Radio România Internațional

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  • November 28, 2021

    November 28, 2021

    BUCHAREST – The Romanian government met on Sunday in an extraordinary session in the context of international concerns about the spread of the new coronavirus strain from South Africa – Omicron – which is believed to be much more dangerous. The government modified the decision regarding the extension of the state of alert and analyzed the necessary measures for the increase of the capacity for faster identification of the new coronavirus variant in order to prevent its spread in Romania. The government has also established that a Tarom plane will be sent to Pretoria to bring to Romania the 36 Romanian citizens who remained stranded in South Africa, after the cancellation of flights to the EU, following the identification of the new variant of coronavirus in that country. The head of the Department for Emergency Situations, Raed Arafat, said that there would be another 50 – 55 free seats in the aircraft, and Romania offers the possibility to other European countries to extract their citizens from South Africa. Also, the list of South African countries for which the new restrictions are valid was updated on Sunday, on the recommendation of the European Commission. Malawi has been included on this list, along with South Africa and six other states in the region in the red zone of countries with high epidemiological risk, so those who arrive in Romania from this area must be quarantined for 14 days. They may be released from quarantine on the 10th day if the result of their COVID-test is negative. In another development, the number of new Covid 19 cases in Romania continues to decrease. The authorities reported, on Sunday, 1,377 cases in the last 24 hours and 106 deaths, 19 of which were registered prior to the reference interval. Only four counties are still in the red scenario. The COVID-19 incidence rate calculated for a period of 14 days for Bucharest dropped to 2.04 cases per thousand inhabitants. In relation to the vaccination campaign, since its onset last December, about 7.35 million people have been fully vaccinated.



    UfM — The Romanian Foreign Minister, Bogdan Aurescu, participates, as of Sunday, for two days, in Barcelona, ​​in the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) Regional Forum and in the EU – Southern Neighborhood Ministerial Meeting. According to the Romanian Foreign Ministry – MAE, in his speech at the forum, Bogdan Aurescu will emphasize the strategic relevance of the European Neighborhood and will highlight the need to develop synergies between the two dimensions, Eastern and Southern, of the Neighborhood Policy. At the same time, FM Bogdan Aurescu will refer to the need for a close cooperation between the member states of the Union for the Mediterranean in areas such as climate change, digital transition and civil protection and will underline the importance of joint reconstruction of the link between security and development in the region. At the EU- Southern Neighborhood Ministerial Meeting, Bogdan Aurescu will address, in his speech, the major regional challenges, such as illegal migration, the impact of climate change and terrorism. The Foreign Ministers of the Union for the Mediterranean states meet once a year at the Regional Forum to define priorities and areas of strategic cooperation. The EU-Southern Neighborhood Ministerial Meeting is a dialogue format attended by representatives of the European institutions, of EU states and of the Unions 10 partners in the Southern Neighborhood (Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Israel, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Mauritania, Palestine and Tunisia).



    Fencing — The Romanian athlete Ana-Maria Popescu, silver medalist at the Tokyo Olympics this summer, was designated the worlds best epee fencer, on Saturday, by the International Fencing Federation, according to the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committees Facebook page. Ana-Maria Popescu received the World Cup Trophy, on Saturday, in Lausanne, during the International Fencing Federation Congress. Ana-Maria Popescu (36 years old) was chosen the best epee fencer in the world for the 5th time, in the seasons 2007-2008, 2008-2009, 2012-2013, 2019-2020, 2020-2021, which is a world record. Ana-Maria Popescu has also won 3 Olympic medals (one gold and two silver), 7 world medals (2-2-3) and 13 European (7-4-2), as well as numerous World Cups, being the fencer with the biggest number of titles from Romania. (LS)

  • November 27, 2021 UPDATE

    November 27, 2021 UPDATE

    Covid-19 Ro – In Bucharest, the National Committee for Emergency Situations decided that the Romanian citizens or citizens from the EU and Switzerland, who come from southern African countries, where the new, more contagious strain of the noel coronavirus emerged, will be quarantined, regardless of whether they are vaccinated or not. They can be released from quarantine after 10 days if the Covid-test-result is negative. The authorities have also updated the list of countries/territories with a high epidemiological risk which now also includes Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe. The access on the Romanian territory of the non-EU foreigners arriving from the mentioned countries has been forbidden. On the other hand, 1,727 new cases of COVID-19 were reported in the last 24 hours in Romania, and 180 deaths, of which 19 were registered prior to the reference period. Only four counties are still in the red scenario. The COVID-19 incidence rate calculated for a period of 14 days for Bucharest dropped to 2.26 cases per thousand inhabitants. As for the vaccination campaign, since its start in December, about 7.35 million people have been fully vaccinated.



    COVID world — The World Health Organization has labeled the new coronavirus variant from Africa, called Omicron, a ‘variant of concern’. The variant has a large number of mutations and could be even more contagious than the Delta variant. More and more states have decided to close their borders to people in southern Africa. Restrictions have been announced by the US, Canada, Turkey, as well as by some EU member states. The President of the EC, Ursula von der Leyen, said that all Member States, through coordination, should activate the so-called Safety Mechanism to suspend flights to countries in southern Africa. The new variant has already been detected in Europe.



    Resilience plan — The loan agreement through the Recovery and Resilience Mechanism between the European Commission and Romania for the disbursement of a first tranche, worth approximately 15 billion Euros, was initialed on Friday by the new Finance Minister, Adrian Câciu, the finance ministry announced on Saturday. The loan will be used to finance the state budget deficit and to refinance the government public debt, based on budget expenditures made for the reforms provided for in the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR). The amounts will be made available in ten installments, based on the fulfillment by the Romanian side of the targets provided in the reforms and investments associated with the loan. At the same time, the European Commission will make available a pre-financing of 13% of the loan (about 1.94 billion Euros), after the Agreement comes into force. Under the PNRR Romania benefits from approximately 29 billion Euros, almost half of the amount being a grant and the rest a loan.



    Tennis — Romania’s team leads the team of the state of Peru 2-0 in the qualification playoffs for the Davis Cup final phase after the tennis player Marius Copil defeated Conner Huertas del Pino 7-5, 6-2 on Saturday in Cluj (northwest), in the second singles match of the competition. In the first singles match, Nicolae Frunză defeated Nicolas Alvarez, in 2 sets, 6-2, 6-4. The doubles match between Marius Copil / Horia Tecău and Sergio Galdos / Arklon Huertas del Pino will take place on Sunday. Sunday will also see the singles matches between Marius Copil – Nicolas Alvarez and Nicolae Frunză – Conner Huertas del Pino. Romania and Peru meet for the first time in the Davis Cup.

