Radio România Internațional

Tag: politics

  • The Week in Review 26 August – 01 September

    The Week in Review 26 August – 01 September

    Annual meeting of Romanian diplomacy



    Bucharest hosted these past few days the annual meeting of Romanian diplomats, held this year in the special context of the Great Union Centennial. One of the main topics of the talks was the rotating presidency of the EU Council to be taken over by Bucharest in the first half of 2019. Addressing the participants, President Klaus Iohannis emphasised that he would like Romania’s presidency to be as efficient as possible and an opportunity for the country to strengthen its relations with the EU institutions, the other member states and its foreign partners. Attending the meeting, the minister delegate for European affairs Victor Negrescu called for the support of the Romanian diplomats, so as to ensure the success of Romania’s mandate:



    Victor Negrescu: “We are making thorough preparations for this process, and there is no risk of Romania failing to exercise its mandate. Romania will exercise this mandate and I am confident that it will be a successful presidency, thanks to everyone’s involvement, and obviously we are counting on your help in this respect. However, this moment is not without challenges. There are many opportunities, that we have discussed and will discuss further, but there are also a lot of challenges, both for Romania as a country, and for the EU as a whole, whether we talk about Brexit, or the forthcoming EU budget, or the elections for the European Parliament or the broader debate on the future of the Union.”




    The annual meeting of Romanian diplomats is a platform for discussing Romania’s priorities in an international context, and this year’s guest of honour was the German foreign minister Heiko Maas.



    African swine fever spreads in Romania



    With some 800 outbreaks confirmed in one quarter of its counties, mainly in the south-east and north-west, Romania struggles to contain the most serious animal disease since WW2. The toughest measure implemented at present is to cull all the pigs in the areas where the virus has been confirmed. Roadblocks are also in place, to stop people from taking the sick animals or animal products out of the affected areas, and a decision was made to allow the hunting of wild pigs and jackals carrying the virus in the Danube Delta. But in spite of these measures, the disease is spreading quickly, because there is no treatment or vaccine, the authorities say. President Klaus Iohannis, who requested that compensations be paid as quickly as possible to those affected, argued that the inadequate handling of the situation by the authorities brought many local producers to the verge of bankruptcy. The agriculture minister Petre Daea promised that compensations would be paid to the owners of the slaughtered animals.



    Romanian Language Day was celebrated on August 31



    The Romanian Language day was celebrated by the authorities and public institutions, the Romanian diplomatic offices and cultural institutes abroad, with cultural, scientific and educational programmes and events devoted to the Romanian language. The foreign offices of the Romanian Cultural Institute organised a number of events, jointly with major local cultural partners. Most projects take place on or around august 31st, declared the Romanian Language Day in 2013 and also celebrated in the Republic of Moldova.



    The Republic of Moldova — 27 years of independence



    The Republic of Moldova celebrated its Independence Day, amid protests by the opposition and the forced evacuation of a group of demonstrators in the capital city Chisinau. On august 27, 1991, the Republic of Moldova, created on part of the eastern Romanian territory seized by Soviet Russia in 1940, declared its independence from Moscow. Romania, which was just recovering from communism, was the first country to officially recognise the new republic. 27 years on, Romania, a NATO and EU member, is still the most vocal supporter of the European accession of the small neighbouring state with a majority Romanian-speaking population.



    The Golden Stag Festival turns 50



    After a 9-year break, the city of Brasov in central Romania is once again hosting the Golden Stag International Festival, which started on August 29th. The Festival began in 1968 and ran for 17 editions, welcoming guest stars such as Diana Ross, Julio Iglesias, Tom Jones, Coolio, Christina Aguilera, Ricky Martin, Toto Cutugno, Ray Charles, Pink, UB40, Scorpions and many other major names of the international music industry. This year, to mark the Union Centennial and the 50 years of the Golden Stag festival, the event has a special format, the organisers say, including an anniversary gala, 2 days of competition, a festival gala, a special show entitled “Centenary Romania” and other events. Taking part in the official competition this year are 18 performers from 15 countries, including 3 from Romania.



