Radio România Internațional

Tag: prosecution

  • Former prime minister, prosecuted

    Former prime minister, prosecuted

    Florin-Vasile Cîţu is not exactly an ordinary politician. Born on April 1, 1972, he graduated from Grinell College, in Iowa, United States at the age of 24. Also in Iowa, caught driving under the influence, Cîțu was sentenced to two days in prison and had to pay a fine of 1,000 dollars. In the US he was also sued for failing to pay a debt of about 6,700 dollars to the Maryland National Bank. For a while, Florin Cîţu held the position of economist at the National Bank of New Zealand, after which he repatriated and entered the Romanian banking system. He was fired, worked for a while as an analyst and financial consultant, after which he entered politics and, since 2016, he has been a National Liberal Party (PNL) senator, now in his second mandate. With the evident support of President Klaus Iohannis he became a party leader and, for less than a year, he was prime minister, leading the governing coalition made up of the National Liberal Party (PNL), Save Romania Union (USR) and the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania (UDMR). Later he allegedly fell into the president’s disfavor, he quarreled with the USR members, his government was dismissed by a motion of no confidence and his Liberal colleagues removed him from the party leadership.



    And as of Wednesday, Florin-Vasile Cîţu was also put under criminal investigation by the National Anticorruption Directorate, for being accessory to abuse of office in the case of the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines during the pandemic. In the same file, the former USR health ministers, Vlad Voiculescu and Ioana Mihăilă, as well as the Secretary of State in the Helath Ministry Andrei Baciu, a PNL member, are also accused of abuse of office. According to the prosecutors, Cîțu and his former subordinates would have approved the purchase of a much larger number of vaccine doses than were needed in Romania and would have created a damage of one billion euros.



    “What I can tell you is that I exercised my duties as prime minister in compliance with the legislation in force. I trust the justice system and I believe that the truth will come out during this investigation” – the former prime minister told journalists. The current health minister, social democrat Alexandru Rafila, stated that Romania ordered a total of approximately 80 million doses of the available COVID-19 vaccines, of which 35 million were supplied. The Romanian state, Rafila added, paid a total of 2.5 billion lei (the equivalent of 500 million euros) for the vaccines it received. The press considers the sums huge and the amounts of vaccine disproportionate for a population of less than 20 million that is very reluctant to vaccination. (LS)

  • The European Public Prosecutor’s Office starts operating

    The European Public Prosecutor’s Office starts operating

    Headed by the former chief
    of the Romanian National Anticorruption Directorate Laura Codruţa Kövesi, the European Public Prosecutor’s
    Office starts operating on 1st June. This new body aimed at fighting
    fraud withing the bloc is based in Luxembourg and will carry out its
    investigations and prosecutions fully independently from the Commission and the
    other EU institutions and bodies, as well as from member states, 22 of which are
    taking part in this form of consolidated cooperation.




    This is the first supranational prosecutor’s office
    investigating and prosecuting fraud related to expenditure and incomes, VAT (when
    it involves two or more member states and causes losses of at least 10 million
    euros), money laundering of funds resulting from defrauding the EU budget,
    active and passive corruption and embezzlement that affects the EU’s financial
    interests. This new body is also able to investigate and prosecute
    participation in a criminal organisation whose activities result in offences
    against the EU budget, or any other illegal activity that is inextricably linked
    to an offence against the EU budget.




    The head of this new body, who says there are no clean
    countries, said in an interview to the Spanish news agency EFE that she is
    very proud to play the lead role in the historic moment represented by the inauguration
    of this new European institution and warned of the high risk of offences linked
    to the European fund for post-pandemic recovery. Set up in order to investigate
    offences that affect the EU budget, the new European Public Prosecutor’s Office
    is an instrument aimed at protecting the bloc’s economic interests, which is
    why it should be strong, effective and efficient, Kövesi also said. She estimated
    corruption, misappropriation of funds and fraud in its many forms cause annual
    losses to the EU budget of some 500 million euros. This financial haemorrhaging
    may worsen in the context of the pandemic, with the community bloc establishing,
    through loans accessed by the European Commission, recovery funds out of which
    member states can access grants and loans based on national recovery and resilience
    plans approved by the Commission.




    The new body has at its disposal an annual budget of
    45 million euros to identify and investigate acts of corruption. Kövesi said
    the office can employ 140 prosecutors and added that 50 financial analysts and
    experts are also needed given the challenge of conducting investigations in 22
    member states, with 22 different criminal codes and procedures. Five member
    states, namely Poland, Denmark, Hungary, Sweden and Ireland are not taking part
    in the new European Public Prosecutor’s Office as a result of a political decision,
    while Finland and Slovenia are yet to appoint their prosecutors. (CM)

  • Liviu Dragnea faces new lawsuit

    Liviu Dragnea faces new lawsuit


    The judicial saga involving the former Social Democrat high-handed leader up until 2 years ago, has no end in sight. While behind bars, Liviu Dragnea got more bad news: he was indicted by the National Anti-Corruption Directorate in a new case, with charges including influence peddling and misuse of authority in relation to his presence at president Donald Trumps inauguration in early 2017.



    At the time, Dragnea was speaker of the Chamber of Deputies and the chief of the main ruling party in Romania, and snapshots of him meeting the White House leader paved the way for heavy speculation in Bucharest.



    Prosecutors are now arguing that the ex Social Democrat leader misused his authority and influence as party leader to obtain undue benefits. Also indicted alongside Dragnea are three businessmen, charged with influence buying and with aiding and abetting influence buying.



    Liviu Dragnea allegedly received from one of the businessmen undue benefits for himself and the party, consisting in access to the US presidents inauguration ceremony of January 17 – 21, 2017, in Washington, as part of a 250,000 USD benefits package. Access was apparently obtained through an American politician and businessman, vice-president of the presidential inauguration committee. With the help of the other 2 businessmen, lobby and political consulting services worth 30,000 USD were also provided to the Social Democratic Party. The money was paid in May 2017, by an offshore company based in the British Virgin Islands having bank accounts in Cyprus, prosecutors also say.



    The defendant Liviu Dragnea misused his influence with the prime minister and other Cabinet members for the benefit of the Romanian businessman, whose interests in the military and intelligence fields Dragnea was supposed to promote.



