, so Professor Andrășanu, der auch der Leiter des Geoparks ist:



    Ein Geo Park nimmt die Elemente eines Gebietes — Elemente mit geologischem, kulturellem, organischem Wert — auf und in Partnerschaft mit den örtlichen Gemeinden wird eine Strategie für den Erhalt, die Entwicklung, Tourismusförderung und Markenbildung eines Reiseziels, eines Gebiets für nachhaltige Entwicklung vorgeschlagen. Die lokale Identität, die Arbeitsweise des Teams, die Initiativen und vor allem die Kreativität verleihen einem Geopark seine Einzigartigkeit, obwohl alle nach dem demselben Prinzip entstanden sind. Im Hatzeger Land sind wir von der Forschung der Zwergdinosaurier ausgegangenen, die das Gebiet international bekannt machten. Dann stellten wir fest, dass das Hatzeger Land neben den Dinosauriern viel mehr zu bieten hat. Es hat vor allem eine Tradition von mindestens zweitausend Jahren und stark individualisierte lokale Gemeinschaften mit ausgeprägter Identität.“



    Ein Gebiet, das den Status eines UNESCO-Geoparks erhält, kann sich wirtschaftlich nur im Einklang mit der Umwelt und unter Bereitstellung fairer Lebensbedingungen für alle seine Einwohner entwickeln. Alle Ziele der rumänischen Strategie für nachhaltige Entwicklung — Agenda 2030 genannt — darunter auch das der Gerechtigkeit, wurden vom im Südwesten Siebenbürgens gelegen Hatzeger Land übernommen. Der Geopark ist Teil des internationalen UNESCO-Programms für Geowissenschaften und Geoparks, das 161 Gebiete in 44 Ländern umfasst. Es ist ein Gebiet mit natürlichen und kulturellen Werten und einem Programm für nachhaltige Entwicklung, das eine Zeitreise in die Geschichte der 4,6 Milliarden Jahre der Erde vorschlägt. Es enthält Elemente von besonderem geologischem Interesse sowie solche von ökologischem, archäologischem, historischem und kulturellem Interesse. Dies können Gesteinsarten, Mineralien, Fossilien, geologische Erscheinungsformen, wilde Flora und Fauna, historische oder kulturelle Stätten, Höhlen und traditionelle Bauten sein. Sie alle haben eine Geschichte zu erzählen und es lohnt sich, diese zu besuchen, zu entdecken und zu schätzen. Zwergdinosaurier aus dem Hatzeger Land zum Beispiel sind weltweit einzigartig. Ihre wissenschaftliche Bedeutung und Attraktivität stieg durch die Entdeckung von Nestern mit Dinosaurier-Eiern und Küken, Säugetieren die zur gleichen Zeit mit dem Dinosaurier lebten, und riesigen fliegenden Reptilien. Der Geopark ist ein Ort für Entdeckungen, für Tourismus, aber auch für Bildung, sowohl für die Einheimischen als auch für die Besucher. Das ultimative Ziel ist es, den einzigartigen natürlichen Reichtum der Region für zukünftige Generationen zu bewahren. Alexandru Andrășanu, erklärt wie er dieses Vorhaben umsetzt:



    Zunächst durch Bildungsprogramme zur Erhaltung und Förderung lokaler Werte. Letztes Jahr haben wir begonnen, ein neues Konzept zu entwickeln, mittels dessen wir Touristen und Einheimische einladen, die Werte der Region zu entdecken, sie zu schätzen und zu respektieren. Es ist das Konzept »Entdecken — Schätzen — Respektieren«, es ist ein Geschenk an die Touristen, aber auch ein Geschenk an die Menschen hier, das sie an die Besucher dieser Gegend weitergeben können. Der Geopark überschneidet sich mit einem Naturpark, der seine eigenen Schutzregeln hat. Wir arbeiten mit dem Nationalpark Retezat und dem Naturpark Grădiștea Muncelului-Cioclovina zusammen, die öko touristische Reiseziele sind. Es gibt also einen festgelegten Rahmen für den Erhalt, die Sensibilisierung und Förderung des Respekts vor der Natur.“