    No Romanian teams in European football competitions



    Romania will not be represented in the continental football competitions this season, after the champions CFR Cluj and the vice-champions FCSB (formerly Steaua Bucharest) failed to qualify for the Europa League group stage. CFR lost both legs against the champions of Luxembourg, Dudelange, 0-2 away from home and 2-3 at home on Thursday night. FCSB won on home turf against the Austrian side Rapid Vienna, 2-1, but the score was not enough to make up for the 3-1 defeat in the first leg.

  • August 27, 2018

    August 27, 2018

    DIPLOMACY – The annual meeting of Romanian diplomats begins today in the capital city Bucharest, under the motto “Diplomacy – A Pillar of Centennial Romania. The annual meeting of Romanian diplomats is a broad platform for the discussion of topics of major interest to Romania, such as the rotating presidency of the EU Council, to be taken over by Romania early next year, bilateral as well as strategic relations. The national priorities on the agenda of the meeting also include regional cooperation, the eastern neighbourhood and economic diplomacy. Attending the event are the Foreign Minister Teodor Meleşcanu, the Minister delegate for European Affairs, Victor Negrescu, heads of Romanian embassies and consular offices abroad, and Romanian and foreign guests. A special guest in this years meeting is the German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, who will join his Romanian counterpart in a special session entitled “Bucharest – Berlin – Brussels, together for a strong Europe.




    SWINE FEVER – Scheduled to begin on Monday, the slaughtering of around 140,000 animals at Romanias largest pig farm, in Braila County in the south-east, where the African swine fever virus has been confirmed, was postponed at the request of the owners. They requested the setup of a special assessment committee, given the extensive damages to be incurred. A swine fever hotbed has been recently confirmed in another farm in Braila County, which was breeding some 35,000 pigs, and where the slaughtering process has already been initiated. One-quarter of Romanias counties are affected by the African swine fever epidemics, with over 700 hotbeds identified by the authorities in the south-east and north-west of the country. The Pro Agro National Federation has requested the Government to have the situation discussed in the Supreme Defence Council.




    POLITICS – The Romanian parliamentary parties have scheduled meetings to outline their strategies ahead of the autumn parliamentary sitting. Liviu Dragnea, the president of the main ruling party in Romania, the Social Democratic Party, announced that next weekend the partys National Executive Committee and parliamentary groups will convene in the Black Sea resort of Neptun, in order to set out the partys priorities. The meeting will also tackle the activity of the Dancila Cabinet ministers. The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats, the Social Democrats ruling coalition partners, will also have a meeting of its Executive Political Bureau early next week, to discuss the partys priorities and the selection criteria for the ensuing elections for the European Parliament. The main opposition party, the National Liberal Party, will also plan its moves for the autumn parliamentary session. The Liberals have tried and failed to have a special session convened this summer, in order to set up an investigation committee focusing on the violent clashes during the August 10 anti-government protest of Romanian expats. The Liberals also seek to have the Interior Minister Carmen Dan removed from office by Parliament.




    FESTIVAL – The Golden Stag music festival celebrates 50 years of existence in 2018. After a 9-year break, the international pop music competition held in Brasov, central Romania, will be resumed on Wednesday with a special gala devoted to the Union Centennial. Romanian and international artists will hold concerts, including James Blunt, Amy Macdonald, Andra, Delia, Loredana, Carlas Dreams and Horia Brenciu. The Festival, to be held between August 29 and September 2, will bring together 18 competitors from 15 countries. During the same period, book lovers are invited to the Gaudeamus Caravan, an event organised by Radio Romania.




    MOLDOVA – The Republic of Moldova citizens and expats took part on Sunday in a protest organised by ACUM Resistence Movement, created after the elections for the Chisinau city hall, won by the pro-Europeans, were cancelled. The participants criticised the corruption of the current ruling class, the invalidation of the elections in Chisinau and the new mixed election system. The protest took place ahead of todays celebration of 27 years since the small ex-Soviet state proclaimed its independence from Moscow.




    TENNIS – Three of the 6 Romanian players taking part in the US Open are playing their first matches today. Number 1 in the world Simona Halep is facing Kaia Kanepi (Estonia), Irina Begu takes on the American Jennifer Brady, and Ana Bogdan plays against the Czech Marie Bouzkova. The other Romanians are Mihaela Buzărnescu, who is to play against the Czech Marketa Vondrousova, Sorana Cîrstea, scheduled to play against the American Alison Riske, and Monica Niculescu, who will take on the Israeli player Julia Glushko. The only Romanian in the mens competition is Marius Copil, who takes on the Croatian Marin Cilic, number 7 in the world.


