Radio România Internațional

Tag: Maia Sandu

  • March 1, 2025 UPDATE 3

    March 1, 2025 UPDATE 3

    ROMANIA – MOLDOVA RELATIONS – Romania is Moldova’s most important partner, on which it has relied in any circumstances, Maia Sandu said upon meeting her Romanian counterpart, Ilie Bolojan, in Chișinău. „These are difficult times, which is why Romania’s support is all the more important. Beyond joint projects, we are tied by a common vision for the future, our will to live in peace, freedom and democracy”, Maia Sandu pointed out. In turn, interim president Ilie Bolojan said he wants to consolidate the bilateral relations, and that he visited Chișinău for consutlations with Maia Sandu in a very difficult context. “I assure you Romania stands with you. We will support you, in our dialogue with European partners, and will step up support at all levels, in terms of finance, expertise and projects. Russia’s war against Ukraine continues to generate challenges for the Republic of Moldova. The Republic of Moldova does not stand alone. Romania and numerous other external partners fully support Moldova’s objective to consolidate its resilience and security”, Ilie Bolojan said. The Romanian president on Monday is expected to join countless other European leaders who will attend a security summit in London focusing on Ukraine, called by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

     

    PROTEST – A few hundred thousand people protested on Saturday in Victory Square in central Bucharest in a rally organized by the Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR). Its leader, George Simion, said the protest was directed against the Romanian government and the Constitutional Court’s ruling that annulled the second round of last year’s presidential election. Participants were seen waving national flags and banners in support of the independent candidate, Călin Georgescu. Georgescu himself attended the protest, accusing the authorities of trying to block his candidacy in the May presidential election.

     

    DRONE – Fragments of a Russian drone discovered with explosives onboard in the area near the Giurgiulesti border checkpoint on Romania’s eastern border with the Republic of Moldova, were detonated in a controlled explosion. A team of specialists from the Ministry of National Defense, the Romanian Intelligence Service and the Ministry of Interior were on site and eliminated the threat. Fragments of drones used by Russian forces in attacks against civilian and military infrastructure in Ukraine are frequently discovered on Romanian territory, which has led to countless protests from the Romanian Foreign Ministry against Moscow. This week, the Romanian Senate adopted a law that allows the Army to shoot down drones that illegally enter the country’s airspace.

     

    WHITE HOUSE MEETING – International leaders, including Romania’s interim president, Ilie Bolojan, have reacted to the falling-out between Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump, most of them appealing to calm and maintaining support for Ukraine. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told Volodymyr Zelensky to be strong and courageous because he is not alone, Reuters reports. Messages of encouragement for Ukraine also came from Poland, Norway, Canada, Czechia, Spain, the Netherlands, Latvia, Lithuania and the United Kingdom. In turn, French president Emmanuel Macron recalled that Russia is the aggressor in the current conflict, and the Ukrainian people are the victim, fighting for both their independence and the security of Europe. A similar message was conveyed by the president of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu. Italy’s Prime Minister, Georgia Meloni, said that in such moments unity is needed and called for the organization of a US – EU summit. Following talks between Zelenskyy and Trump at the Oval Office, the interim president of Romania posted a message on X, arguing that “the security of Ukraine is crucial for the security of Europe” and that “we must stand united to fight for our values, freedom and peace”. The meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy, during which vice-president J.D. Vance also intervened, took place at the Oval Office of the White House and ended with a dispute. Volodymyr Zelensky explained that, starting 2014, when Russia first attacked Ukraine, until the full-scale invasion of 2022, there were numerous attempts to regulate the conflict and ceasefires, but Russia violated its commitments every time. Therefore, Zelenskyy asked president Donald Trump not to accept compromises from Vladimir Putin. The two American leaders responded harshly, accusing Volodymyr Zelenskyy of not being grateful and not thanking the United States for the support received and of risking to start World War III. As a result of growing tension, the agreement on the joint exploitation of Ukrainian rare earths, requested by president Donald Trump as compensation for the support provided so far by the United States, was not signed, and the joint press conference of the two leaders was canceled.

     

    MĂRȚIȘOR – Romanians on March 1 celebrate the coming of spring, popularly known as Mărțișor. This popular celebrate was first documented in the early 20th century in Romania, Bulgaria, Albania and elsewhere in the Balkans. In Romania, Mărțișor was associated with protection against disease and misfortune. A silver coin was usually tied with a red-and-white piece of string to children’s hands, to ward off disease. 12 days later, the coin is tied to a branch so the tree can bloom, or it is tied to cattle’s horns, to prevent disease. Picked up by urban culture, Mărțișor became a very fashionable holiday. People buy silver or gold trinkets to give to their loved ones. Mărțișor was added to the UNESCO Intangible World Heritage list in 2017 following a joint application from Romania, Moldova, Bulgaria and North Macedonia. (VP)

  • March 1, 2025 UPDATE 2

    March 1, 2025 UPDATE 2

    ROMANIA – MOLDOVA RELATIONS – Romania is Moldova’s most important partner, on which it has relied in any circumstances, Maia Sandu said upon meeting her Romanian counterpart, Ilie Bolojan, in Chișinău. „These are difficult times, which is why Romania’s support is all the more important. Beyond joint projects, we are tied by a common vision for the future, our will to live in peace, freedom and democracy”, Maia Sandu pointed out. In turn, interim president Ilie Bolojan said he wants to consolidate the bilateral relations, and that he visited Chișinău for consutlations with Maia Sandu in a very difficult context. “I assure you Romania stands with you. We will support you, in our dialogue with European partners, and will step up support at all levels, in terms of finance, expertise and projects. Russia’s war against Ukraine continues to generate challenges for the Republic of Moldova. The Republic of Moldova does not stand alone. Romania and numerous other external partners fully support Moldova’s objective to consolidate its resilience and security”, Ilie Bolojan said. The Romanian president on Monday is expected to join countless other European leaders who will attend a security summit in London focusing on Ukraine, called by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

