Radio România Internațional

Tag: anti-communist

34 years on from the anti-communist revolution in Timișoara

The last 80
years of the past century were among the bleakest in Romania’s history. Already
in power for 25 years, Romania’s septuagenarian president, the communist
dictator Nicolae Ceausescu had for years been the object of an unbearable
personality cult. He was described as a political genius by his laureate poets,
who called him the leader of a happy and rich country, which he was leading
towards the golden dream of mankind, communism.

The few
broadcasting hours of the state-owned television were nearly entirely reserved
to this personality cult, and so did the newspapers and other publication, strictly
monitored by the communist apparatchiks.

Concurrently
with the crazed personality cult, the country was facing an acute economic
crisis, suffering from cold, hunger and fear. Heating was cut during winter in
most of the apartments, schools and theatre halls around the country. Romania
was also severely affected by a food shortage at the time and nobody was able
to protest against the Securitate’s myth of omnipresence, omniscience and omnipotence.

In the
meantime, against the changes promoted in Moscow by the latest Soviet leader,
the reformist Michael Gorbachev, most of the communist dictatorships collapsed
from the so-called German Democratic Republic to Romania’s southern neighbour,
Bulgaria.

In 1989, this
wave of changes also hit Romania, and broke out first in its western city of
Timisoara, a multiethnic area close to Hungary and Yugoslavia, two countries
known for their liberal communism.

The protest
movement against the Hungarian reformed pastor Laszlo Tokes, closely monitored
by the Securitate and who was supposed to be evicted from the city, on December
15th flared up into a real revolt against the communist
dictatorship.

Irrespective
of their ethnicity or confession more and more people joined the protest and
braved the repressive troops of the dictatorship, which opened fire against the
protesters, killing nearly 100 people and wounding several hundreds.

On December
20th, the military refused to kill more people and returned to their
barracks, while Timisoara became the first Romanian city free of communism. The
revolt rapidly engulfed other cities and culminated in Bucharest, when
Ceausescu fled in a helicopter that took off from the roof of the Party’s
Central Committee on December 22nd.

Captured and
briefly tried, Romania’s communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu and his wife,
Elena, were executed by a firing squad three days later, on December 25. Even
after their execution, against the confusion deliberately maintained by the new
power, a mixture of authentic revolutionaries and second-hand communists,
another one thousand people were to be killed during the anti-communist
revolution in Romania, the only country in eastern Europe, where the regime
change ended in a bloodshed.

(bill)

18 December 2023
December 16, 2023

BUDGET The 2024 state budget and social security budget bills will be reviewed by Parliament’s specialist committees as of Monday. On Tuesday the draft laws will be discussed in a joint plenary
meeting, with a final vote expected on Wednesday. On Thursday night the
government passed the two bills, which rely on better spending of EU funds and
on improving tax collection by means of a more efficient operation of the
national tax agency and on curbing tax evasion. PM Marcel Ciolacu, the leader
of the Social Democratic Party, spoke about an increase of budget revenues from
27% to 30% of GDP. According to him, the 2024 budget earmarks the largest
funding in Romania’s history for education and investments. The Opposition, on
the other hand, says the budget is based on unrealistic figures and that
payment of public pensions will be a major problem next year.

EU President Klaus Iohannis says the EU winter summit, which came to an
end in Brussels on Friday, will be remembered for the historic decision to initiate
accession negotiations with Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova. The Romanian
official encouraged the government of Moldova to step up the reforms required
for EU integration. As for Ukraine, the president of the European Commission,Ursula von der Leyen, says the
decision was a promise kept and an investment in stability and security. EU
leaders also discussed the Israel-Hamas war, and condemned the continuing
hostilities with growing numbers of victims among Palestinian civilians in Gaza
and the West Bank. They argued that peace will only be achieved through a
two-state solution. A revision of the 2021-2027 Multi-Annual Financial
Framework, support for Ukraine, securitaty and defence, migration and the
future EU Strategic Agenda were also discussed at the European Council meeting
on Thursday and Friday in Brussels.

COMMEMORATION Romania marks today 34 years since the start of the 1989 Revolution
in Timişoara (west) which eventually led to the fall of dictator Nicolae
Ceauşescu’s communist regime. In this context, the Revolution Memorial was
opened to the public in Timişoara on Saturday. The organisers prepared a
complex programme, providing information on the events of 1989, with a special
section for the visually impaired.

ISRAEL Hundreds of people gathered in Tel Aviv on Friday night,
following an announcement that 3 Gaza hostages had been accidentally killed by
Israeli troops. The protesters demanded that the government immediately signed
a deal to free the remaining hostages. Over 100 people are still captive in
Gaza, after being kidnapped by Hamas in the October 7th attacks on Israel.
Meanwhile, humanitarian aid will reach Gaza via an Israeli checkpoint, for the
first time since the start of the war, after Israel authorised access through
the Kerem Shalom checkpoint. So far humanitarian aid could only go through the Rafah
checkpoint from Egypt. After more than 2 months of armed conflict and the siege
imposed by Israel since October 9th, living standards in Gaza Strip
are described by the UN and NGOs for Palestinian civilians as a nightmare. According
to the UN, some 1.9 million people, accounting for 85% of the region’s
population, have been relocated. (AMP)

16 December 2023
December 19, 2022

SCHENGEN The president of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola is
on a 2-day working visit to Bucharest as of today, with a support message for Romania’s
Schengen accession efforts. Today, Roberta Metsola is scheduled to have
meetings with president Klaus Iohannis, PM Nicolae Ciucă and the speakers of
the Chamber of Deputies and Senate, Marcel Ciolacu and Alina Gorghiu, and will
address a joint Parliament meeting. On Tuesday, Roberta Metsola will have talks
with young Romanians as part of an event called ‘Together we are Europe,’
organised by the European Parliament Office in Romania in a partnership with
the Law School of the University of Bucharest. According to the institution, during
their dialogue with Metsola the young participants will be able to find out
about the benefits of the European parliamentary democracy, ways to influence
European policies, why it is important for them to get involved in protecting
European democracy and how the decisions and policies of the European
Parliament impact Europeans’ day-to-day lives.