  • November 27, 2021

    November 27, 2021

    Resilience plan — The loan agreement through the Recovery and Resilience Mechanism between the European Commission and Romania for the disbursement of a first tranche, worth approximately 15 billion Euros, was initialed on Friday by the new Finance Minister, Adrian Câciu, the finance ministry announced on Saturday. The loan will be used to finance the state budget deficit and to refinance the government public debt, based on budget expenditures made for the reforms provided for in the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR). The amounts will be made available in ten installments, based on the fulfillment by the Romanian side of the targets provided in the reforms and investments associated with the loan. At the same time, the European Commission will make available a pre-financing of 13% of the loan (about 1.94 billion Euros), after the Agreement comes into force. Under the PNRR Romania benefits from approximately 29 billion Euros, almost half of the amount being a grant and the rest a loan.



    COVID Ro – 1,727 new cases of COVID-19 were registered in the last 24 hours in Romania, and 180 deaths, of which 19 deaths were registered prior to the reference interval, the authorities announced on Saturday. The COVID-19 incidence rate calculated for a period of 14 days for Bucharest dropped to 2.26 cases per thousand inhabitants. The highest SARS-CoV-2 infection rate in Bucharest was reached on October 22, namely 16.54 cases per thousand inhabitants. As for the vaccination campaign, since its beginning, in December last year, about 7.35 million people have been fully vaccinated.



    COVID world — The World Health Organization has labeled the new coronavirus variant from Africa, called Omicron, a ‘variant of concern’. The variant has a large number of mutations and could be even more contagious than the Delta variant. More and more states have decided to close their borders to people in southern Africa. Restrictions have been announced by the US, Canada, Turkey, as well as by some EU member states. Ursula von der Leyen said that all Member States, through coordination, should activate the so-called Safety Mechanism to suspend flights to countries in southern Africa. The new variant has already been detected in Europe, in Belgium. Tens of passengers on two flights from South Africa were tested positive for COVID-19 on arrival in Amsterdam, the Dutch health authority said on Saturday. They are analyzing the results to see whether it is the new variant of the virus, France Press and Reuters report. First suspected case of infection with the new variant was also identified in Germany in a person who has recently returned from South Africa.



    Tennis — The Romanian tennis player Nicolae Frunză on Saturday defeated Nicolas Alvarez, in 2 sets, in Cluj (northwest), in the first singles match of the competition pitting the team of Romanian against that of the state of Peru, in the qualification playoffs for the Davis Cup final phase. The second singles match of the day will pit Marius Copil against Conner Huertas del Pino. The doubles match between Marius Copil / Horia Tecău and Sergio Galdos / Arklon Huertas del Pino will take place on Sunday. Sunday will also see the matches between Marius Copil – Nicolas Alvarez and Nicolae Frunză – Conner Huertas del Pino. With the exception of Horia Tecau, ranked 17th in the world doubles classification, none of the players is in the top 100 of the professional ranking. The two teams meet for the first time in the Davis Cup. (LS)

  • November 26, 2021 UPDATE

    November 26, 2021 UPDATE

    Government — The coalition government in Bucharest, led by the Liberal Nicolae Ciuca and instated on Thursday, approved a budget rectification on Friday, the second of this year. The decision was considered an emergency, so as not to delay the payment of pensions and salaries next month. The Ministries of Finance, Health and Labor received money while the Agriculture and Transport Ministries lost funds. According to official data, the budget deficit remains at 7.13% of Gross Domestic Product. The autumn forecast shows an economic growth rate in Romania of 7% for the current year. On Thursday, in the inaugural meeting, an emergency ordinance on the reorganization of the government was adopted, because the new cabinet has two more ministries as compared to the previous one. The law also stipulates that the prerogatives of the two deputy prime ministers, from the parties allied with PNL, Sorin Grindeanu (PSD) and Kelemen Hunor (UDMR), are established by the decision of the prime minister. The ordinance also allows for occupying the vacancies in public institutions.



    Covid — Romanian schools are beginning to receive noninvasive tests for rapid detection of the novel coronavirus. The first tranche, of about 6.5 million saliva tests, was distributed on Thursday, the Education Minister, Sorin Cîmpeanu announced. The rapid testing of preschoolers and students is set to begin next week and will be done twice a week for children attending classes. 1,958 new cases of COVID-19 have been reported in the last 24 hours and 160 deaths, of which 45 were registered before the reference period, the Strategic Communication Group announced on Friday. The National Public Health Institute announced that over 70% of the cases registered in the last week were in unvaccinated people. Since the start of the vaccination campaign, a little over 7.7 million people have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine.



    AWARD — The Romanian swimmer David Popovici won the 2021 Summer Piotr Nurowski “Best European Young Athlete” Prize (PNP) in Europe, awarded by the General Assembly of the European Olympic Committees during an event hosted by Samorin, Slovakia. Aged 17, Popovici won gold in 2021 at the European Short Course Swimming Championships, and another three gold medals in European Youth Championships. He broke two world junior records in the 100m and 200m freestyle events, and ranked 4th at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in the 100m freestyle event. Enrolled at Dinamo sports club in Bucharest, Popovici fought for the prize against four other athletes, Sky Brown from Great Britain (skateboarding), Adriana Cerezo Iglesias from Spain (taekwondo), Viktoria Listunova from Russia (artistic gymnastics) and Adriana Vilagos from Serbia (athletics). The Piotr Nurowski award was created in memory of Piotr Nurowski, former President of the Polish Olympic Committee who died in a plane crash in 2010. In 2012, the Romanian gymnast Larisa Iordache was voted 2012 Summer Piotr Nurowski “Second Best European Young Athlete”.



    B9 – On November 25 and 26, Romania co-chaired with Poland the 3rd meeting of the defense ministers of the Bucharest 9 or Bucharest Format, representing Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Romania and Slovakia. The meeting in Bucharest was a continuation of the discussions held this spring, on the occasion of the B9 Summit held in Romania, with the extraordinary participation, in a videoconference, of the US President, Joe Biden. The agenda was structured in two main sessions: the first was dedicated to the results of the NATO summit in Brussels, of June, to the process of developing the new Strategic Concept of the Alliance and implementing the NATO 2030 agenda. The second session focused on cooperation between NATO and the European Union, the Strategic Compass, resilience and military mobility. The meeting in Bucharest takes place in an important context for the security and stability of the allied eastern flank and the Euro-Atlantic area, being an opportunity to send a clear message on the unity and solidarity of the states in this region, show a Defense Ministry communiqué. (LS)

