Tag: boycott

  • Political uncertainty in Bucharest

    Political uncertainty in Bucharest

    Last year, the Romanian Social Democrats surprisingly lost the EP elections, the governing and the presidential election. Also in 2019, the PSD strongman Liviu Dragnea was imprisoned for corruption leaving the party without a leader. After these unexpected blows, few would have imagined that the main leftist party in Romania would continue to call the tune or at least to spoil their political adversaries’ game.



    The Social Democrats still have a say in political procedures as they have held a relative majority in Parliament since 2016, the year of the latest elections. And this very majority forced the first minority Liberal government headed by Ludovic Orban to avoid parliamentary debate on some of its bills, and to eventually resort to the procedure of assuming responsibility for those respective bills. The government assumed responsibility also for the bill on reintroducing the election of mayors in two rounds, a move that proved fatal.



    Worried that the new voting system might influence negatively their results at the summer local elections, the Social Democratic Party joined forces to gather all the political groups which were opposed to the bill, and dismissed the first Orban government through a motion of no confidence. Now, they are playing the majority card again to thwart the Liberals’ plans to hold early elections. The Social Democrats are set to boycott the government meeting of Monday, February 24, when the second Orban government has to receive the investiture vote.



    According to the Social Democratic interim leader Marcel Ciolacu, they want to expect the decision of the Constitutional Court which is going to examine, also on Monday, the possible legal conflict between Parliament and the Presidential Administration regarding the designation of Ludovic Orban to the position of PM for a second time. The Social Democrats believe that the president defied the MPs by designating a prime minister that had just been dismissed by Parliament.



    However, constitutional law experts claim that the PSD notification of the Court is ungrounded and that the president has the right to designate whomever he wants, in the absence of a party that holds an absolute majority, according to a previous ruling of the Constitutional Court. Observers are convinced that the move is another subterfuge of the Social Democrats who are doing their best to avoid observing the period of two months in which two governments should be dismissed for Parliament to be dissolved and early elections to be called.



    If quorum is not achieved on Monday, the investiture vote will be postponed and thus the procedure for early elections delayed. The PSD will equally vote against the emergency decree regulating legislative elections, which brings important modifications to the vote in the Diaspora, from the voting period of 3 days to the doubling of the number of the Diaspora’s representatives in Parliament.



    Cautious and attentive to the reaction of the Romanians from abroad, Marcel Ciolacu announced that all the measures targeting the Diaspora would be included in a bill initiated by his own party. Meanwhile, the Liberals are reiterating their will to call early elections, which they consider the only way to overcome the current political deadlock, since they would allow the creation of a solid center-rightist majority. The Save Romania Union is in favor of early elections, but the rest of the parliamentary parties are opposed to them, because they risk not being included in the future parliament. (translation by L. Simion)

  • La semaine du 8 au 13 octobre 2018

    La semaine du 8 au 13 octobre 2018

    Echec du referendum sur la redéfinition de la famille


    21% des électeurs roumains, soit 3,9 millions de personnes, ont participé les 6 et 7 octobre derniers à un référendum pour modifier la définition de la famille dans la Constitution dans le sens dune union entre «un homme et une femme » au lieu « dunion entre époux », comme maintenant. Selon le Bureau électoral central, sur lensemble des personnes ayant participé au vote, 91,5% ont dit « oui » à une telle redéfinition de la famille, tandis que 6,5% ont été contre. Pour quelle soit validée, la présence aux urnes devait être dau moins 30% du nombre des électeurs. Par conséquent, le référendum na pas été validé et la définition de la famille dans la Loi fondamentale du pays restera la même, à savoir « union entre époux ». La campagne du référendum a été très courte, mais extrêmement tendue, divisant non seulement la classe politique mais aussi la société dans son ensemble.



    Ceux qui étaient contre la redéfinition de la famille nont pas hésité à sexprimer sur les réseaux sociaux, invitant leurs compatriotes au boycott. Mission accomplie, vu le taux dabsentéisme de 80%. Toutefois les raisons de cette absence sont des plus diverses, allant du fait que de nombreux Roumains ignoraient complètement le sujet du référendum, en passant par lindifférence, jusquà la fronde totale face au gouvernement en place ou à lEglise orthodoxe, qui a soutenu vivement la nouvelle définition de la famille. Voté auparavant par le Parlement, le projet de révision de la Constitution reposait sur une initiative citoyenne qui avait recueilli plus de 3 millions de signatures favorables à la redéfinition explicite de la famille en tant quunion entre un homme et une femme. Suite à léchec du référendum, de nombreuses voix ont pointé du doigt le Parti social-démocrate (PSD), principal parti de la coalition au pouvoir.