  • Themen in der politischen Debatte

    Themen in der politischen Debatte

    Während der Amtszeit der sozialdemokratischen Regierung ist, auf Antrag der Liberalen einen Gesetzentwurf zur Verdoppelung des Kindergeldes verabschiedet worden. Die Sozialdemokraten, die in der Zwischenzeit abgesetzt wurden, hinterlie‎ßen wiederum ihren Nachfolgern an der Regierung die Verdoppelung des Kindergelds. Diese äu‎ßerst populistische Ma‎ßnahme birgt die Gefahr, einen bereits überlasteten Haushalt zu destabilisieren, der auf einem Defizit von 3 %, dem auf EU-Ebene akzeptierten Höchstwert, basiert. Das Kabinett Ludovic Orbans kündigte an, dass das Gesetz zur Verdoppelung des Kindergeldes, obwohl vom Präsidenten ratifiziert wurde, frühestens im Juli mit der ersten Haushaltsanpassung in Kraft treten wird. Arbeitsministerin Violeta Alexandru:

    Wir verstehen die Notwendigkeit der Verdoppelung des Kindergeldes vollkommen. Da das Gesetz jedoch erst verabschiedet wurde, nachdem wir den Haushalt für 2020 endgültig festgelegt hatten und dieser von Präsidenten abgesegnet wurde, müssen wir die Mittel finden, um diese Erhöhung, die im Moment nicht tragbar ist, abdecken zu können“.



    Die Sozialdemokraten warfen der liberalen Regierung Verantwortungslosigkeit und mangelnde Professionalität vor. Und damit nicht genug der Erklärungen, die in einem Wahljahr ihr ramponiertes Image verbessern könnten. Die Sozialdemokraten behaupten, um mehr Mittel für die Verdoppelung des Kindergeldes zur Verfügung zu stellen, wäre die Aufhebung des Gesetzes über Sonderrenten eine Lösung. Der Interims-Chef der Sozialdemokraten und Sprecher der Abgeordnetenkammer, Marcel Ciolacu, sagte, dass das Parlament Ende Januar zu einer au‎ßerordentlichen Sitzung zusammenkommen werde, um über den Gesetzesentwurf zur Aufhebung der Sonderrenten, mit Ausnahme der Soldaten und Polizisten, zu debattieren. Alle politischen Parteien stellen nun die Sonderrenten infrage, die bestimmten Kategorien von öffentlichen Bediensteten, vor allem Richtern, zugutekommen, die im Vergleich zur normalen Rente unverschämt hoch sind, da sie den Grundsatz der Beitragsgerechtigkeit missachten. Dieselben Parteien haben jedoch diese Sonderrenten eingeführt, wenn internationale Regeln und Vorschriften es verlangen und ihnen die Ma‎ßnahmen aus wahltaktischen Gründen nutzten. Ein weiterer Zankapfel zwischen Macht und Opposition dreht sich derzeit um die Absicht der Liberalen, das Wahlgesetz zu ändern und damit die Durchführung von Kommunalwahlen in zwei Wahlgängen wieder einzuführen. Marcel Ciolacu sagte, er werde einen Brief an die europäischen Gremien schicken, in dem er diese über die Absicht der Liberalen informiert, das Wahlgesetz Monate vor den Kommunalwahlen zu ändern, was gegen die Empfehlungen verstö‎ßt. Die Sozialdemokraten glauben, dass ein solches Vorhaben die Glaubwürdigkeit der rumänischen Demokratie und Rechtsstaatlichkeit beeinträchtigen würde. Sie drohten, einen Misstrauensantrag zu stellen, wenn die Regierung im Parlament die Verantwortung für die Änderung am Wahlgesetz übernimmt. Der Vorsitzende der Sozialdemokraten, Marcel Ciolacu:

    Sie haben in einem demokratischen und europäischen Staat keinerlei Recht, das Wahlgesetz zwei oder drei Monate vor der Wahl zu ändern. Das ist in der Geschichte Rumäniens noch nie geschehen und wir hoffen, dass es auch jetzt nicht geschehen wird“.