  • November 25, 2021

    November 25, 2021

    Government – The Romanian Parliament on Thursday gave the vote of confidence to the Government made up of the PNL – PSD – UDMR proposed by the PM designate, the Liberal Nicolae Ciucă. There were 318 votes for and 126 votes against. In order to be invested, the Executive needed at least 234. Nicoale Ciucă thanked both those who vote for the government and those who didn’t. ‘We assumed a great responsibility, we also understood the recommendations of the opposition’, he said, adding that the executive will do everything possible to focus on the Romanian citizen and to overcome the problems caused by to the COVID crisis. Prior to the vote, Marcel Ciolacu, the leader of PSD, so far in opposition, said that his party decided to enter the government with the partys front line, to stand by Romanians’ side, to stop the collapse of living standards and to stabilize the country. Instead, MP Dan Barna representing USR, a former governing partner of the Liberals, pointed out that President Klaus Iohannis is allegedly the godfather of the collaboration between PSD and PNL, the one who handed over the government to his former Social Democrat opponents. All 20 ministers were heard in parliamentary committees on Wednesday and received a favorable opinion. In the new government, PNL, in power since 2019, keeps the ministries of Foreign Affairs, Internal Affairs, Education and Energy and has, in addition, four more ministries. Nine portfolios go to the Social Democrats, in opposition after the legislative elections of two years ago, including the ministries of Finance, Defense and Economy. PSD also receives the General Secretariat of the Government. UDMR, former governing partner of PNL, keeps the Ministries of Development, Environment and Sports. The governing program of the new Coalition Government is based on the principles of resilience, stability, transparency, equity and efficiency, according to the prime minister designate, who also gives assurances that pensions, the minimum social allowance, the minimum gross salary and allowances for Romanians will increase. After investiture, the new ministers need to be sworn in before the President.



    COVID — 2,104 new cases of Covid-19 — a sharp drop as against the previous day – were reported in Romania on Thursday. At the same time, 212 deaths were announced, of which 35 registered prior to the reference period. The National Public Health Institute announced that over 70% of the cases registered in the last week were in unvaccinated people. Since the onset of the vaccination campaign, nearly 7.7 million people have received at least one dose of the Covid vaccine.



    Visit – Princess Margareta, Custodian of the Crown of Romania, and her husband, Prince Radu, are paying a public visit to the UK as of Wednesday. The royal couple was received at Windsor Castle by Queen Elizabeth II. At the same time, they visited the Royal Defense College, where they talked with students on topics related to European and Euro-Atlantic current affairs. The Custodian of the Crown of Romania and Prince Radu also met with the Lord Mayor of London, Vincent Thomas Keaveny, at his residence. The first visit of the Royal Family of Romania to London took place in 1874, when the Sovereign Prince Carol I and Princess Elisabeth met with the Prince and Princess of Wales (later King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra). The first British royal visit to Romania took place at Peles Castle in Sinaia (central Romania), in 1888, when the future King Edward VII was the guest of King Carol I.



    EPP — The Group of the European Peoples Party (EPP) in the European Parliament has nominated Roberta Metsola as a candidate for the presidency of the European Parliament, after she obtained more than 64% of the votes of her party colleagues. Roberta Metsola (42 years old) is an MEP from Malta. She promised that one of her priorities would be to build alliances and bridges with pro-European constructive forces in the EP. The vote for the presidency of the European Parliament, held by the Italian Socialist David Sassoli since the summer of 2019 following an agreement of the three main groups in the European Parliament – EPP, S&D and Renew Europe, will be held in January next year in the middle of the EP legislature.



    Gazprom — The Russian consortium Gazprom will continue to deliver gas to the Republic of Moldova (ex-Soviet country with a majority Romanian-speaking population), after the Moldovan government on Friday committed to paying an outstanding debt. Gazprom had threatened to cut off gas supplies if it did not receive its money. Gazprom spokesman Sergei Kuprianov, quoted by Radio Romanias correspondent in Moscow, said that the deferment of payment was an exception and an expression of the Russian consortium goodwill. He underlined, however, that Gazprom strongly hoped that, in the future, the Republic of Moldova would fully comply with its contractual commitments and make payments in due time. Gazprom recalled that the signing, last month, of a new gas contract with the Republic of Moldova was conditioned by the full and timely payment of current bills. The contract provides for a price of about 450 dollars per one thousand cubic meters of gas, deferred payment, a five-year rescheduling of the 700 million dollar debt and its independent audit. (LS)

  • November 24, 2021 UPDATE

    November 24, 2021 UPDATE

    COVID Ro — The Romanian authorities on Wednesday announced that nearly 2,800 people had tested positive for SARS-COV-2 in the last 24 hours across Romania. Also, 231 deaths were reported, of which 36 registered prior to the reference interval. In Bucharest, the incidence rate calculated for a period of 14 days decreased to 2.87 cases per thousand inhabitants, after, on October 22, it had reached the highest value since the beginning of the pandemic – 16.54. The interim health minister, Attila Cseke, asked the public health directorates from all over the country to remain on alert, even if the number of SARS-CoV-2 infections is decreasing. At the same time, he called for plans to be drafted within a week to deal with a predictable 5th wave of the epidemic, says the coordinator of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign, Colonel Valeriu Gheorghiţă, given the increase the number of new cases in many European countries. On Wednesday, the Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, Daniel, confirmed that he was vaccinated against COVID-19. “The official stand of the Church remains the same: each believer should consult with the family doctor,” he told reporters. So far, in Romania, the number of fully vaccinated people has exceeded 7.2 million.



    COVID world — Mandatory vaccination against COVID-19 is an idea that enjoys widespread support among the German population, according to a poll released by YouGov on Wednesday, informs DPA. The prestigious market research and analysis company announced that 69% of the interviewees were in favor of compulsory vaccination and 23% against. Germany, which is experiencing a recrudescence of the number of infections, is introducing a number of new anti-epidemic measures. Thus, the green certificate becomes mandatory at work and for the use of means of transport. Besides the measures established at federal level, the German states also impose other anti-epidemic restrictions. For example, bars and clubs are closed in Bavaria, and the famous Christmas fairs will no longer take place this year. In Germany, the vaccination rate is 68%, one of the lowest in Western Europe. There are also problems in northern Italy, where traffic restrictions have been imposed at nighttime due to the alarming increase in new cases of coronavirus. To date, 84% of Italys population has received at least two doses of vaccine. The number of COVID cases is also rising in France, where the PM Jean Castex has tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. In France, 88% of the eligible population over 12 years is fully vaccinated. The health situation is also complicated in Greece, where the pressure on hospitals treating COVID patients is high. The Greek government says, however, that it does not envisage a general lockdown, as the measure will not be supported by the countrys economy. The vaccination rate in Greece has exceeded 63%.



