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Tag: Klaus Iohannis

  • February 9-13

    February 9-13

    100 days with Ilie Bolojan, after 10 years with Klaus Iohannis

    This Wednesday, Klaus Iohannis ended his second and last term as President of Romania. Ilie Bolojan, who stepped down as Senate Speaker and president of PNL took over the position of interim head of state. The Constitutional Court took note the presidency was vacated after Klaus Iohannis announced his resignation on Monday and established that the head of the Senate should step in as interim president. Ilie Gavrilă Bolojan was born 1969, in Bihor County (west). He studied mechanics and mathematics. He joined PNL in 1993. He is considered one of the best local specialists in local public administration. Over 2008-2020, he was mayor of Oradea, holding three mandates. Since 2020, he has been president of the Bihor County Council, a position he held until last year, when he became a senator. As interim president, an office he will hold for about a hundred days, Bolojan will have limited powers: he cannot address Parliament on key political issues, he cannot dissolve Parliament and he cannot call a national referendum. On December 21, 2024, Klaus Iohannis was supposed to end his term in office, but his stay at the Presidency was extended after the Constitutional Court annulled the entire process for the election of a new president. A new presidential election is slated for May, with the first round on the 4th and the second round on the 18th.

     

    The state budget for 2025, ratified on the last day of Iohannis’ term in office

    A few hours before announcing his resignation, President Iohannis signed the decrees for ratifying the State Budget Law for 2025 and the State Social Security Budget Law. The two bills were voted last week in a joint Parliament sitting. The budget is based on an economic growth rate of 2.5% and a budget deficit target of 7% of GDP. Finance Minister Tanczos Barna stated, before the plenary sitting, that the state budget is “moderate” and based on a prudent increase in revenues, “without exaggerations”. The Romanian official pointed out that the State Social Security Budget Law focuses “primarily on the payment of pensions”.

     

    A no-confidence vote is in the making

    The three parties in the self-proclaimed sovereignist opposition, AUR, SOS Romania and POT, have announced their intention to call for a vote of no-confidence against the PSD-PNL-UDMR ruling coalition. The motion could also be voted by MPs from the pro-European opposition party USR. Social-Democrat Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu claims he has no reasons to be afraid and that he is “confident” that “the government will not fall”. Political pundits do not rule out, however, possible defections within the majority and are skeptical about the chances of Ciolacu’s Cabinet staying in power.

     

    A new Russian attack

    The Romanian Foreign Ministry firmly condemns the irresponsible attack by Russian forces on February 13, when two drones carrying explosives violated the airspace and fell on Romanian territory, near the border with Ukraine. By order of the Minister of Foreign Affairs Emil Hurezeanu, the ad interim charge d’affaires of the Russian Federation in Bucharest was urgently summoned to the headquarters of the Ministry, where the Romanian side firmly condemned the repeated violations of Romania’s airspace. These illegal and irresponsible attacks must cease, while Romania has the right to take the necessary response measures, the Ministry said. Attending the 61st edition of the Munich International Security Conference, in Germany, organized over February 14-16, Minister Emil Hurezeanu calls for a just, comprehensive and sustainable peace in Ukraine The head of diplomacy from Bucharest also advocates for the continued provision of solid support for increasing the resilience of the Republic of Moldova.

     

    Bloody brawl in Urziceni

    Interior Minister, Cătălin Predoiu, states that the involvement of several state structures is needed to combat organized crime and dismantle underworld clans. According to the Romanian official, although hundreds of organized crime groups have been dismantled in recent years, they are regenerating, and solving the problem may take a long time. At the end of last week, in Urziceni (south), two people died and five were injured, following a street brawl seasoned with gunfire, involving a few dozen people. Some of the combatants were arrested and charged with aggravated murder, brawl, disturbing public order and peace, failure to comply with the weapons and munitions legislation, unauthorized use of a weapon, attempted aggravated murder. Street brawls are uncommon in Romania, generally considered a safe country.

     

    Romania secures Rugby World Cup qualification

    Romania qualified for the 2027 World Cup in Australia after grabbing victories this month against Germany, 48-10, and Belgium, 31-14, in Rugby Europe Championship 2025. The Oaks have only missed out on the World Cup once, in 2019, when they were disqualified for fielding a naturalized but ineligible Tongan player. In football, Romanian champions FCSB from Bucharest defeated Greek side PAOK Thessaloniki 2-1 on Thursday night in the first leg of their Europa League round-of-16 play-offs. The return leg against the Greeks, coached by Romanian Răzvan Lucescu, is scheduled for next week in Bucharest. Also on Thursday, in handball, the defending champions Dinamo Bucharest lost 26-33 the home match against the Hungarian side One Veszprem HC, in Champions League Group A. (VP)

  • February 11, 2025 UPDATE

    February 11, 2025 UPDATE

    RESIGNATION Romania’s outgoing president Klaus Iohannis is ending his mandate and Senate Speaker Ilie Bolojan will be taking over as interim president. Klaus Iohannis stepped down on Monday after a suspension procedure had been initiated against him in Parliament. On Tuesday the Constitutional Court took note of President Klaus Iohannis’ resignation and ruled that Senate Speaker Ilie Bolojan take over as interim president starting February 12. Bolojan had stepped down as president of the National Liberal Party (PNL). Klaus Iohannis served as president in two mandates and his last one was supposed to end in December 2024. However, the Constitutional Court ruled to cancel the first round of election in December due to interferences in the election process. Romania will have presidential election in two rounds, on May 4 and 18.

    TRADE The EU Polish presidency summoned the member states on Wednesday for talks over the effects and the response of the community bloc to the US decision to levy higher import taxes on all steel and aluminum entering the USA. According to our correspondent in Brussels, the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen says the US decision will trigger a similar response from the EU. To similar decisions by president Trump in his first mandate, the EU responded by imposing taxes on a series of US products. The US taxes could trigger an inflow of steel and aluminum imports from the global market, and the oversupply could seriously affect the local producers, including from Romania.