    Liviu Dragnea first received a suspended sentence for election fraud, but he only went to prison under a second, 3-and-a-half-year sentence, for inciting abuse of office while he was the chairman of the Teleorman County Council (south). Now he is applying for conditional release.



    But his political heritage has become a burden for his party. The Social Democrats lost the 2019 election for the European Parliament and the presidential race, and although it won the general election last year it was left out of negotiations for the new government. The ex-leader is largely blamed for those failures, and is accused of attempting to bring the judiciary under political control only to get himself out of his legal troubles. (tr. A.M. Popescu)

  • January 13, 2021

    January 13, 2021

    ALERT On Wednesday Romania extended its state of alert over the COVID-19 pandemic by another 30 days. Among other things, face covering remains mandatory in all indoor and outdoor public areas. After a first stage of the national vaccination programme, covering healthcare personnel, on Friday enrolment begins for the beneficiaries of the second stage, namely people over 65, chronic patients and employees in key sectors. President Klaus Iohannis said in a press conference that the success of the vaccine rollout is a prerequisite for a return to normal and reopening the economy. On Wednesday in Romania around 4,400 new COVID-19 cases and 88 related deaths were reported. 1,081 patients are currently in intensive care.



    GOVERNMENT The government is discussing in todays meeting this years state budget bill, and a bill increasing minimum wages from roughly 455 euro to 470 euro. The increase is not to cover employees with higher education degrees, whose minimum wages will be kept at the current 480 euro. This years state budget bill is to be submitted to Parliament by February 4. PM Florin Cîţu asked his cabinet members to present reports on their top priorities, and promised that this year public money will be spent in an efficient and strict manner. He also warned that the budget deficit, estimated to reach 7% of GDP this year, must also be taken into account. The government is also expected to pass today an emergency order on bonuses paid to the personnel involved in the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.



    PROTEST Trade unions in the police, public administration, social assistance and the penitentiary system are taking part today in a rally in front of the Labour Ministry in Bucharest and of prefecture offices elsewhere in the country. PUBLISIND trade union federation initiated the protests on December 31, 2020, after the government decided to freeze salaries in the public sector. Sanitas Federation also started employee support actions yesterday, picketing the government headquarters and prefecture offices. They say the Governments unwillingness to observe the law and give healthcare personnel their due salaries is an affront to the efforts they make every day at the work place. President Klaus Iohannis said the salary freezing is a fair measure given the current economic crisis.



    CORRUPTION President Klaus Iohannis approved the commencement of criminal prosecution against the former PM and Senate speaker Călin Popescu Tăriceanu. He is accused of bribe taking in 2007 and 2008, during his term in office. Prosecutors say he indirectly received from an Austrian company material benefits worth 800,000 dollars consisting in consultancy services. In exchange, Tăriceanu pushed for the adoption by his cabinet of decisions that benefitted this company. A previous request of the National Anticorruption Directorate, in November 2018, to the same effect, had been dismissed by the Senate in June 2019. Prosecutors are now saying they have additional evidence and new elements have appeared in the case.



    US The House of Representatives endorsed a resolution asking for the removal of outgoing president Donald Trump, for inciting last weeks storming of the US Congress. But given that vice-president Mike Pence said he will not use the 25th Amendment to remove Donald Trump, a vote on a second impeachment is very likely to take place today. Mike Pence said using the 25th Amendment would only deepen the existing tensions. Several Republicans said they would vote with the Democrats for Trumps impeachment. The Democrats are planning to impeach Trump for “incitement of insurrection, after his supporters stormed the US Capitol. Donald Trump described the actions against him as a witch hunt.



    SPORTS The Romanian tennis player Mihaela Buzărnescu (137 WTA), plays today against American Whitney Osuigwe (161 WTA) in the last qualifying round for the Autralian Opens main draw. Five Romanians already have a spot in the main draw—Simona Halep (2 WTA), Patricia Ţig (56 WTA), Sorana Cîrstea (71 WTA), Irina Begu (78 WTA) and Ana Bogdan (92 WTA). The first Grand Slam this year is scheduled to take place between February 8 and 21. (tr. A.M. Popescu)

  • January 12, 2021 UPDATE

    January 12, 2021 UPDATE

    PRESIDENCY Reforms can no longer be put off, 2021 is an important year for Romanias development, the year when we must lay the foundations of a healthy resetting of our society, president Klaus Iohannis said on Tuesday in his first press conference this year. He emphasized that the COVID-19 epidemic must be curbed and all economic sectors need a restart. According to the president, the resetting of the state must begin this year, and must focus on citizens access to public services and information, on digitisation and cutting red-tape at all levels. If we are to move on at full speed, we must end the epidemic, and mass vaccination is the only solution for us to return to normal as soon as possible, Klaus Iohannis added. He said he will get the vaccine on January 15, when the second stage of the national immunisation programme begins.



    COVID-19 The government extended by another 30 days the state of alert in Romania to contain the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, as of January 13. The state of alert was declared in May, after a 2-month state of emergency. Current restrictions have not been amended. Ski slopes remain open, but measures will be in place to avoid crowding, which is the main way to avoid the spread of the coronavirus. Meanwhile, almost 3,700 new coronavirus cases and 156 new deaths were reported on Tuesday in Romania, which has recorded almost 680,000 cases and 16,881 deaths since the start of the outbreak. 8,783 COVID-19 patients are hospitalised, 1,073 of them in intensive care.



    VACCINE PM Florin Cîţu Tuesday endorsed a request for the European Commissions approval of another 8 million doses of BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine for Romania, in addition to the 12.7 million already contracted by Bucharest. Cîţu said in a Facebook post that Romania also contracted 3.4 million doses of the Moderna vaccine. Also on Tuesday, the coordinator of the national COVID-19 vaccination programme Valeriu Gheorghiţă announced that the online vaccine booking system for the 2nd stage of the programme will be operational as of January 15. In this stage, he explained, 750 vaccination centres will be opened, with a combined 1,700 locations. The 2nd stage covers people over 65, chronic patients, people in care centres and personnel in key sectors. Since the start of Romanias immunization programme on December 27, more than 134,000 people have received the COVID-19 vaccine.