    A son tour, le PSD a déclaré que le résultat du référendum nétait pas son propre échec, car tout ce quil avait fait avait été une campagne dinformation publique. Dans lopposition, le leader du Parti national libéral (PNL), Ludovic Orban, affirme que léchec du référendum appartient au pouvoir, car il ny a eu aucune campagne dinformation, le PSD et son partenaire, lAlliance des libéraux et des démocrates (ALDE) semblant avoir voulu que lintérêt des Roumains soit minimal. La seule formation politique qui sest dite satisfaite du résultat fut lUnion Sauvez la Roumanie (USR), qui sest opposée dès le début à la modification de la Constitution.



    Pour lassociation MozaiQ, qui défend les droits des minorités sexuelles, la faible présence aux urnes témoigne du fait que la population rejette la haine et la désunion et refuse de rendre légitime un acte politique censé stigmatiser et discriminer la communauté LGBT. Tout de suite après la publication des résultats officiels de la consultation populaire, le ministre délégué aux Affaires européennes, Victor Negrescu, a fait savoir quun projet de loi sur le partenariat civil serait déposé au Parlement les jours suivants. Le projet a été finalisé, après consultations préalables des avec les représentants de la société civile et des formations politiques, a précisé le ministre Negrescu. Une affirmation qui a causé de la stupeur, vu que les débats ont été très discrets et que lespace public nétait pas au courant de cela jusquici.


    Une nouvelle loi des pensions de retraite


    Approuvé mercredi par le gouvernement, le projet de loi du système public des retraites sera soumis au débat du Parlement. La ministre du Travail, Olguta Vasilescu, a précisé quil ny aurait pas de diminutions des pensions. Le nouveau projet se propose de majorer les retraites, en éliminant les iniquités. Les pensions seront calculées compte tenu de la durée de la période de cotisation, quelle que soit lannée du départ à la retraite. La future loi sera mise en place progressivement jusquen 2021 et concernera plus de 5 millions de Roumains à la retraite. Et puis, cette semaine encore, deux membres du cabinet de gauche PSD-ALDE sont entrés dans le collimateur de lopposition parlementaire. Il sagit des ministres de lEconomie, Danut Andrusca, et de celui de la Culture, George Ivascu. Accusé dincompétence au point de pousser le pays au bord de la faillite, M. Andrusca a échappé pourtant à la motion simple avancée par lUSR et le PNL à son encontre, que la Chambre des députés a décidé de rejeter. Quant au ministre de la Culture, celui-ci fait lobjet dune motion simple déposée par le PNL qui déplore son incapacité à organiser les manifestations à loccasion de la Fête nationale de la Roumanie. Rappelons-le, cette année, la Roumanie marque le 1er Décembre 2018 le Centenaire de la Grande Union.


    La DNA en quête de chef


    La Section des procureurs du Conseil supérieur de la magistrature a rendu cette semaine un avis négatif à la proposition du ministre roumain de la Justice, Tudorel Toader, dinstaller à la tête du Parquet anticorruption Adina Florea, procureure près la Cour dappel de Constanta. Lavis du Conseil est consultatif. M Toader avait annoncé dans un premier temps quil avancerait sa proposition au chef de lEtat, quelle que soit la position du CSM. Interviewée par les procureurs, Adina Florea a affirmé que les protocoles secrets que les Services secrets roumains ont signés avec dautres institutions étaient contraires à la loi en raison de la mise en place déquipes opérationnelles mixtes. Loccasion pour Mme Florea de rappeler que la DNA ne devrait pas soccuper des abus de fonctions dont la responsabilité incombe aux Parquets près les tribunaux, mais des affaires de corruption. Rappelons-le, le fauteuil de chef de la DNA est resté vacant en juillet après que le chef de lEtat a révoqué Laura Codruta Kovesi de ses fonctions suite à une décision de la Cour constitutionnelle. Par ailleurs, cette semaine encore, le ministre de la Justice, Tudorel Toader, a annoncé ladoption par le gouvernement dun décret durgence censé rendre opérationnelle la nouvelle Section denquête des infractions au sein de la justice. Ce sera à ladite section de reprendre avant le 23 octobre la gestion de tous les dossiers dont les magistrats font lobjet, y compris ceux déjà traités par le passé.


