Radio România Internațional

Tag: no-confidence

  • October 11, 2019

    October 11, 2019

    CONSULTATIONS In Bucharest, President Klaus Iohannis has a first round of consultations with the parliamentary parties today, after Mrs Dancilas Social Democratic Cabinet was dismissed through a no-confidence vote in Parliament. The first to talk to the President were the Liberals. After the discussions, the Liberal leader Ludovic Orban said the National Liberal Party would prefer early elections, but that they are prepared to take over power. Save Romania Union, the next party invited to the Presidency, said they wanted early elections, which according to the party would put an end to the political crisis. The head of the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians, Kelemen Hunor, nominated a PM from his own party, and offered the alternatives of an independent prime minister from the financial sector or of a government headed by the Liberal leader. The head of the Peoples Movement Party Eugen Tomac voiced lack of confidence in the early election scenario and urged the President to consider the nomination of a prime minister from PMP. The Social Democrats, scheduled to be the last to see Iohannis today, announced they did not accept the invitation. The President said he wanted a Cabinet with a clearly defined mission, to ensure responsible and efficient governing until the forthcoming parliamentary elections, irrespective of their date.




    ELECTION In Romania, the campaign for Novembers presidential election officially starts on Saturday, with 14 candidates in the race, including the incumbent President Klaus Iohannis, backed by the Liberals in opposition, the incumbent PM Viorica Dăncilă, backed by the Social Democratic Party, Dan Barna, backed by the USR-PLUS Alliance, Theodor Paleologu (Peoples Movement Party), Mircea Diaconu, supported by ALDE and Pro Romania, and Kelemen Hunor from the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania. Cătălin Ivan, Ninel Peia, Sebastian-Constantin Popescu, John-Ion Banu, Ramona-Ioana Bruynseels and Viorel Cataramă represent political parties from outside Parliament, whereas Bogdan Stanoevici and Alexandru Cumpănaşu run as unaffiliated candidates. The first round of the presidential election is due on November 10th, and the second on the 24th. Under a government order, the Romanians living abroad will be able to vote between November 8th and 10th in the first round, and again for 3 days, November 22nd to 24th, in the second round.




    NATURAL GAS The ‘Transgaz’ SA National Gas Transport Company and Russias ‘Gazprom Export’ have agreed to extend their natural gas transport contract by another 3 months, until December 31. According to Transgaz, this extension ensures the continuity of natural gas transport from Russia to Turkey, Greece and other south-east European countries. Transgaz SA is the technical operator of the National Transport System for natural gas, and ensures the efficient, transparent, safe, fair and competitive implementation of the national strategy regarding the domestic and international natural gas transport, as well as research and design in the natural gas sector.




    NOBEL Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed was awarded the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize, “for his efforts to achieve peace and international cooperation, and in particular for his decisive initiative to resolve the border conflict with neighbouring Eritrea. Ethiopia and Eritrea, involved in a war over disputed border territory between 1998 and 2000, resumed official relations in July 2018, after years of hostility. On Thursday, the 2018 Nobel Prize for Literature was awarded to Polish writer Olga Tokarczuk, after the postponement triggered by the sex assault scandal at the Swedish Academy, and the 2019 Prize went to Austrian Peter Handke. The last Nobel Prize this year is the one for economics, to be awarded on Monday.




    FOOTBALL Romanias youth national team defeated Ukraine, 3-0 at home on Thursday night, in a match in Group 8 of the Euro 2021 qualifiers. On Monday the Romanians are to take on Northern Ireland, also on home turf. Last month, Romania lost its first qualifier game, 1-2 away from home against Denmark. The group also includes Finland and Malta. In June, Romanias Under 21 team qualified for the first time into the semi-finals of the continental tournament in Italy and San Marino, securing their tickets for next years Tokyo Olympics. Meanwhile, the national team plays on Saturday against the Faroe Islands away from home, and on Tuesday against Norway at home, in Group F of next years European Championship. The group draw for Euro 2020 takes place in Bucharest on November 30. The Romanian capital city will also host 4 matches in the final tournament, 3 in the group stage and one in the round of 16.


    (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

  • The Week in Review 29 September – 5 October

    The Week in Review 29 September – 5 October

    No-confidence motion against the Cabinet


    The Cabinet headed by Viorica Dancila is facing a new motion of no-confidence, the first since the ruling coalition of the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats fell apart in August. The text of the motion against the Social Democrats minority government was read in Parliament on Thursday. The document, entitled “In order to rebuild Romania, the Dancila Cabinet must be dismissed immediately! will be discussed next Thursday, on October 10. The motion signatories argue that although the country has seen a favourable economic period, with significant economic growth, the Government has failed to start even one major infrastructure project. Confidence in the Romanian economy is dwindling, first of all because the business legislation changes almost on a weekly basis, the Opposition also says. The Social Democratic PM Viorica Dancila says on the other hand that the Government will not fall. The motion was signed by 237 MPs, from across the political spectrum, 4 more than the number of votes required for the document to pass.




    Romanias new nominations for European Commissioner


    The Romanian Government had to come up this week with new nominations for European Commissioner for Transport, after the European Parliaments legal affairs committee rejected Rovana Plumb on grounds of a conflict of interests. Convening in Bucharest on Tuesday night, the National Executive Committee of the Social Democratic Party decided that MEP Dan Nica, a former telecoms minister, was the Governments new nomination for the post. They also chose Gabriela Ciot, a state secretary with the Foreign Ministry, as a back-up candidate, in case the European Commission wanted a woman for this position. Disgruntled with both Rovana Plumbs candidacy, and with the 2 subsequent alternatives, the Opposition called on PM Viorica Dancila to no longer make any nominations without consultations with the President and without a vote in Parliaments specialised committees. The president of the National Liberal Party, Ludovic Orban, warned that otherwise more candidates will be rejected, damaging Romanias international reputation.