    REAL ESTATE As of Tuesday ruling coalition MPs are holding public consultations in order to regulate protection measures addressing people who conclude sale-purchase deeds with real estate developers. Representatives of real estate developers, public notaries and the National Agency for Land Registry and Real Estate Advertising are also expected to take part. The goal is to complete the legal framework with regulations that will offer the end beneficiaries robust guarantees for the advances paid in real estate transactions and that will also ensure the development and proper functioning of the relevant market in Romania. The initiative comes after hundreds of people who got scammed in the Nordis case called for amending the relevant legislation. Former PSD deputy Laura Vicol, her husband, Vladimir Ciorbă, the main shareholder of the Nordis group, and three other people were put on pre-trial arrest as part of this investigation. The inquiry targets individuals and companies accused of having collected over 195 million EUROS from clients without handing over the apartments.

    112 The buildings of over 100 public and private institutions in Romania were lit in red on Tuesday, marking the European 112 Day. By means of a symbolic visual approach, the Special Telecommunications Service wants to draw attention to the instrumental role of the single emergency number and to encourage citizens to use it responsibly. Abusive emergency calls can jeopardize the swift intervention of specialized teams where it is needed the most, Service officials say. In 2024, as a result of the efforts of the relevant authorities and emergency response services, as well as other government partners and private telecommunications operators, the number of non-emergency calls decreased by nearly one million compared to previous years. 112 Emergency Service operators took over 9.7 million calls, of which 60.45% were actual emergencies, the Special Telecommunications Service also reports.

    (bill)

     

  • February 11, 2025

    February 11, 2025

    RESIGNATION – The Constitutional Court has taken note of president Klaus Iohannis’ resignation. The two chambers of Parliament in Bucharest have also decided to annul Tuesday’s plenary sitting, where the main point on the agenda was the debate on the impeachment of Klaus Iohannis, after the populist and isolationist parties POT, AUR and S.O.S. Romania, in addition to the pro-European USR party, filed a motion in that regard. According to the Constitution, Senate Speaker Ilie Bolojan is expected to take over as interim president, after he has just stepped down as president of the National Liberal Party (PNL). Bolojan’s attributes remain limited: he will not be able to address Parliament on key political issues, he may not dissolve Parliament and will not be able to call a national referendum.

     

    BUDGET – Romania’s outgoing president, Klaus Iohannis, on Monday signed a number of executive orders, including the ratification of state budget and social security budget laws for 2025. Last week, the two bills were adopted by Parliament. The budget is based on a deficit target of 7% of GDP and an estimated economic growth rate of 2.5%. The Energy, Education, Health, Transport, Environment, Defense and Investments and European Funds ministries will get additional funds. Finance Minister Barna Tánczos, stated that all the conditions have been met to “support the development of the country by means of record-high investments”, while Romania will have “the resources to ensure the payment of salaries and pensions and restore financial balance”.

     

    CORRUPTION – The level of corruption remains very high at global level, while efforts to combat this phenomenon are decreasing, according to the 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index published by Transparency International. According to the organization, the lack of strong measures against corruption spells serious repercussions globally in key areas such as protecting democracy, observing the rule of law, protecting the environment and combating climate change, and promoting and protecting human rights. In 2024, the average score at EU level was 62, down by two points compared to previous years. For the third year in a row, Romania was rated with a score of 46 out of 100 possible points, the same as Malta. Romania also fares very poorly at EU level in terms of combating corruption. Transparency International Romania made a number of recommendations, such as the implementation of Integrity Pacts as a widespread tool for monitoring public procurement, improving citizens’ awareness of the importance of applying the Law on the Protection of Public Whistleblowers or updating the legislation in the field of public integrity. Transparency International Romania also recommends the government implement an anti-corruption program that would help Romania improve its Corruption Perceptions Index score to at least 50 by 2027.

     

    REAL ESTATE – Ruling coalition MPs are as of today holding public consultations in order to regulate protection measures addressing people who conclude sale-purchase deeds with real estate developers. Representatives of real estate developers, public notaries and the National Agency for Land Registry and Real Estate Advertising are also expected to take part. The goal is to complete the legal framework with regulations that will offer the end beneficiaries robust guarantees for the advances paid in real estate transactions and that will also ensure the development and proper functioning of the relevant market in Romania. The initiative comes after hundreds of people who got scammed in the Nordis case called for amending the relevant legislation. Former PSD deputy Laura Vicol, her husband, Vladimir Ciorbă, the main shareholder of the Nordis group, and three other people were put on pre-trial arrest as part of this investigation. The inquiry targets individuals and companies accused of having collected over 195 million EUR from clients without handing over the apartments.

     

    112 – The buildings of over 100 public and private institutions in Romania will be lit in red today, marking the European 112 Day. By means of a symbolic visual approach, the Special Telecommunications Service wants to draw attention to the instrumental role of the single emergency number and to encourage citizens to use it responsibly. Abusive emergency calls can jeopardize the swift intervention of specialized teams where it is needed the most, Service officials say. In 2024, as a result of the efforts of the relevant authorities and emergency response services, as well as other government partners and private telecommunications operators, the number of non-emergency calls decreased by nearly one million compared to previous years. 112 Emergency Service operators took over 9.7 million calls, of which 60.45% were actual emergencies, the Special Telecommunications Service also reports.

     

    GLOBAL TRADE – France’s Industry Minister, Marc Ferracci, told a TF1 interview that Europe should respond in a firm and united manner to the tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump, also expressing hope such a response would happen soon. On Monday, the U.S. president substantially increased tariffs on steel and aluminum imports to 25%, “without exceptions or exemptions”, in the hope this step would help struggling U.S. industries. However, the measure risks triggering a trade war on several fronts, Reuters reports. (VP)

  • February 10, 2025 UPDATE 3

    February 10, 2025 UPDATE 3

    A roundup of local and international news.

     

    BUCHAREST – Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis resigned on Monday, a day before an impeachment vote in Parliament, demanded by the opposition parties. Iohannis said that the resignation would take effect on February 12 and that he made the decision to step down in a bid to limit the fallout of what he believed would have been a divisive and damaging vote for the nation. At the same time, externally, none of the country’s allies would have understood why Romania was impeaching its president, after, in fact,  the procedure for electing a new president had already started, Iohannis also said. His second term expired on December 21, 2024, but was extended by the Constitutional Court with the annulment of the first round of the presidential elections in November. In keeping with the law, Senate speaker and Liberal leader Ilie Bolojan will assume the role of interim president on Wednesday, until the new president is elected. The interim president of Romania can promulgate laws, request their reexamination by the Constitutional Court, appoint and dismiss ministers and serve as supreme commander of the Armed Forces. However, he cannot dissolve Parliament, initiate a referendum and appoint another prime minister.