    La Roumanie, selon le FMI


    Le Fonds monétaire international a révisé à la baisse ses prévisions de croissance pour la Roumanie, de 5,1% à 4%. Selon les experts du FMI, cela sexplique par une influence plus faible des facilités fiscales accordées en 2017 et par la diminution de la demande externe. Le ralentissement économique se poursuivra en Roumanie lannée prochaine, jusquau niveau de 3,4%, précise encore le FMI dans son récent rapport sur la croissance économique mondiale. Le document révèle dailleurs que cette tendance à la baisse est valable à léchelle globale. En Roumanie, lInstitut national de la statistique a fait savoir que le taux annuel de linflation avait légèrement reculé en août dernier, de 5,1 à 5,03%. Enfin, début août, la Banque nationale de Roumanie avait révisé à la baisse, à 3,5%, ses prévisions concernant linflation pour la fin de lannée en cours. (Trad. Valentina Belesvski, Ioana Stancescu)

  • March 5, 2018 UPDATE

    March 5, 2018 UPDATE

    Mock exams — Unionists in the public education sector on Monday called for a boycott of the first test in the mock exams taken by 8th graders ahead of middle school graduation, namely the Romanian language and literature test. Several schools in Romania boycotted the test. Some of the problems pointed out by teachers are the effects of the new salary scheme on their incomes, the method of calculating bonuses and the scarce funds for equipment purchases. On the other hand, the Education Ministry reminded trade union leaders that the employees in the system received a 20% pay raise on March 1 and that the collective bargaining agreement is being renegotiated. Trade unions promised not to initiate a labour dispute.



    Motion — The Romanian Chamber of Deputies on Monday debated a new simple motion tabled by the opposition. The motion is targeted against the education minister Valentin Popa whom the Liberals accuse of lack of professionalism in dealing with the problems of the education system. The Liberals have drawn attention to the delays in paying salaries, to the lack of money for investments, which could result in the merger and closure of certain schools. Minister Popa has rejected all accusations. The vote on the motion will take place on Friday.



    Corruption — The High Court of Cassation and Justice in Bucharest on Monday acquitted, through a definitive sentence, the president of the National Liberal Party Ludovic Orban. He was accused of using his influence for obtaining undue benefits. Last month Orban was acquitted in a trial court after the National Anti-Corruption Directorate accused him that in 2016 he allegedly contacted a businessman to ask for financial help for the election campaign in the run up to the local elections when he had been appointed by the Liberal Party to run for the position of mayor of Bucharest. Also on Monday the High Court of Cassation and Justice postponed for March 22 ruling a definitive sentence in the case of the former president of the Prahova county council Mircea Cosma and his son, a former MP, Vlad Cosma, who were sentenced in a court of first instance at 8 years and 5 years in prison respectively. The two Social Democrats were prosecuted by the anti-corruption prosecutors for bribe taking, abuse of office and influence peddling. Subsequently, Vlad Cosma accused the prosecutors of having used him to fabricate evidence against several Social Democratic leaders, which caused a huge political and media scandal in Bucharest.



    Drills – Over 1,700 Romanian and foreign troops will take part, as of Monday until March 15th, in a large-scale multinational exercise, organised by the Romanian Navy, in Dobrogea (south-eastern Romania) and in the international waters of the Black Sea. Spring Storm 18 is based on a unique training concept which brings together the navy, air and land forces, as part of a NATO immediate assurance action plan adopted at the 2016 Summit. Romanian troops are training jointly with fellow military from the US, France and Bulgaria, and from partner countries like Georgia and Ukraine.



    Rome — In Italy, the leader of the Five Star Movement, Luigi Di Maio, on Monday claimed he had the right to govern Italy after voters did not return a majority to any single party. His anti-establishment party got 32% of the votes cast on Sunday. The coalition made up of the right wing Forza Italia and Lega Nord- the North League (far right) obtained almost 37% of the votes, while the leftist bloc, in power, got almost 23% of the votes. Italy is heading towards a Parliament without majority, after Sunday’s parliamentary elections in which the voter turnout was almost 73%. Italian analysts expect lengthy negotiations for the formation of a new government. They have remarked the failure of the center-left ruling coalition and the advance of the populist and Xenophobe parties. The European Commission expressed confidence that a stable government would be formed in Italy.