     

    PROTEST – A few hundred thousand people are protesting in Victory Square in central Bucharest in a rally organized by the Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR). Its leader, George Simion, says the protest is directed against the Romanian government and the Constitutional Court’s ruling that annulled the second round of last year’s presidential election. Participants were seen waving national flags and banners in support of the independent candidate, Călin Georgescu.

     

    DRONE – Fragments of a Russian drone discovered with explosives onboard in the area near the Giurgiulesti border checkpoint on Romania’s eastern border with the Republic of Moldova, were detonated in a controlled manner. A team of specialists from the Ministry of National Defense, the Romanian Intelligence Service and the Ministry of Interior were on site and eliminated the threat. Fragments of drones used by Russian forces in attacks against civilian and military infrastructure in Ukraine are frequently discovered on Romanian territory, which has led to countless protests from the Romanian Foreign Ministry against Moscow. This week, the Romanian Senate adopted a law that allows the Army to shoot down drones that illegally enter the country’s airspace.

  • March 1, 2025 UPDATE 1

    March 1, 2025 UPDATE 1

    ROMANIA – MOLDOVA RELATIONS – Romania is Moldova’s most important partner, on which it has relied in any circumstances, Maia Sandu said upon meeting her Romanian counterpart, Ilie Bolojan, in Chișinău. „These are difficult times, which is why Romania’s support is all the more important. Beyond joint projects, we are tied by a common vision for the future, our will to live in peace, freedom and democracy”, Maia Sandu pointed out. In turn, interim president Ilie Bolojan said he wants to consolidate the bilateral relations, and that he visited Chișinău for consutlations with Maia Sandu in a very difficult context. “I assure you Romania stands with you. We will support you, in our dialogue with European partners, and will step up support at all levels, in terms of finance, expertise and projects. Russia’s war against Ukraine continues to generate challenges for the Republic of Moldova. The Republic of Moldova does not stand alone. Romania and numerous other external partners fully support Moldova’s objective to consolidate its resilience and security”, Ilie Bolojan said. The Romanian president on Monday is expected to join countless other European leaders who will attend a security summit in London focusing on Ukraine, called by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

     

    PROTEST – A few hundred thousand people are protesting in Victory Square in central Bucharest in a rally organized by the Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR). Its leader, George Simion, says the protest is directed against the Romanian government and the Constitutional Court’s ruling that annulled the second round of last year’s presidential election. Participants were seen waving national flags and banners in support of the independent candidate, Călin Georgescu.

  • March 1, 2025

    March 1, 2025

    ROMANIA – MOLDOVA RELATIONS – Romania’s interim president, Ilie Bolojan, on Saturday morning was received by his Moldovan counterpart, Maia Sandu, as part of an official visit to Chișinău. Ilie Bolojan also met with Moldovan Parliament Speaker Igor Grosu and Prime Minister Dorin Recean, and brought a floral tribute to the Stephen the Great monument in the Moldovan capital. The Romanian head of state traveled to Moldova to further consolidate the Romanian-Moldovan partnership and express Romania’s willingness to continue support and cooperation with its neighbor. On February 12, shortly after being sworn in as interim president, Ilie Bolojan phoned the Moldovan president, discussing ways to continue close cooperation and bilateral relations.

     

    WHITE HOUSE MEETING – International leaders, including Romania’s interim president, Ilie Bolojan, have reacted to the falling-out between Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump, most of them appealing to calm and maintaining support for Ukraine. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told Volodymyr Zelensky to be strong and courageous because he is not alone, Reuters reports. Messages of encouragement for Ukraine also came from Poland, Norway, Canada, Czechia, Spain, the Netherlands, Latvia, Lithuania and the United Kingdom. In turn, French president Emmanuel Macron recalled that Russia is the aggressor in the current conflict, and the Ukrainian people are the victim, fighting for both their independence and the security of Europe. A similar message was conveyed by the president of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu. Italy’s Prime Minister, Georgia Meloni, said that in such moments unity is needed and called for the organization of a US – EU summit. Following talks between Zelenskyy and Trump at the Oval Office, the interim president of Romania posted a message on X, arguing that “the security of Ukraine is crucial for the security of Europe” and that “we must stand united to fight for our values, freedom and peace”. The meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy, during which vice-president J.D. Vance also intervened, took place at the Oval Office of the White House and ended with a dispute. Volodymyr Zelensky explained that, starting 2014, when Russia first attacked Ukraine, until the full-scale invasion of 2022, there were numerous attempts to regulate the conflict and ceasefires, but Russia violated its commitments every time. Therefore, Zelenskyy asked president Donald Trump not to accept compromises from Vladimir Putin. The two American leaders responded harshly, accusing Volodymyr Zelenskyy of not being grateful and not thanking the United States for the support received and of risking to start World War III. As a result of growing tension, the agreement on the joint exploitation of Ukrainian rare earths, requested by president Donald Trump as compensation for the support provided so far by the United States, was not signed, and the joint press conference of the two leaders was canceled.