VISIT The Romanian foreign minister, Bogdan Aurescu, is on a 2-day
official visit to Chişinău, at the invitation of Moldova’s deputy PM and
minister for foreign affairs and European integration, Nicu Popescu. For 2 days,
Bogdan Aurescu will have consultations with his counterpart, will be received
by the president of the R. of Moldova Maia Sandu, and will have talks with PM Natalia
Gavriliţa and with the parliament speaker Igor Grosu. They will discuss aspects
related to countering the war of aggression waged by the Russian Federation
against Ukraine, as well as topics related to cooperation in the field of
energy security, stepping up sectoral cooperation, economic cooperation and the
assistance measures taken by Romania to the benefit of the R. of Moldova. A
major topic for discussion will be Moldova’s progress in its EU accession
efforts, after the country was granted the accession candidate status in June
2022, and Romania’s concrete support in this respect.

ENERGY EU energy ministers convene today in Brussels in an attempt
to reach an agreement on a natural gas price cap, in the context of the rise in
energy prices triggered by the war in Ukraine. Last week, they failed to reach
consensus on this topic. The participants will also try to come up with a
general approach on a proposed reduction of methane emissions in the energy
sector. The draft regulation requires oil, natural gas and coal operators to
measure, report and check methane emissions. Moreover, the EU energy ministers
will try to reach an agreement with respect to the proposed REPowerEU directive,
which modifies the EU legislation on renewable energy, energy efficiency and
the energy performance of buildings. The proposal aims to step up the use of
renewable energy. On the other hand, the Czech presidency of the EU Council
will present a report on the progress made with respect to the natural gas
package, which includes a proposed directive and a proposed regulation on
single market norms for gas from renewable sources, natural gas and hydrogen.

COMMEMORATION In Timişoara, western
Romania, events carry on marking 33 years since the anti-communist revolution
of December 1989. The events highlight the courage and sacrifice of the
Revolution heroes, and the need for the younger generations to carry on the
spirit of freedom. After the marches, religious services, exhibitions, film
screenings and roundtables organised in the previous days, today a pilgrimage
will be held at the monuments making up the Revolution Memorial. Short reels made
by young artists will also be screened in schools, and the traditional Rockford
revolution festival is also scheduled for today. Also today, the members of
the bereaved families are leaving for Bucharest to retrace the route on which
the bodies of 43 revolution participants from Timisoara were sent for
incineration. The events devoted to the 33 years since the Revolution will
culminate on Tuesday, December 20, Victory Day, when Timişoara was declared the
first city free of communism in Romania. The uprising against the communist
regime in Romania began in Timişoara on December 16, 1989 and spread to
Bucharest and other cities in the country. Over 1,000 people died and some
3,000 were wounded in the clashes that took place on that occasion.

FOOTBALL Argentina is the world’s new football champion. In the
final of the Qatar tournament on Sunday, Argentina defeated the previous
champions, France, after penalty shootouts. This is the 3rd world
championship won by the South Americans, after the title in 1978 and the one in
1986. The next world championship, held in 2026, will be hosted jointly by the
US, Canada and Mexico. (AMP)

19 December 2022
December 18, 2022

COMMEMORATION Timisoara, a city in
Western Romania, on Saturday kept a moment of silence in memory of the first
victims of the Romanian anti-communist revolution 33 years ago. Following the
orders given by dictator Nicolae Ceausescu, officers with the Interior and
Defence Ministries opened fire on the peaceful protesters who had taken to the
streets of this martyr-city. The anti-communist revolt broke out in Timisoara,
on December 16th and extended to Bucharest on December 21st and also to other
cities across Romania. Over one thousand people were killed and about 3
thousand were wounded in clashes between the protesters and troops of the Defence and Interior ministries all over Romania, the only country in eastern
Europe where the communist regime was changed through violence and bloodshed.

SPORT Romanian swimmer David Popovici
on Sunday won the silver medal in the 200 meter free-style race of the FINA
World Swimming Championship 25 meters in Melbourne, Australia. The Romanian
came second after South-Korean Sunwoo Hwang with Tom Dean of Britain coming third
in the race. Popovici’s prize closet also includes a European title in the 200
meter free-style race, which he won in Kazan last year. In 2022 he walked away
with gold in the 100 meter and 200 meter races both in the European and world
championships.

TALKS
After heated debates on Saturday night, negotiators of the European Parliament
and EU Council reached an agreement to overhaul the bloc’s carbon market,
cutting planet-heating emissions faster and imposing new CO2 costs on fuels
used in road transport and buildings. According to the Czech Environment
Minister Marian Jurecka, the agreement will allow the EU to meet climate
objectives within the main sectors of the economy while making sure the most
vulnerable citizens and micro-enterprises are effectively supported in the
climate transition.

GAS Azerbaijan intends to slightly increase its gas exports to Europe in 2023,
the country’s president Ilham Aliyev has said as Brussels seeks to replace the
diminishing energy supplies from Russia, Reuters reports. On Thursday, Gazprom
announced its exports to countries outside the Community of Independent States
dropped 45.1% between January 1st and December 15th as
compared to the same period in 2021. If Russia completely stops gas deliveries
to Europe and Chinese gas demand rebounded from the Covid-19 restrictions, the
EU could face a shortfall of 27 billion cubic meters of gas next year.

FOOTBALL In the World cup finals in Doha, Qatar, France is defending against
Argentina the title it obtained four years ago. On Saturday Croatia celebrated
its win against Morocco for the third position in the ranking. After a third
place in 1998 and the finals it lost against France in Russia in 2018, it has
been Croatia’s third podium since the country declared its independence back in
1991. Morocco, the revelation of this world cup edition, is the first African
and Arab country to have made it to the finals of the prestigious competition.
The Moroccans outperformed Spain in the round of 16 and Portugal in the
quarters but lost to France in the semis.