    (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

  • The dispute between the Power and the Opposition

    The dispute between the Power and the Opposition

    Prime Minister Viorica Dăncilă on Thursday had a first reaction to the anti-government protests staged in Bucharest two weeks ago by the Romanian diaspora. She accused the opposition of trying to take over power by other means, after failing to win the elections. Dancila said she noticed an assault was carried out against the state institutions, with the Gendarmerie as a first target, and she called on the ministers in her cabinet and the heads of institutions in her subordination to avoid conflicts.



    Viorica Dăncilă: “My appeal to all the ministers and to all heads of institutions in my subordination is to avoid this spiral of conflict that those who were incapable of winning the power in the elections are trying to attract us into, as they are now attempting to get the power by other, undemocratic means. Our response to all these challenges should be facts and concrete projects for the Romanians”.



    The head of government believes the opposition is trying to fuel the spiral of conflict which divides society even more, strictly for political reasons. In turn, the leader of the National Liberal Party, Ludovic Orban, says there is no a spiral of conflict fuelled by the opposition, through the Liberals or by President Klaus Iohannis, but there is only a spiral of lies and abuses, promoted by the leader of the Social Democratic Party, Liviu Dragnea, PM Viorica Dăncilă, Interior Minister Carmen Dan and all those who gave the order leading to the attempted stifling of the protest and injuring people who participated in the anti-government protest rally of August 10.



    In a communiqué, the Liberal leader reproaches the Prime Minister for not assuming responsibility for the forceful actions taken by the gendarmes and their effects on the protesters. Ludovic Orban claims the Liberals will request anew that the Interior Minister be heard in Parliament, together with the prefect of the capital city and the heads of the riot police and forces who intervened in Bucharest.



    The Liberals also call on the President of the Social Democratic Party, Liviu Dragnea, to convene an extraordinary session of Parliament, as requested by the opposition, to find out the truth about the attempted stifling of protests of August 10, in the context in which-they say- nobody has been held responsible for the abuses committed by the gendarmes or for hooliganism.



    Hundreds of complaints have been lodged at the Prefect’s Office about what was considered the excessive way in which the gendarmes intervened during the protest rally in Bucharest. In another move, the American Chamber of Commerce in Romania, AmCham, has made an appeal for decision makers and those holding public offices in Romania to show responsibility when making statements and taking actions alike, and called for the cessation of any type of discrimination against Romanians depending on their employer. The appeal comes after Liviu Dragnea said in a show on a TV channel that some of the multinational companies in Romania are financing the protests and that some companies have conflicting economic interests with that of the Romanian state.

  • After street clashes, political squabble

    After street clashes, political squabble

    A harmful influence, which fuels conflicts and persistently and deliberately induces discord in the Romanian society, disregarding and overstepping his constitutional powers. This is how the Social Democratic Party depicts the President Klaus Iohannis, in a harsh message that further strains the already tense relationship between the ruling party and the head of state.



    The Social Democrats accuse the President, whom they dub “the Divider, of daring to encourage the anarchic, anti-governmental and anti-Power street protests. There is no doubt, they go on, although without producing evidence for their claims, that Iohannis political supporters were involved in organising the protests, encouraged harsh and obscene rhetoric and attitudes, and some of them even predicted and plotted the street violence.



    The Social Democrats believe that the Presidents request for an investigation into the riot police response on Friday is aimed at humiliating and scaring the gendarmes into submission, weakening the determination of institutions that are vital to protecting public order.



    In response, Klaus Iohannis addressed the citizens, reiterating the opinion he had expressed shortly after Fridays street clashes, namely that the gendarmes intervention was blatantly disproportionate compared to the conduct of the vast majority of the protesters. Civic participation was severely punished with tear gas, water cannons and excessive brutality, Klaus Iohannis argued. Violence and the brutal repression of protesters are unacceptable under any circumstances, and attacking innocent people, journalists, women and children is unimaginable in an EU member state, the President said. The Social Democrats chaotic and irrational governing, with controversial and anti-constitutional regulations and with attacks against magistrates, is now followed by repressive conduct, Iohannis says:



    Klaus Iohannis: “Those who seek to crush the judiciary and the fight against corruption wanted a diversion, to build unnecessary and false tension within society. What will happen next, if this government continues to treat its own citizens like this, if it continues to resort to violent repression against those who do not want Romania thrown back into the past?