    Ein potenzieller Sturz des Orban-Kabinetts würde vorgezogene Wahlen nach sich ziehen, ein Szenario, das die Liberalen und weniger die Sozialdemokraten begünstigt, die noch immer versuchen, sich von den wiederholten Wahldebakel zu erholen, die sie 2019 erlitten haben.

  • Die öffentlichen Renten in der Diskussion

    Die öffentlichen Renten in der Diskussion

    Fünf Millionen Rentner bei insgesamt nur 9 Millionen Arbeitnehmer, ein stetiger Bevölkerungsrückgang, ein chronischer Arbeitskräftemangel, der durch die Abwanderung der Jugend angeheizt wird, und nicht zuletzt ein öffentliches Rentenbudget das immer in den roten Zahlen liegt, das häufige Kredite erfordert, sind Elemente, mit denen Rumänien mittel- und langfristig schlecht aufgestellt ist.



    Nach dem Abtritt der sozialdemokratischen Regierung und der Machtantritt der Liberalen rückten Debatten über eine gro‎ß angelegte Reform des öffentlichen Rentensystems in den Vordergrund. Die Ministerin für Arbeit und Sozialschutz, Violeta Alexandru bestätigte für den öffentlichen Radiosender, dass die Möglichkeit eines Gesetzentwurfs analysiert wird, der es den Arbeitnehmern ermöglichen soll, sich für eine Verlängerung des Renteneintrittsalters von derzeit 65 auf 70 Jahre zu entscheiden. Ein so heikles Thema wird mit allen Akteuren ausführlich diskutiert, versprach die Arbeitsministerin:



    Violeta Alexandru: Ich persönlich habe keinen Zweifel daran, dass dieses Thema angesichts der Erkenntnisse, die ich von den Rentnern erhalte, eine umfassende gesellschaftliche Debatte erfordert. Einige von ihnen sind sich bewusst, dass ein aktives Leben und eine verlängerte Erwerbstätigkeit mit Leistungen im Sinne höherer Renten verbunden sind und haben das Gefühl, länger arbeiten zu müssen, während andere beabsichtigen, noch früher in den Ruhestand zu gehen, als es das Gesetz vorsieht. Deshalb ist eine Diskussion notwendig. Auf jeden Fall wird eine solche Diskussion nicht davon ausgehen, dass die Menschen gezwungen werden, länger zu arbeiten, sondern sie wird versuchen, den Menschen die Wahl zu lassen, ob sie früher in Rente gehen wollen oder nicht“.



    Die Zukunft der öffentlichen Rentensysteme ist ein Anliegen in ganz Europa. Laut Arbeitsministerin gibt es EU-Mitgliedsländer, in denen es eine andere Lebenserwartung als in Rumänien gibt und in denen aktive Ma‎ßnahmen gefördert werden, einschlie‎ßlich einer Anhebung des Renteneintrittsalters. Gleichzeitig gibt es aber auch Länder, in denen die Dinge in dieser Hinsicht noch nicht klar seien.



    In Rumänien werden die Rentenleistungen im September um 40 % steigen, eine Anhebung, die von der früheren linken Regierung eingeführt wurde und die Experten angesichts der Aussicht auf schwere Haushaltsungleichgewichte erschauern lässt. Der Gouverneur der Nationalbank, Mugur Isarescu, sagte, solange die Wirtschaft um 4 % wächst, könne man nicht einfach hingehen und die Renten um 40 % erhöhen.