(bill)

18 December 2022
December 16, 2022

SCHENGEN
The losses incurred by Romania for the rejection of its Schengen accession bid
are over EUR 25 bln, says the Romanian interior minister Lucian Bode. For 11 years
we have been securing Schengen’s border, investing in human resources,
capabilities and modern technologies. The losses incurred by Romania during all
this time, since it has fulfilled the criteria but has not benefited from the
related rights, are immeasurable, Mr. Bode said at a meeting of EU gendarme
chiefs. The topic of Romania’s Schengen accession and of the negative vote
given by Austria in the Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting last week was
also raised by president Klaus Iohannis at a meeting of EU leaders in Brussels.
Senior European officials conveyed a message of support for Romania’s and
Bulgaria’s Schengen accession. The EC president Ursula von der Leyen and the
Council president Charles Michel said further discussions would be held on this
topic and progress was expected in the following months.

FUNDING The
Romanian ministry for EU funding and investments has submitted to the EC the
second payment request, amounting to EUR 3.228 bln, under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. The 3rd payment request, amounting to EUR 3.1 bln, is to be submitted
to the Commission next spring. Romania benefits from over EUR 29 bln for the
implementation of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, including grants
of up to EUR 14.24 bln and loans of nearly EUR 15 bln. The country has already
cashed in 2 pre-financing instalments totaling EUR 3.79 bln.

EU The president of
the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen will attend in Bucharest on
Saturday the signing of an agreement between the governments of Azerbaijan,
Georgia, Romania and Hungary concerning the Strategic Partnership in the
development and transport of green energy. The agreement will be signed by the
president of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, and the PM of Georgia
Irakli Garibashvili, the PM of Romania Nicolae Ciucă, and the PM of Hungary
Viktor Orban. According to the Romanian Presidency, the document is based on
the interests of the 4 states concerning a strengthened national and regional
energy security. The agreement will provide a financial and technical framework
for the construction of an underwater renewable energy transport cable between
Romania and Azerbaijan, via Georgia and the Black Sea, and further on for the
transport of this energy to Hungary and the rest of Europe.

INFLATION The EU
annual inflation rate dropped from 11.5% in October to 11.1% in November, but in
8 member countries the rate rose from one month to the other, including in
Romania, where it went from 13.5% to 14.6%, Eurostat announced on Friday. In November,
the EU member states with the highest inflation rates were Hungary, Latvia, Estonia
and Lithuania. At the opposite pole, the lowest inflation rates were reported
in Spain, France and Malta.

PROTEST Hundreds
of employees in the Romanian public education system are today picketing
prefect offices in several counties, primarily demanding the full
implementation of a law concerning their incomes. Education unions say the net
salaries for this category are up to EUR 440 and warn that 2023 will bring a
new series of union actions unless the government solves the problems in this
sector. The trade unions also criticise the government’s failure to pay for
overtime and travel expenses and to adjust revenues to the inflation rate.

TIMISOARA Romania
commemorates today 33 years since the start of the anti-communist uprising in Timişoara,
western Romania. The anniversary is marked by a traditional solemn meeting of
the Local Council. The participants, including members of revolutionary
associations, discuss the events of December ’89 and observe a moment of
silence to honour those who died during those days. Exhibitions, film
screenings, round tables, a concert entitled Folk for the Revolution as well
marches are also organised on this occasion. 33 years ago, in Timişoara, a
solidarity rally for the Reformed pastor Laszlo Tokes grew into an uprising
that spread across the country and led to the fall of the communist regime.

RESCUERS Romanian
mountain rescuers were awarded in Paris at the International Rescuers Congress,
attended by relevant institutions, associations and research institutes from
over 60 countries in the world. Salvamont Romania was acknowledged as one of
the best drone-assisted search and rescue services, and the distinction was
received for the Data Analysis Centre in Târgu Jiu. The centre uses special software
and drones for victim identification. (AMP)

16 December 2022
August 3, 2022

AID In Romania, the people affected by recent natural disasters will receive state aid, after the government approves a draft resolution in this respect today. The largest sums, around EUR 2,000, will go to the families and individuals whose households have been affected to an extent of over 75%. In the case of fatalities, the families of the deceased will receive an additional EUR 1,500, irrespective of the number of victims. Meanwhile, the Romanian Waters Administration says the strategic water reserve in the countrys main 40 lakes, although decreasing since early July, is able to cover the needs of all relevant beneficiaries. According to current data, nearly 800 localities have introduced water supply restrictions, and the drought continues, especially in the east. As regards crops, a total of 205,000 hectares of farmland have been affected so far.

AGRICULTURE Romanias grain yield is enough to cover the domestic demand and some exports, the agriculture minister Petre Daea said today, as 96% of the crops have already been harvested. High temperatures and extensive drought have affected crops, particularly sunflower and maize, across the country. Romania is one of the largest grain exporters in the EU and an active exporter to the Middle East. Last year the country had record-large crops, including 11.3 million tonnes of wheat. The domestic grain yield is generally 2-3 times higher than the domestic demand.

COVID-19 The next variants of the new coronavirus will most likely be not very aggressive, but easily transmitted, the head of the Matei Bals Institute for Infectious Disease, Adrian Marinescu believes. He says the pandemic has reached a stage where we cohabitate with the virus, and many of the infected people perceive the disease as similar to a common cold. The health minister Alexandru Rafila does not rule out a 7th pandemic wave in Romania this autumn, when schools and universities resume classes. On Wednesday over 9,100 new COVID-19 cases were reported, most of them in Bucharest and in Cluj and Timiş counties. Nearly 4,000 COVID patients are hospitalized, of whom nearly 550 are children. 284 patients are in intensive care, and 41 COVID-related deaths have also been reported.

TAIPEI The EU called for the tensions related to the U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosis visit to Taiwan to be settled through dialogue and for all communication channels with China to remain open, so as to avoid errors. China has its army on high alert in response to the visit, which it sees as a provocation. Chinas defence ministry announced “targeted military operations”, and the East Command of the Peoples Liberation Army said they involved live-fire drills near Taiwan-a self-ruled island that China views as part of its territory. In Washington, the Biden administration says there is no need for the Chinese authorities to turn this visit into a crisis. The White House spokesman for national security, John Kirby, said the House Speaker has the right to visit Taiwan, but highlighted that the trip was not a violation of Chinese sovereignty or of the One China Policy. The visit, which was not supported by US president Biden, is the first by a US official at this level in 25 years.