     

    REACTIONS – The opposition parties in the Bucharest Parliament, which had initiated the procedure to impeach outgoing President Klaus Iohannis, welcomed the latter’s decision to resign. MP Dan Tanasa, with the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) said that Iohannis was in office illegally and that the Romanians no longer wanted him. Also from the opposition, the head of the Save Romania Union (USR), Elena Lasconi, said that the president’s resignation does not offer answers regarding the annulment of last year’s election and that, thorough changes are further needed in the relation between citizens and the state institutions. Representing the governing coalition, the Liberal mayor of Cluj-Napoca, Emil Boc, said that resignation is preferable to impeachment, which would have complicated both the domestic political scene and Romania’s credibility abroad. The Social Democratic mayor of Craiova, Olguţa Vasilescu, pointed out that, as regards the presidential elections, the ruling coalition’s candidate continues to be the former Liberal leader Crin Antonescu. The latter said that Klaus Iohannis’ resignation was a wise decision as it pre-empted the impeachment bid and a referendum. Senate speaker Ilie Bolojan, head of the Liberal Party, a member of the ruling coalition, will take over as interim president with limited powers until the election.

     

    INVESTIGATION – Five people were taken in for questioning following the 15 house searches that Romanian police carried out on Monday in Ilfov, Prahova, Buzau and Arges counties, in the case of the conflict in Urziceni, not far from the capital Bucharest, in which two people died. Also, after a series of searches carried out Monday in Brasov county, another nine people were taken to the police station for questioning. Interior Minister Catalin Predoiu signaled the fact that the involvement of several state structures was needed to combat organized crime and dismantle crime groups. He said that although hundreds of organized crime groups have been dismantled in recent years, they are regenerating, and solving this problem may take years. We remind you that, at the end of last week, two people died and five were injured, following a shooting incident involving over 25 people, members of two families in Urziceni and Prahova.

     

    ECONOMY – An International Monetary Fund delegation concluded its discussions in Bucharest with the main institutions in charge of Romania’s monetary and fiscal policies. It was not an assessment mission, but only a fact-finding one, and PM Marcel Ciolacu assured the IMF experts of the government’s determination to comply with the budget deficit target of 7% of the GDP and to implement the reforms undertaken in the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. The IMF made public its latest forecasts regarding the Romanian economy last autumn, when it estimated a 7% deficit for the end of 2025, the same as predicted by the government. However, the IMF’s estimates are more optimistic both as regards the economic growth rate and the inflation. In turn, World Bank officials welcomed the government’s reform plan and the attention paid to investments, noting that Romania is a strong and resilient partner.

     

    SUPERMARKETS –  PM Marcel Ciolacu said legislation should be introduced so that all products in major stores should have the same mark-ups. One day ahead of a boycott on supermarkets announced for Monday by the supporters of the former presidential candidate Călin Georgescu, PM Ciolacu presented, in an online post, the Romanian products he had bought. Roughly 800,000 Romanians work in the over 4,500 large stores in the country, and the taxes paid by such chains account for 13% of the revenues to the state budget. Moreover, according to data from the agriculture ministry, 70% of the products in retail stores in Romania are made in Romania. Early this month, customers in several Balkan countries joined a large-scale boycott on supermarkets, amid rising food prices. The protests that started in Croatia have spread to Bosnia, Montenegro and Serbia.

     

    KOSOVO – Kosovo’s left-wing nationalist PM Albin Kurti claimed victory in Sunday’s parliamentary elections, saying he was optimistic about forming a new government. Unlike in the previous term, however, his party will not be able to form a parliamentary majority on its own. Kurti and other Kosovo party leaders have made it clear that they have no intention of working together, making it unclear how a ruling coalition could be formed in Pristina.

     

     

     

  • February 5, 2025

    February 5, 2025

    BUDGET – The state budget for 2025 is being debated in a joint plenary session of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, after it was approved, on February 1, by the ruling coalition government. The budget focuses on development, Finance Minister Tánczos Barna said, with record funds allotted to investments and with provisions for reducing public spending. The Romanian official gave details regarding the figures underlying this year’s budget: an economic growth rate of 2.5% and an average inflation rate of 4.4 percent. The main target of the government is to reduce the budget deficit to 7% of GDP, without taking into account, however, increases in taxes and duties.

     

    MEETING – The president of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, on Tuesday, met in Bucharest with the European Commission Vice-President, Romanian Roxana Mînzatu. The two discussed the role of education in combating disinformation and manipulation, as well as strengthening the democratic resilience of European societies. Commissioner Mînzatu, who takes charge of Social Rights and Employment, highlighted the need for investments in basic skills, technical and vocational education.

     

    AMBASSADORS – Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu is today meeting the ambassadors of the EU member states accredited in Bucharest. The meeting is hosted by the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU. Poland took over the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union from Hungary on January 1, 2025, for a period of six months, in a difficult geopolitical context, with European security, support for Ukraine and the consolidation of the economy as its top priorities.

     

    INVESTIGATION – The Bucharest Court of Appeal is today ruling on the proposals for the preemptive arrest of 11 people detained in the Nordis investigation. The list includes the former PSD head of the Chamber of Deputies’ Legal Committee, Laura Vicol, and her husband, Vladimir Ciorbă, the main shareholders of Nordis. According to prosecutors, the two allegedly spent huge amounts of money on goods and services exclusively for their personal benefit, after tricking clients into buying apartments in buildings that were no longer built. Ioana Băsescu, the eldest daughter of former president Traian Băsescu, and former PSD deputy Andreea Cosma, were also deposed in the investigation for their involvement in the Nordis affair as public notaries. The total amount embezzled reportedly exceeds 70 million EUR.