    National Day – In Bucharest, the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies met in a solemn joint session, dedicated to Romania’s National Day to be marked on December 1. The Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Marcel Ciolacu, underlined that the entire political class had the duty to stabilize the country in the next period and that pride and political interests should be abandoned. “This holiday reminds us that we have a duty to work together. It is our duty towards the Romanian people and Romania”, Ciolacu said. The Vice President of the Senate, Alina Gorghiu, pointed out that December 1st means national unity, and equally devotion, responsibility, duty, and political courage. Among the guests of the meeting were members of the Government, the Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Bucharest, the Archbishop of the Greek Catholic Church, the First Rabbi of Romania, the presidents of the Constitutional Court, the High Court of Cassation and Justice, the Court of Accounts, the central bank governor as well as the heads of the diplomatic missions and of the international representations accredited to Bucharest. Romanias National Day has been marked on December 1 since 1990, after the anti-communist revolution. On December 1, 1918, the National Assembly of Alba Iulia (center) adopted the resolution of the union with Romania of the historical provinces inhabited by the Romanians.

  • November 23, 2021

    COVID – In Romania, on Tuesday, the authorities announced over 2,700 new cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Also, 273 deaths were reported, of which 34 are from previous days. More than 11,100 COVID-19 patients are hospitalized, 1,539 being in ICUs. 150 of the ICU patients are vaccinated. A study by a Romanian medical company shows that the third vaccine dose increases by more than 10 times the number of antibodies as compared to the values recorded 6 months after the 2nd dose, having a very high efficiency against severe forms of COVID-19. The authors of the study say that the effectiveness of the third dose was noticed in all age groups without major differences between them.



    Government program – In Bucharest, the prime minister designate, Nicolae Ciucă, is to submit, today, in Parliament, the governing program and the makeup of the new Government. The decision comes following the consultations that President Klaus Iohannis had, on Monday, with the parliamentary parties, at the end of which the interim Defense Minister, Nicolae Ciucă, was appointed Prime Minister. He is supported by a political majority that includes the PNL, PSD, UDMR and the Group of National Minorities.



    PSD — The PSD leader, Marcel Ciolacu, was elected on Tuesday Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies in Romania’s Parliament. Cristina Prună representing USR also ran for this position. The ballot was secret. The position has been vacant since October 18, following the resignation of the former PNL leader Ludovic Orban after he lost the party leadership elections. According to the Rules of Procedure, the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies is elected for the entire duration of the legislature. Also on Tuesday, the plenum of the Senate revoked Anca Dragu, representing USR, from the position of Speaker of the Senate, following the change of the parliamentary majority. The vote was secret, by card.



    Survey – Romania climbed one position, to the 44th place out of 168 countries, in a world ranking made according to the quality of life and social welfare, but it is still on the last place among the EU member states, after Hungary and Bulgaria. Romania registered 78.41 points out of 100, a slightly higher score than in the previous year and is included in the ranking’s the third category, after Argentina, Hungary and Bulgaria, shows the study Social Progress Index (IPS) 2021 on the quality of life and social welfare, carried out by the non-profit organization Social Progress Imperative, with the support of Deloitte. Globally, Norway remains on top position with a score of 92.63 points. In 2021, the first places in the ranking, after Norway, are held by Finland and Denmark, and on the last placed Chad, the Central African Republic and South Sudan.



    Visit – The Republic of Moldova (ex-Soviet state with a majority Romanian-speaking population), enjoys overwhelming, lasting and cross-party support in Bucharest. ‘We are all dedicated to consolidating the bilateral Strategic Partnership for the Republic of Moldova’s European integration and advancing on the path of reforms’, said Klaus Iohannis fresh from his meeting, in Bucharest, with his Moldovan counterpart, pro-Western Maia Sandu. He added that Romania would remain the closest friend of the Republic of Moldova. In her turn, Maia Sandu stated that she wanted to boost the partnership between the two countries and welcomed the completion of the Iași-Ungheni gas pipeline, operational from October 1, in the midst of the energy crisis. ‘We are counting on Romanias voice in the EU because European integration is our main objective’, the official from Chisinau also said. The agenda of talks also included, among others, institution consolidation, attracting investments, infrastructure projects, education, justice, and energy security. It is the first official visit the President of the Rep. Moldova pays to Romania, after the early parliamentary elections on July 11, won by the presidential party Action and Solidarity (PAS) by a landslide. The visit takes place in the context of celebrating 30 years since the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations this year, after Chisinau proclaimed its independence from Moscow in 1991. (LS)

  • November 22, 2021 UPATE

    November 22, 2021 UPATE

    COVID – In Romania, the number of coronavirus infections continues to drop, 1,550 new cases of COVID-19 being reported in the last 24 hours. 154 deaths were also reported, of which 29 were registered prior to the reference period. More than 11,000 people infected with SARS-CoV-2 are hospitalized. There are 1,539 patients in ICUs, a smaller number compared to the previous day, and 150 of them have a certificate attesting to their vaccination, according to the authorities. The average infection rate is now below 3.5 cases per thousand inhabitants, and more than half of Romania’s counties are no longer in the red scenario. The head of the COVID vaccination campaign, Valeriu Gheorghiţă, warned that there is a risk that the scenario experienced by Germany, which quickly passed from the 4th to the 5th wave of the pandemic, will be repeated in Romania, where the vaccination rate is low. An even greater danger would be the emergence of a mutation of the coronavirus that bypasses the bodys immune response, said Gheorghiţă. The number of fully vaccinated people is close to 7.2 million.



    Government – Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis on Monday signed the decree on the appointment of the Liberal senator Nicolae Ciucă to the position of prime minister. He said, after consultations with the parliamentary parties and groups, that Ciucas nomination is supported by a solid majority in Parliament, which includes PSD, PNL, UDMR and the group of national minorities other than the Hungarian one. Klaus Iohannis received the representatives of PNL, PSD and UDMR simultaneously during the consultations. He also spoke with the leaders of the nationalist opposition party, AUR, while USR, a former junior partner of the Liberals in the government, boycotted the presidents invitation, accusing him of being the godfather of a monstrous coalition. According to the Constitution, the candidate to the position of prime minister has ten days since nomination to ask Parliament for a vote of confidence on the governing program and the entire list of ministers. PSD spokesman Radu Oprea said that, in the future Executive, the Social Democrats would have a ministerial position for the Secretary General of the Government, as well as the portfolios of Finance, National Defense, Economy, Transport, Agriculture, Health, Labor, Culture and Youth. UDMR keeps the three ministries it already manages – Local Development, Environment and Sports. And the Liberals are left with the Ministries of Justice, Interior, Foreign Affairs, Investment and European Projects, Energy, Education, Research and Tourism. According to the media, Liberal leaders across Romania and from Bucharest have virulently criticized the PNL president, the outgoing prime minister Florin Cîţu, because he ceded too many key portfolios to the Social Democrats. A retired general, Ciucă had been appointed last month by President Iohannis to form the government, but he relinquished his mandate after it became clear that the minority government made up of PNL-UDMR would not receive the investiture vote. Earlier, the USR government proposed by the partys leader, Dacian Cioloş, was rejected by senators and deputies. If he is invested, Ciucă will become the first career soldier to lead a government of post-communist Romania. His first nomination came shortly after an opinion poll confirmed that the Army and the Church are on the first places in a classification of institutions enjoying the highest degree of Romanians trust. According to the survey, conducted by the Laboratory for Information Warfare Analysis and Strategic Communication, 87% of Romanians say they trust the Army, 70% – the Church, and 67% – the Romanian Intelligence Service and the Romanian Academy. Over 40% of respondents consider corruption and the incompetence of the political class as the main threats to Romania.