REVOLUTION The prosecutor general of Romania, Gabriela Scutea, today announced the “Revolution Case” was referred back to the supreme court. In this case, the ex-president Ion Iliescu, former deputy PM Gelu Voican Voiculescu and Iosif Rus, former Military Aviation chief, are charged with crimes against humanity. According to the investigation, a widespread “terrorism” psychosis was created, which led to chaotic gun fire, fratricide, conflicting military orders. According to military prosecutors, this psychosis was induced deliberately, through disinformation and diversion, and resulted in over 850 dead, 2,380 wounded, hundreds of people illegally arrested and psychological trauma. Initiated in Timișoara in December 1989, the Romanian anti-communist revolution led to the flight, capture, summary trial and execution of the communist dictator Nicolae Ceauşescu and his wife Elena. (AMP)

3 August 2022
December 23, 2021 UPDATE

BUDGET Romania’s state budget for the next year was endorsed by
Parliament in Bucharest on Thursday. Most of the budgets earmarked for the
state’s major institutions and ministries remained in the form proposed by the
government. The national insurance budget was also endorsed on Thursday. The
opposition USR has announced its intention to notify the Constitutional Court
on the state budget, about which USR vice-president Dan Barna says it
discriminates against the Romanians and supports the present Parliament
majority. On Monday, the PSD-PNL-UDMR approved the drafts and gave assurances
they are based on predictability and stability. The budget is based on a 4.6%
economic growth, a GDP of 260 billion Euros, and an inflation rate of 6.5%.

EU FUNDING The government of Romania passed an
emergency order allowing for the accessing of a roughly 15-billion euro loan
granted by the European Commission under the Recovery and Resilience Mechanism.
The loan agreement between the European Commission and Romania was signed in
Bucharest on 26th November and in Brussels on 15th
December. Under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, Romania benefits
from some 29 billion euro, of which approx. 14 billion in non-reimbursable
funds and some 15 billion in loans. The loan will be available until the end of
2026. We have more on this after the news.

COVID-19 775 new SARS-CoV-2 infections have been reported in the past 24 hours in Romania,
along with 81 related fatalities, 44 of them from a previous date. Since the
start of the pandemic Romania has had around 1.8 million COVID-19 cases, and more than 58,000 patients
died. Amid anti-vaccine sentiments fuelled by
some media, politicians and opinion leaders, the country has the 2nd
lowest immunization rate in the EU, after Bulgaria.

REVOLUTION Romania’s Parliament convened on Thursday morning in a
solemn meeting devoted to the 32 years since the anti-communist revolution of
December 1989. Originating in Timișoara (west), on 16th December, the
uprising spread across the country, culminating with dictator Nicolae Ceauşescu
fleeing the capital city on 22nd December amid the protests of hundreds of
thousands of Romanians. Captured by the Army, Ceauşescu and his wife Elena were
subject to a summary trial and executed in the southern town of Târgovişte.
Romania was the only country behind the Iron Curtain where the change of regime
was accompanied by bloodshed. Over 1,000 people were killed and some 3,000
wounded.

(bill)

23 December 2021
December 23, 2021

REVOLUTION Romania’s Parliament convened this morning in a solemn
meeting devoted to the 32 years since the anti-communist revolution of December
1989. Originating in Timișoara (west), on 16th December, the uprising spread
across the country, culminating with dictator Nicolae Ceauşescu fleeing the
capital city on 22nd December amid the protests of hundreds of thousands of
Romanians. Captured by the Army, Ceauşescu and his wife Elena were subject to a
summary trial and executed in the southern town of Târgovişte. Romania was the
only country behind the Iron Curtain where the change of regime was accompanied
by bloodshed. Over 1,000 people were killed and some 3,000 wounded.

BUDGET Romanian MPs are due to vote today on the draft state budget and
social security budget laws for 2022. The government
passed the bills on Monday and promised the budget ensures stability and
predictability. The Liberal leader and ex-PM Florin Cîţu criticised the fact
that 6.7% of GDP was earmarked for investments, instead of 7% as agreed within
the ruling coalition. The Social Democratic leader Marcel Ciolacu argued
however that the budget execution is more important than the exact breakdown of
expenditure. The leader of USR party in opposition, Dacian Cioloş, says the
draft budget relies on over-estimated revenues and said although public
education is a priority for President Iohannis, not enough funding has been
earmarked for the sector.

COVID-19 775 new SARS-CoV-2 infection cases were reported in the past 24 hours in Romania, along with 81 related
fatalities, 44 of them from a previous date. Since the start of the pandemic
Romania has had around 1.8 million COVID-19 cases,
and more than 58,000 patients died. Amid
anti-vaccine sentiments fuelled by some media, politicians and opinion leaders,
the country has the 2nd lowest immunisation rate in the EU, after Bulgaria.

EU
FUNDING The government
of Romania passed an emergency order allowing for the accessing of a roughly
15-billion euro loan granted by the European Commission under the Recovery and
Resilience Mechanism. The loan agreement between the European Commission and
Romania was signed in Bucharest on 26th November and in Brussels on 15th
December. Under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, Romania benefits
from some 29 billion euro, of which approx. 14 billion in non-reimbursable
funds and some 15 billion in loans. The loan will be available until the end of
2026.

BASKETBALL The national men’s basketball champions, Universitatea-Banca
Transilvania Cluj-Napoca, qualified into the second stage of the Champions
League group matches, after defeating the Turkish side Daruşşafaka in a suspensefull
match away from home, 103-101. The Romanian team is thus the leader of Group G,
with 5 wins and one defeat. Group leaders go straight into the second stage of
the competition, scheduled for January-March 2022. (tr. A.M. Popescu)

23 December 2021
December 22, 2021 UPDATE

REVOLUTION The heroes who died in the December 1989 anti-communist
uprising were commemorated on Wednesday in Bucharest. Religious services and
military ceremonies were held at the cemeteries and monuments across the
country devoted to those who sacrificed their lives for freedom. Thirty-two years ago, Bucharest became the heart of the
protests that culminated with the ousting of dictator Nicolae Ceausescu. The
president of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, sent a message on the Day of
the Victory of the Romanian Revolution and of Freedom. December 1989 opened
Romania’s path to democracy, allowed for our NATO and EU accession, for signing
the Strategic Partnership with the USA and turned Romania into a regional
security provider. None of this would have been possible without our
anti-communist revolution, Iohannis pointed out. He said it is a shame that no one has paid for the victims of the terrible
crackdown and called on the judiciary to bring the ones responsible to justice.