    PROTEST Healthcare trade unions Tuesday picketed prefecture offices in Bucharest and other major cities, to protest a government order freezing salaries and pensions this year. There are also plans to picket the headquarters of the health, labour and finance ministries and Parliament during the latter’s debates of the state budget bill. Trade unions say they are planning to send an open letter to the president and the members of the Romanian Parliament and the European Parliament warning that Romania is the only country in Europe to diminish the incomes of the public sector employees directly involved in the fight against the pandemic.



    CORRUPTION The Prosecutor General of Romania, Gabriela Scutea, Tuesday asked president Klaus Iohannis to green light the criminal prosecution of former prime minister Călin Popescu Tăriceanu, who is accused of bribe taking in 2007 and 2008, during his term in office. Prosecutors say he indirectly received from an Austrian company material benefits worth 800,000 dollars consisting in consultancy services. In exchange, Tăriceanu pushed for the adoption by his cabinet of decisions that benefitted this company. A previous request of the National Anticorruption Directorate, in November 2018, to the same effect, had been dismissed by the Senate in June 2019. Prosecutors are now saying they have additional evidence and new elements have appeared in the case.



    DEFICIT The EU had a 75.6 billion EUR current account surplus (2.2% of GDP) in the 3rd quarter of 2020, according to estimates released by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. In July – September 2020, 19 EU member countries reported a current account surplus, including Germany (62.9 bn), Italy (25.3 bn), and the Netherlands (17 bn). Eight member states reported current account deficits, with the largest levels in France (-11.4 bn), Romania (-3.9 bn) and Belgium (-2.6 bn).



    VISIT In Kiev on Tuesday Maia Sandu, the new pro-western president of the Republic of Moldova, and her Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky hailed the renewal of bilateral relations and emphasised the strategic importance of the cooperation between the 2 countries. This is Maia Sandus first official trip abroad since taking office. According to Radio Chisinau, the 2 presidents discussed the need to improve economic relations in the field of energy, transport and environment protection. The relations between Moldova and Ukraine were strained between 2016 and 2020 during the term of Moldova’s former pro-Russian president Igor Dodon, who was defeated by Maia Sandu in the November elections. The first top level foreign official to be received by Sandu was Romania’s president Klaus Iohannis on 29th December. The two signed a joint declaration aimed at consolidating the bilateral strategic partnership. (tr. A.M. Popescu)

  • September 24, 2020 UPDATE

    September 24, 2020 UPDATE

    COVID-19 Following tests conducted at national level, 1,639 new cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection have been reported in Romania as against the previous reporting. 41 people died taking the death toll to 4,591. 506 persons infected with the new coronavirus are in ICUs. The health minister Nelu Tataru announced that 103 million face masks have been distributed across the country for the disadvantaged. He added that he did not expect a new state of emergency to be declared, which would force people to isolate themselves in their homes, and urged people to observe the rules for preventing the spread of the new coronavirus. Minister Tataru warned that if people failed to observe the rules the number of cases of infection would definitely grow.



    PANDEMIC There are more than 32 million cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection around the world, with 980,000 people having been killed by the virus, according to worldometers.info. In France, the daily rise in the number of infections has brought restrictions back. The health minister Olivier Véran says the situation has worsened in the past two weeks, the spread of the virus being more intense in big urban agglomerations. Marseille and its metropolitan area are currently on high alert and as of Monday firm restrictions have been implemented for at least 2 weeks: bars, restaurants and cafes as well as other public areas were closed, with several exceptions, and most people returned to working from home. In Spain, doctors are preparing for protests after asking the government for many months, to no avail, to adopt further measures and allot more resources to avoid the collapse of the public health system, under extreme pressure due to the coronavirus pandemic. In Israel the coronavirus ministerial committee considers necessary a total lockdown starting on Friday, due to the big number of infections.



    CEI The Romanian foreign minister Bogdan Aurescu Thursday attended an online meeting of the Central European Initiative, hosted by Montenegro, the acting president. Bogdan Aurescu pointed out that the Covid-19 pandemic can only be overcome through international solidarity. According to a news release issued by the Romanian Foreign Ministry, Aurescu emphasised Romanias contribution to fighting the pandemic, including the measures benefitting the Republic of Moldova, including the allocation of funds, medical teams and medical equipment, or the hosting of the RescEU strategic medical equipment reserve benefiting countries in the Western Balkans, among others. The Central European Initiative is a political platform that helps connect EU neighbouring countries to the values and standards of the Union. Romania joined the CEI, which comprises 17 countries, of which 9 are EU members, on June 1, 1996.



    CORRUPTION Criminal prosecution was initiated on Thursday against the chief of the Romanian Gendarme Corps, Bogdan Enescu, charged with abuse of office. According to the National Anti-Corruption Directorate, this year Bogdan Enescu was paid around 7,500 euros for extra hours, in breach of relevant legislation. Bogdan Enescu has been the head of the Romanian Gendarme Corps since December 2019. Also on Thursday, Dan Hosu, former police and husband to the acting head of the Directorate Combating Organised Crime and Terrorism, Giorgiana Hosu, received a 3-year suspended sentence from the Bucharest Court, in a case in which he is accused of inciting illegal access to a computer system and inciting the use of information not intended for publication. The ruling is not final. One day before, president Klaus Iohannis said that if the DIICOT chiefs husband was sentenced, there would be consequences. Giorgiana Hosu was appointed to office this year by the president, in spite of a negative opinion on the matter by the Higher Council of Magistrates.