    Visit — The President of the Republic of Moldova (ex-Soviet republic with a majority Romanian-speaking), pro-Western Maia Sandu, pays an official visit to neighboring Romania on Tuesday, at the invitation of her counterpart, Klaus Iohannis. It is the first visit to Romania since the early parliamentary elections of July 11, won by the presidential party Action and Solidarity (PAS) by a landslide. The visit takes place in the context of the celebration, in 2021, of 30 years since the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations, after in 1991, Chisinau proclaimed its independence from Moscow. The visit, states the Presidential Administration in Bucharest, is a very good opportunity to reconfirm the special, privileged relationship established under the Strategic Partnership for the Republic of Moldova’s European integration, based on a common language, culture and history. The political consultations of the two presidents will strengthen the excellent and substantial bilateral cooperation at the political, economic and sectoral levels and will stimulate the advancement of joint projects of strategic interest in the fields of energy, transport, health, education and IT. The focus will be on those projects aimed at connecting the Republic of Moldova to the European Union space, through Romania, and at bringing real and concrete benefits to all its citizens – the abovementioned source also shows.



    Tennis – Romania has five representatives in the WTA top 100, the world ranking of professional tennis players, published on Monday. The former world leader Simona Halep holds the best position, 20th, but this is her weakest ranking at the end of the season over the last nine years. If in 2013 she finished on 11th position, Halep was then in the Top 10 every time except this year, when she started in 2nd position. Sorana Cîrstea remains on 38th position, Irina Begu on 60th place, Jaqueline Cristian on 71st position, and Gabriela Ruse on 85th. In doubles, Romania has six players in the top 100: Raluca Olaru is still on 36th place, Monica Niculescu maintains the 39th place, Irina Begu dropped one place on 64th position, while Irina Bara managed a jump of 12 places and now being on 84th position, after the title she won this weekend in Montevideo. The other two Romanians in the doubles top 100 are Andreea Mitu (98) and Gabriela Ruse (99). (LS)

  • Commissioner Thierry Breton pays visit to Bucharest

    Commissioner Thierry Breton pays visit to Bucharest

    The visit of the European Commissioner for Internal Market, Thierry Breton, to Bucharest comes at a complicated time: the country has an interim government, and statistics on infections with the novel coronavirus are still worrying, even though the number of cases reported daily has fallen. Thierry Breton says that, with the coming of winter, the low vaccination rate endangers the health of Romanians, which is also an obstacle in the way of the full recovery of the country and the European Union as a whole.



    The European official’s discussions with the Romanian authorities, with health professionals and non-governmental organizations representaives were a plea in favor of vaccination and introducing the green certificate, an issue tackled bya draft law currently debated in the Chamber of Deputies. The vote on the green COVID certificate, together with the vaccine, ensures survival during the pandemic, says the European Commissioner, Thierry Breton, who added that it is high time Europeans were united, because only together this war can be won. He went on to say: We are all Europeans, we share the same values. Its time to act. We cant postpone it for a few months, because the virus isnt waiting. It is important that the green certificate is voted on and used, because we know that vaccination and the green certificate are the key to ensuring our survival and it is equally important that we should be part of the European community, the EU Commissioner added.



    Thierry Breton gas given assurances that the European Commission will continue its efforts to manage the COVID-19 pandemic and called on Member States to properly use the tools and mechanisms created within the EU. The EU Commissioner met with the interim ministers of defense and health and was received by President Klaus Iohannis. The latter praised the European Commissions support for managing the health crisis and emphasized the need to continue to coordinate Member States actions and maintain unity at EU level.



    Klaus Iohannis reiterated that the vaccine is the main tool in fighting SARS-CoV-2. Regarding the green certificate, the pace of debates in the Chamber of deputies, which is the decision-making body in this case, seems to have got in tune with the pace of negotiations between the National Liberal Party – PNL and the Social Democratic Party – PSD on the future government. The political crisis delays the adoption in Parliament of the law on imposing the green certificate, says the head of the Health Commission of the Chamber of Deputies, the Liberal Nelu Tătaru. The parliamentary parties have so far failed to agree on the number of days for which testing for unvaccinated employees will be covered from the state budget. The Liberals have proposed 30 days, while the Social Democrats would like a 60-day grace period. A political agreement in the government will speed up the adoption of the green certificate. (LS)

  • Towards a big 3-party coalition?

    Towards a big 3-party coalition?

    In Bucharest, the idea of a new government made up of the PNL (National Liberal Party) — PSD (Social Democratic Party) – UDMR (Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania) is getting shape, after the minority cabinet made up of the Liberals and ethnic Hungarians, led by the Liberal leader Florin Cîţu, was dismissed by a censure motion in early October, and after Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis announced last week that he would call the parties for consultations only when an assumed parliamentary majority was formed. The Liberals no longer agreed to rebuild the alliance with USR (Save Romania Union), so, for the Liberals, the winning option seems to be the Social Democrats, for the time being. PNL previously had an alliance with PSD between 2013 and 2014, and that was not the first governing alliance between the Right and the Left. In 2008, the Democratic Party, de facto led by the then President Traian Basescu, formed a government with Mircea Geoanas Social Democrats.



    Therefore, the Liberal leadership decided, with a vast majority, to officially start negotiations with PSD to form the government. UDMR and the national minorities will also be part of this new majority. The conditions set by the Liberals are not negotiable. They want no taxes to be increased and that the state should be an honest partner of the business environment. Last but not least, they want the formation of a majority around the PNL with a Liberal prime minister. PNL also intends to continue the administrative reforms, especially in relation to ​salaries and pensions, as well as to respect the partnership with the head of state, Klaus Iohannis. The Liberal president and the interim prime minister Florin Cîțu says, quote: “Reforms are important to me. I have to see with whom I can make these reforms in the next period, and we must find a partner, because PNL alone does not have a majority in Parliament. I am interested in carrying on with the reforms included in the National Recovery and Resilience Program – PNRR, with the pension system reform, the salary reform, the public administration reform, and I want to make sure that we maintain the growth rate of investment expenditures” Florin Cîțu said.