BUDGET The draft state budget and
social security budget laws for 2022 are being discussed by the Parliament of
Romania. At the start of the session, PM Nicolae Ciucă said the proposed state
budget is balanced, responsible and realistic, and able to consolidate the
economy in the long run. He also said it is the budget that earmarked the
largest amounts for investments in the last 32 years. Cuica promised that taxes
will not go up and there will be no pressure on the business community.
Previously, Parliament’s specialised committees had green-lighted the bills. The budget is based on an
estimated economic growth rate of 4.6% and a GDP of some 260 billion euro, a
predicted inflation rate of 6.5% and gross average salaries of 1,200 euros per
month. USR party in opposition is considering
taking the draft budget law to the Constitutional Court, claiming that mayors
from that party have not received budget appropriations, which is an instance
of discrimination.

PROTESTS The
Romanian police arrested 2 people and fined around 200 organisers and
participants in Wednesday’s protest of the supporters of AUR party, an ultra-nationalist
and anti-vaccine party in Romania’s parliament. The protest was sparked by the
authorities’ plan to make the digital COVID certificate a requirement at the
workplace. The rally spiralled into vandalism, with one of the arrested
participants pushing through the Parliament’s gates and the other suspected of
having vandalised 4 vehicles. The investigation continues.

COVID-19 Nearly 200,000 people have generated digital
forms to enter Romanian territory since the launch of the application, most of
them at the ‘Henri Coandă’ International Airport in Bucharest. As of December
20, all passengers arriving in Romania are to fill in the Passenger Locator
Form (PLF), a document used by 18 EU member countries. Meanwhile, 851 new Covid-19
infections were reported for the past 24 hours in Romania, along with 62 related fatalities, 18 of them from a
previous date. As many as 2,830 SARS-CoV-2 patients are hospitalised, including
62 children. More than 7.7 million people in Romania are fully vaccinated. (tr. A.M. Popescu)

22 December 2021
December 21, 2021

COMMEMORATION The
heroes of the anti-communist uprising of December 1989 are commemorated in
Bucharest today. Religious services and military ceremonies are held at the
Revolution Heroes Cemetery and at the dedicated monuments downtown. Similar
events are scheduled on Wednesday at the Romanian Revolution Heroes Monument,
at the Radio Hall and the Romanian Television Corporation. Originating in Timișoara
(west), on 16th December, the uprising spread across the country,
culminating with dictator Nicolae Ceauşescu fleeing the capital city on 22nd
December amid the protests of hundreds of thousands of Romanians. Captured by
the Army, Ceauşescu and his wife Elena were subject to a summary trial and
executed in the southern town of Târgovişte. Romania was the only country behind the
Iron Curtain where the change of regime was accompanied by bloodshed. Over 1,000
people were killed and some 3,000 wounded.

BUDGET The draft 2022 state budget and social security budget laws
will be discussed and voted on in Parliament on Thursday. MPs have until this
afternoon to table amendments. Also today, the budgets of the main public
institutions are discussed in Parliament’s specialised committees. The
government passed the bills on Monday and promised they are based on
predictability and stability. The budget is based on an estimated
economic growth rate of 4.6% and a GDP of some 260 billion euro, a predicted
inflation rate of 6.5% and gross average salaries of 1,200 euros per month, with
the budget deficit expected to stay within the limits agreed on with the
European Commission under the excessive deficit procedure, namely 5.84% of GDP.
The public pension fund will receive 7.32% of GDP. The Liberal
president Florin Cîţu criticised the fact that only 6.7% of GDP was earmarked
for investments, instead of 7% as agreed within the ruling coalition. The
Social Democratic leader Marcel Ciolacu argued however that the budget
execution is more important than the exact breakdown of expenditure. The leader
of USR party in opposition, Dacian Cioloş, says the draft budget relies on
over-estimated revenues and said although public education is a priority for
President Iohannis, not enough funding has been earmarked for the sector.

TALKS The PM of Romania Nicolae Ciucă continues his first visit
to Brussels since taking over the office less than a month ago. After last
night’s working dinner with the president of the European Council, Charles
Michel, Nicolae Ciucă has meetings scheduled today with the head of the
European Commission Ursula Von Der Leyen, and with the NATO secretary general,
Jens Stoltenberg. Radio Romania’s correspondent in Brussels says Romania’s
Schengen accession is a priority in the prime minister’s talks with EU
officials. European security, with a focus on tensions in Romania’s
neighbouring areas and at Ukraine’s eastern border, will be tackled in the
meeting with the NATO secretary general.

COVID-19 Traffic is hindered in downtown Bucharest today, as protesters
encouraged by the nationalist opposition party AUR are picketing the Parliament
Palace, disgruntled with the authorities’ plan to make the digital COVID
certificate a requirement at the workplace. Measures to prevent a potential new
pandemic wave were discussed by the health minister Alexandru Rafila with
business community representatives, and the idea of a law making access to jobs
conditional on the digital COVID certificate was put forth. According to the
health ministry, the measure could be taken in case the number of COVID-19
infections goes up 1.5 times for 3 consecutive weeks. Today the
authorities announced 826 new COVID infections in 24 hours, and 88 related
fatalities, 22 of them from a previous date. Since the start of the pandemic, some 1.8 million COVID-19
cases have been reported in Romania and over 58,000 COVID patients died. Romania
has the second-lowest vaccination rate in the EU, after Bulgaria. (tr. A.M. Popescu)

21 December 2021
December 19, 2020 UPDATE

GOVERNMENT The 466 Romanian Deputies and Senators elected on December 6 Saturday started the procedures for taking over their seats and forming the new Parliament. President Klaus Iohannis convened the first meeting of the new legislative on Monday, December 21st. Representatives of the future right-of-centre ruling coalition Saturday continued their negotiations on the governing programme, after having announced on Friday night an agreement on the distribution of key positions in the new parliament and cabinet. Specifically, the coalition agreed that the Chamber of Deputies speaker position will be held by the Liberals, and the Senate speaker post will go to the USR PLUS Alliance. The PM designate will be the incumbent finance minister Florin Cîţu. The Liberals will get 9 ministries in the new cabinet, USR PLUS – 6, and the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians, 3. The latter 2 parties will also appoint 2 deputy prime ministers. Meanwhile, the Social Democratic Party, which came first in the general election, insists that the fair solution in the current circumstances is a government of national union, headed by Alexandru Rafila, who represents Romania at the World Health Organisation. The Social Democratic president Marcel Ciolacu said his party will never endorse a government made up of the National Liberal Party, USR PLUS Alliance, and the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians, which, he says, keeps Romania in an ongoing crisis.