    TENNIS Three Romanian players, Monica Niculescu, Irina Bara and Elena Gabriela Ruse, managed on Thursday to get into the final round of qualifications for the main group of the Roland Garros singles tournament. Monica Niculescu defeated Elitsa Kostova 6-0, 6-7, 6-3, and is to play next against the Russian Vera Zvonareva. Irina Bara beat Britains Harriet Dart 7-5, 6-2. In the last round she will take on the Dutch Richel Hogenkamp. In turn, Elena Gabriela Ruse beat American Francesca Di Lorenzo 6-2, 7-5, and will play against Barbara Haas of Austria. Five other Romanians are playing in the Roland Garros tournament – Simona Halep (seeded 1), Patricia Ţig, Irina Begu, Sorana Cîrstea and Ana Bogdan. (translated by A.M. Popescu, L. Simion)

  • October 30, 2019 UPDATE

    October 30, 2019 UPDATE

    GOVERNMENT In Bucharest, the hearings of the candidates for minister posts in the Liberal PM designate Ludovic Orbans new cabinet have concluded. On Wednesday, the specialised parliamentary committees interviewed the candidates for minister of labour, justice, youth and sports, education and research, economy, energy and the business environment, development, administration, and public works, and foreign affairs. All candidates, except for the ones nominated for labour minister and minister for public works, development and administration, were greenlighted by MPs. On Tuesday, all candidates except for the one nominated for finance minister were also approved by the relevant parliamentary committees. However, the parliamentary committees only have consultative powers, and the decisive vote is scheduled for Monday, November 4. In order to replace the Social Democrat Viorica Dancilas Cabinet, dismissed on October 10 following a no-confidence vote in Parliament, Ludovic Orbans team needs at least 233 votes. To this end, the PM designate and president of the National Liberal Party, Ludovic Orban, has signed political agreements with Save Romania Union, the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians, the Peoples Movement Party, the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats and MPs representing ethnic minorities. PRO Romania, a splinter from the Social Democratic Party, said they would decide on whether to vote on the new cabinet after the hearings, whereas the Social Democratic Party announced they would not take part in the vote.



    MISSION ‘Regele Ferdinand’ Frigate of the Romanian Navy, together with a Puma Naval helicopter and a Navy Special Operations unit are taking part until November 7th in a new NATO mission in the Mediterranean. The goal of Operation ‘Sea Guardian 19’ is to discourage illegal activities in the southern flank of NATO and the EU, by means of sea and air traffic monitoring. During the mission, the Romanian frigate will have stopovers in Haifa, Israel, and Limassol, Cyprus. The first stop was in the port of Aksaz, in the south of Turkey, followed by another one in Alexandria, Egypt, where a first meeting was held aboard, with members of the Romanian community in Egypt.



    MILITARY A military delegation from Bulgaria, headed by Gen. Major Mihail Dimitrov Popov, chief of staff of the Bulgarian Land Forces, is on an official visit to Romania between October 29 and 31. The host of the event is the chief of the Romanian Land Forces, gen. major Dorin Blaiu. The visit is intended on the one hand to assess the cooperation between the Romanian and Bulgarian land forces, and on the other hand to identify new fields and opportunities for future training. The agenda of the Bulgarian delegation also includes visits to the Romanian military units in Bucharest, Cincu and Sibiu (centre).



    ANTI-CORRUPTION The interim chief of the National Anti-Corruption Agency, Călin Nistor, has reported that over the past 4 years anti-corruption prosecutors sent to court over 900 individuals suspected of crimes against the financial interests of the European Union, in cases having caused combined losses of over 100 million euros. The chief prosecutor also said the acquittal rate in cases involving EU fund frauds is rather low, and added that Romanian courts have already sentenced more than 450 defendants and forced them to pay compensations of around 30 million euros.



    TENNIS In the Purple Group of the WTA Finals in Shenzhen (China), the Romanian Simona Halep (5 WTA) Wednesday lost 7-5, 6-3, to the Ukrainian Elina Svitolina, who moved up into the semi-finals. Simona Halep played the final of the tournament at her first participation in 2014, when she lost to the American Serena Williams (9 WTA). Also on Wednesday, the Romanian-born Canadian Bianca Andreescu (4 WTA) forfeited the match against Karolina Pliskova (2 WTA), after the Czech player had won the first set, 6-3. Andreescu stands no chances to qualify into the semis, even if she was fit to play the last group match on Friday, against the Ukrainian Elina Svitolina.


    (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

  • August 5, 2019 UPDATE

    August 5, 2019 UPDATE

    INVESTIGATION In Caracal, southern Romania, searches continued on Monday at the home of Gheorghe Dincă, the man who claimed, after being apprehended more than a week ago, that he had killed 2 teenagers, 15-year old Alexanda Măceşanu and 18-year old Luiza Melencu. The investigators, who followed a new lead indicated by Gheorghe Dinca, found fragments of burnt bones and ashes in a bag, in a forest near Caracal. Dinca claims the remains belong to Luiza. Over the past few days, new biological samples were collected from the mans home and courtyard. The investigation now focuses on finding new clues to confirm that Luiza Melencu, missing since April, has been in Dincas house. The Directorate Investigating Organised Crime and Terrorism, in charge of the case, announced that the ash taken from Dincas residence showed traces of Alexandra Măceşanus DNA, the girl who went missing on July 24th and who called the emergency services the next day. The response of the authorities was too late, which led to a number of resignations and dismissals.




    EU Romania ranks 2nd in the EU, on a par with Portugal, in terms of a positive public image of the EU, indicates a new Eurobarometer poll made public on Monday. The number of Romanians having a positive view of the European bloc has grown to 60%, above the EU average of 44%. The new poll shows a strong increase in citizens positive perception of the EU in all areas, from economy to the state of democracy. These are the best Eurobarometer results since June 2014. Also, 52% of the Romanians have confidence in the EU, as against a 44% average in Europe. Some of the main findings of the Eurobarometer also include record-strong support for the single currency and a focus on climate change, as the 2nd biggest concern at EU level, after immigration.




    MOLDOVA The General Prosecution of the Republic of Moldova Monday opened a criminal case in which Vlad Plahotniuc is probed into for usurping power in June 2019. A group of prosecutors will look into the events of June 7th to 9th, when former Democratic leader Vlad Plahotniuc and judges with the Constitutional Court approved rulings, decisions and resolutions contrary to the Constitution of Moldova, in order to enable the Democrats to stay in power abusively. Sworn in by Parliament on June 8th, the new Government in Chisinau, headed by the pro-European Maia Sandu, only managed to take office in mid-June, after a deadlock cause by the previous, leftist government controlled by tycoon Vladimir Plahotniuc, who refused to relinquish power.