     

    ARREST – Mercenary Horaţiu Potra, his son and his brother were added to an international wanted list by the Romanian Police, after the Supreme Court decided to have them arrested. At the same time, 16 other defendants have already been placed under pre-trial arrest, and two individuals were put on house arrest. All suspects are accused of actions against the constitutional order. Additionally, Horaţiu Potra is accused of violating the weapons and ammunition regime and the explosives regime. According to some sources, the three fugitives are currently in Dubai. Prosecutors claim Horaţiu Potra and his group of mercenaries sought to infiltrate the protests organized immediately after the annulment of last year’s presidential election in Romania, in order to create chaos. The action plan was allegedly devised by former independent candidate Călin Georgescu and his associates in a secret meeting shortly after decision of the Constitutional Court. As for Călin Georgescu, he was placed under pre-trial arrest for 60 days on Wednesday. He is being investigated for several crimes, including incitement to actions against the constitutional order.

     

    MĂRȚIȘOR – Romanians on March 1 celebrate the coming of spring, popularly known as Mărțișor. This popular celebrate was first documented in the early 20th century in Romania, Bulgaria, Albania and elsewhere in the Balkans. In Romania, Mărțișor was associated with protection against disease and misfortune. A silver coin was usually tied with a red-and-white piece of string to children’s hands, to ward off disease. 12 days later, the coin is tied to a branch so the tree can bloom, or it is tied to cattle’s horns, to prevent disease. Picked up by urban culture, Mărțișor became a very fashionable holiday. People buy silver or gold trinkets to give to their loved ones. Mărțișor was added to the UNESCO Intangible World Heritage list in 2017 following a joint application from Romania, Moldova, Bulgaria and North Macedonia. (VP)

  • January 25, 2025 UPDATE 2

    January 25, 2025 UPDATE 2

     

    RATING The financial rating agency Standard & Poor’s confirmed Romania’s ‘BBB minus’ rating, but revised the outlook from “stable” to “negative”. The reasons are related to high fiscal and external risks, the agency reports. According to S&P, the fragmented and uncertain political environment, as well as the substantial spending ahead of the elections, pushed the fiscal deficit to almost 8.7% of GDP, far above expectations. The Romanian finance minister Tánczos Barna says the change in the outlook from stable to negative indicates that measures are needed to reduce the budget deficit, and that the country needs a balanced public budget and a streamlined government structure. He also said that the government’s measures to reduce the deficit and consolidate economic growth must be implemented at an alert pace, in the form already agreed on with the EU.

     

    UKRAINE The president of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that, taking into account Ukraine’s cooperation with the Republic of Moldova, it is possible for Kyiv to cover Moldova’s entire electricity demand, and a 30% discount on the supply price is also possible. He made these statements at a meeting on Saturday in Kyiv with the president of Moldova, Maia Sandu. The two officials also discussed possible coal deliveries to the Republic of Moldova. In turn, Maia Sandu accused Russia of trying to create economic and social chaos in Moldova and bring a pro-Russian government in power in Chisinau. She traveled to Kyiv amid energy tensions in Transnistria, a pro-Russian breakaway region between the two countries, AFP reports. This strip of land with a population of about half a million, which remains outside Moldova’s control, was supplied by the Russian natural gas giant Gazprom for free, through a pipeline that crossed Ukraine. The latter ended the contract with Moscow on January 1, thus cutting off supplies to Moldova, including to Transnistria, which declared a state of emergency. With Kyiv fighting the Russian invasion for three years, Chisinau is worried about a possible spillover of the conflict to its territory, especially through the destabilisation of Transnistria by Russia. The rest of Moldova is for now safe from energy cuts, thanks to electricity and gas imports from Romania.

     

    ELECTIONS The Liberals will convene on Sunday in a special National Council meeting to validate the former party president Crin Antonescu as the joint candidate of the ruling coalition in Romania. The Social Democrats scheduled a special congress on February 2 for the same purpose, and UDMR will make its decision at the beginning of next week. The first and second rounds of the presidential elections are scheduled for May 4 and 18. So far, the mayor of Bucharest, Nicuşor Dan, the independent candidate Călin Georgescu and the president of Save Romania Union, Elena Lasconi, have announced plans to run for president. The latter two were top placed in the presidential elections canceled last year. After the first election round on November 24 was validated, the Constitutional Court of Romania canceled the election as a whole on December 6, although voting in the second round had already begun abroad. The Court made its decision after the Supreme Defence Council published a report indicating foreign interference in the electoral process, but investigations have so far failed to confirm it. Tens of thousands of Romanians took to the streets to demand that the second round be resumed.

     

    EXHIBITION Romania’s foreign ministry announced that on Saturday the National Museum of History of Romania (MNIR) and the Culture Ministry were notified that an explosion took place and several exhibits were stolen at the Drents Museum in the Netherlands, which is hosting an exhibition called ‘Dacia! Rijk van goud en zilver’ (Dacia! Kingdom of gold and silver), organised jointly with MNIR. According to the institution, initial investigations indicate that the blast was design to help as yet unidentified perpetrators to break into the museum building and steal pieces from Romania’s Dacian treasure. The foreign ministry notified the Romanian interior ministry and the Romanian police, and the Romanian embassies in all neighboring countries are on alert. Romania’s foreign minister Emil Hurezeanu spoke with his Dutch counterpart Caspar Veldkamp, ​​highlighting the exceptional importance of the stolen exhibits. The Dutch side assured Romania of its operational and political determination to solve the case. The Dutch police also activated cross-border cooperation mechanisms and informed the Interpol of the matter.

