Radio România Internațional

Tag: presidential election in Moldova

  • October 18, 2024

    October 18, 2024

    ELECTION – October 17 was the deadline for political parties to submit their lists of candidates for the parliamentary election, slated for December 1. 21 parties have enrolled in the race. To be represented in Parliament, they must secure a minimum of 5% of the total number of votes.

     

    EUROPEAN COUNCIL – On the sidelines of the European Council meeting in Brussels, Romania’s president, Klaus Iohannis, has called on the EU to convey a strong message of support for Moldova’s EU integration process, particularly ahead of this Sunday’s presidential election in Moldova, condemning Moscow’s interference and destabilization attempts. The list of topics on the two-day summit’s agenda includes the war in Ukraine, developments in the Middle East, EU competitiveness, migration, as well as prospects on Georgia, supporting the multilateral system and international rules-based order and energy tariffs. President Iohannis underlined the importance of ensuring affordable energy prices, the need to boost connectivity and do away with structural gridlocks at the level of energy transport networks.

     

    MOLDOVA – 3.3 million voters are expected to hit the polls on October 20 in the Republic of Moldova for a historic ballot: a presidential election and a referendum on Moldova’s EU accession. According to the Central Election Commission, some 2,219 polls have been set up, and for the first time the ballots are printed in Romanian and 5 minority languages: Ukrainian, Bulgarian, Găgăuz, Russian and Romani. 231 stations are open in 37 countries, 60 in Italy, 26 in Germany, 20 in France and 17 in Great Britain. Moldovans can also vote in one of the 16 stations open in Romania, the same as in the United States. For security reasons, only two stations will be available in Russia, both in Moscow. 2 stations will be made available in Ukraine, in Kyiv and Odesa. The incumbent president, Maia Sandu, is favorite to win the presidential election, with approximately 29.5% of voters’ choice. A former World Bank official, Sandu won her first term in November 2020, capitalizing on her growing approval rating as an anti-corruption reformer with a pro-European governing program. Polls also show that over 54% of Moldovan citizens support the idea of introducing EU accession in the country’s Constitution. Since the collapse of the USSR, the Republic of Moldova has constantly oscillated between a pro-Western and a pro-European orientation.

     

    ROME FILM FEST – Held until October 28, the Film Festival in Rome this year also includes a Romanian production: the documentary “Nasty” delving into the life and career of Romanian tennis player Ilie Năstase, produced by Tudor Giurgiu in cooperation with Cristian Pascariu and Tudor D. Popescu. Having reached its 19th edition, Rome Film Fest celebrates the latest international productions and young European filmmakers. The list of special guests this year includes American director Fancis Ford Coppola and actors Johnny Depp and Viggo Mortensen. Filmmakers Tudor Giurgiu and Cristian Pascariu will travel to Rome for the event and will meet with the public on October 21 and 22 for the two film screening events. Joining them will be the legendary ATP manager and tennis lobbyist Vittorio Slemi, as well as one of the most reputed sports journalists in Italy, Ubaldo Scanagatta. Both are featured in “Nasty”, speaking about the glory days of the Romanian player.

     

    THEATRE FESTIVAL – The National Theatre Festival kicks off in Bucharest today. The 34th edition is held this year under the motto “The Drama of the Possible”. Until October 28, theatre afficionados will be able to attend performances that express “possibilities”, organizers say. Over 30 shows from Bucharest and other cities are included on the festival’s agenda, including “The Anthology of Disappearance”, written and directed by Radu Afrim, “The Twelfth Night” by William Shakespeare, directed by Andrei Șerban, or Henrik Ibsen’s “Hedda Gabler” directed by Thomas Ostermeier.  Five plays produced by theatre companies from Germany, Ireland, Poland and Belgium will also be staged. The National Film Festival is organized by the Theatre Union of Romania (UNITER) and funded by the Ministry of Culture.

     

    MEN’S HANDBALL – Romania’s handball champions, Dinamo Bucharest, lost 35-32 to Paris Saint-Germain of France on Thursday away from home, in a Group A fixture in the men’s Champions League. This is the second consecutive defeat for Dinamo after three straight wins. The team from Bucharest will next play Sporting Lisbon of Portugal at home on October 23. Ranking first in the group tables is Sporting Lisbon with 9 points, followed by Veszprém HC of Hungary with 8 points, Paris Saint-Germain Handball of France with 8 points, Füchse Berlin of Germany with 6 points, Dinamo Bucharest with 6 points, Orlen Wisla Plock of Poland with 2 points, Eurofarm Pelister of North Macedonia with 1 point, and Fredericia Håndbold Klub of Denmark with 0 points. (VP)

  • October 17, 2024 UPDATE

    October 17, 2024 UPDATE

    COUNCIL – Romania’s President, Klaus Iohannis, is attending the two-day European Council meeting in Brussels. The agenda includes such topics as the war in Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East, EU competitiveness, migration, foreign affairs, as well as developments in the Republic of Moldova. European leaders will discuss the latest developments in Russia’s war of aggression, as well as multidimensional support for Ukraine. Regarding the Middle East, participants will also address the ‘alarming’ situation and the ‘risks of escalation of violence in the region’. At Romania’s proposal, the agenda of the meeting will also include talks about the situation in the Republic of Moldova, as well as support for its accession to the European Union, especially for supporting internal reforms and for strengthening resilience and stability. Ahead of the upcoming election and the referendum on the European integration of the Republic of Moldova, the issue of Russian interference in the election process will also be discussed.