    Violeta Alexandru: Das Geld dafür ist vorgesehen. Es geht nicht so sehr um die Auswirkungen auf den Haushalt, sondern vielmehr um eine Entscheidung, die wir getroffen haben, nämlich die Entscheidung, das Gesetz zu befolgen. Uns beschäftigt jedoch die Frage, wie die Sozialdemokratische Partei sich dafür entscheiden konnte, Gesetze nur zu Wahlzwecken zu erlassen, ohne die Signale zu berücksichtigen, die von denjenigen ausgingen, die die wirtschaftliche Entwicklung Rumäniens überwachen und die wissen, dass gro‎ße, plötzliche Sprünge dieser Art nicht ratsam sind“.



    Die liberale Regierung kündigte unterdessen Pläne an, die Beiträge zu privat geführten Pensionsfonds auf 6 % zu erhöhen. Bisher haben diese Fonds gute Renditen erzielt, sodass die private Altersvorsorge ein Stabilitätspfeiler in einem Meer von Unsicherheiten bezüglich der staatlich verwalteten Renten ist.

  • Romania’s pension system sparks off fresh concerns

    Romania’s pension system sparks off fresh concerns

    Politicians in Romania eventually
    started to believe what experts in demography, sociologists and economists had
    been saying for years, namely that the country’s pension system is put at risk
    by the ever decreasing labour force.








    Violeta Alexandru, Labour Minister
    with the country’s fresh liberal government has put it bluntly in an interview
    to the local news agency Agerpres, people must be urged to save money by means
    of the private pension system. The Labour Ministry is considering increased
    contributions to the so-called Pillar ll private pension funds, which Mrs.
    Alexandru has described as a fair system reflecting the employee’s contribution
    during their professional activity, and a safe instrument thanks to its
    transparency.








    Although concerned about the impact
    of the 40% pension rise upon the budget starting September 2020, the minister
    has given assurances the present law endorsed by the former Social-Democratic
    government will be observed and applied by the Liberals as well. She has also recalled
    a draft law on banning former employees from cumulating wages with pension
    benefits.






    However, there are some categories
    exempted, such as teachers who can resume activity after retirement due to the
    shortage of personnel especially in the country’s rural areas. According to
    Minister Alexandru the government has no intention for the time being to raise
    the retirement age, although a suchlike trend has been increasingly visible all
    throughout Europe. Romania’s Central Bank has also voiced concern over the latest
    demographic developments.






    In its latest report on stability,
    the institution has cautioned on the high migration rate among the young people
    corroborated with the phenomenon of population aging, which could significantly
    bear on the future economic developments. According to the National Institute
    for Statistics, the number of pensioners is expected to reach 5.2 million in
    the second half of 2020.






    Romania will have 4.8 million old
    people in 2060 and if the situation remains unchanged the number of active
    people contributing to pension funds, is expected to drop significantly. A
    national strategy aimed at promoting active aging and protecting the aging
    population has also cautioned against the decreasing role of the pension system
    as income provider both in terms of coverage and pensions level.








    All in all employment for the
    elderly must be encouraged to benefit both the employees and the country’s
    economy. Although the need for a prolonged active life isn’t still accepted by
    society at large, there are some segments, particularly women, highly educated
    individuals or people in need of money who have shown a positive attitude
    towards this idea, the same sources have announced.




    (translated by bill)



  • Regierung stellt Vertrauensfrage für Staatshaushalt im Parlament

    Regierung stellt Vertrauensfrage für Staatshaushalt im Parlament

    Am Montag wird die rumänische Regierung das Vertrauensvotum des Parlaments zum Staatshaushalt 2020 einholen. Premierminister Ludovic Orban hat angekündigt, dass sein Kabinett die Verantwortung für das Staatshaushaltsgesetz, das Haushaltsgesetz für die Sozialfürsorge und für ein Gesetz zur Änderung der Regierungsverordnung 114 übernehmen wird. Die Abgeordneten haben bis Montag Zeit, Änderungen am Gesetz einzubringen, und der Premierminister sagte, dass die Änderungen, die den Haushalt des nächsten Jahres verbessern, akzeptiert werden.