    Tens of participants in Fridays protests filed criminal complaints against riot police, and prosecutors extended their investigations for misdeeds ranging from abuse of office to misconduct. They also investigate whether the gendarmes left behind two of their colleagues, who were unprotected and were beaten by hooligans.



    Fortunately, the street violence, reminding people of the struggles to reconstruct Romanian democracy in the first years after the fall of communism, did not occur the following days. But the political disputes that it has triggered are only beginning.


    (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)

  • Ministerial changes and political discussions

    Ministerial changes and political discussions

    The Social Democratic Party, the main party in the ruling coalition in Romania, is trying to get over last weeks embarrassing episode as quickly as possible. Hence, it has already found replacement for the three outgoing ministers, namely deputy Prime Minster and Regional Development Minister Sevil Shhaideh, Minister for European Funds Rovana Plumb and Transport Minister Razvan Cuc. The PSD Executive Committee has proposed Paul Stanescu for the Development Ministry, Felix Stroe for the Transport Ministry and Marius Nica for the Ministry of European Funds.



    The reshuffle, strongly demanded by PM Mihai Tudose, was carried out after long-running and heated debates within the party. Shhaideh and Plumb left the Government against accusations leveled at them in a corruption case, which, according to the Prime Minister is marring the governments image, while Razvan Cuc was ineffective as minister. According to commentators, the partys heavyweight Liviu Dragnea had to choose between PM Mihai Tudose, one the one hand and Sevil Shhaideh and Rovana Plumb, on the other. Dragnea had major communication problems with PM Tudose, as he himself confessed after the Executive Committees meeting.



    On the other hand, Dragneas relation with Sevil Shhaideh has been and continues to be special, as is the PSD leader who propelled her into high-level politics. No wonder Dragnea has even wanted her Prime Minister at a certain point, to only push for her appointment as deputy PM some time later. Political analysts say that Dragnea had no choice but to accept PM Tudoses request, as accepting his resignation as a way out of this situation was not an option.



    This can be explained by the fact that, in July, PSD ousted its own cabinet led by Sorin Grindeanu, through a no confidence vote. So it would have been too much for the PSD to propose a third prime minister just a few months later and in less than a year of governing. However, the party will continue to take care of its protégés so Shhaideh will be state councilor while Plumb will be appointed head of the Chamber of Deputies Committee for European Affairs.



    On the other hand, the changes operated within the PSD put pressure on the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats (ALDE), a junior partner in the ruling coalition. Their representative, the Minister for the Relation with Parliament, Viorel Ilie, is also investigated in a corruption case. ALDE has so far refused to withdraw him from his post. In its turn, the National Liberal Party (PNL), the main opposition party in Romania, has announced it will file a censure motion against the Tudose Cabinet against the backdrop of the political crisis generated by PSD and of poor economic results.

  • Political crisis in Bucharest

    Political crisis in Bucharest

    As a novelty in post-communist Romania, the parties in the ruling coalition, the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in Romania, will table a motion to censure their own Government. Parliament will vote on the motion next week.



    This rather extreme decision was made on Thursday, after the Social Democratic PM Sorin Grindeanu announced his decision not to resign, which also triggered his exclusion from the party. Sworn in half a year ago, after the Social Democrats had won the general election by a landslide, the Grindeanu Cabinet lost its political support on Wednesday. The resignations of his Cabinet members could not change the decision made by the Prime Minister, whose open conflict with the head of the Social Democratic Party, Liviu Dragnea, was further deepened.



    Liviu Dragnea: “We did not want this to happen, but regrettably here we are. Unfortunately, during the past 2 months most Cabinet ministers would come to me and to the party and complained over the lack of proper communication with the Prime Minister, and over administrative bottlenecks that it was the Prime Ministers job to set straight. But apparently he didnt.



    The president of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in Romania, Calin Popescu Tariceanu, in his turn, criticised Grindeanus decision:



    Calin Popescu Tariceanu: “What we see is an undesirable circus act coming from a man who became a prime minister not thanks to his own merits, but because a parliamentary majority appointed him to office. At this point, he should have understood that there is only one political, Constitutional solution, namely for him to resign.