    EIB triples funding for Romanian SMEs


    The European Investment Bank triples the funds granted to Romanian small and medium sized enterprises. The announcement was made on Thursday by the EIB vice-president Andrew McDowell. The funding, increased from 500 million to 1.38 billion euros, can support 5,000 small and medium companies. McDowell added that the EIB Group provides not only financial resources, but also consulting services for preparing and implementing complex projects. He signed new contracts and changes in the existing agreements with the Romanian banking institutions interested in facilitating the access of Romanian companies to funding. According to the Romanian Finance Minister Eugen Teodorovici, over 2,000 Romanian SMEs have benefited from such funding so far.




    Anti-mafia chief prosecutor resigns


    The President of Romania Klaus Iohannis Wednesday signed a decree dismissing Felix Banila as chief prosecutor of the Directorate Investigating Organised Crime and Terrorism. The latter had previously announced he would step down, although he claimed that he had not failed to do his duty. On Monday the President called for Banilas resignation, criticising him for the way in which the institution handled the investigations in the Caracal killings, a case with a heavy emotional impact on the public. Prosecutors are trying to determine whether 2 under-aged girls were killed by a presumed people trafficker, Gheorghe Dinca. The President argued that in both cases he saw delayed and outrageous responses from certain authorities, proving their disregard for both the victims and their families.



    Romania, guest of honour in Europalia International Art Festival


    The 50th edition of the Europalia International Art Festival, with Romania as a guest of honour, continues in Brussels, after it opened to the public on Wednesday. The official opening was on Tuesday, when King Philippe of Belgium, Queen Mathilde and the President of Romania Klaus Iohannis visited a Brancusi exhibition organised by the Romanian Cultural Institute at the Bozar Centre. This is the most important exhibition devoted to the Romanian sculptor in decades, and the highlight of the Festival. For the coming 4 months, events will be organised as part of Europalia in Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, and Britain, including over 250 visual art, music, theatre, literature and performing arts projects.




    Media 2020 Conference in Bucharest


    Radio Romania organised the 5th edition of the Media 2020 Conference, jointly with Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union. The event in Bucharest brought together more than 40 representatives of the most important public media organisations in Europe and Asia-Pacific. Attending the event, the ABU president Javad Mottaghi emphasised that public media services need independent, unbiased and reliable news produced by professionals. The debates focused on the future of public media in the digital era, on strategies to protect copyright and on fighting fake news. Radio Romania and BBC Radio signed a bilateral partnership agreement. Similar agreements have been signed by Radio Romania with Radio France and RAI, as part of the Romanian public broadcasters strategy to collaborate with Europes most prestigious media institutions.


    (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

  • No-confidence motion against Dancila Government

    No-confidence motion against Dancila Government

    A month since the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats left the ruling coalition it had with the Social Democratic Party, the Opposition is keeping its promise to ask Parliament for a vote of no-confidence against the Dancila Cabinet. The Liberals, who initiated the motion entitled “In order to rebuild Romania, the Dancila Government must be dismissed immediately!, gathered 237 signatures, 4 more than the number of votes required in order for the document to pass.



    MPs across the political spectrum have signed the motion, from Liberals to Save Romania Union, from Pro Romania to the Peoples Movement Party and to ALDE. The list of signatories even includes representatives of the ethnic minorities, who usually side with the Government, and even members of the ruling Social Democratic Party. The president of the National Liberal Party, Ludovic Orban, explained why this government must go:



    Ludovic Orban: “What we have now is not really a Cabinet, but rather the leftovers of a government, lacking the capacity, the authority and the competence to handle the serious challenges that Romania is faced with.



    On the other side, the Social Democrats voice confidence that the motion will not pass in Parliament, because it fails to bring a governing programme and a PM nomination, so they say they are determined to halt the Oppositions efforts. Viorica Dancila warned her fellow party members against defecting:



    Viorica Dancila: “Those who will vote in favour of the motion will betray the Social Democratic Party, the hopes of the mayors who want to implement their projects, the stability of the country, and I believe this is not something to be condoned.



    It is a delicate moment for the Social Democrats minority government, which has lasted this long after the Liberal Democrats left only due to the hesitations of the Opposition. The National Liberal Party has gone to great lengths to get so many signatures because in their previous, failed attempts at bringing down the government, they had relied on the word of various MPs who had promised to vote in favour of the motion but didnt. There is still room for surprises, but, as political observers note, there is no better time to dismiss the Dancila Government than the present.



    As for what will happen after, no one can tell. Things are further complicated by the forthcoming presidential elections, due on November 10th and 24th. The main opposition parties, the Liberals and Save Romania Union, favour the early election scenario, and say they are ready to take over power based on peoples votes. But Romania never had snap parliamentary elections in 3 decades of post-communist democracy.



    There is also the option of a cabinet of technocrats, with political support, until next autumns legislative election. In this respect, Romania does have a precedent. In the fall of 2015, also a year ahead of the regularly scheduled election, the Social Democrat PM Victor Ponta stepped down to be replaced by Dacian Ciolos.


    (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

  • October 1, 2019 UPDATE

    October 1, 2019 UPDATE

    MOTION A no-confidence motion against the Social Democrats minority government headed by Viorica Dancila was tabled in Parliament on Tuesday by the Opposition. The document, initiated by the Liberals, is backed by Save Romania Union, the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania, Peoples Movement Party, the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats, Pro Romania, and, according to the president of the National Liberal Party, Ludovic Orban, even by some Social Democrats. Entitled “In order to rebuild Romania, the Dancila Cabinet must be dismissed immediately! the motion was signed by 237 MPs, and it needs 233 votes in order to pass. The ruling party claims however that it will not be endorsed, because it fails to come up with a governing programme and a PM. Viorica Dancilas party lost the majority in Parliament after its junior partner, ALDE, left the ruling coalition in late August.




    COMMISSIONER MEP Dan Nica is Romanias main nomination for European Commissioner, the president of the Social Democratic Party Viorica Dăncilă said on Tuesday at the end of the partys National Executive Committee meeting. She added that Gabriela Ciot, secretary of state with the Foreign Ministry, will be the back-up nomination, if the European Commission wants a woman for a commissioner. PM Dăncilă explained that Romania will do the same as Hungary in terms of the new nominations: should Hungary come up with 2 candidates, so will Romania. The decision comes after the European Parliaments committee on legal affairs (JURI) rejected Rovana Plumb as a Transport Commissioner designate, nominated by Romania, and the candidate nominated by Hungary for Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy.




