CONSULTATIONS – President Klaus Iohannis is today
consulting with political parties after Liberal Prime Minister Ludovic Orban
tendered his resignation as Prime Minister designate. The President explained the
gesture was meant to remove the deadlock caused by the Social-Democratic Party,
which boycotted Monday’s Parliament session, the scheduled date for the
Government’s investiture. Also on Monday the Constitutional Court ruled that
the nomination of the dismissed Prime Minister, Ludovic Orban, for the
formation of a new government, was unconstitutional, as Orban had been
allegedly nominated to ensure the collapse, not the success of the new
Government. Two consecutive Governments must fail before the President can
dissolve Parliament and call early elections, a scenario favored by the
President, the National Liberal Party and Save Romania Union. The other
political parties, the Social-Democratic Party first and foremost, have argued
against early elections. We recall the first Orban Cabinet, sworn in last year
in November, was removed through no-confidence motion after it took
responsibility in Parliament over the return to the two-round voting system for
local elections.
CORONAVIRUS – The country’s Supreme Defense Council is
today convening in Bucharest to address means of combating a potential
coronavirus epidemic at national level. So far there has been no confirmation
of any infection in Romania, but the authorities need to be prepared in case
the situation takes a negative turn, President Klaus Iohannis said. The
president urged the population to remain calm and the press to avoid
sensationalist stories with a powerful emotional impact, which might generate
and amplify panic. According to a press release of the newly-founded Strategic
Information Group within the Romanian Government, 26 people are being
quarantined and 2,077 are under house monitoring. The Matei Bals Institute
for Infectious Disease in Bucharest is currently analyzing 32 samples obtained
from people from areas visited by an Italian citizen who tested positive for
COVID-19. The 71-year-old man visited Romania over February 18-22, and saw the
relatives of his Romanian wife and met with business people. Northern Italy is
home to some 300 thousand Romanians, and all people arriving in Romania from
this region will be automatically quarantined for 14 days. We recall two
Romanians who got infected with COVID-19 onboard the Diamond Princess cruise
ship, currently in quarantine in the port of Yokohama, are in hospital care in
Tokyo.
COVID-19 -
The new coronavirus continues to spread. Austria, Switzerland, Croatia and
Algeria have recently reported cases of infections. Thousands of tourists are
blocked in a hotel on Tenerife Island in Spain. Most cases are reported in
Italy, where 300 people are sick. The World Health Organization has urged all
nations to immediately prepare for a potential spread of the coronavirus
epidemic. According to the WHO, many countries are simply ill-prepared to deal
with the disease. The biggest concern in terms of the impact of the epidemic is
Iran. Health authorities in the United States are expecting the virus to hit
soon, and have asked the local authorities to consider the cancelling of public
events. The viral pneumonia caused by the new coronavirus broke out in December
last year in China and has infected some 80,000 people worldwide. The death
toll has exceeded 2,700. Some 2,700 infections and 40 deaths have been reported
outside China so far.
COMMEMORATION
– Authorities in Hanau, Germany, which last week saw a double-attack which
killed nine people, including a Romanian, announced a special ceremony to
commemorate the victims will be held on March 4. Attending the event will be
President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Immigrants from Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania,
Bosnia and Afghanistan, but also German nationals were killed by two attacks
last week in the center of Hanau, in Hessa Land. The perpetrator subsequently
killed his own mother and committed suicide. German authorities are treating
the attack as an act of racism and terrorism, claiming the attacker acted
alone. A few days before, the killer had posted videos where he spoke of his
hatred for foreigners.
FOOTBALL -
Romanian champions CFR Cluj is today playing FC Seville of Spain in the return
leg of the Europa League round of 32. In the first leg played at home, Cluj
drew 1-all. Coached by former national team player, Dan Petrescu, CFR finished
the group phase in 2nd place in a group that included Lazio Rome of
Italy, Celtic Glasgow of Scotland and Rennes of France. Four-time Europa League
winner, Seville is coached by the former manager of Real Madrid, Julien
Lopetegui and had easier opponents in the group phase, Apoel from Cyprus,
Qarabaq of Azerbaijan and Dudelange of Luxembourg.
(Translated by V.
Palcu)