    Finanzminister Florin Citu erklärte, dass sowohl der Haushalt für das öffentliche Gesundheitswesen als auch die Gehälter im öffentlichen Bildungswesen steigen werden. Auch der Haushalt für die Sozialfürsorge wird im nächsten Jahr um rund 23 % gegenüber 2019 steigen. Die Renten werden auch angehoben, die Ministerin für Arbeit und soziale Solidarität Violeta Alexandru erklärte jedoch, dass die Mindestrenten im nächsten Jahr auf dem gleichen Niveau wie dieses Jahr bleiben werden:


    Violeta Alexandru: Wir haben beschlossen, dass angesichts des Drucks auf den öffentlichen Haushalt des Jahres 2020, die Mindestrenten gleich bleiben sollten, nämlich bei 704 Lei. Mindestrenten sind diejenigen, die an die Menschen gezahlt werden, die nie in den öffentlichen Rentensystem eingezahlt haben. Der Grundsatz, nach dem die Rentenleistungen berechnet werden, ist, wie Sie wissen, dass die Renten auf dem Betrag basieren, der in das System eingezahlt wird.“



    Der dritte Gesetzentwurf, für den die Regierung die Verantwortung im Parlament übernehmen will, streicht die meisten Bestimmungen der Regierungsverordnung 114 und führt steuerliche Ma‎ßnahmen ein, auf deren Grundlage der Haushalt des nächsten Jahres erstellt wurde. Der Leiter des Büros des Premierministers, Ionel Danca, sagte, dass auch die Bestimmungen der Verordnung 114 über den Energiesektor gestrichen werden:


    Ionel Danca: Die Bestimmungen über eine Steuer von 2 % auf den Umsatz von Energieunternehmen und Obergrenzen für die Erdgas- und Strompreise wurden aufgehoben. Es wurden Übergangsma‎ßnahmen zur Deregulierung des Erdgas- und Strommarktes, und zwar bis zum 31. Dezember 2020 für Strom und bis zum 1. Juli für Erdgas eingeführt.“



    Es wurden auch Obergrenzen für Zulagen für öffentliche Ämter sowie Lebensmittelzulagen eingeführt, öffentliche Renten und öffentliche Gehälter können nicht mehr gleichzeitig bezogen werden, und die Zulagen für schwierige Arbeitsbedingungen werden 25 % des gesamtwirtschaftlichen Mindestlohns betragen.



    Die sozialdemokratische Oppositionspartei hält die Übernahme der Verantwortung für den Staatshaushalt vor dem Parlament für eine sehr schlechte Idee. Sie droht, die Angelegenheit vor das Verfassungsgericht zu bringen, wenn die parlamentarischen Debatten und Abstimmungen umgangen würden.



    Der Staatshaushalt für 2020 basiert auf einer geschätzten Wirtschaftswachstumsrate von 4,1 %, einem Haushaltsdefizit von 3,6 % und einer geschätzten durchschnittlichen Inflationsrate von über 3,1 %.

  • Foreign Landscape Gardeners in the Romanian Principalities

    Foreign Landscape Gardeners in the Romanian Principalities


    With the growing influence of Western civilization in Romania in the early 19th century, several sectors emerged as a result of modernization were insufficiently developed. Therefore, rulers and noblemen in the Romanian Principalities – Moldavia and Wallachia brought foreign specialists that should fill the gaps.



    Apart from architects, physicians, teachers or engineers, landscape gardeners were also commissioned. The most popular public garden in Bucharest, Cismigiu Park, was designed by some of these landscape gardeners in the second half of the 1840s, and the park officially opened its doors in 1854. The ruler of Wallachia at the time, Gheorghe Bibescu, summoned the German-born landscape gardeners Karl Friedrich Wilhelm Meyer, the official landscape gardeners of the Viennese imperial court. Although well-known to the public today, Meyer was not the only foreign artist who contributed to the park design, all the more so as he died at 38 years of age, in 1852. Here is landscape artist Alexandru Mexi.