     

    PROPOSAL – Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia have categorically dismissed the proposal of US President Donald Trump, made in a press conference at the White House alongside the Israeli Prime Minister, regarding the takeover of the Gaza Strip by the United States and the relocation of Palestinians to other areas in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia has stated that it will not establish relations with Israel without the creation of a Palestinian state. Also, the leadership of the Islamist group Hamas has said that the plan to relocate the population of Gaza would be a recipe for chaos and tensions in the region.

     

    HALEP – The tennis world has reacted following Romanian player Simona Halep’s announcement that she was retiring. Halep made the announcement on Tuesday evening in Cluj-Napoca (northwest), after losing in the first round of the Transylvania Open. The organizers of the Roland Garros Grand Slam tournament, which Halep won in 2018, conveyed a message on X: “Our 2018 champion, Simona Halep, has announced her retirement. We wish you all the best for the next chapter in your life, Simona”. The organizers of the Wimbledon tournament also commented on the Romanian’s announcement: “Our 2019 singles champion, @Simona_Halep, has ended her professional tennis career – we wish her all the best after her retirement”. (VP)

  • EU – higher defence expenses

    EU – higher defence expenses

    With a war, which seems to be dragging on at its borders and with a White House leader, whom some have described unpredictable, some transactional, and others both, the EU cannot afford the luxury of putting common defence and security at the bottom of its agenda.

    EU leaders have recently convened in Brussels for an informal meeting devoted exactly to this issue. And they have insisted not only on raising the member states’ defence budgets but also on funding some joint projects out of community funds. Funding and cooperation at EU level might offset budgetary constraints, which are presently preventing some of the countries from earmarking more money for defence. Differences in the defence output could thus be eliminated and what is being produced in the EU, namely gear and ammunition, could be used in all member countries.

    Also attending the talks, Romania’s president, Klaus Iohannis, has underlined that the discussions should not miss out on the NATO membership of many EU members. Romania, he insisted, does not accept the idea of a European defence, which is being separate or done in parallel with what we are presently doing in NATO, because such a defence might not work out well. Community cooperation must not overlap the role of NATO, seen as the main player in the trans-Atlantic security, most of the EU leaders also believe.

    Invited to the talks, NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte, says that irrespective of the solutions found, Europe’s defence industry must grow and the main solution here is to raise the defence budgets.

    “We are now assessing the gaps for each of the allies between where we are and where we should be. And based on that, the capability targets will be decided upon. And based on that, we will decide on the new defence spending plans. But it will be considerably higher than 2 percent of the GDP, I can assure you” the Alliance leader said.

    In terms of procurement, the French president, Emmanuel Macron, was the only one to speak about “preferential purchase” from the European Union. This position, which would exclude a large part of US suppliers in the future, has triggered reluctance among member countries who want to avoid tense relations with United States against the present global insecurity background, as our correspondent in Brussels has noticed.

    The USA is a NATO ally, which has so far covered most of the Alliance’s procurement burden. And NATO Secretary General suggests the EU countries gradually take over more and more of this burden, not only in terms of covering NATO expenses, but also in terms of the support granted to Ukraine.

    President Klaus Iohannis reminded the Romanian journalists that in spite of the big deficit last year, Romania registered significant economic growths, which also allowed for bringing the defence budget up to 2.5% of the GDP, an example for the EU countries.

    (bill)

  • January 26, 2025

    January 26, 2025

    BUDGET Romania’s 2025 draft budget will be presented to the government and submitted to Parliament for approval in the following days. The Executive intends to submit it for voting by senators and deputies right in the first week of the future Legislature, which gets underway on February 3. The present budget construction targets a 7% GDP deficit as compared to 8.6% last year and in order to achieve that goal, the government has already decided to freeze any pay rise and indexation for state budget employees as well as any pension indexation aimed at adjusting to the inflation rate. Central public institutions and state companies are also to be reorganized and streamlined. The aforementioned austerity measures have caused discontent and a series of protests.

     

    PNL Liberals have today validated the former PNL president Crin Antonescu, as the ruling coalition’s joint candidate for the presidential election slated for May. Antonescu must also get validation from the ruling partners – PSD and UDMR, which is to be followed by a joint event aimed at launching Antonescu in the presidential race. The first and the second rounds of the presidential election have been slated for May 4 and 18, after the Constitutional Court’s cancellation of a first round in December. The Court based its ruling on a report issued by the country’s Higher Defence Council, which referred to foreign interference in the election process. The aforementioned allegations have not been confirmed by legal investigators yet. Tens of thousands Romanians have taken to the streets calling for the resumption of the December election, whose cancellation they believe was unjustified.

     

    HEIST The Dutch police have published the first images with the initial moments of the burglary at the Drents Museum in Assen, from where thieves stole priceless Romanian jewelry in the early hours of Saturday morning. The footage shows that the thieves used explosive to blast their way into the museum. Investigators, who have called on the Interpol to help with the investigation, have announced the discovery of a suspect burnt vehicle, which could be related to the robbery. The thieves have left with three Dacian spiral bracelets and the exhibition’s central piece – the decorated Helmet of Coţofeneşti, which are dating back almost 25 hundred years ago. All these artefacts belonged to Romania’s National History Museum, being the most valuable in an exhibition entitled ”Dacia! The Kingdom of Gold and Silver” opened at the Drents Museum in July last year, and which was supposed to have its last day today. During a phone call with president Klaus Iohannis, the Dutch Prime Minister, Dick Schoof, has given assurances that the police are doing everything possible to identify the thieves and recuperate the treasure.

     

    REACTION The General Prosecutor’s Office in Bucharest has announced the opening of a criminal file in the case of the Assen heist. The investigation is being carried out by prosecutors with the Higher Court Prosecutor’s Office and Romanian police experts. The ancient artefacts stolen from Drents must be quickly recovered and safely returned to Romania – Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu says. The chair of the Culture Committee with the Chamber of Deputies, Mihail Neamtu, has also called for an ample investigation into the way in which the Dacian treasure was exposed and jeopardized. The stolen artefacts are an incommensurable loss for Romania and the Romanian authorities jointly with their Dutch counterparts have the obligation to make all possible efforts to recover and bring them to Romania right away, says the opposition USR.