    In turn, the PSD leadership, which views the alliance with the Liberals as a chance to come to power, unanimously voted to start negotiations with them. “The National Political Council has given its consent, because we are open to negotiate in order to speed up the resolution of the Romanians problems,” said the first vice-president of PSD, Sorin Grindeanu. The Social Democrats have also come up with a list of measures to be taken in the next period, which includes: managing the pandemic, raising allowances, increasing pensions and the minimum wage. The UDMR is also to be part of the future government. They decided to start negotiations for the formation of a large coalition with PNL and PSD supported by the national minorities. The ethnic Hungarians president Kelemen Hunor has said that this coalition makes sense if reforms can be made to revise the Constitution, in order to introduce the concept of parliamentary republic, which is an important goal. (LS)

  • November 5, 2021

    Covid — 8,268 cases of COVID-19 and 483 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours in Romania, 20 of the deaths being reported previous to the reference interval, shows data announced on Friday by the authorities. All beds in ICUs across the country are occupied. Most new cases were registered in Bucharest, where the incidence rate is dropping towards less than 12 cases per thousand inhabitants. The president of the Medical College, Daniel Coriu, said that over 92% of the infected people who died were not vaccinated against COVID. The vaccination rate has slowed in recent days, after a surge reported in the past two weeks. More than 82,000 people have been vaccinated against the novel coronavirus in the last 24 hours, of whom 43,000 with the first dose. The total number of fully vaccinated people stands at a little over 6,400,000.



    WHO — A World Health Organization delegation is in Bucharest where they visited several hospitals in Romania. Their conclusion is that the situation in hospitals across Romania is dramatic and immediate sanitary measures are needed to protect vulnerable people, above all. At the same time, vaccination against COVID-19 is the main solution to prevent new waves of infection. WHO representatives also met with members of the parliamentary health committees of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies.



    Schools — Classes will start on November 8 for all students and preschoolers in Romania, both in the state and private education systems, the interim Education Minister, Sorin Cîmpeanu said today in a press conference. He explained that courses will be attended physically in the schools where the COVID vaccination rate among teachers is over 60%. One week ago, the minister had announced that more than half of the schools and kindergartens exceeded this level. Instead, several student associations across the country request the opening of schools with physical attendance only in those localities where the incidence of COVID cases is less than 6 per thousand inhabitants.



    Government – On Monday the National Political Bureau of National Liberal Party – PNL will make a decision regarding the negotiations with Save Romania Union – USR and the Social Democratic Party — PSD, the interim prime minister and Liberal leader Florin Cîţu announced on Friday. According to him, at the meeting with PSD, the option of a rotating prime minister position was suggested, but they did not talk about portfolios. He said that the talks with USR, a former governing partner, would continue. On Thursday, Florin Cîţu declared after the negotiations with the PSD leader, Marcel Ciolacu, that he found many things that could bring the two parties together. In his turn, the Social Democrat’s president said that the two parties are on a correct path, which could lead to the formation of a majority. The PNL and PSD negotiating teams are trying to find a governing formula, with a solid parliamentary majority, after two attempts to form a minority government failed. On Thursday evening, President Klaus Iohannis announced that he would call the parties for consultations only when an assumed parliamentary majority is formed. We recall that the minority government made up of the PNL – UDMR headed by Florin Citu was dismissed by a no confidence motion.



    EBRD — The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development — EBRD estimates that Romanias economy will grow by 7% this year, after forecasting a 6% growth in the summer, the main engine behind growth being domestic demand, an EBRD report shows. For 2022, EBRD experts say that the European money that will be channeled through the Recovery and Resilience Program is to bring about increased investments and improved exports, which, together with the expected fiscal consolidation and a slowdown in private consumption, could translate into an increase in the GDP by more than 4%. However, the EBRD also warns in todays report that these forecasts are subject to a high degree of uncertainty. The main risk, in the case of Romania, is the evolution of the pandemic, given that Romania has the second lowest vaccination rate in the EU. Another risk is posed by the high prices of natural gas and oil, because Romania, like other states, is pressured to offset high energy expenditures for low-income households. (LS)

  • November 4, 2021 UPDATE

    November 4, 2021 UPDATE

    Covid — Almost 9,000 SARS-CoV-2 contamination in 24 hours and 489 deaths, of which 55 prior to the reference interval, were announced on Thursday in Romania. All beds in ICUs at national level are occupied, and 1,902 patients are hospitalized, of whom 33 are children. Most new cases were registered in Bucharest, where the incidence rate stands at 12.44 cases per thousand inhabitants, on a downward trend for 13 days. The president of the Medical College, Daniel Coriu, stated that over 92% of the infected people who have died were not vaccinated against COVID. The vaccination rate has slowed in recent days, after it was on an upward trend for two weeks. Over 82 thousand people have got vaccinated against Covid in the past 24 hours, of whim 43 thousand with the first dose. The total number of fully vaccinated people is a little over 6,400,000.



    Government — The Romanian President Klaus Iohannis announced on Thursday evening that he would call the parties for consultations when an assumed parliamentary majority that wants to propose a government is formed. According to him, it is clear that the attempts at forming minority governments have not yielded results. Iohannis recalled that the latest proposal did not gather enough votes in Parliament and the Ciuca Government did not go for approval in Parliament. The last Prime Minister designate, the liberal Nicolae Ciucă, relinquished his mandate, on Monday, after having failed to obtain parliamentary support for a minority government made up of the PNL – UDMR. The first person President Iohannis appointed as prime minister was the USR leader, Dacian Ciolos, who did not gain Parliament’s support. We remind you that the government led by the liberal Florin Citu was dismissed by a censure motion. Meanwhile, negotiations between the parties continue. The Liberal representatives discussed on Thursday with those of the opposition Social Democratic Party – PSD for the formation of a government with full powers and a stable majority in Parliament. On Wednesday, the Liberals resumed negotiations with USR and according to the PNL leader, Florin Cîţu, there are great chances for the right-wing coalition to be rebuilt. USR leader Dacian Cioloş was more reserved and is waiting for the Liberals decision, after discussions with PSD.



    EBRD – The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development EBRD has significantly improved its estimates on Romania’s economic growth in 2021 forecasting a 7.2% growth this year as against 6% as it estimated in June, a report published on Thursday shows. In 2022 the Recovery and Resilience Facility could lead to a rise in investment and a gradual increase in exports whereas the reduced private consumption and the fiscal consolidation could translate into a 4.4% GDP growth, the bank experts believe. According to them the main risk is posed by the development of the pandemic as Romania has the second slowest EU vaccination rate. According to the EBRD, Greece, Romania and Bulgaria are seeing a significant economic recovery after the difficult year 2020. Romania’s main growth engine seems to be its domestic demand.



    Tax evasion – The European Public Prosecutors Office (EPPO) coordinated an action following which 4 people were arrested and 23 million Euros worth of assets were confiscated in a tax evasion case in the Czech Republic, Romania and Slovakia. According to an EPPO statement, those arrested are suspected of organized crime and tax evasion. The core of the criminal activity was located in Hamburg (Germany), and the money laundering was organized by companies from the Czech Republic and Slovakia, with important connections in Romania. EPPO started operating on 1 June this year, being an independent EU body in charge of investigating, prosecuting and arraignment of those who perpetrated crimes against the EUs financial interests, including: fraud, corruption, money laundering, cross border VAT fraud. 22 of the 27 EU states are members of the EPPO.