     

    HOLOCAUST The minister of culture Natalia Intotero will represent Romania, on Monday, at the ceremony commemorating the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp in Poland. The event, held under the patronage of the president of Poland, marks the International Holocaust Remembrance Day declared by the United Nations, and brings together camp survivors, official delegations of states and international organisations. Romania’s participation in the ceremony on January 27 reflects its solid commitment to keeping alive the memory of the victims of the Holocaust, to fighting all forms of denial, distortion, or downplaying of this tragic moment, as well as to fighting anti-Semitism, xenophobia, radicalisation and hate speech, while at the same time promoting respect for fundamental human rights, both at national and international level, the Romanian culture ministry said. (AMP)

  • 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)

  • The Republic of Moldova’s Euro-Atlantic Option

    The Republic of Moldova’s Euro-Atlantic Option

    The relations between NATO and the Republic of Moldova, an ex-Soviet, Romanian-speaking country, have along the years known several development stages, being marked by political changes at regional and global levels.

    Chișinău has lately stepped up the relations it has with the North-Atlantic Alliance against the background of the Russian Federation’s invasion of Ukraine. During one of her visits to Brussels, the president of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu, reiterated before the NATO headquarters her state’s commitment to peace and regional security.

    The Peace Partnership between the Republic of Moldova and NATO “has contributed to a safer environment for citizens, for strengthening the army’s defence capabilities and the resilience of our entire society,” Sandu said during the meeting she had with NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte, according to a press release by the presidency in Chisinau.

    Talks focused on regional security, hybrid threats, including interference in the election process and corruption as well as the need for joint actions for the protection of the regional democracies.

    Talking to the North-Atlantic Council, NATO’s main decision-making structure, made up of the representatives of all the 32 members, president Sandu underlined the efforts made by the Republic of Moldova to maintain peace and stability in spite of the war going on at its borders, and to consolidate its resilience against hybrid threats.

    The head of the Moldovan state drew attention to foreign interference tactics targeting democratic processes such as the illegal funding of parties and the manipulation of information, with a view to undermining democracy and the citizens’ trust.

    She also highlighted the importance of international cooperation for defending democracies the world over and promoting peace. According to the Moldovan President, her visit to the NATO headquarters is proof of Chisinau’s commitment to ensuring the security of its citizens, of protecting the democratic processes in the Republic of Moldova and strengthening its role as a trustworthy partner in the regional security. Sandu’s visit to Brussels took place after the confirmation of the country’s European roadmap in the referendum, where Moldovans voted for this national objective to be included in the country’s Constitution.

    The visit came after the new European Commission had kicked off its mandate underlining the continuity and consolidation of the country’s strong ties with the European Union. During her visit, the Chisinau leader also met the European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, who on Tuesday announced a 60 million Euro support package for the Republic of Moldova, which will use the money to reform its legal system and achieve economic stability.

    (bill)

  • November 4, 2024

    November 4, 2024

    Visit – The Romanian PM Marcel Ciolacu is paying a working visit to France today, where he will meet with his counterpart, Michel Barnier, as well as representatives of the Romanian community in the Paris region. The visit begins at the Euronaval Exhibition, the largest and oldest exhibition in the world dedicated to the naval defense industry, which opened its doors this morning near Paris. This year’s edition of the exhibition, featuring over 500 exhibitors from around the world, is dedicated to naval security and enhancing combat capabilities, in a tense geopolitical context where the industry needs to provide rapid solutions to military Navies involved in conflicts and for protecting sensitive areas. France is one of Romania’s most important trade partners and investors. The relationship between the two countries has consistently strengthened in recent years, including in the political and defense areas, thanks to the strategic partnership and France’s commitment to its role as the framework nation of NATO’s multinational battle group in Romania, following the war of aggression Russia started against Ukraine.

     

    Floods – The Romanian Foreign Ministry is verifying, through the Romanian Embassy in Madrid and the Romanian Consulate in Castellon de la Plana, the information regarding four Romanian citizens who are reported missing following the recent weather phenomena in Spain. The rest of the individuals previously reported as missing are safe. The Valencia region, located in southeastern Spain, has been hit by devastating floods described by experts as “unprecedented,” which killed at least 217 people, including one Romanian. Dozens of others remain missing. The Spanish press also wrote on a Romanian family that lost their lives in the floods in La Torre, a district near Valencia. The ministry stated in a press release that the representatives of the diplomatic mission and the consulate office remain in constant contact with the Spanish authorities, and mobile consular teams have kept in contact with the Romanian citizens, depending on their requests.

     

    Moldova – The incumbent president of the Republic of Moldova (an ex-Soviet state with a majority Romanian-speaking population), the pro-European Maia Sandu, has won a second term in office after defeating the pro-Moscow candidate Alexandr Stoianoglo in the decisive round of presidential election held on Sunday. According to data provided by the Central Electoral Commission in Chișinău, Sandu received over 55% of the votes. She thanked the Moldovan citizens living in the Diaspora for voting for her in large numbers. The voter turnout in the diaspora, including in neighboring Romania, is considered historic, being the highest in the last 30 years. Over 320,000 Moldovan citizens voted abroad on Sunday, compared to nearly 240,000 in the first round of voting. The voter turnout in the second round of elections in the Republic of Moldova was 54.31%.