    (bill)

     

  • Maia Sandu begins second term as president

    Maia Sandu begins second term as president

    Maia Sandu has begun her second mandate as president of the Republic of Moldova, which she obtained following the autumn election. Sandu was sworn in during a solemn joint session of the Parliament and the Constitutional Court. In her inauguration speech, she said that she receives her second mandate “first and foremost with humility and determination” and that her legacy should be “Moldova in the European Union”. The president warned, however, that European integration should not be seen as a “business class ticket to paradise”. Maia Sandu took stock of the achievements of her first mandate and highlighted that the Republic of Moldova has managed to become more energy-independent and respected by Western leaders. The head of state urged Moldovan society to mobilize with a view to ensuring Moldova’s EU accession. The Republic of Moldova is viewed with respect by Western leaders due to the achievements of her previous term, Maia Sandu added:

     

    “Moldova is more respected now than ever. The world looks at us with love and interest and supports us in our dream. The rest is up to us. We have begun to free ourselves from energy reliance. Even if prices are still high, no one can hold us back. We have managed to open the door wide to the EU, which is no small thing as a national priority. There is still much to do, but the path we are on is the right one. I urge you to move forward with confidence.”

     

    The president stated that, during her second term, she will continue to insist on implementing justice reforms, which she said, have been “delayed for decades.” “The government will have in me a serious and dedicated partner, but also a harsh critic in case of underperformance”, Maia Sandu added. Romania and the Republic of Moldova will continue to work together to achieve welfare, stability, European values, resilience and democracy, Romania’s president Klaus Iohannis said in turn, congratulating his Moldovan counterpart on her second term. Maia Sandu is the first female head of state and the sixth president of the Republic of Moldova. She obtained her second term as president by direct vote – a premier for Moldovan politics – following the second round of the presidential election on November 3. Sandu won the election mainly thanks to the vote abroad, grabbing 940,000 votes, while her opponent supported by the Socialists, Alexandr Stoianoglo, obtained just over 750,000 votes. Although she won the election overall, President Sandu narrowly lost in the country’s precincts to Stoianoglo, a former prosecutor general. A national referendum was held on the same day as the election regarding the inclusion of the country’s strategic objective of EU integration in the Constitution, which passed with a score of 51.4%. 2024 was an important year for the Republic of Moldova, when the country consolidated its pro-European course as a result of the referendum and presidential election, but also highlighted once again the deep polarization of society. Both elections ended with borderline scores. During the campaign, the authorities and civil society documented a series of actions of interference from Russia, which triggered a genuine hybrid war, concerted and financed by the group of Ilan Shor, the Moldovan oligarch who fled to Moscow to elude a prison sentence. Moldovan authorities uncovered several schemes for organizing and buying votes, as well as genuine smear and disinformation campaigns. (VP)

  • December 23, 2024 UPDATE

    December 23, 2024 UPDATE

     

     

    GOVERNMENT The new government in Bucharest, headed by the social-democrat Marcel Ciolacu and made up of the pro-European parties PSD, PNL, UDMR and the group of the national minorities has got the investiture vote in Parliament. All the 16 members proposed to become part of the new Executive on Monday got the greenlight following the hearing in the Legislative’s specialized committees. The Prime Minister had said the new government would not resort to austerity measures, but public spending must be decent. The PNL interim leader Ilie Bolojan said that his party signed the agreement to form a stable government, which will carry out reforms during a difficult period. He announced that former Liberal leader Crin Antonescu is the coalition’s joint candidate for the upcoming presidential election. The UDMR president Kelemen Hunor says the current coalition seeks to gain people’s trust in order to overcome the political deadlock. However, the AUR MPs believe the programme presented by the PSD leader is unrealistic and the USR representatives say the new government does not meet the citizens’ expectations. Previously, the leaders of PSD, PNL, UDMR and the leader of the group of national minorities signed a political agreement to form a Parliament majority and a government.  According to Romania’s president Klaus Iohannis, the new pro-European coalition stands good chances of continuing Romania’s good track record, following the undeniably good economic results obtained and the Schengen accession.

     

    DAY In a message conveyed on Revolution Victory Day, President Klaus Iohannis said that Romania is “at a turning point” and must firmly reject attempts to revise history, which aim to “defame the memory of the heroes of democratic Romania and mystify the truth about the dictatorial regime”. The head of state pointed out that the freedom for which the heroes of the Revolution sacrificed themselves is “more alive and present than ever” today, 35 years on. A number of events were held throughout the country to mark the anti-communist revolution of 1989, with participants recalling protesters’ aspirations back then for democracy and a European path for Romania.

     

    PARLIAMENT PSD MP Ciprian Șerban was on Monday elected Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies in the new Parliament. The interim leader of PNL, Ilie Bolojan, was elected Senate Speaker. We recall that four pro-European parties entered Parliament – ​​PSD, PNL, USR, UDMR – and three self-proclaimed sovereignist parties, AUR, SOS Romania and POT.

     

    FORECAST The National Strategy and Forecast Commission has significantly downgraded its economic growth forecast for 2024 from 2.8% previously to 1%, amid an accelerated decline in activity, especially in industry and agriculture. The only sector with a positive estimated impact was services. In its autumn forecast, published in November, the European Commission estimates that the Romanian economy will report an economic slowdown this year, up to 1.4%, but the gradual recovery of external demand, the easing of financial conditions, resilient private consumption and an acceleration of investments will support economic growth up to 2.5% in 2025 and 2.9% in 2026.

    (bill)

  • December 23, 2024

    December 23, 2024

    COALITION – The president of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, has designated Social-Democrat leader Marcel Ciolacu for the position of Prime Minister. The new pro-European coalition stands good chances of continuing Romania’s good track record, following the undeniably good economic results obtained and the Schengen accession, the president said. “I believe they will successfully deal with current issues such as budget construction and the calendar for the 2025 presidential election”, the president went on to say. Also today, the new ministers will appear before Parliament’s special committees, which will be followed by the debate and the confidence vote in a joint plenary sitting. Previously, the leaders of PSD, PNL, UDMR and the leader of the group of national minorities signed a political agreement to form a Parliament majority and a government. Social-Democrat president Marcel Ciolacu stated that the duty of the parties is to defend democratic values, Romania’s trajectory in the EU and NATO, as well as national values ​​and identity. PNL interim leader Ilie Bolojan said that his party signed the agreement to form a stable government, which will carry out reforms during a difficult period. He announced that former Liberal leader Crin Antonescu is the coalition’s joint candidate for the upcoming presidential election. UDMR president Kelemen Hunor stated that the current coalition seeks to gain people’s trust in order to overcome the political deadlock, and the first challenges are adopting the 2025 budget and organizing the presidential election as soon as possible next year. The representative of national minorities (other than the Hungarian one), MP Varujan Pambuccian, said that this coalition seeks to maintain political, economic and social stability.

