FUEL
PRICES The ruling coalition has
reached an agreement regarding an offset mechanism for retail fuel prices.
After Thursday’s government meeting, PM Nicolae Ciuca announced that for the next
3 months, starting on the 1st of July, retail fuel prices will be 0.5 leu per
litre lower. Half of the offset package, which amounts to EUR 400 million, will
be covered from the state budget, and the balance by companies operating in
this sector. The mechanism will be regulated under a bill to be passed by the
government next week.
CORRUPTION The Romanian agriculture minister Adrian Chesnoiu announced
stepping down and withdrawing from the Social Democratic Party over a
corruption investigation. He asked the Chamber of Deputies to lift his
parliamentary immunity and claimed he had not committed any offence or act of
corruption. The National Anti-Corruption Directorate had previously requested
the Chamber of Deputies to lift Chesnoiu’s immunity, in order for him to be
prosecuted for abuse of office. Judicial sources told AGERPRES news agency on
Thursday that the investigation concerns the rigging of exams for filling
public positions.
BULGARIA In Bulgaria, the Liberal PM Kiril Petkov’s
cabinet was dismissed through a no-confidence vote, which pushes the country
into a new political crisis, after 3 rounds of elections held last year, AFP
and Reuters report. The coalition, formed in December after controversial
Boiko Borisov’s 10 years in power, broke up in early June over disagreements
concerning public spending and the country’s stand on North Macedonia’s EU
accession negotiations. President Rumen Radev will invite parliamentary parties
to negotiations for forming a new government. If they fail, Bulgaria’s
Parliament will be dismantled and new elections will be held.
MOLDOVA The
state of emergency introduced in the Republic of Moldova on 24th
February, following Russia’s invasion in Ukraine, was extended on Thursday by
another 45 days. The request was tabled to Parliament by PM Natalia Gavriliţa, with
a majority of 59 MPs voting in favour. The Opposition was against the measure,
accusing the government of incompetence, Radio Chişinău reports. According to
Moldova’s PM, the state of emergency had to be extended given the persistent
risks related to Moldova’s energy supplies, border security and the Ukrainian
refugee crisis.
MEDAL The Romanian David Popovici, 17, is the second swimmer in history
to have become world champion in the 200m and 100m freestyle events of the same
edition of a championship. The athlete has broken three world junior records in
the World Aquatics Championships underway in Budapest. Romania has another
representative in the competition, Robert Glinta, who will compete on Friday in
the 50 meter backstroke race. Glinta ended the 100m race on the eighth
position. Another two Romanian athletes, Angelica Muscalu and Constantin
Popovici, will be competing in the dive event of the competition. (AMP)