    EUROPALIA The president of Romania Klaus Iohannis and King Philippe of Belgium Tuesday visited in Brussels an exhibition on Brâncuşi, opening the Europalia International Art festival. This is the most important exhibition devoted to the Romanian sculptor in the past decades, and the highlight of this Festival, in which Romania is the guest of honour. Until February 2, 2020, Europalia comprises events held in Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg and Britain. Apart from exhibitions, the events include theatre, dance and music performances, visual art and literature projects, and more than 100 film screenings.




    OLYMPIAD Romanian students won 9 prizes in this years International French Language Olympiad, hosted by Chişinău, the Republic of Moldova. In the competition held between September 27 and 30, the Romanian team won 3 first prizes, 3 second prizes and 3 third prizes. The International French Language Olympiad brought together students from 6 La Francophonie member countries, Albania, Armenia, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Moldova and Romania. The competition is included in the official agenda of the Regional Office for Central and Eastern Europe of the International Organisation of La Francophonie.


    (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

  • Talks on no-confidence motion

    Talks on no-confidence motion

    After the divorce between the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats, in late August, the fate of the Cabinet seemed sealed. But in spite of the declarations of war coming from the Opposition, the minority government of the Social Democrats is in no imminent danger. PM Viorica Dancila takes advantage of the hesitations of the opposition parties, and takes her time asking for a confidence vote in Parliament, as the Constitution requires whenever the configuration of the ruling alliance changes.



    The leader of the National Liberal Party in opposition, Ludovic Orban, announced that the text of the no-confidence motion has already been agreed on with the Save Romania Union, Peoples Movement Party and the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians.



    Ludovic Orban: “We stand by this plan of garnering support for this motion from all the MPs in the parties that do not back the government, and our goal is to get 233 votes in favour of the no-confidence motion, so as to make sure it passes.



    The motion must be signed by 117 MPs in order to be tabled. The Save Romania Union floor group leader, Stelian Ion, urged ALDE and Pro Romania to be clear about their position regarding the Dancila Cabinet:



    Stelian Ion: “The only solution to this crisis is to table a motion of no-confidence and a vote on this motion, and those parties that claimed to have joined the Opposition must clearly define their position as to this censure motion. One cannot claim to be in opposition and still come up with all sorts of absurd conditions for signing and backing the motion. To be specific, I mean my colleagues in ALDE and Pro Romania.



    The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats risks falling apart after having left the ruling coalition—a move that not all its members had agreed with. For this party, the immediate priority is therefore to prevent an implosion. On the other hand, PRO Romania MPs promise that they will back the no-confidence motion unless the PM comes up with a reshuffled Cabinet. Pro Romania leader Victor Ponta:



    Victor Ponta: “We are waiting for PM Dancila to come up on Wednesday with a government reshuffle. If she doesnt do that, and keeping in mind that on Wednesday or Thursday we will very likely no longer have an education minister, in addition to not having an environment minister, a minister liaising with Parliament, an interior minister and an energy minister, then obviously we will have no choice. We have done everything in our power to find a reasonable solution so all Pro Romania MPs will vote in favour of the no-confidence motion that the Liberal Party and Save Romania hopefully will introduce.



    The Chamber of Deputies Speaker, the Social Democrat Marcel Ciolacu, voiced confidence that the Cabinet will survive any scenario, whether a censure motion or a confidence vote:



    Marcel Ciolacu: “I firmly believe that the no-confidence motion will not get 233 votes, and I also believe that we will have the half plus one of the votes required in order to change the political makeup of the Government.



    The leaders of the Social Democratic Party also expect a helping hand from the Constitutional Court. On Wednesday, the Court is to rule on the conflict between the Government and the President, who will not appoint interim ministers for the vacancies left behind by the Liberal Democrats.


    (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

  • June 18, 2019 UPDATE

    June 18, 2019 UPDATE

    NO-CONFIDENCE The no-confidence motion against the Government formed by the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats was dismissed on Tuesday in the Parliament of Romania. Although apparently having more support than in the previous 2 attempts at removing Viorica Dăncilăs Cabinet, the Opposition failed to get the required 233 votes. According to the text of the motion, Romania immediately needs a government with a pro-European stand and focusing on the countrys development priorities, namely education, healthcare, public investments and attracting European funds. The signatories, the National Liberal Party, Save Romania Union, Peoples Movement Party and the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania, said Viorica Dăncilăs Cabinet must be dismissed over the repeated attempts at issuing emergency orders in the field of the judiciary and the poor handling of the EP elections. PM Dăncilă, who is also the interim president of the Social Democratic Party, had asked the Social Democrat MPs to attend the meeting, but to abstain from voting.




    VISIT While on a visit in Romania, the US Attorney General William Barr was received on Tuesday by President Klaus Iohannis. The head of state appreciated the substance and dynamics of the Strategic Partnership between Romania and the USA, which has grown stronger over the past few years, and reiterated Bucharests commitment to strengthening it at all levels, from politics to defence and security and from judicial cooperation to the rule of law. In turn, the US official voiced his appreciation for the Strategic Partnership with Romania, which is the USAs most reliable partner in the region. Also on Tuesday, William Barr discussed with PM Viorica Dăncilă. During the meeting, Viorica Dăncilă requested the Attorney Generals support for including Romania in the Visa Waver programme, an aspect of particular importance to the Romanian authorities. PM Dăncilă also stated that Romania is committed to carrying on the Strategic Partnership with the US in the field of international judicial cooperation in criminal matters and to strengthening this cooperation through constant dialogue and a positive approach.