     

    PARLIAMENT – PSD MP Ciprian Șerban was earlier today elected Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies in the new Parliament. The interim leader of PNL, Ilie Bolojan, was elected Senate Speaker. We recall that four pro-European parties entered Parliament – ​​PSD, PNL, USR, UDMR – and three self-proclaimed sovereigntist parties, AUR, SOS Romania and POT.

     

    FORECAST – The National Strategy and Forecast Commission has significantly downgraded its economic growth forecast for 2024 from 2.8% previously to 1%, amid an accelerated decline in activity, especially in industry and agriculture. The only sector with a positive estimated impact was services. In its autumn forecast, published in November, the European Commission estimates that the Romanian economy will report an economic slowdown this year, up to 1.4%, but the gradual recovery of external demand, the easing of financial conditions, resilient private consumption and an acceleration of investments will support economic growth up to 2.5% in 2025 and 2.9% in 2026.

     

    COMMEMORATION – In a message conveyed on Revolution Victory Day, President Klaus Iohannis said that Romania is “at a turning point” and must firmly reject attempts to revise history, which aim to “defame the memory of the heroes of democratic Romania and mystify the truth about the dictatorial regime”. The head of state pointed out that the freedom for which the heroes of the Revolution sacrificed themselves is “more alive and present than ever” today, 35 years on. A number of events were held throughout the country to mark the anti-communist revolution of 1989, with participants recalling protesters’ aspirations back then for democracy and a European path for Romania.

     

    BORDER POLICE – The border police in Romania expects a significant increase in traffic flows ​​at the border checkpoints, especially on the Hungarian border, given that many Romanian citizens are coming home from the holidays from European countries. Over 3,500 border police officers carry out nationwide surveillance and control activities on a daily basis, also with a view to preventing and combating cross-border crime. According to a press release published by the Border Police, if the situation requires it, additional lanes will be opened up to the maximum working capacity in crossing points that get crowded. (VP)

  • The EU and the exposure to disinformation

    The EU and the exposure to disinformation

    Attending the EU-Western Balkans summit and the European Council in Brussels, the Romanian president Klaus Iohannis said Romania was confronted with an enormous problem related to foreign interference with the election process, but that it coped well. The country’s reaction was immediate, strong and fair, said Iohannis, who expressed confidence in Romania’s capacity to remain stable, solid and a reliable partner.

    We recall that the first round of the presidential elections in Romania held on 24th November was annulled, as it was discovered that the process was not fair due to illegal practices supported by Russia on social media, especially TikTok.

    According to Iohannis, foreign interference with the election process is not a threat just for Romania, but also for European democracies and values. All countries are exposed to this risk, he said, adding that instruments and mechanisms for defence against such attacks must be immediately developed. “Romania reacted 100% fair and legal, because it’s not everywhere in Europe that constitutional courts have the right to intervene in the case of elections. In Romania, however, it is laid down in the Constitution that the Constitutional Court can validate, and therefore also invalidate the elections if it sees grave irregularities. And this time, there were grave irregularities,” president Iohannis emphasised.

    During talks with the new president of the European Council, António Costa, Iohannis discussed the importance of resilience and of a strategic direction to be able to manage all challenges. He said efforts are needed to combat Russia’s “malign” interference, in order to “reduce exposure to such perfidious attacks”. President Iohannis said on Wednesday that integrated coordination is needed, as well as finding instruments and solutions, because this is what people are expecting from the European Union and their national governments.

    The European Commission has already begun an investigation into the Chinese social media platform TikTok following the campaign for the presidential elections in Romania. Even though TikTok says the platform was protected during 150 elections at global level and that it is constantly eliminating content that violates rules, the representatives of the European Commission say there are credible suspicions over the violation of the European Digital Services Act and the lack of reaction to systemic risks connected to the integrity of the elections. On Monday, the European Union said it adopted the first sanctions in response to “hybrid actions” on its territory against Russian agents accused of “destabilising” actions in the European Union. The EU is also accusing Moscow of cyber attacks and disinformation, especially during the elections in the European Union.

  • December 13, 2024 UPDATE

    December 13, 2024 UPDATE

    PLANES Three F-16 Fighting Falcons, Romania bought from Norway, touched down at Air Base 71 in Campia Turzii, north-western Romania on Friday. According to sources with the Romanian Defence Ministry, the three multi-role warplanes are going to join the 48th Fighting Squadron, which boasts a total of 15 similar aircraft. Romania will buy from Norway 32 F-16 jet fighters, which are expected to improve the country’s security capabilities and contribute to the defence of its airspace and even NATO’s airspace, the communiqué also says. Romania has recently signed the contract for buying the first 32 fifth-generation fighters F-35. The first F-35 fighters are to arrive in Romania in 2030.

     

    FOOTBALL Lots drawn in Zurich on Friday for the preliminaries of World Cup 2026  have placed Romania’s national football side in Group H, which also includes Austria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cyprus and San Marino. Romania’s champions, FCSB, drew 0-0 against Hoffenheim of Germany on Thursday in the 6th round of Europa League. The team from Bucharest ranks 10th in the group standings and holds good chances of advancing to the next phase. Two more rounds follow in Germany, with the final match scheduled at home against Manchester United of England.

     

    UKRAINE The Foreign Ministers of France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom met in Berlin on Thursday to reiterate support for Ukraine and its irreversible NATO track. The Ministers also promised Kyiv additional military support in the war against Russia as well as post-conflict security guarantees. At the end of the meeting, the Foreign Ministers joined the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, in signing the Berlin Declaration, given that the scenario of peace talks between Ukraine and Russia has become a possibility with Donald Trump’s return at the White House. Several member states, including the USA and Germany, have expressed reluctance towards the prospect of a swift accession to NATO for Ukraine. In the case of an agreement between Russia and Ukraine, Kyiv’s allies could deploy a peace-keeping corps to Ukraine, as a security guarantee.