    Alexandru Mexi: “Unlike the Kiseleff gardens, Cismigiu Park underwent several stages of transformation, some more severe, others less so. The most important changes were operated by Wilhelm Knechtel in the 1880s, and the most known changes, which are part of the present-day design of the park, were implemented in 1920 by Friedrich Rebhun. Wilhelm Knechtel was commissioned for other projects as well in Wallachia, including the gardens of Peles Castle. He also designed the cobblestone forest routes. In the 19th century and the early 20th century the French landscape artists Edouard Redont and Emile Pinard also helped design several public gardens, of which the best known is Romanescu Park in Craiova. They also worked in Caracal, designing the Constantin Poroineanu Park as well as several private gardens in the area Arges Muscel. Pinard also worked in Floresti, Breaza and Busteni in Prahova County”.



    In the 19th century the design standard for the conception of public or private gardens all over the world was the English garden. Later, in the 20th century, the French style became prominent. In Wallachia, however, foreign landscape artists observed the local specificity. Alexandru Mexi has more on the issue.



    Alexandru Mexi: “Wilhelm Meyer, Wilhelm Knechtel and Friedrich Rebhun as well as other artists from the German cultural space took over certain local specific elements and sought to adapt them and introduce them in gardens in Wallachia and Moldova. As regards the French landscape gardeners, their works are closer to the French style of landscaping rather than the local color. Redont also published a book about Bibescu Park, the name of the current Romanescu Park in Craiova, shortly after its inauguration. All the blueprints and drawings in the book are very similar to those published by a well-known specialized publication in France. Therefore their pool of knowledge was quite extensive and they tried to apply the principles they studied without hesitation”.



    In the second half of the 19th century, as the European market was suffused with architects and landscape gardeners, those established in Wallachia prospered doing their job, amassing quite a fortune and feeling at home in Romanian society. One such example was Friedrich Rebhun, who adapted quite well to life in Bucharest, although at first he saw the Romanian capital city as merely a stopover on his journey to Japan. Alexandru Mexi:



    Alexandru Mexi: “Freidrich Rebhun arrived in Bucharest around 1910, and the last documented mention of him was in 1958, after some 50 years of acclimatization. During his time here he published several materials, including a book that appealed to Romanian specificity and the specificity of certain cities. It was around that time that the draft outline for the current Herastrau Park was created, in the early 1930s, which was supposed to be called the National Park. Rebhun criticized the plants cultivated in the park, claiming the vegetation of a national park should include endemic plants as well. Many of the exotic plants that were acclimatized here did not last, others did. For instance, Cismigiu Park is still home to a few old species of plane tree, as well as Japanese acacia. Some are still preserved in the Peles gardens. Back then it was a game of chance, you couldnt know for sure if the plants would adapt to the climate of Romanias different cities. At the time nursery gardens were scarce in Romania, and most plants were imported from Austria and Italy. The National Archives still store a large number of invoices, receipts and lists of plants that were imported from Austrian or Italian nurseries”.


  • O poveste balcanică de dragoste


    Cu o lună în urmă, Serbia trăia emoţiile unui eveniment istoric: ultimul său rege, Petru al ll-lea Karageorgevici se întorcea în pământul ţării natale. A fost însoţit în mausoleul regal de mama şi soţia sa, tot în sicrie acoperite de drapelul casei regale a Iugoslaviei. Preşedintele Serbiei şi înaltele oficialităţi ale statului, patriarhul Serbiei, înalte feţe regale din întreaga lume au participat la înălţătoarea ceremonie, care a vindecat rănile istoriei recente a sârbilor. La ceremonie a participat principesa moştenitoare Margareta a României, rudă apropiată a ultimului rege al Iugoslaviei, onorat în acele clipe de poporul său şi înaltele curţi regale ale lumii. Regina Maria a Iugoslaviei care intra în mausoleul de la Oplenaţ alături de fiul său, Petru al ll-lea, era Mignon, fiica adorată a reginei Maria a României, străbunica principesei Margareta a României.