    COUNCIL The President of Romania Klaus Iohannis takes part on Thursday and Friday in a meeting of the European Council in Brussels, the Presidency announced on Tuesday. The agenda will mainly include aspects related to the appointment of the new EU institution leaders, the endorsement of the EU Strategic Agenda for 2019-2024, the new multi-annual financial framework, as well as the latest developments related to Brexit. On Friday Klaus Iohannis will also take part in a Euro Summit in an extended format. According to the Romanian Presidency, at the end of the 6 months that Romania held the rotating presidency of the EU Council, Iohannis will present the progress made in implementing the goals set by the European Council.




    BSEC The Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Meleşcanu took part on Tuesday in the opening session of the high-level conference on cooperation between the EU and the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organisation. The event was organised jointly by the Romanian presidency of the Council of the EU and the Bulgarian presidency of the BSEC, with support from the European Commission. In his address, Teodor Meleşcanu expressed Romanias constant and firm commitment to stimulating regional cooperation in the Black Sea region, as an integral part of Romanias strategic profile. He also reiterated the importance attached by Romania to strengthening the cooperation between the 2 international organisations, so as to help better use the opportunities offered by the EU policies, initiatives and programmes towards the sustainable development of the Black Sea region.




    FOOTBALL Several Romanian football clubs found out their opponents for the first preliminary round of the European cups, following Tuesdays draw of lots in Nyon, Switzerland. The Romanian champions CFR Cluj are to play against FC Astana of Kazakhstan, in the Champions League. The first leg will be played in Kazakhstan on July 9th or 10th, and the return leg a week later in Cluj-Napoca. In Europa League, FCSB will take on Moldovas Milsami Orhei, with the first leg scheduled in Romania on July 11th and the second one in Moldova on July 18th. CSU Craiova takes on the Azeri team FK Sabail, also on July 11th, away from home, while the Romanian Cup winners FC Viitorul Constanta will go straight into the second round of the same competition.



    (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

  • June 16, 2019 UPDATE

    June 16, 2019 UPDATE

    MOLDOVA The PM of Romania Viorica Dăncilă sent a support message to her counterpart from the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu, and invited her to Bucharest on her first official visit in this capacity. According to a news release issued on Sunday by the Government, Romania is confident that the new Cabinet in Chisinau will carry on the EU accession efforts and successfully implement the required reforms, the Association Agreement and the Free Trade Agreement with the EU. PM Dăncilă also reiterated Bucharests willingness to carry on the Strategic Partnership for the European Integration of the Republic of Moldova, which is at the core of the two countries bilateral cooperation. Meanwhile, PM Maia Sandu has called for the resignation of the Constitutional Court judges, who Saturday cancelled their previous rulings that dismantled Parliament and invalidated the new government, thus favouring the Democratic Party headed by tycoon Vlad Plahotniuc. On Friday the Democratic Party relinquished power and its leader left the country.




    FAC The Romanian diplomacy chief Teodor Meleşcanu takes part on Monday in a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg. EU foreign ministers will discuss means to enhance the efficiency of the Common Foreign and Security Policy and will tackle topics of interest such as the situation in the Republic of Moldova and the developments in Sudan. Over an informal working lunch with Jordans Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Ayman Safadi, the EU officials will also exchange opinions on the developments in the Middle East. Also on Monday, the EU foreign and defence ministers will have a joint meeting to assess the implementation of the Unions Global Strategy.




    NO-CONFIDENCE A no-confidence motion tabled by the right-of-centre opposition in Romania against the Government made up by the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats will be discussed on Tuesday in Parliament. According to the document, Romania immediately needs a government with a pro-European stand and focusing on the countrys development priorities, namely education, healthcare, public investments and attracting European funds. The motion signatories, the National Liberal Party, Save Romania Union, Peoples Movement Party and the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania, believe Viorica Dăncilăs Cabinet must be dismissed over the repeated attempts at issuing emergency orders in the field of the judiciary and the poor handling of the EP elections. For the motion to pass, it needs 233 votes. PM Dăncilă, who is also the interim president of the Social Democratic Party, has asked the Social Democrat MPs to attend the meeting, but to abstain from voting.




    THEATRE The 26th edition of the Sibiu International Theatre Festival (FITS) continues. This years motto is “The Art of Giving. Scheduled for Sunday were a Japanese theatre performance and a concert by the French artist Adam Naas, among other performances. A total of 540 events are held as part of the Festival until the 23rd of June, bringing to Sibiu more than 3,300 artists and guests from 73 countries. According to the organisers, FITS is a celebration of the performing arts, from theatre to dance and music, but book launches, exhibitions and conferences are also organised on the sidelines of the event. This is the largest and most complex theatre festival in Romania and in Europe, and Radio Romania is one of the co-producers.




    WINNERS The winners of RRIs quiz, Govora – Spa Tourism at European Level, Hans Verner Lollike and his wife, Inge-Lise, of Denmark, arrived in Bucharest on June 15th and travelled to Valcea County in southern Romania. They are staying at Palace Hotel in Govora Resort, and will be visiting the main cultural, tourist and religious sites in the area, including the town of Râmnicu Vâlcea, the Ocnele Mari salt mine, the famous Cozia and Turnu monasteries, the pottery workshops in Horezu, the UNESCO-listed Horezu Monastery and others. Our listeners will also go on a trip on Romanias highest-altitude motorway, the Transalpina. Our guests will leave Vâlcea County on June 23rd. RRI received 225 correct and complete answers in its latest quiz.




    Hong Kong Hundreds of thousands once again rallied in Hong Kong on Sunday, asking for the resignation of chief executive Carrie Lam. On Saturday, Carrie Lam announced an indefinite suspension of the extradition bill that allowed for Hong Kong citizens to be extradited and stand trial in China. The new draft law triggered Hong Kongs most violent protests in decades. Carrie Lam apologised to the protesters, saying she was sorry for the problems caused by what she called shortcomings in her work.