    According to the ruling coalition leaders, the replacement of the executive team was necessary, given the delays in implementing the governing programme. The criticism is dismissed by the Prime Minister, who says 6 months is not enough time to implement large-scale reforms. Moreover, Grindeanu, in whose nomination as a prime minister Dragnea played the key role, argues that the assessment report on his Cabinets work, drawn up by the Social Democrats, is unfair.



    The National Liberal Party in opposition wants a Constitutional solution to be reached, says the partys interim president Raluca Turcan:



    Raluca Turcan: “We firmly call on the ruling coalition to end this war, which jeopardises the countrys economic stability and international predictability and affects the citizens, who are waiting for solutions to issues of public interest.



    Also in the Opposition, the Save Romania Union says snap elections would be the only decent solution, while the Peoples Movement Party believes the Social Democrats ought to admit that they are unable to keep their campaign promises. In turn, President Klaus Iohannis has asked the two parties in power to settle their internal crisis.


    (translated by: Ana Maria Popescu)

  • The Week in Review, May 8-12

    The Week in Review, May 8-12

    European Commission President visits Romania



    Upon his first visit to Romania as president of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker on Thursday addressed Parliament and met the President and the Prime Minister. This year we mark 10 years since Romania joined the EU, the European Commission president said before Parliament. He wants the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism assessing the progress of Romania’s judiciary to be lifted and for Romania to join the Schengen Area both before the country takes over the rotating presidency of the European Council in the first half of 2019. As regards the idea of a multi-speed Europe, Juncker says that the EU treaties contain this scenario, but that there have never been second-tier countries or countries that have been sidelined. The EU official promised to militate against the rolling back of the reforms made so far. During his meeting with the European Commission official, President Klaus Iohannis said that the European Union is about freedom, democracy, peace and prosperity, underlining that Romanians are the most pro-European citizens in the EU. Jean-Claude Juncker also took part in a Q&A session with Romanian citizens on the future of the European Union, alongside the European Commissioner for Regional Policy Corina Cretu. Juncker pointed out that Bucharest could rely on the Commission’s unconditional support as regards structural funds, although it must cut red tape and simplify proceedings in order to improve its absorption rate.



    EU Commissioner for Regional Policy in Bucharest



    2017 is a crucial year for Romania in terms of attracting EU funds, the European Commissioner for Regional Policy, Corina Cretu, said during her official visit to Romania this week. On Monday, she launched the second edition of a campaign aimed at fostering successful European projects. Romania must “fight” for regional policy, Commissioner Cretu warned that Bucharest must persevere and take advantage of the available European funds during the ongoing 2014-2020 budget framework, given it has a zero absorption rate halfway through the aforementioned period. The funds are there, but Romania must come up with quality, mature projects, ready to be implemented, Corina Cretu went on to say. Among some of the challenges Romania is faced with in terms of absorbing European funds, Corina Cretu mentioned the country’s limited administrative capacity and the lack of quality projects and transport infrastructure.



    May 9, triple holiday in Romania



    On May 9 Romania celebrated three major events in its history: the state independence proclaimed in 1877, the UN coalition Victory Day in World War II and Europe Day. Bucharest played host to religious services honouring Romanian heroes. Representatives of public institutions and war veterans’ associations brought floral tributes to the WWII Heroes’ Monument and at the monument honouring the Romanian War of Independence. Attending these events were also representatives of the Defence Ministry, the Interior Ministry, army officers and war veterans. Similar ceremonies were held in other large cities in Romania. The authorities also celebrated Europe Day as well as 10 years since Romania joined the European Union. President Klaus Iohannis addressed Parliament, arguing on this occasion in favour of consolidating Romania’s position in Europe. Ten years after the country’s EU accession, Romanians are still deeply attached to the values that define the European Union and are determined to carry on the integration process, the President went on to say.