    FESTIVAL Sfântu Gheorghe, in the Danube Delta, south-eastern Romania, is hosting as of Monday the 16th Anonimul International Independent Film Festival. The official opening included the screening of the latest film by director Jim Jarmusch, The Dead Don’t Die, launched at this years official Cannes competition. Six foreign and Romanian feature films take part in the official competition. The special guest of this years edition is Ukrainian director, Sergei Loznitsa, winner of the Cannes 2018 “Un Certain Regard award. He will receive the “ANONIMUL Award for his contribution to world cinema. A retrospective of his works will be followed by Q&A sessions. The festival also includes, until August 11, screenings of films awarded in other festivals, talks with filmmakers and film critics, Q&A sessions with production teams. A section entitled Fluidități will screen 4 documentaries on art, discussing topics like the fine arts, music, cultural traditions and crafts.


    (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

  • June 28, 2018

    June 28, 2018

    European Council — The Romanian President Klaus Iohannis is participating for two days in the European Council meeting in Brussels. Talks will focus, among others, on the European defense policy, economic growth and competitiveness, digitalization, innovation and trade and the post-2020 EU budget. The main topic of the summit is migration. According to a communiqué of the presidential administration, Klaus Iohannis will reiterate the need to continue the consolidation of the EU’s external border protection and will highlight the need for a collective effort of member states to intensify dialogue with the migrants’ countries of origin or of transit. In a letter conveyed to the heads of state and government of the 28 EU members, the president of the European Council Donald Tusk points to the very high stakes involved, and to the growingly heated debates over migrants. He underscored that the EU’s target should be to dismantle the bootleg-type of business, this being the most efficient way to stop the migrants’ flow and to put an end to loss of human lives at sea.



    Brussels — The Speaker of the Romanian Senate Calin Popescu Tariceanu is having talks today in Brussels with the First Vice-President of the European Commission, Frans Timmermans, about observance of human rights and freedoms in Romania and about the institutional relations in a rule of law state. A press release issued in Bucharest writes that the talks will tackle the stage of monitoring of the Romanian judiciary by the EC through the Mechanism for Cooperation and Verification (CMV) and bilateral issues. The meeting is taking place in the context in which the EU officials are closely monitoring the amendments brought to the justice laws by the ruling coalition in Romania made up of the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberal and Democrats, amendments that are being contested by the opposition parties, civil society and part of the magistrates and that triggered off street protests. In Bucharest, the US Embassy issued a release stating that important partner states have called on Romania to consider the potentially negative impact of the amendments to be brought to the criminal laws and have asked the authorities to avoid changes that might undermine the rule of law or Bucharest’s capacity to fight crime and corruption.



    Weather — Romania’s eastern half will be under a code yellow alert for rain until Thursday night. The highs of the day will range between 23 and 29 degrees C, with a 20 degree reading in Bucharest at noon. Meteorologists warn that it will continue to rain in most regions of Romania until Saturday. Hydrologists have also issued a code orange alert for flooding for 8 drainage basins in the south, center and east valid until Thursday afternoon. For other rivers in the south, east and center of the country a code yellow alert has been issued, valid until midnight. According to the Interior Ministry rainfalls have affected 60 localities in 14 counties. The Ministry officials have mobilized at national level, around 16 thousand employees and more than 6,600 technical means.



    Government — The Romanian government is today discussing a bill on granting state aid to those companies who make large-scale investments, mainly in less developed regions. According to the finance minister Eugen Teodorovici the government decision submitted for analysis is a follow-up of the state aid scheme that was successfully implemented between 2014-2017. Minister Teodorovici said that resuming this scheme would boost economic growth, bridge the gaps between regions and help produce innovative products.



    DIICOT — The prosecutors of the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism in Bucharest started the investigation in rem in the case of the criminal complaint made by the opposition National Liberal Party president Ludovic Orban against the Social Democratic prime minister Viorica Dancila, a case in which he accuses her of high treason and disclosure of secret information that undermines national security. The complaint is related to a memorandum discussed in the government meeting that analyzed the adequacy of relocating the Romanian Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Ludovic Orban accused Viorica Dancila of revealing confidential information and of having presented the Romanian President with false information in relation to the respective memorandum. (news translated by Lacramioara Simion)

  • April 13, 2018 UPDATE

    April 13, 2018 UPDATE

    PROSECUTION — Romanian President Klaus Iohannis on Friday sent the Justice Minister a formal request to allow the prosecution of the former president Ion Iliescu, the former prime minister Petre Roman and the former deputy prime minister Gelu Voican Voiculescu. The prosecutors office with the High Court of Cassation and Justice has also been notified about this request. The prosecution is connected to the Revolution case, which investigates the events that led to the collapse of the communist regime in December 1989. The three officials are accused of crimes against humanity. According to prosecutors, the armed incidents that took place in the aftermath of December 22 across Romania point to a pre-established plan aimed at taking over power and legitimizing the new leaders. Those targeted by the investigation say they are innocent. We recall that because of the delays in the Revolution case, Romania has received a conviction from the European Court of Human Rights. According to the Court, the importance of this case for Romanian society should motivate the authorities to prosecute swiftly.



    DNA — Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis next week will announce his decision over the request to dismiss the chief-prosecutor of the National Anti-Corruption Directorate (DNA), Laura Codruta Kovesi. The President recently said his decision will take into account all the documents that he has been provided with by both parties. In February Justice Minister Tudorel Toader called for Kovesi’s dismissal, whom he accused of seriously overstepping the bounds of her authority. The Superior Council of Magistracy issued a negative opinion related to his request.



    LE DRIAN — French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian has cancelled his work visits scheduled for Friday and Saturday in Albania and Slovenia due to the crisis in Syria, authorities in Tirana in Ljubljana have announced. After his visit to Romania Le Drian visited Serbia, where he admitted his tour coincides with very delicate international developments.