    (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

  • June 16, 2019

    June 16, 2019

    MOLDOVA The PM of Romania Viorica Dăncilă sent a support message to her counterpart from the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu, and invited her to Bucharest on her first official visit in this capacity. According to a news release issued on Sunday by the Government, Romania is confident that the new Cabinet in Chisinau will carry on the EU accession efforts and successfully implement the required reforms, the Association Agreement and the Free Trade Agreement with the EU. PM Dăncilă also reiterated Bucharests willingness to carry on the Strategic Partnership for the European Integration of the Republic of Moldova, which is at the core of the two countries bilateral cooperation. Meanwhile, PM Maia Sandu has called for the resignation of the Constitutional Court judges, who Saturday cancelled their previous rulings that dismantled Parliament and invalidated the new government, thus favouring the Democratic Party headed by tycoon Vlad Plahotniuc. On Friday the Democratic Party relinquished power and its leader left the country.



    NO-CONFIDENCE A no-confidence motion tabled by the right-of-centre opposition in Romania against the Government made up by the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats will be discussed on Tuesday in Parliament. According to the document, Romania immediately needs a government with a pro-European stand and focusing on the countrys development priorities, namely education, healthcare, public investments and attracting European funds. The motion signatories, the National Liberal Party, Save Romania Union, Peoples Movement Party and the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania, believe Viorica Dăncilăs Cabinet must be dismissed over the repeated attempts at issuing emergency orders in the field of the judiciary and the poor handling of the EP elections. For the motion to pass, it needs 233 votes. PM Dăncilă, who is also the interim president of the Social Democratic Party, has asked the Social Democrat MPs to attend the meeting, but to abstain from voting.




    WHITSUNDAY Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Christians around the world, including in Romania, celebrate today the Pentecost, the event which, 50 days after Easter, marks the establishment of the Christian Church. According to the New Testament, this is when the Holy Spirit descended upon the 12 Apostles. Following a sermon given by St. Peter, 3,000 people were baptised and formed the first ever Christian community. In Romania, 23,000 police, gendarme and other forces are mobilised to ensure public order and safety during the events organised on Whitsunday and Whit Monday.




    THEATRE The 26th edition of the Sibiu International Theatre Festival (FITS) continues. This years motto is “The Art of Giving. Scheduled for Sunday are a Japanese theatre performance and a concert by the French artist Adam Naas. A total of 540 events are held as part of the Festival until the 23rd of June, bringing to Sibiu more than 3,300 artists and guests from 73 countries. According to the organisers, FITS is a celebration of the performing arts, from theatre to dance and music, but book launches, exhibitions and conferences are also organised on the sidelines of the event. This is the largest and more complex theatre festival in Romania and in Europe, and Radio Romania is one of the co-producers.




    MEASLES 207 new cases of measles have been confirmed this week in 19 counties in Romania and in the capital Bucharest, according to data made public by the National Centre for Infectious Disease Monitoring and Control. The largest number of cases was reported in Suceava County – 67, Neamţ County – 42 and Sălaj County – 19, among unvaccinated children. Since the onset of this epidemic, the number of cases has reached 17,340, and 64 people died so far.




    FOOTBALL 12 teams, Romania included, are taking part as of today in the UEFA European Under-21 Championship hosted by Italy and San Marino. Romania plays in Group C alongside England, France and Croatia. The first matches in Group A are played on Sunday, with Poland taking on Belgium and Italy facing Spain. Romania will play its first match on Tuesday, against Croatia. This is the second participation in a final tournament for Romania, after the one in 1998. The top ranking team in each of the 3 groups, as well as the best of the second-placed teams in each group, will move forward to the semi-finals. The final is scheduled for June 30.



    (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

  • Parliamentary debates in Bucharest

    Parliamentary debates in Bucharest

    After the elections for the European Parliament and the justice referendum, the Romanian Parliament has a busy agenda this week. On Tuesday, the foreign minister Teodor Melescanu is invited by the National Liberal Party and the Save Romania Union to answer questions before the Chamber of Deputies, whereas the Senate is discussing a simple motion tabled against him by the Opposition.



    The political debates will focus on the voting problems in polling stations abroad on May 26. The Liberals, Save Romania Union and the Peoples Movement Party call for the resignation of the foreign minister over the poor management of the voting process.



    Also this week, Parliament leaders will convene to decide on the set up of an election code committee, as agreed in a meeting held by the ruling coalition. The president of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats, Calin Popescu-Tariceanu, explained that committee members should draw up a bill enabling all citizens to exercise their voting rights in an efficient manner.



    Calin Popescu Tariceanu: “We will invite the Central Electoral Authority, which as far as I know has already mentioned a number of proposals, including an extended early vote, electronic voting or mail voting. We will also invite the Foreign Ministry and the Interior Ministry, so as to identify the most appropriate solution and to avoid such crowding and queuing in the future.



    During the May 26 vote for the European Parliament and the justice referendum, thousands of Romanians living abroad were unable to cast their votes because of the poor organization, in spite of the near doubling of polling stations set up abroad. A report issued by the Foreign Ministry at the request of PM Viorica Dancila denies any responsibility for the problems, and blames them on President Klaus Iohannis, who asked for a referendum on the same day as the European elections. Another accusation brought by the Opposition against the foreign minister is also the failure of Romanias candidacy for a non-permanent seat in the UN Security Council.



    Meanwhile, the Opposition is also trying to get the required number of votes for a no-confidence motion to remove the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats from power. The Liberal Senator Alina Gorghiu said the other opposition parties promised to back the motion:



    Alina Gorghiu: “I appreciate the openness of all those in the Parliament of Romania who are willing to cast their vote to dismiss the Cabinet through a no-confidence motion, and I assure those who cling on to power, and Mrs. Dancila too, that their unwillingness to step down turns them into a party that is irrelevant in the political arena.



    In turn, ProRomania, an opposition party headed by the former Social Democratic prime minister Victor Ponta, announced that, although they did not sign the no-confidence motion, they will vote to dismiss the Cabinet.



    (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

  • January 16, 2019

    January 16, 2019

    BREXIT Britains government must clarify its position after Parliament voted down the Brexit agreement, the President of Romania Klaus Iohannis said in Bucharest today. In his opinion, this decision is regrettable. He added however not that all the procedures which may lead to the approval of the deal have been used, and that the Romanians living in the UK need not worry because European leaders are prepared for other options as well. The agreement approved by the 27 member states will not be renegotiated, the head of the Romanian state added.