COVID-19 5,158 new Covid-19 cases were reported on Saturday, out of nearly 25,800 tests conducted across the country. Another 188 COVID-related deaths were also reported, taking the total death toll to 14,296. 1,274 patients are currently in intensive care. Since the start of the pandemic, nearly 588,000 cases have been reported in Romania, over 493,000 of whom have recovered. President Klaus Iohannis warned that until enough people have received vaccines, all restrictions must be complied with. Containment measures are to remain in place during the winter holidays.

COMMEMORATION Romania continues to commemorate the heroes that died in the anti-communist Revolution of December 1989. Timişoara celebrates on December 20th Victory Day, when the city was declared free from communism. The uprising first started in this western Romanian city 31 years ago, on December 16th. The following day, the dictator Nicolae Ceauşescu ordered the use of lethal ammunition against street protesters. On December 19, to cover the massacre, the communist authorities implemented the so-called Operation “Rose, with bodies taken from the Timişoara morgue to be incinerated in Bucharest. The protests in Timișoara, which left around 100 dead and some 350 wounded, were the spark that led to the collapse of the Ceausescu dictatorship a few days later, in one of the most violent revolutions in south-eastern Europe.

PANDEMIC India reported on Saturdayover 10 million coronavirus cases, the 2nd-largest number in the world. The US, the worst hit country, as of this weekend has a second vaccine ready for delivery, the one produced by Moderna, which is easier to ship and store than the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. The European Medicines Agency announced a decision on the Moderna vaccine is scheduled on January 6, while the Pfizer one will be approved next week. Meanwhile, tough restrictions are announced in Italy during the winter holidays. Restaurants and bars will be closed between December 24 and January 6, and so will most shops, except for 4 days. People will be allowed to receive only 2 guests at home, and as of Monday all citizens entering the country have to be quarantined for 14 days. Britain also introduced strict anti-COVID measures after a surge in infections, possibly caused by a coronavirus mutation.

SPORTS Romania won the silver medals in the European Artistic Gymnastics Championship held in Mersin (Turkey), on Saturday, after they held the best place in Thursdays qualifications. Romania was outperformed by Ukraine, which won the gold. Third came Hungary. On Sunday, Romania will have competitors in all the apparatus finals, with star gymnast Larisa Iordache qualified in 4 finals (beam, floor, uneven bars and vault). Ioana Stănciulescu will compete in the vault final, Silviana Sfiringu in the beam final and Irina Antonia Duţă in the floor event. (tr. A.M. Popescu)

19 December 2020
December 19, 2020

GOVERNMENT The 466 Romanian Deputies and Senators elected on December 6 today start the procedures for taking over their seats and forming the new Parliament. President Klaus Iohannis convened the first meeting of the new legislative on Monday, December 21st. Meanwhile, representatives of the future right-of-centre ruling coalition today resume negotiations on the governing programme, after having announced last night an agreement on the distribution of key positions in the new parliament and cabinet. Specifically, the coalition agreed that the Chamber of Deputies speaker position will be held by the Liberals, and the Senate speaker post will go to the USR PLUS Alliance. The PM designate will be the incumbent finance minister Florin Cîţu. The Liberals will get 9 ministries in the new cabinet, USR PLUS – 6, and the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians, 3. The latter 2 parties will also appoint 2 deputy prime ministers. Meanwhile, the Social Democratic Party, which came first in the general election, insists that the fair solution in the current circumstances is a government of national union, headed by Alexandru Rafila, who represents Romania at the World Health Organisation. The Social Democratic president Marcel Ciolacu said his party will never endorse a government made up of the National Liberal Party, USR PLUS Alliance, and the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians, which, he says, keeps Romania in an ongoing crisis.

COVID-19 5,158 new Covid-19 cases were reported on Saturday, out of nearly 25,800 tests conducted across the country. 139 COVID-related deaths were also reported, taking the total death toll to 14,296. 1,274 patients are currently in intensive care. Since the start of the pandemic, nearly 588,000 cases have been reported in Romania, 493,000 of whom have recovered. President Klaus Iohannis warned that until enough people have received vaccines, all restrictions must be complied with. Containment measures are to remain in place during the winter holidays.

COMMEMORATION 31 years since the anti-communist Revolution in Romania, the city of Timişoara (west), where the uprising first started, continues to commemorate its heroes. Thursday was a day of mourning, as on December 17, 1989, the dictator Nicolae Ceauşescu ordered the use of lethal ammunition against the street protesters. On December 19, to cover the massacre, the communist authorities implemented the so-called Operation “Rose, with bodies taken from the Timişoara morgue to be incinerated in Bucharest. Every year since then, members of the Timişoara victims families come to Bucharest on a symbolic pilgrimage. The protests in Timișoara, which left around 100 dead and some 350 wounded, were the spark that led to the collapse of the Ceausescu dictatorship a few days later, in one of the most violent revolutions in south-eastern Europe.

DIGITISATION The Romanian Education and Research Ministry posted for consultation until February 15 the SMART-Edu Romanian Education Digitisation Strategy. Over 1,200 experts, NGOs and digital industry stakeholders contributed to the strategy. The document aims to ensure that by 2027, 90% of Romanias population will be digitally literate, and over 80% of the youth up to 34 years will be trained for emerging professions. Another goal is to have all education units in Romania equipped with technological resources and infrastructure to adapt to the latest changes.