    Parliament sets up committee to investigate the presidential election of 2009



    Romania’s Parliament has adopted a proposal of the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats, currently holding majority in Parliament, to set up a committee to investigate the 2009 presidential election in Romania, won by the then president Traian Basescu. The initiative follows revelations made by journalist Dan Andronic, a former political advisor to several high-ranking officials, including the former president Traian Basescu. Andronic suggests the election process of December 2009 was influenced by important decision-makers, including the heads of some very influential institutions. Following this string of revelations, the Prosecutor General’s office has launched an investigation into the crimes of abuse of office and forgery of election records and documents. The opposition in Parliament has voted against the creation of this parliamentary committee, arguing that its activity might overlap with that of the Prosecutor General’s office.



    Romania’s Prime Minister visits Austria



    Romanian Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu on Tuesday paid an official visit to Vienna, during which he thanked the Austrian authorities for their support for Romania’s bid to join the Schengen Area. After meeting his Romanian counterpart, Austrian Chancellor Christian Kern said Romania is an important partner from a political, cultural and economic point of view. Sorin Grindeanu also took part in a discussion panel hosted by the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber, alongside representatives of Austria’s main investors in Romania. Sorin Grindeanu said Austria is currently one of Romania’s leading economic and trade partners, ranking second in terms of investment, and that Romania is one of the most profitable markets for Austria in Central and Eastern Europe. Two-way trade accounts for more than 1,8 billion euros.

  • European Parliament looks at the situation in Romania

    European Parliament looks at the situation in Romania

    The political tensions in Bucharest were discussed in the European Parliament on Thursday. In the presence of the First Vice-President of the European Commission, Frans Timmermans, the debate was mostly an exchange of retorts between Romanian MEPs from various parties, with rather low participation from their colleagues from other EU countries. MEP Cristian Busoi, of the European Peoples Party group, defended the Romanian citizens right to demand that the rule of law be respected, after the Government passed an emergency ordinance amending the Criminal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure.



    Cristian Busoi: “Most Romanians, President Klaus Iohannis, civil society organisations, judicial institutions are currently fighting by all legal and constitutional means to halt this governmental abuse. The leaders of the ruling party believe that winning the election gives politicians not the responsibility to govern in compliance with the law, but rather the privilege of placing themselves above the law, questioning the rule of law altogether.



    Many argue that the emergency ordinance is intended to decriminalise, at least in part, certain offences committed by members of the parties in power. This is why Monica Macovei, a former justice minister and currently a member of the European Conservatives and Reformists Group in the European Parliament, argued: “The only thing that the European Parliament can do, and the European Commission should do as well, is to request that, until February 9 when the Criminal Code amendments take effect, this Cabinet should issue another emergency ordinance to repeal the original amendments.



    On the other hand, Victor Bostinaru, a member of the ruling Social Democratic Party and currently an MEP in the Socialists and Democrats group, pointed out: “This profoundly loyal country, Romania, deserves to return to democracy, Constitution and the separation of powers. At this dramatic time for my country, my nation would not accept street protests to bring down a government. The consequences would be immeasurable.



    As for the independent MEP Norica Nicolai, she backed the Governments decisions: “What we witness in Bucharest today is an attempt to topple the lawfully elected power under a pretext related to the administration of the judiciary, because this ordinance has been passed in accordance with provisions in the Constitution of Romania, which stipulates that when the Constitutional Court rules that certain laws are unconstitutional, they must be brought in line with the Constitution within 45 days.



    As the First Vice-President of the European Commission, Frans Timmermans, pointed out, “Romania is in the final stretch of this long, long marathon leading to a situation when we could all say ‘the development is now irreversible. Were almost there, he said, and warned Romania not to backtrack on fighting corruption.(Translated by Ana-Maria Popescu, edited by D. Vijeu)

  • A controversial bill

    A controversial bill

    After 1989, Romania’s Constitution has guaranteed the freedom of expression, banning all forms of censorship. That has not prevented politicians to repeatedly thwart the media’s attempts to investigate cases of corruption, to make revelations about the politicians’ corrupt past and to constantly criticize the administration’s ties with the criminal underworld. With the boom of the Internet, social networks and blogging, the political class has become even more vulnerable.



    Today citizens themselves have joined the efforts of newspapers and TV channels to expose abuses, to launch public campaigns and to call for resignations. The Social-Democratic Party, the largest parliamentary party at present, is their favourite target, given its members’ run-ins with the law.