    VOTE A no-confidence vote against the government is scheduled today in Britains Parliament, which yesterday rejected by a large majority the Brexit agreement with the EU. According to Radio Romanias correspondent, there are slim chances for Theresa Mays Cabinet to be dismissed, given that Northern Irelands representatives in Parliament seem to continue to support the Government. Also, although over 100 Tories voted against the deal, it is unlikely that they will do the same against their own government. The rejection of the Brexit deal is the harshest defeat for a British cabinet in modern times, and questions Britains withdrawal from the European Union, less than 3 months before it is scheduled to take effect. Analysts predict a severe crisis in the UK. Several scenarios have been discussed, including early elections and the holding of a second referendum.




    SCHENGEN The Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Meleşcanu said on Tuesday in Strasbourg that there is no reason to deny Romanias Schengen accession, and voiced hopes that a solution will be reached during the Romanian presidency of the Council of the EU. He promised that the Romanian presidency will allow for “very open discussions with the countries opposing Romanias entry, and will invite those countries to present the reasons why they are against Romanias inclusion in the visa-free area. “We hope to be as convincing as possible and to reach a solution, Teodor Melescanu added.




    STRIKE The Romanian PM Viorica Dăncilă has talks today with the Energy and Economy ministers, Anton Anton and Niculae Badalau, respectively, and with officials from energy companies, concerning the state of the national energy system in the context of the miners strike at the Oltenia Energy Corporation. Also today, a new round of negotiations is scheduled at the Governments headquarters, in search of a solution to the strike. Previously, the mixed negotiation commission approved, apart from holiday vouchers, a further 150 euro gross monthly pay raise for workers andnearly 80 euros for section chiefs, as of May 1. The coal workers demand a 45% pay raise, holiday vouchers and better working conditions. Thermal power plants, working at full capacity these days, only have coal supplies for another 4-5 days left.




    FLU Nine people have died of the flu in Romania so far. According to the authorities, the 9th victim is a 40-year old man who had previous medical conditions and had not been vaccinated. The man tested positive for the AH1 flu virus. Because of the large number of viral respiratory infections, visitor access has been restricted in many hospitals in the country. Nearly 53,000 respiratory infections and over 100 flu cases have been confirmed since the first week of the year.




    TENNIS The Romanian player Irina Begu (70 WTA) has been defeated today by the Czech Petra Kvitova (6 WTA), 1-6, 3-6, in the second round of the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam tournament of the year. The other Romanians still in the race are world no 1 Simona Halep and Marius Copil. Also today, in the womens doubles, the Romanians Irina Maria Bara and Monica Niculescu qualified into the second round, after beating the Spaniards Lara Arruabarrena / Arantxa Parra Santonja, 6-1, 6-1. In the next stage they are facing the winners of the match pitting Lucie Hradecka (Czech Republic) / Ekaterina Makarova (Russia) against Mona Barthel (Germany) / Sofia Kenin (USA). Other Romanians play in the doubles: Irina Begu and Mihaela Buzărnescu, Sorana Cîrstea playing together with Latvias Jelena Ostapenko and Raluca Olaru with Galina Voskoboeva (Kazakhstan).



    (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

  • December 20, 2018

    December 20, 2018

    PARLIAMENT The Parliament of Romania is today debating and voting on the second no-confidence motion against the Government formed by the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats, and headed by Viorica Dăncila. According to the Opposition, the current Cabinet is a threat to Romanias national interests, to its economic and political stability. The authors of the motion criticise the laws on the judiciary and claim the Prime Minister failed to comply with the governing programme undertaken at the start of her term. In reply, the PM claimed that the alternative the Opposition offers to citizens is to suspend income increases and even to slash salaries and pensions. Viorica Dancila also defended the justice laws, emphasising that they were endorsed by Parliament, rather than by an emergency decree as it was the case with the Ciolos Cabinet. Initiated by the National Liberal Party, the Save Romania Union, the Peoples Movement Party and unaffiliated MPs, the document was signed by 163 MPs, but needs 233 votes in order to pass. Yesterday the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania announced that its MPs would attend the meeting, but would abstain from voting.



    STOCK EXCHANGE The Association of Capital Market Professionals says the prospective endorsement of a recent government decree on fiscal and budgetary measures is the most brutal and irrational attack against the Romanian capital market since its re-establishment in 1995. The Bucharest Stock Exchange opened on a slight increase today, but plunged back down, after experiencing its worst day so far on Wednesday. Substantial losses were reported by banks and energy and utilities companies, after on Tuesday the Finance Minister Eugen Teodorovici announced that by the end of the year a government decree would be passed introducing certain fiscal and budgetary measures. These include a so-called “tax on greed charged on banking revenues, and a package concerning energy companies, such as a 3% of turnover contribution, a cap on natural gas prices and electricity price control. The business community in Romania warned against the negative effects of the new taxes announced by the Government for 2019. President Klaus Iohannis urged the Cabinet to reconsider the decree, to negotiate it with employers and trade unions and to endorse a more sustainable version after thorough analysis and review.



    EU The President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, receives in Bucharest on Friday the Chancellor of Austria Sebastian Kurz, whose country currently holds the rotating presidency of the EU Council. Romania will symbolically take over the presidency of the EU Council, which it will hold as of January 1. The 2 officials will discuss the priorities on the European agenda, such as the future of the Union, the EU budget after 2020, Brexit, and the elections for the European Parliament. On Wednesday in a meeting with the EU ambassadors to Bucharest, President Klaus Iohannis said Romanias goal during its presidency of the EU Council is to begin as soon as possible the negotiations on the future relations between the Union and Britain, if the withdrawal agreement is ratified by London and approved by the European Parliament. Iohannis also said that Romania supports a stronger European Union, which is closer to its citizens and able to guarantee their security and prosperity. He also emphasised the importance of the informal meeting of European leaders in Sibiu on May 9, 2019, when the EU strategic agenda for 2019-2024 will be discussed.