PANDEMIC India has reported today over 10 million coronavirus cases, the 2nd-largest number in the world. The US, the worst hit country, as of this weekend has a second vaccine ready for delivery, the one produced by Moderna, which is easier to ship and store than the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. The European Medicines Agency announced a decision on the Moderna vaccine is scheduled on January 6, while the Pfizer one will be approved next week. Meanwhile, tough restrictions are announced in Italy during the winter holidays. Restaurants and bars will be closed between December 24 and January 6, and so will most shops, except for 4 days. People will be allowed to receive only 2 guests at home, and as of Monday all citizens entering the country have to be quarantined for 14 days. Britain also introduced strict anti-COVID measures after a surge in infections, possibly caused by a coronavirus mutation. (tr. A.M. Popescu)

19 December 2020
December 20, 2019

COMMEMORATION In Timişoara (western Romania), events devoted to the December 1989 anti-communist uprising continue today. A commemorative plaque offered by the US president was put up at the former military unit in Freedom Square. Sirens sounded at noon, to mark the day when Timisoara became the first Romanian city free from communism. Near Bucharest, a group of descendants of Revolution heroes, who are marching to the capital city, took part in a religious ceremony in the village of Popeşti-Leordeni, where the ashes of the revolutionaries shot in Timişoara and cremated in Bucharest had been disposed of, 30 years ago. On Thursday the European Parliament adopted a resolution on the commemoration of the Romanian Revolution, paying tribute to the heroes that sacrificed their lives for freedom and democracy. The European Parliament also requests the Romanian government to step up efforts to find out the truth about those events. EU institutions and national parliaments are urged to do everything in their power to ensure that the crimes committed by the communist regimes will never be repeated.

PRESIDENCY President Klaus Iohannis will be sworn in on Saturday before the joint chambers of Parliament. Presenting a report on his first term in office yesterday, Klaus Iohannis said the past 5 years had seen major challenges, perhaps the most serious of which was for Romania to divert from its Western democratic path. In terms of foreign policy, the president mentioned that he had focused on strengthening Romanias role as a EU and NATO member and on extending and reinforcing the strategic partnership with the US. Domestically, Klaus Iohannis added, his priorities were to ensure the proper functioning of public authorities. He reiterated that during the past 3 years, under successive Social Democratic governments, attempts were made at hijacking the government and weakening the state by means of undermining the judiciary, and that he made use of all constitutional mechanisms in order to counter these undemocratic forces.

GOVERNMENT The Liberal PM Ludovic Orban reiterated for Radio Romania that requesting Parliaments confidence is the only way for the 2020 state budget bill to be endorsed by December 31st. The PM also promised that public sector salaries will be raised next year and presented a number of economic decisions. Orban has also announced that the government has frozen allowances for senior civil servants, decided that public sector salaries and pensions can no longer be received concurrently by the same individual, and that subsidies for political parties have been cut by 30%. Orban promised that infrastructure investments will be increased next year. On Monday the Government is seeking a vote of confidence in Parliament for the state budget and social security budget bills, as well as for a bill amending the Government Emergency Order no. 114.

HEARINGS The former Romanian interior minister Carmen Dan is being heard today as a witness by the Directorate Investigating Organised Crime and Terrorism, in an investigation into the gendarme intervention during the August 10, 2018 protest of the Romanian diaspora in Bucharest. The investigation was taken over by the Directorate from the Military Prosecutors Office Division. Senior gendarme officers are being probed into. On August 10, tens of thousands of people, including Romanians living abroad, gathered in Bucharests Victoria Square to demand the resignation of Viorica Dăncilăs Cabinet. People were disgruntled with the Social Democrats repeated attacks against the justice system, and with the dismissal of the National Anti-Corruption Directorate chief Laura Codruța Kovesi.

WORKERS The Government of Romania decided that the limit for foreign workers in 2020 stay at 30,000 people, as it was in 2019, the PMs chief of staff Ionel Dancă announced on Friday. The decision took into account Romanias economic growth potential, the workforce demand in certain sectors or professions, which cannot be covered by Romanian workers, as well as the need to prevent situations where foreigners work in Romania illegally. Romania is facing a labour shortage as large numbers of its citizens have sought employment in other EU member states.

BREXIT In London, the House of Commons is discussing today the EU Withdrawal Agreement Bill. According to Radio Romanias correspondent in London, the Brexit deal will include a provision prohibiting a further extension of the transition period beyond the end of 2020. On Thursday, Queen Elizabeth II read out in Parliament the legislative priorities of Boris Johnsons Cabinet, which include the UK leaving the EU on January 31, higher investments in healthcare and the implementation of a new immigration system.

(translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

20 December 2019
December 15, 2019 UPDATE

ASEM The Romanian foreign minister Bogdan Aurescu Sunday had a meeting with New Zealands Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs, on the sidelines of the Asia-Europe meeting of foreign ministers held in Madrid. The 2 officials discussed areas of bilateral cooperation, with a focus on strengthening political and diplomatic dialogue and on cooperation within international organisations. Minister Aurescu also emphasised the importance of bilateral economic cooperation, and of bolstering relations between the EU and New Zealand. Also on Sunday, Aurescu met with the Romanian students who attended the Model ASEM Youth Conference, and voiced his support for the youth organisations that work on the sidelines of the summit meetings. The 14th ASEM foreign ministers meeting, held under the motto “Asia and Europa – together for effective multilateralism, is chaired by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell. Taking part are foreign ministers and senior representatives of over 50 European and Asian countries. This is the last event in the ASEM ministerial meeting series taking place in 2019 in which Romania has been an active contributor, including an ASEM education ministers meeting hosted by Bucharest on May 15th-16th, during the Romanian presidency of the Council of the EU.