    So, political pundits say that it is not by chance that the Social-Democrat leader Liviu Dragnea proposed the recent anti-defamation bill. He said that the bill was allegedly promoting tolerance, understanding and social harmony and did not introduce censorship. The right of minority and vulnerable groups to a fair representation is the only purpose of the bill, Liviu Dragnea claimed.



    Political pundits have responded however that the group of corrupt politicians is in itself a minority and vulnerable category, subject to criminal investigations and prison sentences in recent years. The general public has reacted even more vehemently to the provision that any act of defamation in the public sphere, including the media and social networks, is subject to fines ranging from 200 to 20,000 euros.



    The Social Democrats’ main opponents, the Liberals on the other hand have warned that if the bill, which they described as a law of censorship, is pushed through Parliament, they will refer it to the Constitutional Court. Co-leader of the National Liberal Party Alina Gorghiu says the bill is deeply flawed, which is why it must be dismissed and replaced with another bill seeking to promote tolerance.



    The US Ambassador to Bucharest HE Hans Klemm has also felt the need to intervene, saying that the freedom of expression, when not offensive in nature, is an underlying element of any sound democracy. The Social-Democrat leader has eventually taken this criticism under advisement and promised to eliminate the definition of defamation and the provisions related to fines from the text of the bill. The bill has already been renamed — the bill on ensuring tolerance towards differences between groups, and as such it will be debated by the Chamber of Deputies, the decision-making body in this case.

  • November 6, 2015 UPDATE

    November 6, 2015 UPDATE

    The President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, has announced today that a new round of talks will be held next week, for the designation of a new prime minister. On Thursday and Friday the head of state met with representatives of parliamentary parties and, for the first time in Romanian politics, with civil society members. President Iohannis, who Thursday appointed the Education Minister Sorin Câmpeanu as interim PM, said a solution could be presented towards the end of next week. The talks take place after the Social Democrat Victor Ponta resigned, against the background of large scale street protests in the past few days. Last week’s deadly fire at a nightclub in Bucharest, which killed 32 people and left more than 100 severely injured, fuelled public anger at the political elite. Tens of thousands of people protested every evening in Bucharest and other Romanian cities, demanding the reform of the political class and demonstrating against corrupt politicians.



    65 people who were injured in last Friday’s fire at a Bucharest nightclub continue to be in a critical condition. The fire killed 32 people. The health minister, Nicolae Banicioiu, pointed out that skin transplant surgery has so far been performed on several patients and in some cases surgery was performed to help them breath. The state secretary, Raed Arafat, announced that several countries offered to take over some of the patients. The National Anti-Corruption Directorate prosecutors have started investigation for abuse of power at the city hall of Bucharest’s sector 4 where the tragedy occurred. They are investigating how the authorization for the functioning of the nightclub was issued. The three owners have been taken in temporary custody. They are being investigated for gross negligence and irresponsibility. In another development an explosion occurred Thursday night at a bread factory in Brasov, in central Romania, which killed one person and wounded another 5. The authorities are investigating the causes of the explosion.



    The growth of the Romanian economy will be accelerated this year and in 2016 reaching 3.5% and 4.1% respectively. It is supported by the fiscal relaxation measures that boost domestic consumption but that will deepen the budget deficit, show the autumn estimates made by the European Commission. The estimates are better in comparison with those made in spring. Romania’s economic growth may exceed expectations if Romania manages to absorb more European funds. Also the EC improved estimates related to the budget deficit from 1.2% in 2015 to 2.8% in 2016 in comparison with the spring prognosis when it had anticipated a budget deficit of 1.6% this year and of 3.5% in 2016. With a low unemployment rate and following the reduction by 4% of the VAT, domestic consumption is expected to grow in Romania in 2016 to reach a maximum post-crisis level, but the level will drop in 2017, the EC report shows. The EBRD also anticipates the growth of Romania’s economy by 3.5% in 2015 and by 3.7% in 2016.



    Refugees and immigrants will continue to come to Europe through Turkey, their number being likely to reach 5 thousand per day this winter, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees said Thursday. This means that the total number of people who will reach the European continent this year will exceed one million, Reuters reports. As many as 760 thousand people already crossed the Mediterranean in 2015, reaching mainly Greece and Italy after fleeing Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq as well as other conflict areas in Africa. Over 3,400 immigrants have died this year in their attempt to reach Europe by sea.