     

    GOVERNMENT President Klaus Iohannis is expected to convene the new Parliament on December 20. Having won nearly two thirds of seats after the December 1 parliamentary election, pro-European parties and the group of national minorities have engaged in talks with a view to forming a coalition cabinet. Leaders of the Social-Democratic Party (PSD), the National Liberal Party (PNL), the Save Romania Union (USR) and the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians (UDMR) have agreed that each party would control a number of ministries equal to their share in Parliament. The new cabinet will comprise 16 ministries. Three self-proclaimed sovereignist parties – the Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR), SOS Romania and the Young People’s Party (POT) – will also be represented in the new Parliament. The new government will very likely be sworn in ahead of the Christmas holidays. For the time being, the pro-European coalition has agreed to designate a common candidate for the 2025 presidential election.

    (bill)

  • December 4, 2024 UPDATE

    December 4, 2024 UPDATE

    PARLIAMENT – The interim president of the National Liberal Party, Ilie Bolojan, on Wednesday said the pro-European parties in the new Parliament, PSD, PNL, USR, UDMR and the group of national minorities have agreed to create a coalition as part of a joint resolution. The coalition will seek to ensure stability and reforms. The four parties are expected to hold together over 55% of total seats in Parliament after the completion of the redistribution process. The other three parties that entered Parliament, AUR, SOS Romania and POT, seen as ultranationalist and sovereigntist, will hold 37% of MP seats. The exact figures will be made public at the end of the week once all mandates that were left vacant after the election are redistributed, the president of the Permanent Election Authority, Toni Greblă, says. The new Parliament is expected to officially start its activity on December 20, when the four-year term of the current legislature is set to end.

     

    DOCUMENTS – The president of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, on Wednesday declassified 5 documents presented by the Interior Ministry, the Foreign Ministry, the Romanian Intelligence Service and the Special Telecommunications Service in the November 28 meeting of the Supreme Defense Council. The documents regard infringement of electoral advertising regulations ahead of the 1st round of the presidential election. We recall that following last week’s meeting, Council members noticed that cyber-attacks sought to influence the first round of the presidential election, held on November 24.

     

    FINANCE – Finance Minister Marcel Boloș on Wednesday said the Government has withdrawn 6 bln EUR from the Reserve Fund to deal with imbalances triggered by the recent political uncertainty. Romania is undergoing a period of uncertainty until a new government is sworn in to stabilize and finalize the country’s budget policies, the Finance Minister added, expressing hope the crisis would end. The same difficulties in terms of state bonds and loans are also transparent on the stock market, Minister Boloș went on to say.

     

    FLOODS – The Government has updated the national strategy for the management of medium and long-term flood risks. The updated document provides a number of general objectives, including the need ot modernize the protection infrastructure, including embankments and dams, implementing natural solutions, such as water draining, introducing tight regulations for the use of farmland in at-risk areas and providing risk management training to technical staff. The implementation of these goals are estimated to cost approximately 18 bln EUR, which will be covered with EU funds from the Recovery and Resilience mechanism.

     

    NATO – Ukraine’s allies should provide enough military assistance to “alter the course of the war once and for all”, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said in Brussels, which hosted the two-day meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers. On Tuesday, in her speech before the Foreign Affairs Council, Romania’s Foreign Minister, Luminița Odobescu, said NATO membership presented Romania with the strongest security guarantees it ever had. Over 5,000 NATO troops are currently deployed to Romania for deterrence and security consolidation purposes, the Romanian official recalled. Another positive effect of the presence of foreign troops is an economic boost, while NATO membership itself reinforces Romania’s credibility at international level, including on financial markets, the Romanian official said.

     

    GAUDEAMUS – A new edition of the Gaudeamus Book Fair has kicked off in Bucharest. Organized by Radio Romania, the event this year is presided by a special honorary guest, Mircea Cărtărescu, one of the best-known and internationally acclaimed Romanian contemporary writers, the recipient of countless national and international awards. Some 200 exhibitors are taking part in the fair, which until December 8 will bring visitors hundreds of book launches and numerous premieres. (VP)

  • November 18, 2024 UPDATE

    November 18, 2024 UPDATE

    VISIT – The president of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, on Monday visited the Documentation Centre for Displacement, Expulsion, Reconciliation in Berlin on the sidelines on his visit to Germany. “The visit highlights people’s suffering from war, a time when man’s fundamental rights are ignored”, the president said. On Sunday, Klaus Iohannis addressed the Bundestag as part of a ceremony devoted to the Victims of War and Dictatorship Remembrance Day. “The fall of the Berlin Wall 35 years ago encouraged Romanians to fight for freedom, while the fall of the Iron Curtain allowed Romania to return to the family of European democracies”, the president said. Klaus Iohannis met with his German counterpart, Frank-Walter Steinmeier and discussed security topics and the support the two countries provide to Ukraine. His meeting with Chancellor Olaf Scholz tackled Romania’s full Schengen accession.

     

    ROMANIA AND NATO – Romania’s Prime Minister, Marcel Ciolacu, on Monday met the European Parliament president, Roberta Metsola, on the sidelines of his visit to Brussels, marking the start of a new Parliament session and the adoption of the 2024-2029 Strategic Agenda. Joint projects highlighted by Prime Minister Ciolacu for the upcoming period include supporting a promising EU budget post-2025 that should foster competitiveness and internal convergence. The Prime Minister also met with the European Council president-elect, Antonio Costa. Also on Monday, Marcel Ciolacu met with NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte, on whom he called to deploy additional Allied troops to Romania, a decision he has called “vital” for a robust deterrence in the face of Russian challenges, also with a view to consolidating NATO’s presence on the Eastern Flank, in the extended Black Sea region. Romania has already allotted 2.5% of the GDP to defense spending this year and will continue to prioritize investments in defense over the coming period as well, the Prime Minister told the NATO Secretary General. Romania will continue to provide multidimensional support to Ukraine and to the Republic of Moldova, Marcel Ciolacu also said.