     

    Strike – A token strike was announced by the employees of the National Archives in Romania, the first in the 192-year history of this institution. The archivists from the 42 branches across Romania are unhappy that their salaries are much lower than those from the institution’s central structures. There are differences of 2,000 lei (500 Euros) between employees with the same skills and duties, say the trade unionists. Moreover, they want to warn the authorities that funds are needed to improve the conditions in which the documents, some of which are of inestimable value, are kept. Today’s token strike could turn into an all-out strike on November 11, if the authorities do not come up with an answer to the employees’ demands.

     

    Campaign – During this period, the campaigns for the presidential and parliamentary elections are being held simultaneously in Romania. On November 24, the first round of the presidential election will take place, on December 1 – the voting for the appointment of deputies and senators, and on December 8 – the second round of the presidential election. In the electoral campaign for the parliamentary elections, the parties, alliances or independents must convince the electorate to vote for them in order to win as many of the 466 seats of senators or deputies as possible. On the other hand, 10 candidates proposed by political parties and 4 independents are competing to become president of the country.

     

    US election – The Democratic candidate Kamala Harris and the Republican Donald Trump remain in a tight race in the seven swing states ahead of the US presidential election, according to the final New York Times/Siena College poll. The opinion poll shows that Vice President Harris has minimal advantages in Nevada, North Carolina and Wisconsin and the former President Trump in Arizona. According to the survey of 7,879 likely voters conducted in the seven states between October 24 and November 2, the two are very close in Michigan, Georgia and Pennsylvania. In all seven states, the results were within the poll’s 3.5% margin of error. About 40% of respondents have already voted and Kamala Harris leads by 8% among them, while Donald Trump leads among those who say they are very likely to vote but have not yet, the poll shows. Both candidates participated in campaign events at the end of the week in the swing states.

     

    Searches – 130 searches are taking place today in Bucharest and in six counties in the south of Romania, in a file regarding non-compliance with the arms and ammunition regime, qualified smuggling and drug trafficking. Also, 60 people, including the gallery leader of a football club and a singer, are brought to hearings. According to the judicial source, the investigations revealed that a foreign citizen of Turkish origin organized, together with several Romanians, a criminal group specialized in the procurement and sale of lethal firearms, without identification markings, made from components produced in Turkey. These weapons, known as ghost guns, are illegal in all European states. The traffickers brought them into Romania by road, hidden in goods transport vehicles or in the component parts of cars and they were sold through intermediaries to violent clans or individuals. So far, almost 50 such weapons have been confiscated. (LS)

  • November 2, 2024 UPDATE

    November 2, 2024 UPDATE

    FLOOD According to authorities in Bucharest every Romanian national in the Spanish regions affected by the latest flooding will be able to benefit consular and logistic support by means of Romania’s diplomatic representations. Bucharest is effectively cooperating with the Spanish authorities to set up a rapid and effective mechanism for the repatriation of those willing to return to Romania if need be. Romania’s Prime Minister, Marcel Ciolacu, is expected to meet his Spanish counterpart Pedro Sanchez in a couple of days for talks over the setting up of a logistic centre to help the Romanian nationals affected by flooding in Spain. On Saturday Ciolacu said that a crisis management cell had been created by the Foreign Ministry, but a logistic centre would be also set up jointly with the Spanish authorities. Rescue teams in Spain are making it to the areas blocked by catastrophic flooding where the death toll has reached 211, including four Romanians. One of the victims has been confirmed by the Romanian authorities while a family with a child has been mentioned by the Spanish press. Nine Romanians are reported missing in Spain and the Foreign Ministry in Bucharest is verifying the information about them. The Romanian Embassy in Madrid and the consulate in Castellon de la Plana are in permanent contact with the Spanish authorities. The region of Valencia, in south-eastern Spain, has been affected by devastating floods, experts have deemed as unprecedented. Spain has declared three days of national mourning.

     

    ELECTION The ex-soviet Romanian-speaking Republic of Moldova will be seeing the second round of its presidential election on Sunday. The incumbent pro-European president, Maia Sandu, will be running against the pro-Russian Alexandr Stoianoglo. The first round on October 20 was held concurrently with a referendum on the country’s EU accession and was marked by attempted frauds sponsored by Russia and the runaway oligarch Ilan Şor, who had fled the country in an attempt to avoid a prison sentence. In the first round of voting Maia Sandu got 42.49% and Alexandr Stoianoglo 25.95%. In another development the Constitutional Court has validated the referendum on the country’s EU accession after 50.38% of the Moldovans voted in favour. The Republic of Moldova submitted its EU accession candidacy in March 2022 and the EU kicked off accession negotiations with the former soviet republic in June this year.

     

    MOLDOVA In an interview to Radio Romania, the country’s Foreign Minister, Luminita Odobescu, has highlighted the importance of the presidential election in the neighbouring Republic of Moldova, an ex-Soviet, Romanian-speaking country, both from the voters’ point of view and also from Bucharest’s desire to have a trustworthy dialogue partner in Chisinau. The Romanian minister has also said the Moldovans must vote not only with their hearts but also with their minds for a better future and to bring the republic where it belongs, namely in the European Union. Like in the first round of voting, 16 polling stations will be open in Romania; three in Bucharest, two in Cluj, western Romania and Iasi, in eastern Romania. The cities of Brasov, Sibiu, Timisoara, Craiova, Oradea, Suceava, Bacau, Galati and Constanta each will have one polling station. Moldovan citizens can cast their ballots in Romania by producing an ID or passport between the hours of 7 a.m. and 9 p.m.