COMMEMORATION Timişoara, the western Romanian city where the anti-communist uprising started 30 years ago, Sunday hosted a roundtable and a Freedom March to commemorate the event. On Monday, the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies convene in a joint solemn session devoted to the anniversary of 3 decades since the anti-communist revolution in Romania. In turn, the European Parliament will commemorate on Monday, on the first day of the new plenary session in Strasbourg, the 30 years since the Romanian Revolution, with a resolution on this topic scheduled to be adopted Thursday. The anti-communist revolution started out on December 16th in Timişoara, which on December 20th became the first Romanian city free of communism. On December 21st, the uprising started to spread to reach Bucharest and other Romanian cities. More than 1,000 people died and some 3,000 were wounded in the clashes that followed across Romania, the only country in the Eastern Bloc where the regime was ousted violently and where the communist leaders (Nicolae and Elena Ceausescu) were executed.

LEGISLATION The Social Democratic Party in opposition will refer to the Constitutional Court on Monday 2 bills that the Liberal Government has these days rushed through Parliament by means of a special procedure. The bills concern the length in service requirements for entry-level magistrates and measures in the road transport sector, the Social Democratic leader Marcel Ciolacu has announced. The Government has also announced plans to request Parliaments confidence on a number of other measures, such as scrapping several provisions in the Government Order 114, dubbed “the greed tax order, through which a year ago the Social Democratic government had introduced additional taxes for banks and caps on the electricity and natural gas prices charged to households. After a first reading of the bill amending this Order, the Government announced it targeted the deregulation of natural gas prices as of July 1, 2020 and of electricity prices as of December 31, 2020, the scrapping of the 2% fee paid by energy companies to the state budget, and the repeal of provisions that allowed for money in privately-managed pension funds to be transferred to the government-managed fund.

MIGRANTS Romanian border police found 20 citizens from Iraq, Syria, Libya, Algeria and India trying to illegally cross the border into Hungary through the Vărşand, Borş and Nădlac II checkpoints in western Romania, the Border Police Inspectorate General announced on Sunday. According to the source, 2 of them are children, the others are men aged 22 to 40, all of them having sought asylum in Romania. They said they were trying to get to a Western European country. The police investigate them for attempted illegal border crossing, identity fraud and forgery.

PROTEST Hundreds of people protested in Buzau, south-eastern Romania on Sunday against the recent dismissal by the Liberal Government of researcher Costel Vînătoru as head of the Vegetable and Ornamental, Aromatic and Medicinal Plant Gene Bank based in the city. Costel Vînătoru, a corresponding member of the Academy of Farming and Forestry Sciences, is the initiator of the Gene Bank, set up in September by the Social Democratic Government. He has been working in vegetable research for 34 years, working to reduce Romanias reliance on seed and vegetable imports.

BREXIT Queen Elizabeth II will set out on Thursday Prime Minister Boris Johnsons legislative agenda following his December 12th election victory. According to the Royal House, the agenda will include a pledge to bring the EU Withdrawal Agreement bill back to parliament before Christmas. The parliamentary approval for the Brexit deal is expected to be a mere formality now, when the Tories have a comfortable 365-seat majority after their biggest national election win in decades.

(translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

15 December 2019
November 29, 2019 UPDATE

REVOLUTION CASE In Romania, hearings in the trial in which the former president of Romania Ion Iliescu is charged with crimes against humanity, for his involvement in the December 1989 revolution, has been postponed for February 21, 2020, for procedural flaws. Apparently some subpoenas were returned on grounds that either the recipient was dead, or not found at the address. In the first hearing of the case at the High Court of Cassation and Justice on Friday, 3,516 people were subpoenaed, and around 600 of them appeared in Court. Former president Ion Iliescu was represented by his lawyer. The indictment was sent to judges in April. According to prosecutors, against the backdrop of the poor relations between Romania and the USSR after Prague, 1968, and as a result of the general state of public unrest, a dissident group formed, which sought to remove the dictator Nicolae Ceausescu from power, but to maintain Romania under Soviet influence. Prosecutors say this group was made up of civilians and military figures, all marginalised in some way by Ceausescu. Prosecutors also claim the group surrounding Ion Iliescu acted to take over political and military power in December 1989.

NATO President Klaus Iohannis will take part on Tuesday and Wednesday in the NATO Leaders Meeting in London. According to the Presidency, the meeting takes place in the context of NATOs 70th anniversary. The agenda includes a working session in which the participants will discuss the Alliances priorities in the current international security context. The heads of state and government will also adopt decisions aimed at modernising and strengthening NATOs role in fighting current challenges and threats to Euro-Atlantic security. During the talks, President Iohannis will highlight Romanias contribution to the Alliance and will emphasise the need to bolster its determent and defence posture on the eastern flank and at the Black Sea. On Wednesday the Supreme Defence Council defined Romanias objectives for the NATO meeting.

UNEMPLOYMENT The unemployment rate in the European Union in October was 6.3%, similar to the previous month and down from 6.7% in the corresponding month of 2018, the European Statistics Office (Eurostat) announced on Friday. This is the lowest unemployment rate in the EU since Eurostat has published monthly reports, namely January 2000. Romania is below the EU average, with a 4% unemployment rate last month, down from 4.1% in September 2019. The highest figures were reported in Greece (16.7% in August) and Spain (14.2%). At the opposite pole, the Czech Republic reported 2.2%, Germany 3.1% and Poland 3.2%.

EUROPEAN COUNCIL At Fridays handover ceremony, the incoming president of the European Council, Charles Michel, of Belgium, said he wanted Europe to be “confident, self-assured and assertive, and “global leader of the Green Economy. According to AFP, one of the major immediate challenges will be to reach a consensus on the Unions long term climate goals by the next Summit of the European Council in mid-December. In turn, the outgoing president Donald Tusk said “Europe is the best place on Earth, at least as long as it remains a continent of freedom and rule of law, which is inhabited by a community aware of its history and culture. His message was that the common goal of the European leaders should be the unity of the EU. Charles Michel will serve as European Council President for 2 and a half years, and may only be re-elected once.

PROTEST Hundreds protested on Friday in front of the Environment Ministry in Vienna, against illegal logging in Romania. Representatives of Agent Green, the organisation behind the protest, marched the streets of the Austrian capital city with a banner reading Save Romanian Primary Forest. They say that a number of Austrian companies illegally cut down millions of trees in Romania, and they must be held to account.

(translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

29 November 2019