     

    WAGES – The minimum wage in Romania will be 810 EUR starting January 2025, the government announced after talks with civil society. Minimum wage in Romania is thus approach EU levels, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said, adding that Romania complies with the directive according to which the minimum level must be somewhere between 47% and 52% of the European minimum wage.

     

    ELECTION – Thursday is the deadline for submitting candidacies for the parliamentary election in Romania. 21 parties have enrolled in the race. PSD’s lists for the Senate opens with Adrian Streinu-Cercel and starts with Mihai Ghigiu for the Chamber of Deputies.  The Liberals field Sorin Cîmpeanu in top position for the Senate and Sebastian Burduja for the Chamber of Deputies. USR has picked Clotilde Armand at the top of its list for the Senate and Claudiu Năsui for the Chamber of Deputies. The Right Force has chosen Ludovic Orban in top position for the Chamber of Deputies and Eugen Tomac for the Senate. Eduard Novak is running for a position of deputy in Bucharest on behalf of UDMR. AUR has designated its president, George Simion, as its top candidate for the Chamber of Deputies, and Petrișor Peiu at the top of its list for the Senate. According to the Central Election Bureau, USR, the Right Force and UDMR will be the first to appear on the ballots.

     

    DEFENSE – The Romanian Minister of National Defense, Angel Tîlvăr, is participating, on October 17 and 18, in the meeting of the NATO defense ministers, taking place in Brussels. The meeting’s agenda includes topics of importance for the Alliance, in order to implement the decisions adopted by the heads of state and government at the NATO Summit of July in Washington DC.

     

    CAR INDUSTRY – The Association of Car Manufacturers and Importers today hosted a new edition of the Sustainable and Accessible Mobility Forum in Bucharest. Representatives of car manufacturers, political leaders, decision-makers and other stakeholders from 35 countries attended the event. The car industry must be supported more by the government and the European Commission, as the next couple of years will be difficult for this sector, which is shaping up as an engine of economic growth, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said. Bucharest is preparing support programmes, considering the entire car industry is shrinking. Without state intervention, the industry could see massive layoffs in a few years. The Prime Minister also recalled that Romania’s reindustrialization plans includes facilities for the national car industry, designed to turn Romania into a hub of technology and innovation in Southeastern Europe in the next 10 years.

     

    MOLDOVA – 3.3 million voters are expected to hit the polls on October 20 in the Republic of Moldova for a historic ballot: a presidential election and a referendum on Moldova’s EU accession. According to the Central Election Commission, some 2,219 polls have been set up, and for the first time the ballots are printed in Romanian and 5 minority languages: Ukrainian, Bulgarian, Găgăuz, Russian and Romani. 231 stations are open in 37 countries, 60 in Italy, 26 in Germany, 20 in France and 17 in Great Britain. Moldovans can also vote in one of the 16 stations open in Romania, the same as in the United States. For security reasons, only two stations will be available in Russia, both in Moscow. 2 stations will be made available in Ukraine, in Kyiv and Odesa. The incumbent president, Maia Sandu, urged Moldovans to take part in the referendum, arguing the process will only take 3 minutes, compared to the decades Moldova had to wait to join the free and developed world.

     

    OECD – Romania’s accession to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) will spell benefits in terms of investment, and the Republic of Moldova might also take advantage of this position, Moldova’s Central Bank governor Anca Dragu said. Investment are safer, clearer and more dynamic at OECD level, while the best practices Romania is currently learning will also transfer to the Republic of Moldova. 65% of Moldova’s external trade is EU-bound, while half of it goes through Romania. (VP)

  • November 10, 2020 UPDATE

    November 10, 2020 UPDATE

    COVID-19 IN ROMANIA – Romania saw 7,304 new
    infections and 177 new deaths on Tuesday, so a total of 314,295 people have
    been infected since the start of the pandemic. A record 1,093 people are
    receiving hospital treatment in intensive care. President Klaus Iohannis on
    Tuesday evening said Romania is facing a very complicated situation, and until
    a viable vaccine emerges, restrictions are the only way to protect the
    population and to ease pressure on the healthcare system.




