Radio România Internațional

Tag: deadlock

  • World leaders condemn the invasion of Ukraine

    World leaders condemn the invasion of Ukraine

    Russian
    President Vladimir Putin should admit he cannot win the war in Ukraine, German
    Chancellor Olaf Scholz has said. In his first intervention at the UN General
    Assembly, Scholz denounced what he termed Putin’s imperial ambitions and warned
    that such ambitions risk destroying Ukraine and Russia. Scholz went on to
    say Germany and the international community would not consent to a peace
    dictated by Russia.




    The German Chancellor also
    announced that on October 25 Berlin would play host to a conference
    focusing on the reconstruction of Ukraine. As for the intention of the
    so-called authorities instated by Moscow in the occupied Ukrainian territories
    to stage referendums on the annexation of those territories by Russia, Scholz
    called the alleged grassroots consultations fictitious and
    unacceptable. In turn, French president Emmanuel Macron labeled the
    referendum a parody. Macron accused Russia that, through its
    invasion of Ukraine in late February this year, it made possible a lapse back
    in time, to the age of imperialism and colonialism. France rejects this
    and will steadfastly search for peace, President Macron pledged.




    Romania continues to
    support the neighboring Ukraine, President Klaus Iohannis said in his
    address to the UN General Assembly. Iohannis recalled Romania offered direct
    humanitarian assistance to the more than 2.3 million Ukrainian refugees who
    have crossed Romania’s borders since the outbreak of the war. The Romanian
    president also clearly stated there was no justification for the military
    aggression against a sovereign state.




    Klaus Iohannis: We know
    that our response, especially to this war, will shape our common future.
    Our support for peace should be voiced now, louder than ever. In defending our
    universal values, it is essential to stay united and bring everyone on board, including
    those who are still hesitating. Engagement and dialogue are crucial to
    overcoming divisions and, at the same time, to counter the spread of falsehoods
    and propaganda.




    Russia is rushing to hold sham
    referendums in Ukraine, the White House National Security Advisor, Jake
    Sullivan, said. The US high-ranking official also reiterated that the
    United States will never recognize Russia’s claims to any purportedly annexed parts
    of Ukraine. According to Sullivan, such referendums, as well as Moscow’s
    intention to amass more military forces in Ukraine, stand proof of the deadlock
    Russian troops find themselves in, having no choice other than withdrawing from
    several regions they had occupied as early as February this year. In
    conclusion, the White House National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan, said these are not actions of
    the competent country. These are not acts of strength, quite the opposite. (EN)


  • A new PM designate

    A new PM designate

    Romania has a new prime minister designate: the incumbent finance minister Florin Citu. President Klaus Iohannis announced his nomination on Wednesday, after commending the National Liberal Party for its 3 months in power, guided by what he called a reform agenda, and after criticising the Social Democrats for systematically attempting to hinder the work of the government.



    The President mentioned that the first Liberal cabinet, headed by the president of the National Liberal Party Ludovic Orban, was dismissed under a no-confidence motion by a parliamentary majority created by the Social Democratic Party against a bill reintroducing the 2-round voting system in the local elections. This is why the head of state appointed Ludovic Orban once again as prime minister designate, but the Social Democrats slowed down the required parliamentary procedures until Parliament faced a deadlock that ended in Orbans resignation.



    The president explained that by appointing Florin Citu he sought to put an end to the deadlock and to solve the problems of the country. The PM designate promised to try to put together the parliamentary majority required for his endorsement, and to come up with a list of ministers and a governing programme as soon as possible.



    Both before and after becoming a government member, Florin Citu accused the Social Democratic Party of implementing disastrous policies for the national budget. His party chief, Ludovic Orban, vowed that Citus nomination is a guarantee that the countrys economic and financial rehabilitation will continue.



    Ludovic Orban: “Florin Citu is a guarantor that the disaster left behind by irresponsible Social Democratic governments will be reversed, and also that Romania will have a sustainable economic growth, based on the normal growth engines in a capitalist economy.



    The Social Democratic Party, which still has a majority in Parliament, was prompt in responding: they will not endorse a cabinet headed by Citu. The interim president of the party Marcel Ciolacu, said:



    Marcel Ciolacu: “I find Mr. Citus designation unimaginable. I was expecting Mr. Citu to tell us how he spent the 10 billion euros he borrowed in 3 months and a half, and not to be named prime minister designate. This is unspeakable. We will decide on our next steps and discuss the matter with the other political partners. There is no doubt that the path chosen by the President leads to a political crisis.