    UDREA — The High Court of Cassation and Justice on Friday ruled against the request filed by former minister Elena Udrea who asked to be deposed in court by video-conference or letters rogatory, in the Bute Gala case, as there is no evidence she was granted political refugee status in Costa Rica, as her lawyers claim. The Court was supposed to discuss on Friday the final hearing in the case in which the former regional development and tourism minister Elena Udrea was sentenced to 6 years in prison for bribe taking and abuse of office. She also had to pay almost 3 million euros in damages. In the same case, the former president of the Romanian Boxing Federation Rudel Obreja was sentenced to 5 years in prison, while the former economy minister Ion Ariton was acquitted. According to the National Anticorruption Directorate, Udrea coordinated a system through which persons in her entourage received, with her knowledge, sums of money from representatives of business companies to guarantee on-time payment of works financed by the ministry she was running. Udrea is also accused of causing ministry employees to overstep their duties during the acquisition of advertising services for the Bute Gala, causing losses to the ministrys budget. Elena Udrea is under investigation in a number of other cases prosecuted by the National Anticorruption Directorate.



    HEALTHCARE — Trade unions in the healthcare sector will announce within a week whether protests will continue, waiting to see the effects of the promised made on Friday by Health Minister Sorina Pintea. According to the Romanian official, hospitals can use their own funds to give financial bonuses and stimulants to employees with slashed revenues. Last month healthcare unionists staged large protests in Bucharest, while this week they protested spontaneously in Bucharest and other cities, unhappy with the 30% cap on bonuses.



    HANDBALL — The Romanian womens handball side SCM Craiova on Saturday face the Turkish side Kastamonu in a return match at home as part of the EHF Cup semifinals. Craiova won the first leg 23-22. If they make it to the final, it would be a first for the Romanian side, who are now at their second participation in the European cups. In more news from womens handball, the Romanian champions CSM Bucharest are playing the French side Metz away on Sunday as part of the Champions League quarterfinals. CSM won the first leg in Bucharest 34-21. We recall they won the Champions League title in 2016.


    (Translated by C. Mateescu & V. Palcu)

  • January 3, 2018 UPDATE

    January 3, 2018 UPDATE

    Prosecution — Anti-corruption prosecutors on Wednesday placed former Chamber of Deputies Speaker, Valeriu Zgonea, under judicial control, in a case in which he is prosecuted for influence peddling. According to prosecutors, between July 2012 and April 2013, while Zgonea was Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies and vice-president of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), another defendant, Dumitru Dobrica, promised him, and Zgonea accepted, undue benefits in exchange for using his influence upon some public servants, in order to appoint one of Dobrica’s relatives in an important public position. Investigators say that Zgonea received undue benefits of around 15 thousand euros. Also, Felicia Pop, office manager of the Minister for the Relation with Parliament, Viorel Ilie, was indicted by the National Anti-Corruption Directorate for using directly or indirectly information that is not intended for public disclosure, or for allowing unauthorized access to such information, in a case regarding the organisation of a contest to hire civil servants on contractual positions.




    Resignation – The Romanian Minister of Waters and Forests, the Social Democrat Doina Pana, resigned on Wednesday, for medical reasons. Doina Pana will preserve, however, her position as Parliament member. She is Vice-President of the Parliament’s Committee for Environment and Ecological Balance and a member of the Romanian Parliament’s Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean. Doina Pana became a minister in June 2017, a position she also held in 2014.




    Budget — The Romanian President Klaus Iohannis on Wednesday promulgated the state budget and the social security budget laws for 2018. However, he pointed to the laws’ vulnerabilities and to the challenges posed by the current fiscal and budget framework, given that Romania needs a credible and balanced budget that should consistently observe the fundamental objectives of macroeconomic stability, predictability and fiscal and budgetary sustainability. The 2018 budget is based on a 5.5% economic growth rate, an average annual inflation rate of 3.1%, an average currency exchange rate of 4.55 lei for one Euro and an average net monthly salary of 565 Euros. The budget deficit is estimated at 2.97% of the GDP, in keeping with the under 3% target. Also on Wednesday, Klaus Iohannis promulgated the Law on the revision of the Government’s emergency decree regarding the organisation and functioning of the Romanian Energy Regulatory Authority (ANRE).




    Chisinau — In the Republic of Moldova, the speaker of Parliament, with pro-western views, Adrian Candu, will take over the interim presidency from the pro-Russian president Igor Dodon, to sign the decree for appointing 7 new ministers. The announcement was made by the Parliament’s press office, after the Constitutional Court decided that the pro-Russian president Igor Dodon could be suspended again, following his repeated refusal to promulgate the government reshuffles. Radio Romania’s correspondents to Chisinau say this measure was already applied last October in the case of the appointment of the defense minister, Eugen Sturza. Prime Minister Pavel Filip announced the change of seven of the thirteen members of the government with the avowed purpose of boosting reforms. Among the nominees are also two former prime ministers, Iurie Leancă, proposed as deputy prime minister for European integration and Chiril Gaburici, who is to take over the Economy portfolio.




    Tennis — World no. 1, Simona Halep, on Wednesday defeated the Chinese Ying-Ying Duan (91 WTA), 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 and made it to the quarterfinals of the WTA tournament held in Shenzen, China, with almost 630 thousand dollars up for grabs. Thus Simona Halep keeps the 1st place in the WTA ranking. Another Romanian, Irina Begu (no. 43 WTA) also qualified to the quarterfinals after defeating Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova (96 WTA), 4-6, 6-1, 6-2. Also on Wednesday, Romania’s 3rd representative in the tournament, Ana Bogdan (105 WTA) lost to the Czech player Kristyna Pliskova, 4-6, 6-7, in an eighth finals match. In the doubles, the pair made up of Irina Begu and Simona Halep on Tuesday qualified to the semifinals after a dramatic match against another Romanian pair made up of Mihaela Buzarnescu and Irina Bara. (Translated by Elena Enache)

  • New criminal case against Social Democratic leader

    New criminal case against Social Democratic leader

    Liviu Dragnea, the speaker of the Chamber of Deputies and the head of the Social Democratic Party, the main party in the ruling coalition in Romania, has been prosecuted in a new criminal case. Anti-corruption prosecutors accuse him of having set up an organised crime group, of abuse of office and of misspending European funds back in the early 2000s, when he was the chairman of the Teleorman County Council.



    According to the National Anti-Corruption Directorate, the case was based on a notification sent by OLAF, the European anti-fraud office, in September 2016, related to several offences, including the use of fraud in order to illegally get funding for county road infrastructure works. The organised criminal group that Dragnea has allegedly set up is still operational, and includes business people and local administration officials, prosecutors also said. According to OLAF, the estimated damages are around 21 million euros, and the money must be recovered.