    NATO – NATO cannot remain without nuclear
    weapons, as long as Russia and China won’t renounce this type of weaponry,
    Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Tuesday on the sidelines of NATO’s
    annual Conference on Weapons of Mass Destruction, Arms Control, Disarmament and
    Non-Proliferation, hosted by the Romanian Foreign Ministry. Secretary
    Stoltenberg said the world’s nuclear arsenal has been reduced by 90% in the
    last 40 years, and only three NATO allies dispose of such weapons, albeit with
    security guarantees in place. Romania’s Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu in turn
    called for a global non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, adding that China
    should join Russia and the United States by taking part in the START nuclear
    disarmament programme. The meeting marks the anniversary of 50 years since the
    treatment on non-proliferation of nuclear weapons took effect and is a preview
    of the assessment conference scheduled for August 2021. The event was
    originally scheduled to take place in March in Bucharest as a sign of
    recognition of Romania’s high profile within the Alliance, but was rescheduled
    in videoconference format due to the COVID-19 pandemic.




    MOLDOVA – Romania wants to
    remain a solid partner for Moldova’s civil society, and Sunday’s second round
    of the presidential election will be closely monitored, President Klaus
    Iohannis said on Tuesday. The president said the results of the first vote,
    favoring pro-Western candidate Maia Sandu, is very pleasing, saying it is a
    vote in favor of an irreversible democratic evolution of the Republic of
    Moldova, something which Romania has been supporting unequivocally. Former
    Prime minister Maia Sandu will face off the current president of the Republic,
    Socialist Igor Dodon, in the second round next Sunday. In the first round on
    November 1, Sandu grabbed 36% of the vote, while Dodon a little under 33%.
    Pro-European candidates who’ve been ousted in the first round have expressed
    their unconditional support for Maia Sandu in the presidential standoff. Renato Usatyi, who grabbed 17% of the vote in
    the first round, the third-largest number, has also urged his electorate to
    vote for Sandu in the second round.




    FRIGATE – The Romanian frigate Queen Maria has
    interrupted its participation to the Standing NATO Maritime Group on Tuesday,
    leaving the port of Aksaz in Turkey to head home a month earlier than
    scheduled, due to the high number of COVID-19 cases reported amongst crew
    members. According to the Romanian Naval Forces General Staff, the frigate had
    been taking part in a mission monitoring naval traffic in the Eastern
    Mediterranean starting October 27, a mission due to complete on December 7.
    However, as a significantly high number of people onboard got sick with the
    SARS Cov-2 virus, the commander decided to return home earlier.




    PROTEST – Trade unions of the Emergency
    Ambulance services have cancelled their protest scheduled for Tuesday in
    Bucharest following talks with Prime Minister Ludovic Orban and the minister of
    Health and Public finance. The work-in strike scheduled for Wednesday has also
    been called off, the president of the National Ambulance Trade Federations,
    Gheorghe Chiş has said. During the talks the officials agreed to take on an
    additional 1,000 staff for the ambulance services, which will be taken up
    following vacancy-filling contests over an indefinite period of time. The
    amount of ambulance workers are to be evenly divided across the country.
    Gheorghe Chiş also said the authorities are considering the payment of bonuses
    or medical nurse salaries to ambulance service personnel throughout the
    pandemic. As regards survivors’ benefits to be paid to the families of ambulance
    personnel who die to the COVID-19 virus, Chiş said the topic has been tackled,
    although Parliament is already debating a draft law on the status of ambulance
    personnel that regulates such situations. In another development, members of
    Sanitas federation of trade unions in the field of healthcare picketed the
    government building in Bucharest to protest against the authorities’ lack of
    reaction to the requests for financial, staff and logistical assistance. A week
    ago, dozens of trade union members in the healthcare and social assistance
    areas held a first protest against what they described as the authorities’
    incoherent crisis strategies for handling the pandemic. Sanitas
    decided to hold such protests outside the government building every Tuesday until
    the right measures are taken.




    FILM – The
    Romanian documentaries My Home directed by Radu Ciorniciuc and colectiv
    directed by Alexander Nanau have been nominated in the 33rd edition
    of the European Film Academy Awards, to be announced during a series of online
    events scheduled for December 8 -12. According to the official website of the
    event, in order to widen the platform to more European films in what is such a
    difficult time for European cinema and artists, the EFA Board has decided to
    exceptionally increase the nominations in the full length feature film
    categories and in the documentary category from five to six. My Home tells
    the story of a family who’s lived 18 years in the Văcăreşti Delta in Bucharest,
    striving for acceptance and a self-shaped freedom. colectiv tells the story
    of the first year ensuing the devastating fire of October 30, 2015 at Colectiv
    nightclub in Bucharest, which killed 64 people. The film is Romania’s proposal
    for the 2021 Academy Awards in the best international feature section.




    FOOTBALL – Romania’s national team on Wednesday
    is playing Belarus on home turf in a friendly match, in the run-up to Romania’s
    last two games scheduled for this year as part of Group 1B in the European
    Nations’ League. Romania will play Norway at home on November 15 and Northern
    Ireland on November 18 away from home. Romania is ranked 3rd in the
    group tables with 4 points, behind Norway and Austria, each with 9 points. In
    October Romania lost its final chance of qualifying to the 2021 European
    Championship after losing 1-2 to Iceland in the playoff semi-finals.


    (Translated by C. Mateescu
    & V. Palcu)