     

    AUDITION The European Parliament’s specialized committees on Monday are expected to commence the audition of the designated European Commissioners. On this occasion the MEPs are going to assess the commissioners’ competences, independence and their attachment to European values, essential elements to serve as members of the new European Commission headed by Ursula von der Leyen. According to the schedule announced by the European Parliament, the auditions are to end on 12 November, a day when the six executive vice-presidents of the future Commission, including Romanian Roxana Mînzatu who holds the portfolio, ‘People, competences, training’, will have to answer a series of questions. The entire European Commission will have to get greenlight from the European Parliament, the vote being scheduled for the plenary session of 25-28 November in Strasbourg. After getting Parliament confirmation, the European Commission will have to be officially appointed by the European Council through voting. The commission must have the yes-votes of 55% of the member states.

    (bill)

  •  Moldova, between the West and the East

     Moldova, between the West and the East

    The Republic of Moldova held  presidential elections and a referendum on EU membership.

     

    Casting their vote in larger numbers than in the previous presidential elections, the citizens of the Republic of Moldova decided that the future head of state should be elected in a new round of voting, in two weeks. The incumbent president, the pro- European Maia Sandu, and the candidate supported by the pro-Russian party of socialists, Alexandr Stoianoglo are the two contenders.

     

    In the first round, the former World Bank economist and the first woman to become president of Moldova, obtained 42% of the votes, the highest share of the 11 candidates, but still insufficient to secure a new mandate at the helm of the country. A country which, under her leadership, turned its back on Moscow after Russia’s invasion of the neighboring Ukraine and which this year officially opened accession negotiations to the European Union. Maia Sandu even called a referendum on the inclusion in the Constitution, based on the people’s vote, of the country’s irreversible European path The referendum, held on October 20, was meant to validate the strategy to determine the destiny of the former Soviet republic of 2.6 million inhabitants. A lost bet? Before the votes of the Diaspora are counted, the results show a higher number of people who oppose EU accession, prompting president Maia Sandu to denounce an unprecedented fraud, “an unprecedented attack on democracy”: “Criminal groups, together with foreign forces hostile to our interests, attacked our country with tens of millions of euros, lies and propaganda, with the most wretched means, in order to lead our citizens and our country to an area of ​​uncertainty.”

     

    In a vote suspected of Russian interference, rejected “categorically” by the Kremlin, 53% of Moldovans voted against the inclusion of the European accession objective in the Constitution, according to results after counting more than 90% of the ballots. However, the pro-European camp took the lead after the counting of more than 98% of the votes, the advance being most likely due to the Diaspora, who supports EU accession. The extremely tight result is surprising, given that recent polls showed the YES vote would be dominant. Without questioning the negotiations with the 27, the result weakens, in a way, the pro-European image of the population and Maia Sandu’s leadership, analysts specialised in the ex-Soviet area say.

  • October 20, 2024

    October 20, 2024

    MOLDOVA VOTES Moldovans are going to the polls today to cast their ballot for the president and to decide in a referendum the European future of this small, ex-soviet, Romanian-speaking country. The incumbent president, the pro-European Maia Sandu stands most chances to a second mandate and according to the polls, more than half of the respondents are voting in favour of the country’s joining the EU. However, it seems that detaching from Moscow’s sphere of influence is as difficult as gaining independence from the Soviet Union, which the country did more than three decades ago. The authorities in Chisinau have taken measures to prevent any internal and external provocations as well as any hostile actions, including from the pro-Russian, breakaway region of Transdniester. Over 22 hundred polling stations have been set up in the Republic of Moldova and over 230 for the Moldovans abroad, including 16 in the neighboring Romania.

     

     DAY According to Romania’s Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, the day of October 20th is a historic one for the neighboring ex-soviet, Romanian-speaking Republic of Moldova. “I am convinced that at the end of it, the Republic of Moldova will be one step closer to the European Union – where we can build the future together”, Ciolacu wrote on Facebook on Sunday. Numerous political leaders in Romania, both from the opposition and the ruling coalition, have urged the Moldovan citizens to say ‘Yes’ at the referendum concerning the European integration. According to the Moldovan ambassador in Bucharest, Victor Chirila, there are 100 thousand Moldovan citizens in Romania, out of whom 20 thousand are students.

     

    FESTIVAL Bucharest is presently seeing the 34th edition of the National Theatre Festival, unfolding this year under a suggestive motto, “Dramaturgy of the Possible”. Until October 28th, theatre goers are offered the opportunity of watching a series of performances, a selection which, according to organizers, is aimed at expressing various possible scenarios. The edition’s official selection includes over 30 performances mounted by theatre troupes from all over the country. Among these there is the Anthology of Disappearance by Radu Afrim, William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, directed by Andrei Serban, and Hedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen. This year’s edition has also brought together theatre troupes from abroad, from Germany, Ireland, Poland and Belgium. The event has been produced by the Theaters Union in Romania, UNITER.

     

    TENNIS Romania’s table tennis player Bernadette Szocs has ensured medals in the singles and doubles contests of the European Table Tennis Championships underway in Linz, Austria. In the semis, Szocs will be up against Maria Xiao of Spain, after a win against Charlotte Lutz of France. In the doubles contest, Szocs and Sofia Polcanova of Austria will be up against the Czechoslovakian pair Hana Matelova/Barbora Balazova.