    The Social Democratic leader denies all accusations, and says he has the support of both his fellow party members, and of the head of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in Romania, Calin Popescu Tariceanu:



    Liviu Dragnea: “I categorically deny all accusations. I stand by what I have been saying for years, namely that I have no financial ties whatsoever with that company. I had a talk with Mr. Tariceanu this morning, he called me after I got to the Chamber of Deputies and he told me to uphold my position and to keep our coalition running. I dont believe the coalition is affected. Only I am.



    The National Liberal Party and Save Romania Union in opposition believe however that the affair stains the image of the Romanian Parliament as well, so they call on Dragnea to step down as speaker of the Chamber of Deputies.



    Liviu Dragnea is also tried for inciting abuse of office in a case involving fictitious employment at a public institution in his home county of Teleorman. But his problems with justice go as far back as to 2012, to the famous referendum on the impeachment of then president Traian Basescu. In 2016, the court found him guilty of having local Social Democratic leaders take people to polls illegally in order to make sure the referendum was validated, and gave him a 2-year suspended sentence.



    Liviu Dragnea is not the only high-profile politician probed into for corruption. The High Court of Cassation and Justice is currently trying a case in which the Liberal leader Ludovic Orban is accused of having used his position to obtain undue benefits, more specifically 50,000 euros worth of funding for his local election campaign. The Supreme Court has heard the owners of two television networks, who said they had never talked to Orban about financing his election campaign. But while Dragnea is not the only one facing criminal charges, he does stand out in his insistence that mysterious forces keep framing him in order to destroy him, the party he chairs and the government he controls.


    (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

  • The Week in Review, June 12-18

    The Week in Review, June 12-18

    Political crisis in Romania


    The Romanian political scene is facing these days a crisis of unprecedented magnitude in nearly three decades of post-communist democracy. Here is how the recent events have unfolded: both members of the ruling coalition, the Social Democratic Party (PSD) and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in Romania (ALDE), decided on Wednesday to withdraw their political support for Prime Minister Sorin Grindeau, a decision followed by the resignation of all Cabinet members. The Social Democrat leader Liviu Dragnea voiced dissatisfaction with the performance of some of the Cabinet members, saying that 60% of the objectives included in the governing programme had not been fulfilled.


    Liviu Dragnea: “The Social Democratic Party, together with our colleagues in ALDE, is prepared to form a new Cabinet, which will have a much better structured roadmap, including measures to make up for the delays so far. If we carry on like this, with or without Sorin Grindeanu as a Prime Minister, in 3 months time we risk seeing the governing programme a document almost impossible to implement.


    The Prime Ministers reaction, however, came as a surprise:


    Sorin Grindeanu: “I will not resign! And I can tell you exactly why! I have a responsibility towards Romania and the party I am a member of. I believe we should all feel responsible for this, and I most certainly do!


    Sorin Grindeanu has also stated that he will resign only if Liviu Dragnea resigns too, blaming the latter for the current political crisis, and only after the president of the country, Klaus Iohannis, appoints a new Social Democrat Prime Minister. Therefore, the Social Democratic Party has announced that Sorin Grindeanu will be excluded from the party and that, together with ALDE, will introduce a motion of non-confidence in its own Cabinet, the only way to force the Prime Minister to leave, given the latters refusal to resign.


    In the meantime, Romanias President Klaus Iohannis has called on the two coalition parties to find a solution to the internal crisis that led to withdrawing support for the Grindeanu Government. Here is the presidency spokesperson Madalina Dobrovolschi:


    Madalina Dobrovolschi: “The president calls for an urgent settling of the crisis that occurred inside the ruling coalition, in order to avoid political instability. Resolving this internal crisis is strictly the responsibility of the parties that make up the coalition.


    In response to the current situation, the Liberals, in opposition, have stated that they will decide what stand to take after a constitutional solution is found to the crisis. The Save Romania Union has called for early elections, and the Peoples Movement Party has stated that the Social Democrats should take responsibility for the failure of their governing agenda.



    Miners raids of June 1990


    Partly shadowed by the current political crisis in Romania, the case of the so called “miners raids of June 1990 came back to public attention exactly on June 13th, when Romania commemorated 27 years since the stifling of a large-scale rally against the left-wing power installed after the fall of the communist regime in December 1989. On Tuesday, 14 people, including Romanias first post-communist president Ion Iliescu and prime minister Petre Roman and the former head of the Romanian Intelligence Service Virgil Magureanu were charged with crimes against humanity. On June 13-15, 1990, against the background of some extremely violent clashes in Bucharest, which the army had already managed to stifle, president Ion Iliescu blamed the right-wing of attempting a coup and called on civilians to defend the democratic institutions of the state. In response to the call, miners from Jiu Valley came to Bucharest and stormed the University building and the headquarters of the opposition parties and of independent newspapers. The toll of the violent clashes of June 13-15 was four officially recorded deaths, hundreds of wounded and more than one thousand people arrested abusively. Romanias image abroad was severely damaged, too. The military prosecutors indictment reads that illegally involved in this attack were forces of the Interior Ministry and the Defense Ministry, Intelligence Service units as well as over 10,000 miners and other workers. Among other things, Ion Iliescu is accused of having ordered the army to use war armament and ammunition against civilians.



    New salary raises


    Now that the new salary law for public sector employees is about to be promulgated, several categories of public personnel that have not benefited from pay rises for a long time, will get more money too. On Tuesday, the Romanian Chamber of Deputies endorsed a bill under which the employees of public libraries, of the Agriculture and Culture Ministries, part of the public healthcare personnel, active military and civilian personnel with the Defence Ministry will benefit from increased salaries. Statistics show that Romanian employees salaries have increased by 13.4% on average in the past year, reaching the equivalent of some 520 Euro in April.



    The International Theatre Festival in Sibiu


    Sunday is the last day of the International Theatre Festival hosted by the city of Sibiu, in central Romania. For ten days, thousands of spectators have had the opportunity to watch some 500 performances and cultural events included in the festivals agenda. The entire city, but also other places across the county of Sibiu were turned into theatre venues, hosting some 3,000 artists. One of the special guests to this years edition was the famous Russian-born ballet dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov, who said he was very much impressed with the festival.