    JUDICIARY Romanias supreme court suspended the serving of prison sentences received by several high-level officials under corruption charges. Among them are the former chief of the anti-terrorism and anti-mafia directorate Alina Bica, who requested asylum in Costa Rica, the former head of the tax authority, Serban Pop, and former Social Democratic ministers and MPs Dan Şova and Constantin Niţă. They have been released, until final rulings are passed on their appeals. The argument put forth for the suspension of their sentences was that the membership of the 5-judge panels passing the rulings had not been correct. The supreme court held drawing of lots sessions for the 5-judge panels 3 times this year, when the Law on the organisation of courts was modified, further to a Constitutional Court decision, at the request of the Government and following an objection by the Social Democratic Party president Liviu Dragnea, who is tried for corruption at the Bucharest Court of Appeals.



    COMMEMORATION Sirens sounded for 3 minutes in Timisoara today, in memory of the day of December 20, 1989, when Timisoara was proclaimed the first city free from communism in Romania. The largest plants went on strike back then, and workers gathered in the city centre, alongside tens of thousands of other locals. The Army withdrew from streets, the protesters who had been arrested were released, and the peoples demands were read out from the famous Opera House balcony. Also on December 20, the first revolutionary committee, called The Romanian Democratic Front, was set up. Members of the families of the Timisoara victims are traveling to Bucharest today to commemorate one of the most important events in modern Romanian history. They will arrive at the place where the bodies of 44 Timisoara heroes, shot dead on December 17, were cremated. The uprising that started in Timisoara spread on December 21 to Bucharest and other Romanian cities. Over 1,000 people died and some 3,000 others were wounded in the shootings in Romania, the only Eastern Bloc country where the communist regime was toppled violently and where the communist leaders were executed.



    FOOTBALL Romanias national football team will end the year on the 24th position in the ranking that FIFA made public on Thursday. Romania started the year on the 40th place. This years 24th place is the best ranking Romanias football team has held since 2016. The teams future opponents in the EURO 2020 qualifiers are Spain, in 9th place, Sweden – 14, Norway – 46, Faeroe – 98, and Malta – 182.



    (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

  • June 27, 2018 UPDATE

    June 27, 2018 UPDATE

    NO-CONFIDENCE VOTE – The Parliament in Bucharest Wednesday dismissed a no-confidence motion initiated by the National Liberal Party and entitled “The resignation of the Dragnea-Dancila government – a national emergency! The text only got 166 out of the 233 votes it needed in order to pass. The signatories of the motion, which was supported by the Save Romania Union and the Peoples Movement Party, criticised the government formed by the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats among others for the changes to the Code of Criminal Procedure, restricting the presidents powers and the negative economic developments.




    PROTESTS – Thousands of people protested near the Parliament building in Bucharest in support of the no-confidence motion. They demanded the resignation of the government and are chanting anti-coalition slogans. Protesters said they are unhappy with the governments lack of interest in securing investments for infrastructure, healthcare and education, instead concerning itself only with the judicial system in order to solve their problems with the law.




    EUROPEAN COUNCIL – The head of state, Klaus Iohannis, is taking part on Thursday and Friday in Brussels in a meeting of the European Council, where he will express Romanias support for the NATO and EU initiatives to improve military mobility. According to the presidential administration, he will also plead for maintaining an attractive investment climate in the EU. The meeting agenda also includes topics like migration, Brexit, the future Community budget and the Unions foreign relations, the Presidency explained.




    JUDICIARY – The former chief of the Directorate Investigating Organised Crime and Terrorism in Romania (DIICOT), Alina Bica, who Tuesday received a final 4-year prison sentence, is currently wanted internationally, the Romanian Police announced on Wednesday. She was found guilty of encouraging an offender. The former DIICOT chief is at present in Costa Rica, where according to her lawyer, she was granted the political refugee status.




    INDICTMENT – The former minister for regional development Sevil Shhaideh was sent to court in the so-called “Belina case, under charges of abuse of office, the National Anti-Corruption Directorate announced on Wednesday. According to prosecutors, in 2013, when she was a state secretary in the same ministry, Shhaideh submitted to the Cabinet a draft resolution to the effect that parts of Belina Island in the Danube plains were illegally transferred from public property to the property and administration of the Teleorman County Council. Prosecutors argue that the transfer could only be done under a law, and not through a government resolution.


    (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

  • June 26, 2018

    June 26, 2018

    NO-CONFIDENCE VOTE – The no-confidence motion initiated by the National Liberal Party and backed by Save Romania Union and the Peoples Movement Party against the Dăncilă Cabinet was read out on Monday in Parliament, and is to be discussed and voted on tomorrow. The Government is criticised, among other things, for the changes to the Code of Criminal Procedure, for reducing the powers of the countrys president and for negative economic performances.





    PARTNERSHIP – Romanias deputy PM Ana Birchall, who had a meeting on Monday in Washington with the US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, reaffirmed the importance of the Strategic Partnership with the US for Romanias foreign policy. The Romanian official also emphasised the need to maintain a balanced and coherent NATO policy on the eastern flank. Ana Birchall reconfirmed the goal undertaken by Romania with respect to the fair distribution of responsibilities within the Alliance, in view of strengthening its defence capabilities. Also on Monday, in a meeting with Secretary of Energy Rick Perry, Ana Birchall discussed the development of the energy resources in the Black Sea, regional energy security and the development of transport and interconnectivity projects. Birchall reiterated the Romanian Governments firm commitment to ensure a transparent and attractive investment climate for the relevant companies.





    DEFENCE – Romania faces Russian aggression on a daily basis in the Black Sea, and is fending off a wave of cyber-attacks and political interference, the Romanian defence minister Mihai Fifor said Monday in an interview to Associated Press. He added that Romania aims to be the regions main security provider and an early warning outpost for threats to fellow NATO allies. Mihai Fifor mentioned that Romania is hosting a major US military base and has a more pro-American stance than its neighbours, which has led to cool relations with Russia. The Defence Minister added that Romania plans to demonstrate that it is a pillar of stability and security in the region and to increase its contribution to mission Resolute Support in Afghanistan, from 700 troops at present to 900.