    În perioada interbelică, regina Maria a dus de la Bucureşti o intensă politică de alianţe balcanice care i-au adus supranumele expresiv de soacra Balcanilor”. Fiul său, Carol, moştenitorul tronului României, se căsătorise cu prinţesa Elena a Greciei în martie 1921, o săptămână după ce fiica sa, Elisabeta, se căsătorise cu George, fratele Elenei de Grecia. La un an de la această nuntă dublă între casele regale a României şi a Greciei, în 1992, fiica sa, numită tot Maria dar alintată Mignon se căsătorea cu tânărul rege Alexandru al Iugoslaviei.Există o unanimitate în a considera că, dincolo de aranjamentele obligatorii în acele vremuri în nunţile regale la nivel înalt în căsătoria prinţesei Mărioara cu regele Iugoslaviei era şi multă dragoste.



    Alexandru şi Maria-Mignon au avut 3 copii, fiul cel mare moştenind numele bunicului, Petru, cel care adusese casa Karageorgevici pe tronul Serbiei. Fericirea părea să guverneze viaţa cuplului regal iugoslav, dar în 1934, regele Alexandru al Iugoslaviei a fost ucis în atentatul de la Marisilia, primul filmat vreodată, în care a fost ucis şi Louis Barthou, ministrul francez de externe. Asasinatul a aruncat familia regală într-o dramă ce pare a se încheia odată cu reînhumarea ultimilor regi ai Iugoslaviei în mausoleul de la Oplenaţ. Maria a României şi-a însoţit nepotul de doar 11 ani din momentul aflării veştii până la sosirea la Belgrad, în înalta sa responsabilitate. Deoarece Petru era minor, a fost instituită o regenţă condusă de unchiul său, Pavle. Orientarea pro-nazistă a acestuia a dus la înlăturarea de la putere a regentului iar regele de 17 ani a fost declarat major, apt să guverneze. A trebuit să părăsească ţara şi tronul după doar câteva săptămâni, hitleriştii invadând Iugoslavia care optase pentru tabăra opusă, a democraţiilor occidentale.



    Ca şi Mihai l al României, vărul său, regele Petru al ll-lea al Iugoslaviei s-a căsătorit în exil. A trăit în SUA unde a murit la 47 de ani, vârsta la care tatăl său, regele Alexandru al Iugoslaviei era ucis la Marsilia. Mama regelui Petru al ll-lea, regina Maria a Iugoslaviei, fosta prinţesă Mignon sau Mărioara a României, a murit în 1961, la Londra. A ţinut foarte mult la ţara soţului său, unde a fost regină. Prinţul moştenitor al Iugoslaviei, Alexandru al ll-lea, mărturisea presei din România că bunica sa, regina Maria — Mignon, iubea coasta muntenegreană a Mediteranei, de unde provenea chiar soacra sa, mama regelui Alexandru al Iugoslaviei, prinţesa Zorka de Muntenegru.



    Ţara Muntelui Negru, un adevărat rai al turiştilor, s-a impus în opinia publică a românilor cu un dramatism şocant. De acolo a venit ştirea că un autocar cu turişti români s-a prăbuşit într-o prăpastie pe o şosea în Muntenegru, omorând pe loc 18 dintre aceştia. Dincolo de tragedia acestui eveniment a fost subliniată mereu implicarea excepţională a muntenegrenilor, de la simpli spectatori la accident, care nu au ezitat să coboare în prăpastie pentru a salva supravieţuitorii, la medicii care au dat dovadă de înalt şi cald profesionalism şi locuitorii din Podgoriţa care s-au prezentat din proprie iniţiativă să doneze sânge pentru turiştii români răniţi.



    Mulţumim, Muntenegru, s-a auzit din partea supravieţuitorilor, a familiilor lor, a oficialilor români şi a tuturor românilor care au urmărit drama cumplitului accident.