    (translated by: Mihaela Ignatescu)

  • 14 prosecuted over June 1990 miners’ raids

    14 prosecuted over June 1990 miners’ raids

    After 27 years of accusations, controversies, and speculations, Romanias first post-communist president Ion Iliescu and prime minister Petre Roman, the former head of the Romanian Intelligence Service Virgil Magureanu, the former leader of the Jiu Valley coal workers and 10 other individuals have been charged with crimes against humanity over their involvement in the miners raids of June 13-15, 1990.



    The raids ended a large-scale protest against the leftist power installed after the fall of the communist dictatorship in December 1989. The initial court case took nearly 20 years to complete, without any indictments whatsoever. Investigations were resumed in 2015, after the European Court of Human Rights forced the Romanian authorities to identify the culprits for the death of 4 people, physical and emotional harm inflicted on nearly 1,400 others and the illegal arrest and detention of over 1,000, during violent clashes that severely affected Romanias foreign image.



    During those tense days, the then president Ion Iliescu spoke about an attempted coup and called on civilians to protect the countrys democratic institutions. According to prosecutors, this led to a violent attack against the people who were peacefully protesting in Bucharests University Square. Military prosecutors say that illegally involved in this attack were forces of the Interior Ministry and the Defence Ministry, Intelligence Service units as well as over 10,000 coal miners and workers from several parts of the country. The thousands of miners who raided the capital city in June 1990 stormed the University building, the offices of opposition parties and the headquarters of independent publications.



    According to the indictment, ex-president Ion Iliescu is accused of having ordered the forcible evacuation of the protesters in University Square. The intervention of security forces in the morning of June 13 was not aimed to disperse the protesters, but rather to capture them, reads the indictment. According to the document, those who entered the headquarters of the Romanian Intelligence Service during those events were familiar with the plans of the building, which proves that they were not protesters, as the authorities claimed at that time.



    Prosecutors also say that 2 of the people who died during the clashes had been shot in the back of their heads, but the perpetrators could not be identified. Also, the protesters who were illegally arrested and incarcerated were detained in conditions comparable to those in which WW2 prisoners were kept.


    The 14 individuals indicted in this case will be tried by the High Court of Cassation and Justice.


    (translated by: Ana Maria Popescu)

  • June 13, 2017 UPDATE

    June 13, 2017 UPDATE

    GRINDEANU CABINET — The fate of the Grindeanu Cabinet will be decided on Wednesday’s meeting of the Social Democratic Party’s Executive committee, which will assess each minister and discuss potential reshuffles. At the end of last week the party leader Liviu Dragnea, who is also the speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, expressed his discontent regarding the activity of certain ministers. Dragnea said he rules out changing the entire structure of the cabinet. In turn, Prime Minister Sorin Grideanu said he is conducting his own analysis and said he was pleased with his Cabinet’s overall performance. In another development, the presidency announced it was monitoring political moves aimed at changing the Government’s structure.



    IOHANNIS — Romania’s president Klaus Iohannis will pay an official visit to Berlin over June 19-21. The president will meet his German counterpart, Frank Walter Steinmeir and Chancellor Angela Merkel. Talks will focus on boosting bilateral relations and hot topics on the international and European agenda. On June 20 the President will be guest of honor in a ceremony commemorating the victims of refuge and expulsion at the German History Museum, where he will also deliver a speech. According to the presidency, 2017 marks 50 years since the launch of Romanian-German relations, 25 years since the cooperation and partnership agreement was signed between the two countries and 10 years since Romania joined the EU. Over June 22-23, president Iohannis will attend the European Summer Council, with migration, defense policy and Brexit as the main topics on its agenda. On the sidelines of the Council meeting Klaus Iohannis will also meet with the new French president, Emmanuel Macron.



    PROSECUTION – Romanian prosecutors re-started the criminal prosecution of the former president of Romania Traian Basescu, for abuse of office in the so called ‘Flora’ case, after judges with the High Court of Cassation and Justice admitted the request filed by the Prosecutor’s Office. The case was re-opened after a businessman filed a complaint, accusing Traian Basescu of having illegally returned, back in 2003, when he was the mayor of Bucharest, a 40,000 square meter piece of land. The commercial complex ‘Flora’ was later built on that ground. The businessman claims that Basescu abused his office by endorsing the return of the property, and the damage is estimated at more than 100 million Euros.



    STATISTICS – According to the National Statistics Institute, the average income in Romania went up by 1% in April, reaching the equivalent of 520 Euro, which is a historic record. The most significant increases were reported in relation to financial transactions and auxiliary activities, while decreases were recorded in the oil and natural gas extraction industry and in the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry. In another development, the number of pensioners dropped to under 5.2 million, and the average pension went up by 8.1%, reaching some 220 Euro. The pensioners/employees ratio is still 9 to10, which means that 10 employees support 9 pensioners.



    COMMEMORATION — The first president in post-communist Romania, Ion Iliescu, the then Prime Minister Petre Roman and Intelligence chief Virgil Magureanu were indicted and accused of crimes against humanity on Tuesday in the case investigating the miners’ raids of June 13-15, 1990, which put an end to a large-scale rally against the left wing power instated after the fall of the communist dictatorship in December 1989. Against the background of violent clashes in the capital, which the army had already managed to stifle, the then president of the country Ion Iliescu claimed the right wing had planned a coup and called on the population to defend the democratic institutions. As a result of the call, miners from Jiu Valley came to Bucharest and attacked the University, the headquarters of the main opposition parties and the offices of independent publications. Their raids ended in four deaths, hundreds of people wounded and more than one thousand people arrested abusively. Romania’s image abroad was also affected by the violent raid of June 1990.



    RUSSIA — The Kremlin on Tuesday said the unauthorized anticorruption protests organized by opposition leader Aleksei Navalny are a threat to public opinion. Navalny was sentenced to 30 days in prison. In turn, Russian officials said they will not respond to Washington’s plea to release the protesters from arrest. Large protests were staged in Moscow and Saint Petersburg, the Russian riot police launching an assault on the crowd after protests started voicing anti-regime slogans. Some 2,000 people were arrested, including scores of students and young people. (Translated by V. Palcu)