    COP 26 — Nuclearelectrica executive director Cosmin Ghiţă and NuScale Power (USA) President and CEO John Hopkins on Thursday signed in Glasgow the official documents of the agreement based on which the two companies will work together to build a small modular nuclear reactor (Small Modular Reactor – SMR) in Romania. The power plant will be the first of its kind built in Europe. Nucleaelectrica and NuScale Power have concluded the partnership for its construction at a recent meeting of the heads of state, government officials, non-governmental associations and scientists at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow.



    Foreign workers — The Romanian Labor Ministry suggest an increase in the number of newly admitted foreign workers on the Romanian labor market to 100,000 by 2022, double the figure reported in 2021. Foreign labor force is needed for the construction of residential and non-residential buildings, restaurants and road transport of goods. According to data provided by the General Inspectorate for Immigration, most foreign citizens who come to work in Romania are from Vietnam, the Republic of Moldova, Turkey and Nepal.



    WHO — The World Health Organization is concerned about the deteriorating health situation in Europe, currently considered the epicenter of the pandemic. According to the organizations director for Europe, Hans Kluge, the current transmission rate is worrying in several countries, and if the trend continues, there could be half a million new deaths by February. According to the WHO, the most complicated situations are currently reported in Eastern European countries that have poor vaccination coverage. Most deaths reported in the last seven days were registered in Russia, over 8,000, in Ukraine, 3,800 and in Romania, 3,100. The UK and Belgium have also been facing a surge in the number of new contaminations. A record number of new infections, almost 34,000, in 24 hours, has been reported in Germany, a situation that it last faced in December last year.




    Wrestling — The Romanian athlete Andreea Beatrice Ana won the gold medal in the 55 kg category on Thursday, in the Under-23 World Wrestling Championships held in Belgrade, after defeating the Russian Viktoria Vaulina in the final. Also on Thursday, another Romanian, Stefania Claudia Priceputu, won the bronze medal in the 50 kg category, after defeating the Tunisian, Sarra Hamdi (LS)

  • November 3, 2021

    November 3, 2021

    Covid — 10,196 SARS-CoV-2 infections in 24 hours were reported by the Romanian authorities on Wednesday. 451 Romanians have died, two of the deaths being reported outside the reference interval. Over 19 thousand Covid patients are hospitalized, of whom 1,890 in intensive care. The Covid-19 incidence rate in Bucharest calculated over a period of 14 days stands at 12.89 cases per thousand inhabitants, according to the Public Health Directorate. It is the 12th day in which this rate goes down in Bucharest, the highest rate, namely 16.54 having been reached on October 22. Although the number of new cases has decreased in recent days across the country, the health system will remain under pressure for at least another two weeks – the authorities warn.



    Aid — The difficult situation of Romanian hospitals has prompted many countries to come to their aid. On Tuesday, Israel sent ten oxygen concentrators, the first in a tranche of 40. The devices will be distributed to medical units that treat Covid patients. Romania has also received support consisting of medicines, equipment and medical staff from Europe – the Netherlands, Poland, Italy, Denmark and the Republic of Moldova. Patients infected with SARS-CoV-2, who were in a critical condition, were transferred to medical units in Germany for treatment. Both Austria and Hungary have taken over patients to be cared for in their hospitals.



    Government — The National Liberal Party – PNL, the number one in the caretaker government in Bucharest, has announced that negotiations start today with Save Romania Union – USR, a former junior partner in the government, and with the opposition Social Democratic Party – PSD, which has the largest parliamentary group, in order to establish a possible majority in parliament. The announcement comes after the Liberal Party leadership opted for what it called the flexibility of the negotiating mandate, because the Liberal Prime Minister designate, Nicolae Ciucă, did not obtain support for a minority government made up of PNL-UDMR (Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania) and relinquished his mandate. PSD is considering entering the government, but does not rule out any scenario. USR still wants to rebuild the right-wing coalition, but asks for clarifications from the Liberals, as the latter’s attitude shows a rapprochement to the Social Democrats. UDMR also calls for rebuilding the old coalition with PNL and USR.



    Reactors — Romania will be the first country in the world where the US will implement the technology of small modular nuclear reactors. The Romanian president, Klaus Iohannis, and the United States Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, established, on Tuesday evening, at the climate summit in Scotland that, by 2028, Romania should include this type of reactors in the national energy production system. A White House statement writes that this collaboration will create up to 30,000 jobs in the two countries. President Iohannis underlined that this type of cooperation on several levels – development of technologies, production, services – must be extended to other areas as well. He also pointed out that this close collaboration in the field of climate change will add to the successful cooperation between Romania and the US in many other sectors and will contribute to the consolidation of the Strategic Bilateral Partnership.



    Summit – Romania has one of the lowest greenhouse gas emission rates per capita in the European Union, President Klaus Iohannis said at a UN climate summit in Glasgow on Tuesday. He also said that Romania would take additional measures to reach the European target of reducing gas emissions by 55% by 2030. World leaders have promised at the summit in Scotland that, by the end of the decade, they will put an end to deforestation and reduce emissions of methane, a gas considered even more dangerous for the planet than the carbon dioxide. The measures are meant to limit global temperature rise to just 1.5 degrees as against the pre-industrial period, as agreed in the 2015 Paris Agreement. However, not all countries seem to be determined to take urgent action to reduce emissions. The absence of the Chinese President from the summit in Scotland is relevant in this regard, as China reports the highest emissions from burning coal. (LS)

  • November 2, 2021 UPDATE

    November 2, 2021 UPDATE

    Covid — On Tuesday Romania registered a new record of deaths reported in 24 hours, namely 586, in patients infected with COVID-19. In the same period, 11,073 new cases of COVID-19 contamination were reported. According to the Strategic Communication Group, since the onset of the pandemic, in Romania, 1,666,097 cases of people with coronavirus infections have been confirmed. 1,429,157 patients have recovered from the disease. All in all, 48,664 people diagnosed with COVID-19 have died in Romania. Neighboring Bulgaria also reported a new death record on Tuesday. With a population almost three times smaller than that of Romania, Bulgaria reported 310 deaths in 24 hours. According to Radio Romanias correspondent in Sofia, 94% of the deceased were unvaccinated people. Since the summer season, Bulgaria and Romania have reported the lowest vaccination rate against the new coronavirus of all the 27 EU member states – according to calculations made by international news agencies, based on data provided by national authorities.