    FLAG DAY – Bucharest and other cities in Romania are hosting today military and religious ceremonies as well as air shows, to mark National Flag Day. Taking part in the events in the capital city were the Defence Minister Mihai Fifor, troops, war veterans, and retired officers. National Flag Day was proclaimed by law in 1998 and is celebrated every year on June 26. The date was chosen to mark the day in 1848 when the red, yellow and blue colours were chosen as the symbol of the Romanian nation.





    EU – The Romanian Foreign Minister, Teodor Meleşcanu, said the progress made by the European Union in the field of security and defence must contribute to strengthening the European defence and the cooperation with NATO. The statement was made in Luxembourg, at a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council, attended by the EU foreign ministers and defence ministers, in the presence of NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg. Also in Luxembourg, Romania and Bulgaria presented the state and the prospects of Black Sea cooperation initiatives. Minister Teodor Meleşcanu pleaded for enhanced EU support for such joint projects.





    CYCLING – Around 250 bikers have set out today from the capital city Bucharest, from Iaşi in the north-east, Timişoara in the west and Drobeta Turnu Severin in the south-west, to meet in Alba Iulia, in the centre of the country, where the Great Union was proclaimed 100 years ago. The cycling tour is devoted to the celebration of 100 years since the formation of the Romanian nation state, on December 1, 1918. The around 500-km route will be completed in 5 days. For a short while the participants were joined in Bucharest by President Klaus Iohannis, who took the opportunity to plead for national unity.


    (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

  • A hot summer in Romanian politics

    A hot summer in Romanian politics

    The coalition government led by Viorica Dancila is to face the first no-confidence vote against it. Read in Parliament on Monday, the motion will be debated and voted on this Wednesday. The accusations contained in the document are varied. Among others, the Liberals, supported by the Save Romania Union and the Peoples Movement Party, accuse the government of endangering the future of the privately managed pensions of 7 million contributors. They also condemn the recent changes to the Code of Criminal Procedure which they say threaten the act of justice, and blame the government for the inability to absorb European funds and failure to improve detention standards.



    The discontent of the opposition is shared by part of civil society. In recent days, thousands of people have taken to the streets in Bucharest and other big cities to protest against the revisions to the Code of Criminal Procedure and of the justice laws. The protesters shouted anti-government slogans and demanded the cabinets resignation. On paper, the Social Democrats and their allies from the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats have the necessary votes to reject the no-confidence motion on Wednesday. Their leader, Liviu Dragnea, has given assurances that his party would continue to hold parliamentary majority together with their allies and promised that the motion would not pass.



    Except the Social Democratic Party is seriously shaken and is going through a difficult moment after the High Court of Cassation and Justice in Bucharest on Thursday handed Dragnea a prison sentence of three and a half years for instigation to abuse of office while he was the head of the County Council in Teleorman, in the south. The sentence is not final and can be appealed.



    Possibly in an attempt to take advantage of this situation, the president of the country Klaus Iohannis announced he would run for a second term. At least until now, Dragnea himself has been considered a potential candidate to the presidential elections of 2019. According to some commentators, after being notable more for his absence than for his presence in public life for three and a half years, Klaus Iohannis has taken a more vocal stance in recent months, criticising the Social Democratic Party. The Liberals, who say they will back Iohannis, have in fact revealed to some extent what his campaign will be based on. By launching his candidacy, says the National Liberal Party, president Iohannis is determined to fight to the death “to free Romania of the immense danger posed by Liviu Dragneas attempt to hijack it.



    This summer is therefore likely to be very hot in Romanian politics, prefacing the fierce competition to come. No doubt that there will also be some surprises!


    (translated by: Cristina Mateescu)

  • Opposition tables no-confidence motion

    Opposition tables no-confidence motion

    Sworn in at the end of June, the Social Democrat Mihai Tudoses cabinet is already faced with a no-confidence motion initiated by the right-wing opposition. The authors criticise the ruling coalition, made up of the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in Romania, for the gap between the generous promises that won them the parliamentary election in December 2016 by some 45% of the votes, and the current inconsistent and chaotic governmental policies, which, the opposition says, have disrupted the course of the national economy and society as a whole. The changes operated on the tax code, particularly the switch of social security payments from employers to employees and the reduction of income taxes from 16 to 10% as of January 1, 2018, will have devastating effects on an economy that all statistics currently describe as being on an upward trend.



    Signed by 148 MPs, members of the National Liberal Party, Save Romania Union, Peoples Movement Party, as well as non-affiliated, and tabled on Friday, the motion was read on Monday in a plenary meeting by the Liberal Deputy Dan Valceanu, in the absence of the powers MPs and of the prime minister.



    Dan Valceanu: “Dare believe, leaders of the governmental coalition, that while you have promised improved living standards, in fact peoples spending power is falling in spite of the economic growth. The inflation rate has gone up 13 times since the beginning of the year, from 0.2% to 2.6%, and is more than double the figure you promised in your election campaign.



    PM Tudose says the debates occasioned by the no-confidence motion would actually be an opportunity for his team to present its accomplishments. He promised the 2018 state budget law would be finalised in a short while, and local administration units would have their revenues secured, so that there would be no reason to increase taxes.



    Mihai Tudose: “No town hall, no administrative unit will see its budget reduced, everybody will have at least the same budget as in 2017. We have had talks and negotiations with the business community, from small companies to large ones. Employers risk losing their employees unless they implement the tax code changes and increase the salaries of their staff.



    The Senate Speaker and leader of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in Romania, Calin Popescu Tariceanu, announced that Parliament leaders would convene by the end of the week to set a date for the vote on the no-confidence motion.



    Commentators are rather sceptical that the motion will pass, given that the ruling coalition has a comfortable majority in Parliament. In their opinion, even if the governments policies have sparked criticism not only among trade unions, employers, and civil society, but also among the governmental majority, the Social Democrats and Liberal Democrats party discipline will not allow for any unwanted surprises for the Tudose cabinet.


    (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)