    Flu — The number of people killed by the flu in Romania reached 79, the National Center for Monitoring and Controlling Transmissible Diseases announced on Monday. According to the aforementioned source, the victims were suffering from chronic diseases and had not been vaccinated against the flu.



    Tennis — Romanian Simona Halep maintains the first position in the WTA ranking made public on Monday. Halep, 26, who has been holding the top position for 18 weeks, has an advance of 440 points compared to 2nd ranked Caroline Wozniacki. Third in the WTA ranking is Garbine Muguruza of Spain. Another 6 Romanian tennis players are in the WTA Top 100. Romania has two players in the WTA Race top 10: Halep on 2nd position 700 points away from the leader Caroline Wozniacki and Mihaela Buzărnescu on 10th position. (news translated and updated by Lacramioara Simion)

  • March 5, 2018

    March 5, 2018

    PROTESTS – Unionists in the public education sector have today called for a boycott of the first test in the mock exams taken by 8th graders ahead of middle school graduation, namely the Romanian language and literature test. Several schools in Romania boycotted the test. Some of the problems pointed out by teachers are the effects of the new salary scheme on their incomes, the method of calculating bonuses and the scarce funds for equipment purchases. On the other hand, the Education Ministry reminded trade union leaders that the employees in the system received a 20% pay raise on March 1 and that the collective bargaining agreement is being renegotiated. Trade unions promised not to initiate a labour conflict.




    MOTION – The Chamber of Deputies is today discussing a new simple motion tabled by the Opposition against the Education Minister, Valentin Popa, whom Liberals accuse of unprofessionalism in tackling problems in the education sector. The National Liberal Party mentioned delays in salary payments, the lack of funds for investments, which might lead to schools being merged or dismantled. The vote on the motion is scheduled for Friday.




    MILITARY – Over 1,700 Romanian and foreign troops will take part, as of today until March 15th, in a large-scale multinational exercise, organised by the Romanian Navy, in Dobrogea (south-eastern Romania) and in the international waters of the Black Sea. Spring Storm 18 is based on a unique training concept which brings together the navy, air and land forces, as part of a NATO immediate assurance action plan adopted at the 2016 Summit. Romanian troops are training jointly with fellow military from the US, France and Bulgaria, and from partner countries like Georgia and Ukraine.




    CORRUPTION – The High Court of Cassation and Justice might pass a final ruling today in the case in which Ludovic Orban, the president of the National Liberal Party, the main Opposition party in Romania, is tried for influence peddling in view of obtaining undue benefits. Last month, Orban was found not guilty by a court of first instance. The National Anti-Corruption Directorate accuses Orban of having contacted a businessman in 2016, to request financial support for the local election campaign, in which Orban was running for Bucharest mayor general. Also today, the Supreme Court may pass the final ruling concerning the former chair of the Prahova County Council Mircea Cosma, and his son, former Deputy Vlad Cosma. The two have been sentenced by a court of first instance to 8 and 5 years in prison respectively, for bribe-taking, abuse of office and influence peddling. Vlad Cosma subsequently accused anti-corruption prosecutors of having tampered with evidence, which generated a huge political and media scandal in Bucharest.




    DEFENCE – The Secretary of State for defence policy, planning and international relations, Mircea Duşa, is taking part today and tomorrow in a meeting of EU defence ministers in Brussels. According to the Romanian Defence Ministry, the meeting focuses on permanent structured cooperation. The agenda also includes talks on military mobility and the European Defence Fund. The final session, focusing on the EU – NATO cooperation, will be attended by the NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.




    ITALY – Italy is bracing up for a parliamentary make-up without a majority, after yesterdays legislative election. The reported turnout was about 73%. According to exit polls, no party or alliance will be able to form a government, and the media expect lengthy negotiations for the formation of a new Cabinet. Analysts note that two things are certain: the failure of the left-of-centre coalition in power up until the election, and the progress of populist and Euro-phobic parties. In fact, Nigel Farage, the former leader of Britains pro-Brexit movement, congratulated the Five-Star Movement, an anti-system party about to become the largest party in Italy, while the president of the French far-right National Front, Marine LePen, said the EU would have a terrible day in the wake of the elections in Italy.




    OSCARS – ‘The Shape of Water’ was the great winner in the 90th Academy Awards gala held on Sunday night, winning 4 categories: best picture, best director, best score and best production design. Gary Oldman and Frances McDormand won the top prizes for lead actor and actress, for their parts in ‘Darkest Hour’ and ‘Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri’, respectively.


    (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)