    Ciolacu does not rule out resorting to the Constitutional Court once again. Notified by the Social Democrats, the Court ruled that Orbans nomination as PM designate for a second time was designed to ensure the collapse, rather than the success of the new Government. The Court took into account the Presidents and the Liberals outspoken plans to push for early elections.



    The 3rd biggest parliamentary group, Save Romania Union, say they are open to joining in a new government, if a parliamentary majority is achieved, and that their top priority is reintroducing the 2-round voting system in local elections. Pro Romania party on the other hand says its MPs will not endorse the new government, because the Liberals lack the legitimacy, the qualifications, the programme and the parliamentary support to govern the country.


    (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

  • September 18, 2019

    September 18, 2019

    DEADLOCK The Constitutional Court in Bucharest is to discuss today the notification filed by PM Viorica Dancila with respect to a possible conflict of powers, triggered by the Presidents refusing to appoint interim ministers. Last week President Klaus Iohannis announced he would not accept the reshuffling proposed by the Prime Minister, which he dismissed as “void and unsuitable. Last Wednesday Viorica Dancila sent the head of state a document nominating members of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for the vacant positions in Cabinet after that party left the ruling coalition last month. Also today, the Social Democratic Partys National Executive Committee convenes to discuss the situation of the Cabinet, which has many minister positions still unfilled.



    VISIT The prime Minister of Romania Viorica Dăncila received in Bucharest today her Polish counterpart Mateusz Morawiecki, for a second round of inter-governmental consultations between the 2 countries. This is the second inter-government meeting after the one in Warsaw last May, and it takes place in the context of the celebration of a decade-long strategic partnership, of 3-decades long democratic regime and of a century of diplomatic relations. The members of the 2 governments will sign a memorandum of agreement in major sectors, including infrastructure, energy, transport, communications, digitisation, entrepreneurship and the management of European funds.



    FESTIVAL In Bucharest, classical music lovers are invited today to concerts with highly appreciated artists, as part of the George Enescu International Festival. Todays programme includes a concert of the Lille National Orchestra, conducted by Vlad Vizireanu, at the Romanian Athenaeum. The soloists, Sergey Khachatryan, on violin, and Timothy Ridout, on the viola, will perform George Enescus Chamber Symphony for 12 instruments, Johannes Brahmss Violin Concerto in D major and ‘Harold in Italy’ by Hector Berlioz. The George Enescu International Festival, with Radio Romania as a co-producer, will continue until September 22, bringing together 2,500 of the worlds most celebrated musicians in 84 concerts and recitals. Bucharest and other cities in Romania and in Germany, France, Italy, Canada and the Republic of Moldova are hosting performances as part of this years Festival.



    BILL A bill on the taxation of special pension benefits, introduced by the Finance Minister Eugen Teodorovici, has been passed by the Senate today after being approved by the budget committee on Tuesday. The document concerns a 30% tax rate on special pensions ranging between approx. 1,480 euro and 2,115 euro, and a 50% tax rate on pensions above this threshold. Senators also decided that country presidents emoluments in excess of roughly 1,480 euro should be subject to taxation. The bill will be sent to the Chamber of Deputies, the decision making body in this respect.



    EMPLOYMENT Most EU citizens working part time last year (26% of the total) said they could not find full-time jobs, while another 24% chose part-time work because they were looking after children or incapacitated adults, according to data released today by the European Statistics Office, Eurostat. The highest percentage of people who were working part-time in 2018 because they did not find full-time employment was reported in Greece (70%), Italy (66%), Cyprus (65%), Bulgaria (59%), Spain (56.5%) and Romania (54.9%). The lowest rates were reported in Estonia (6%), Belgium, the Czech Republic and Slovenia (7% each) and Netherlands (8%). Around one-fifth of the total number of employed EU citizens had part-time jobs last year, accounting for 31.2 million women and 9.5 million men.



    ISRAEL The Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and his challenger Benni Gantz are shoulder to shoulder, with 32 seats each in the new Parliament, according to Tuesdays election results after counting over 92% of the votes. Israeli mass media note however that none of them has enough allies for a governmental majority. Israel Our Home party, whose 9 seats in Knesset make it indispensible for a ruling coalition, proposed a national unity government, but its leader Avigdor Lieberman is one of Netanyahus opponents. According to Radio Romanias correspondent, Israeli citizens would not agree to a new election campaign, and the countrys president vowed to avoid a third early election.


    (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)