    Government – The Romanian prime minister designate, the Liberal Nicolae Ciucă, on Tuesday announced that he was relinquishing the mandate he received from President Klaus Iohannis to form a new government. The decision was adopted by the leadership of his party, after the prime minister designate failed to obtain support in Parliament for the government team made up of the National Liberal party — PNL and the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania — UDMR. On Wednesday he was supposed to ask for the investiture vote in the plenum of Parliament. According to procedures, the head of state will have to launch a new round of consultations with the parliamentary parties, in order to nominate another potential prime minister. The Liberal leader, the interim prime minister Florin Cîțu, is now talking about a relaxation of the negotiating mandate and promises that the liberals will have consultations with what he calls the democratic political forces in Parliament to form a majority to support a government with full powers. On the other hand, the co-president of the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR, the nationalist opposition), George Simion, announced the initiation of procedures to suspend President Iohannis. He specified that Alliance for the Union of Romanians started gathering signatures from senators and deputies to support his action, adding that parliamentarians from several parties promised to sign the document. According to the Constitution, the suspension procedure must be initiated by at least one third of the total number of senators and deputies, i.e. 156 signatures. Accused of not exercising his constitutional role of mediator and lately perceived as part the problem and not as one who seeks solutions, Iohannis has reached a confidence rate of only 14%, according to a recent poll, commissioned by the Social Democratic opposition.



    COP26 — More than 100 countries around the world on Tuesday pledged to halt deforestation by 2030 and thus curb global warming. At the so-called COP26 in the Scottish city of Glasgow, the UN summit dedicated to combating climate change, the heads of state and government promised to protect forests, considered the lungs of the planet, because they neutralize much of the billions of tons of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere following human activities. Also on Tuesday, 80 of the participating states pledged to reduce emissions of methane, one of the greenhouse gases, by 30% in the next decade. Attending the Glasgow summit, President Klaus Iohannis said that Romania had reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 64% between 1989, when the communist dictatorship collapsed, and 2019. 40% of the electricity produced in Romania comes from renewable sources — the Romanian president also added. (LS)

  • November 1, 2021

    November 1, 2021

    Covid — Latest data related to the Covid pandemic show a decrease in the number of infections in Romania, but many deaths are still reported. The Strategic Communication Group on Monday reported almost 7,000 new cases of COVID in the last 24 hours and 322 associated deaths. Compared to the previous Monday, the number of cases reported is by almost 2,200 cases smaller. On Mondays, however, fewer cases are usually reported compared to the other days of the week, as fewer tests are performed on Sundays. At the same time, almost 89 thousand people have been vaccinated in the last 24 hours, of whom over 57,500 with the first dose. The number of fully vaccinated people exceeds 6.2 million. The vaccination campaign has gained momentum recently, and the authorities estimate that, if the rate is maintained, 70% of the people over the age of 12 could be vaccinated by the end of the year. A medical team from Germany is in Romania to evaluate Romanian COVID patients who might be transferred to hospitals in that country. A German air force aircraft is also available today to evacuate the patients.



    Government – The fate of the minority government made up of the National Liberal Party — PNL and the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania-UDMR led by Nicolae Ciucă will be decided in Parliament this week. The ministers proposed by the prime minister designate will be heard on Tuesday, in the commissions of the Parliament’s two Chambers. The investiture of the new executive and the governing program will be voted in the Parliament’s plenum meeting on Wednesday. The prime minister designate, Nicolae Ciuca, hopes that he will be able to gather the necessary number of votes, namely 234, and calls on MPs to be responsible to overcome the situation caused by the pandemic. The Liberal leader, who is interim Prime Minister, Florin Cîţu, is optimistic that the PNL-UDMR minority government will be voted in Parliament. UDMR says it will continue with the PNL in a minority government, even if there is no majority for investment yet. The negotiations of the prime minister designate with the Social Democrats – PSD, which has the largest parliamentary group, and with Save Romania Union – USR, a former junior partner in the Cîţu government, did not lead to the formation of a majority to give him the investiture vote. The governing program for which the minority government PNL-UDMR asks for a vote of confidence on Wednesday in Parliament, provides, among other things, for urgent measures to manage the health crisis, to reduce the impact of rising energy prices, to reform the pension system and also to reform the public sector salary law. Marcel Ciolacu, the Social Democrats’ leader, announced on Sunday that he was dissatisfied with the minority government’s program, because, in his opinion, it would make the lives of Romanians more difficult. USR have announced that they will not vote for a minority government, because they want to rebuild the coalition.



    Summit — Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis is attending, as of today, a two-day World Leaders Summit as part of the United Nations Climate Change Conference 2021 (COP26) hosted by Glasgow, Scotland. According to a press release, during the meeting, the Romanian head of state will deliver the speech ‘the National Declaration’, in which he will convey Romanias stand, with emphasis on the steps taken by Bucharest to limit the effects of climate change. At the same time, the Romanian president will participate in events in a multilateral and bilateral format on the theme of nature-based solutions to the problem of climate change and the reduction of emissions in the energy system. The day before the Glasgow summit, the G20 leaders reached an agreement on limiting global warming. According to the Radio Romania News and Current Affairs channel’s correspondent, on Sunday, the G20 leaders reached, in Rome, an agreement on limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius compared to the pre-industrial period. The leaders of the worlds most developed economies have pledged to jointly allocate 100 billion dollars per year to finance the fight against climate change and to implement the new rules by 2023 for a more stable and equitable international tax system and for a minimum profit tax of 15% worldwide. They also pledged to help distribute COVID-19 vaccines better and faster in low- and middle-income countries, as well as to maintain uninterrupted energy flows and to promote open, competitive and free international energy markets.



    Radio Day — The Romanian public radio celebrates, on Monday, 93 years since its first broadcast, on November 1, 1928. The anniversary takes place in pandemic conditions and, unlike other years, in an atmosphere of severe austerity. Since its establishment, the Public Radio has continuously broadcasted all the significant events in the history of Romania. In recognition of the decisive role in the history of our country, the Romanian Parliament established November 1 as the National Radio Day. In a congratulations message, the US Embassy said that the freedom of the press and the freedom of expression are fundamental in any democratic regime, and this day is dedicated to radio journalists, who often expose themselves to a high risk in this precarious health environment in their attempt to report on issues that otherwise could not be heard. For the Romanians abroad, Public Radio is a way to keep in touch with their home country.



    Media – Several media organizations, federations and trade unions from the Romanian Public Radio Corporation – SRR and the Romanian Public Television Corporation – SRTV request the Parliament to unblock the functioning of the Public Radio and Romanian Television. Their representatives show that after the terms in office of the interim Presidents and Directors General expired, on October 29, the two institutions no longer have a leadership and demand the appointment of interim managers to manage day-to-day activities and also to organize, according to the law, elections for the appointment of the employees’ representatives in the future managing boards. The institutions are practically in an organizational and legislative vacuum, which prevents current payments, the payment of salaries, other current measures necessary for their functioning. (LS)