     

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  • A vote of capital importance for the Republic of Moldova

    A vote of capital importance for the Republic of Moldova

    In the predominantly Romanian-speaking Republic of Moldova, this Sunday will see presidential elections and a referendum on the country’s EU accession. According to Radio Chișinău, the current president, the pro-European Maia Sandu, is favorite in the polls, but the Republic of Moldova is facing a massive Russian disinformation campaign, seeking to keep the country away from Europe. US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, recently warned that Moscow will try to manipulate the results of the presidential election and the referendum, also by means of the propaganda TV channel “Russia Today”, which is supposedly coordinating with Russian intelligence services. The United States haveimposed sanctions on several entities and individuals from Russia for interference in the elections in the Republic of Moldova. Those targeted are accused of orchestrating a campaign to buy votes and support for pro-Kremlin candidates. In addition,  a few days ago the European Parliament also adopted a resolution supporting the Republic of Moldova in its fight against Russia’s interference in hijacking national democratic processes, in the context where EU accession negotiations with Moldova have started. According to media reports, the Moldovan Government estimates that Moscow redirected at least 100 mln EUR to the former Soviet republic, in order to influence the election and the pro-EU referendum on October 20.

     

    Maia Sandu, a former World Bank official, was elected president in November 2020, riding the wave of popularity as an anti-corruption reformer with a pro-European program. She advocates a modest lifestyle, in stark contrast to politicians who have long dominated local politics. In a recent interview, the president said she shares a two-bedroom apartment with her mother, while her 2023 wealth statement listed her bank balance at 600 USD. In 2021, Maia Sandu’s pro-Western party, Action and Solidarity Party (PAS), scored a landslide victory in the parliamentary election, giving the party unprecedented power to implement reforms and push the country towards the West. Three years later, however, the Republic of Moldova remains mired in economic and political instability. The former Soviet republic was plunged into an energy crisis when Kremlin-controlled Gazprom cut gas supplies to Moldova by a third and demanded over twice the previous tariffs to keep the gas flowing, in what many saw as a political revenge on the part of Moscow for the pro-Western stance of president Maia Sandu. Then, Russia’s war against Ukraine pushed the Republic of Moldova into a broader financial crisis. Located just a few hours’ drive from Odesa, the Republic of Moldova has received the largest number of Ukrainian refugees per capita, a rough test for its healthcare system, public services and infrastructure. Inflation has gone up by as much as 40%, while trade with Moscow and Kyiv has fallen sharply. (VP)

  • August 30, 2024

    August 30, 2024

    SANCTIONS Romania supports the adoption of new sanctions against Russia. At the informal meeting of the EU Foreign Ministers with their Ukrainian counterpart Dmitro Kuleba, on Thursday, the Romanian Foreign Minister, Luminita Odobescu, said that pressure has to be kept on Moscow and so has military and energy support for Ukraine. The issue of the military support for Ukraine is presently being talked upon by Defence Ministries of the EU countries. Talks are focusing on the EU operation, already underway, to train the Ukrainian soldiers to defend their country against the Russian invasion, DPA reports. A new plan of relocating some of these training operations to Ukraine will be discussed. Some of these training sessions are presently being held in Germany and Poland and the mission kicked off in November 2022. According to data released in May, 52 thousand Ukrainian troops had benefitted from this training.

     

    VISIT Romania’s president Klaus Iohannis will be paying a formal visit to Chisinau at the invitation of his Moldovan counterpart, Maia Sandu. The visit comes against the background of the two countries’ celebrating the Day of the Romanian language on August 31st. Iohannis is expected to deliver a firm message of support and encouragement for the authorities and citizens of the Republic of Moldova in their efforts to modernize and democratize the country and for the irreversible implementation of the rule of law and the European roadmap – the presidential administration has announced. The president will also be making an appeal to international partners to carry on their multidimensional assistance to the Republic of Moldova mainly in the context of the aggression war Russia is presently waging on Ukraine and all the risks entailed by this situation.

     

    VISIT Romania’s president Klaus Iohannis will be paying a formal visit to Chisinau at the invitation of his Moldovan counterpart, Maia Sandu. The visit comes against the background of the two countries’ celebrating the Day of the Romanian language on August 31st. Iohannis is expected to deliver a firm message of support and encouragement for the authorities and citizens of the Republic of Moldova in their efforts to modernize and democratize the country and for the irreversible implementation of the rule of law and the European roadmap – the presidential administration has announced. The president will also be making an appeal to international partners to carry on their multidimensional assistance to the Republic of Moldova mainly in the context of the aggression war Russia is presently waging on Ukraine and all the risks entailed by this situation.

     

    FOOTBALL Romania’s football champions FCSB have qualified for the Europa League’s groups after the one-nil victory in Bucharest on Thursday against Austrian side LASK Linz. The first game ended in a draw, one-all. Unfortunately Romania’s vice-champions CFR Cluj failed to qualify for the Conference League. The Romanians were knocked out by the Cypriotes of FC Pafos, who won the decisive play-offs game 3-0. The first game went to CFR, 1-0. FCSB will today be learning their opponents in their group.

     

    TENNIS Romanian tennis player, Gabriela Ruse, is today playing Spanish Paula Badosa in the third round of the US Open, the year’s last Grand Slam tournament. Coming straight form the qualifiers, the Romanian caused a big surprise in the competition’s second round after securing a win against Barbora Krejcikova of Czechia, winner of this year’s edition of Wimbledon. This has been Gabriela’s first qualification for the third round of a Grand Slam tournament.