     

    SCHENGEN – Romania’s Interior Minister, Cătălin Predoiu, held talks in Vienna with his Austrian counterpart, Gerhard Karner, ahead of the informal meeting that will take place in Budapest at the end of this week, where Romania’s Schengen extension will be discussed. Romania will continue to take action to combat illegal migration and cross-border crime, through a preemptive approach, the Bucharest official said. According to Brussels sources, the Ministers of Internal Affairs from Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary and Austria will hold preliminary talks in the Hungarian capital regarding the date when Romania and Bulgaria would join Schengen with their land borders as well.

     

    EU-FAC – Romania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Luminiţa Odobescu, on Monday attended the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) meeting in Brussels. On the sidelines of the event, she took part in a working meeting of EU Foreign Ministers with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Moldova, Mihai Popșoi. The meeting occasioned in-depth discussions regarding the results of the presidential election and the referendum for European integration in the Republic of Moldova, with an emphasis on Russia’s hybrid attacks in this context, by means of which it tried to undermine the democratic electoral process and hijack the European course of this country. Minister Odobescu congratulated the authorities of the Republic of Moldova for the very good organization of the presidential election and the constitutional referendum, expressing satisfaction for the new mandate obtained by president Maia Sandu. Minister Odobescu emphasized Romania’s determination to continue the active and consistent support for the Republic of Moldova at all levels of cooperation. (VP)

  • November 14, 2024 UPDATE

    November 14, 2024 UPDATE

    VISIT – The President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, will pay an official visit to Germany from Friday to Monday, in response to an invitation extended by his German counterpart, Frank-Walter Steinmeier. According to the Presidential Administration in Bucharest, the agenda of the visit includes official talks between the two heads of state and meetings between president Iohannis and Chancellor Olaf Scholz, as well as the president of the Bundestag (the lower house in the German Parliament), Barbel Bas. On Sunday, president Iohannis is expected to give a speech at the Federal Parliament on the sidelines of a solemn ceremony devoted to the Day of Commemoration of the victims of war and dictatorship. According to official statistics, Germany is Romania’s top trade partner and the second-largest investor in Romanian economy. The two countries are allies in NATO and partners in the European Union. An ethnic German, Iohannis next month will conclude his second and last term as president. The first round of the presidential election is scheduled for November 24, while the second round will take place on December 8. The parliamentary election has been slated for December 1, the National Day of Romania.

     

    SALARIES – The law raising the minimum wage to half of the average earnings in the country has been ratified and will come into effect on January 1, 2025. The increases will be operated according to a formula based on clear economic indicators, and in a first stage, the amount of the minimum gross salary will be approximately 800 EUR, according to a government-employer-union agreement. This is an increase between 47 and 52% of the average gross earnings at national level, according to a formula developed by specialists from the Ministry of Labor, based on criteria such as purchasing power, wage growth rate and labor productivity at national level. 1,8 million people are expected to benefit from these wage increases.

     

    GDP GROWTH – Romania’s gross domestic product did not change in the third quarter of this year, compared to the previous quarter, and it went down by 0.2% compared to the same quarter in 2023, according to data published on Thursday by the National Statistics Institute. In its latest “World Economic Outlook” report, the International Monetary Fund has downgraded to 1.9% its forecast on the Romanian economy this year, from 2.8% in April. In September, the National Strategy and Forecast Commission revised the economic growth projection for this year, from 3.4% previously to 2.8%.

     

    F-35 – As a decision-making body, the Bucharest Senate approved the draft law regarding Romania’s purchase of 32 F-35 fighter jets from the USA. The F-35 aircraft has very advanced technological performance features, the STEALTH one in particular, which ensures a reduced radar signature. The 32 F-35 planes would gradually replace, starting from 2030, the second-hand F-16 planes bought by Romania in the last decade. Later, Bucharest would buy another 16 F-35 planes, with the final goal being to constitute 3 complete squadrons of fighter planes. According to the American company Lockheed Martin, more than 1,060 F-35s have been built so far and have accumulated more than 940,000 flight hours. More than 2,600 pilots and 17,000 technicians have already been trained in the world. 19 countries, most of them NATO members, are involved in the program.

     

    FLOODS – The October 29 devastating floods in southeastern Spain killed at least 26 people of foreign nationality, including 9 Romanians, according to an official report published on Thursday, AFP reports. The Data Integration Center, a body established after the floods of October 29, which allows the authorities to collect information about victims in the Valencia region, announced that there were a total of 216 fatalities, 190 of Spanish nationality, and the rest foreign citizens from 11 different countries. In Spain, the areas of Valencia (south-east) and Malaga (south) were affected by a code red alert against heavy rain these days. The rivers overflowed and several localities were flooded. Over 4,000 people were evacuated in Malaga. According to Radio Romania’s correspondent, heavy rains were also reported in the south of Catalonia, the north of the Castellón region, the Balearic Islands and the Granada area.

     

    MOLDOVA – The new Constitution of the Republic of Moldova, amended by the October 20 referendum, was published on Wednesday in the Official Gazette of Chișinău. In its new form, the Fundamental Law of the Republic of Moldova provides that integration into the European Union is a strategic objective of the country, the European course is irreversible, and the identity of the people of the Republic of Moldova is European, Radio Chișinău reports. The new version of the Constitution also includes the fact that Romanian is the official state language in the Republic of Moldova. The October 20 referendum passed with a fragile majority: 50.38% of the voters said “Yes” to amending the Constitution to include the accession of the Republic of Moldova to the EU, and the difference compared to the “No” option was 11,400 votes.

     

    TENNIS – Romania lost 2-1 to Japan in the first round of the Billie Jean King Cup final tournament in a match hosted by Malaga on Thursday. In the first match, Ana Bogdan won 6-2, 6-4 to Nao Hibino. Ena Shibahara then defeated Jaqueline Cristian 6-4, 7-6. In the doubles match, Monica Niculescu and Gabriela Ruse lost to Shuko Aoyama and Eri Hozumi. Japan will play Italy in the quarterfinals. This is the first time Romania has qualified to the final tournament of the Billie Jean King Cup. (VP)