Inflation – The inflation rate in Romania dropped, in September, to 4.62%, after, in August, it had registered a value of 5.1%. This is the official data of the National Institute of Statistics published today. The prices for foodstuffs have increased, on average, by 0.8%, and for services by approximately 0.4%. Spectacular price hikes were recorded in the case of citrus fruits and other exotic fruits, approximately 7.5%. Prices of vegetables and canned food also went up by over 5%. Significantly increased prices were also recorded for beans and other legumes. Potatoes, on the other hand, became cheaper by approximately 5.23%, and other products by less than 2%. In the case of services, postal rates increased by 17.8%, air transport by 17.2%, and non-foods such as detergents by 14.7%. The prices for water supply and sanitation services also recorded a 12.6% increase.
Commissioner – The designated European Commissioner of Romania, Roxana Mînzatu, will be heard, on Saturday, by the committees of the European Parliament. MEPs from the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs and from the Committee on Culture and Education will participate in the hearings. Another two committees, the one on women’s rights and gender equality and the Committee on civil liberties, justice and home affairs will have a guest status, in the sense that they will have the right to ask the commissioner proposed by Romania a written question. Roxana Mînzatu was appointed executive vice-president of the European Commission and could hold, in the next five years, the portfolio on employment, social affairs and education.
Concert season – “Ode to Joy ” was scheduled to open, this evening, the new concert season of Radio Romania’s orchestras and choirs. The show at the Radio Hall, conducted by the Austrian Sascha Goetzel, is designed around one of the most famous works in the history of music, the Symphony No. 9 by Ludwig van Beethoven. At the absolute premiere in Vienna, on May 7, 1824, Beethoven was turned to face the audience to see the applause which he could no longer hear at all, due to his total hearing loss. “Ode to Joy” is the first musical score included in the UNESCO world heritage.
Nobel – The Japanese Nihon Hidankyo movement won, on Friday, the Nobel Peace Prize for the year 2024, for “its efforts to reach a world without nuclear weapons”, the Norwegian Nobel Committee announced, according to international press agencies. The Nobel Peace Prize is the only one awarded in Oslo, the prizes for the other categories being awarded in Stockholm. The Norwegian Nobel Institute registered 286 candidacies for this year’s award, including 197 individuals and 89 organizations. Last year, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to the Iranian Narges Mohammadi “for her fight against the oppression of women in Iran and her fight to promote human rights and freedom for all”.
Schengen – Austria continues to oppose the admission of Romania and Bulgaria to the Schengen Area with land borders. The problem was discussed, on Thursday, in Luxembourg, at the meeting of the European Ministers of Justice and Home Affairs. Although the European Commission and the European Parliament say that both countries meet all the conditions for accession, Austrian Minister Gerhard Karner claims that there is still a lot to be done. The European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson expressed optimism that the Council of the EU will decide to remove border checks at the Bulgarian and Romanian Schengen borders before her term ends. She added that the accession of Romania and Bulgaria would be discussed again during the Council meeting in December.
Elections – 14 candidates will be registered on the ballots in the first round of Romania’s presidential election on November 24 – 10 supported by political parties and 4 independents. On Thursday evening, the Central Electoral Bureau established, by drawing of lots, the order in which the candidates will appear on the ballot, but one of the candidates announced the intention to challenge the procedure. The deadline for Romanian citizens domiciled or residing abroad to register to vote by mail in the presidential elections expired at midnight. According to the data of the Permanent Electoral Authority, less than 7,000 people registered on the votstrainatate.ro platform. The second round of the presidential election will take place on December 8. (LS)