     

    WEATHER And now a couple of things about the weather, which is unstable with showers and thunderstorms reported in almost the entire Romanian territory and on isolated areas on the Black Sea coast. However, the weather remains warm in the country’s western regions. The highs of the ray are ranging from 24 to 34 degrees Celsius.

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  • August 27, 2024

    August 27, 2024

    WEATHER Romanian meteorologists on Tuesday issued a code yellow alert for unstable weather valid until Wednesday morning for half of the Romanian territory. Heavy downpours are expected in the center, in the mountains and some regions in the country’s east and south. Thunder and hailstorms have been forecast in isolated regions whereas the heatwave will remain in southern and western Romania, whose residents are again facing with a higher thermal discomfort index and more muggy days. The highs of the day will be ranging between 27 and 35 degrees with a noon reading in Bucharest of 34.

     

    PENSIONS As of October 1st the taxation ceiling of pensions in Romania is going to grow from 400 Euros at present to 600 Euros, Labour Minister Simona Bucura-Oprescu announced on Monday night. She said the decision was made after a new round of talks she had with Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu. So, on October 1st, taxes will account for 10% of the difference exceeding 3 thousand RON. The minister’s statement comes after the head of the government announced that he had called on the Finance Minister to conduct research and see whether a new taxation ceiling was needed after the implementation of the new legislation. The Finance Ministry is expected to conduct another research so that pensioners may not incur loses or have the food vouchers removed. We recall that pensions under 2 thousand lei are presently exempted from taxation but a 10% tax is levied on pensions exceeding this sum.

     

    INDEPENDENCE President Maia Sandu on Tuesday conveyed a message congratulating the citizens of the Republic of Moldova on the occasion of marking 33 years since the proclamation of the country’s independence. ”Moldova is our home and we choose a future of peace and prosperity. We are writing our history. Many Happy Returns, Moldova!” Sandu says quoted by Moldpres. In Bucharest, Romanian president Klaus Iohannis says that Romania will continue to offer strategic support to Moldova in all areas. ‘I congratulate the citizens of the Republic of Moldova on Independence Day! You are part of the great European family and the continuation of the present efforts will transform the EU accession into an accomplished objective, the Romanian head of state wrote on the X platform. Other high officials in Bucharest have conveyed congratulation messages on this occasion. On August 27 1991, tens of thousands took to the streets of Chisinau and called on Parliament to endorse the country’s independence, which it eventually did.

     

    TENNIS Romanian tennis player Gabriela Ruse has qualified for the second round of the US Open, the year’s last Grand Slam tournament after a two-setter against Julia Grabher of Austria. Ruse will be up next against Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic, this edition’s winner of the Wimbledon tournament. The other Romanian representatives in the singles contest, Ana Bogdan and Jaqueline Cristian have been knocked out in the first round after losing to Arantxa Rus of the Netherlands and 12th-seeded Daria Kasatkina of Russia, respectively.

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  • The Republic of Moldova and Ukraine start accession negotiations

    The Republic of Moldova and Ukraine start accession negotiations

    The Republic of Moldova and Ukraine on Tuesday officially started the process of joining the European Union, together with the organization of the first intergovernmental conferences. EU officials discussed with representatives of the two governments the structure and timetable of future negotiations and established the first chapters where the two states must make legislative adjustments in order to align themselves to community law. These are the so-called fundamental chapters, which prepare the legislation related to the rule of law, democracy, fundamental liberties as well as financial control. Although both states have been invited to join the EU at the same time, this is where their path splits. They might join the EU at different times, depending on progress made individually. Chișinău and Kyiv aim to maintain the accelerated pace of reforms, so that they may join the community bloc by 2030.

     

     

    At the same time, the European Commission will start a process of examining the legislation of the two states to prepare its recommendations and evaluations along the way. The Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova, Dorin Recean, says that Kyiv and Chișinău will continue to collaborate. “Moldova and Ukraine are greatly affected by the Russian war and we help each other a lot, not only in terms of security, but also with respect to European Union integration, and we will continue to do so”, Dorin Recean said. The purpose of negotiations is for the Republic of Moldova to become an EU Member State, and the pace of the negotiations will depend on the implementation of reforms in a real, substantial and irreversible way, the Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration, Cristina Gherasimov, in turn pointed out. Moldovan authorities say that they are determined to advance quickly with the implementation of reforms.

     

     

    The Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine, Olga Stefanishyna, said that 90% of Ukrainians favor integration and thanked the EU for keeping its promise and continuing to stand by her country. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hailed the official launch of Ukraine’s accession negotiations to the EU, calling this day a historic one for a country that has been fighting for over two years against the Russian invasion. “We will never allow ourselves to be diverted from our path towards a united Europe, towards our common home for all European nations, a home that must be peaceful”, president Zelenskyy argued. “Our future is in the European family”, the president of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu, said in turn, expressing her gratitude for the support received from the leaders of the European institutions.

     

     

    Romania’s Foreign Minister, Luminiţa Odobescu, welcomed the launch of EU accession negotiations for Kyiv and Chişinău and reiterated that the future of the two states is in the EU. The Romanian official said the start of negotiations is “a fully deserved success, which rewards impressive efforts”, the Romanian official said on social media. In turn, the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, warned Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova that this will be a “difficult road”, but one that offers “tremendous opportunities”. (VP)