Radio România Internațional

Tag: referendum in Italy

  • October 23, 2017

    October 23, 2017

    BILATERAL RELATIONS — Romania’s Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu, who is on an official visit to Israel, will meet President Reuven Rivlin and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is also the country’s Foreign Minister. The agenda for talks includes the status of bilateral relations, the developments in Israel’s vicinity, the situation in Syria and Iraq, the prospects of Iran’s nuclear agreement and the peacemaking process. On Sunday, Minister Melescanu met with representatives of the Romanian-born Jewish community in Jerusalem. Several days ago, the Chairman of the Knesset Committee on Foreign Relations and Defense, Avi Dichter, met with Teodor Melescanu in Bucharest. The Romanian official hailed the visit of the Israeli Parliamentary delegation to Romania as an opportunity to reassert the excellent level of bilateral relations.



    NEGOTIATIONS — Trade unions in the field of healthcare are today resuming talks with the Health Ministry. Union representatives are discontented with the new legislation that is to take effect on January 1 and which, they believe, would considerably curb the income of healthcare personnel. Trade unions want the Government to eliminate the 30% cap on specific bonuses and to renounce its plan to transfer the payment of social security contributions from employers to employees, which will arguably counterbalance the 25% salary increase stipulated by the new salary law. Unless they reach consensus with the authorities, healthcare trade unions threaten to resort to new protests. Last week some 10,000 employees from all over the country attended a large-scale protest action in Bucharest.



    SPLIT VAT — The Romanian Parliament is today debating the Split VAT collection mechanism. Finance Minister Ionut Misa is today expected to explain before the Chamber of Deputies how the measure will be implemented. The measure has already taken effect by emergency Government decree and is currently optional. It will become mandatory for all businesses starting January 1, 2018. The Liberals have called on the Government to repeal the decree, saying it will upset the economy. Conversely, the left-wing ruling coalition plans on modifying the law so that it becomes mandatory only for businesses with a bad credit record or which are currently in default. Split VAT has stirred harsh criticism from businesses, who’ve warned the new mechanism will cause an economic deadlock.



    REFERENDUM — The majority of voters in the regions of Veneto and Lombardy in northern Italy have voted for greater autonomy as part of the two referendum held on Sunday. Over 90% of the voters said “yes” to the consultation held by the North League, an extremist political party. According to our correspondent on the group, the result of the vote might lead to negotiations with Rome authorities, with a view to securing better financial agreements with the two regions.



    HANDBALL — The Romanian women’s handball team CSM Bucharest lost 25-22 to Nykobing Falster Handboldklub of Denmark away from home, in the third match in the Champions League Group A. CSM previously defeated RK Krim Mercator Ljubljana of Slovenia on home turf and Vistal Gdynia of Poland away from home. CSM ranks first in the group tables with 4 points, the same as Nykobing, who is runner-up. The next fixture for the Romanian handballers will be the return leg against Nykobing Falster Handboldklub, scheduled on November 4 at home. CSM Bucharest won the Champions League last year on its first ever appearance in this competition. This year CSM is favourite to win.



    TENNIS — Tennis player Simona Halep, WTA no. 1, is seeded first in the WTA finals hosted by Singapore. Halep is today playing Caroline Garcia of France, WTA no. 9 in the first match in the Red Group. In the second Group fixture, Elina Svitolina of Ukraine, WTA no. 4, will take on Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark, WTA no. 6. On Sunday on the first day of the competition, Garbine Muguruza of Spain defeated 6-3, 6-4 Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia, who has for the first time qualified to this event. In the other match in the White Group, Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic defeated Venus Williams of the United States, 6-2, 6-2. This is Simona Halep’s fourth participation in the WTA Finals. Four years ago she made it all the way to the final. (Translated by V. Palcu)

  • December 5, 2016 UPDATE

    December 5, 2016 UPDATE

    ELECTIONS – This is the last week of the election campaign for the December 11th parliamentary elections in Romania. According to the legislation in force, the campaign ends on Saturday, December 10. Until then, those who want to become senators or deputies can present their political agenda and electoral offers through posters, rallies, meetings with the voters and the media. The radio and TV campaign ends on December 9th. There are 6500 people running for 136 senator and 330 deputy seats.



    ANTI-CORRUPTION – An action titled ‘The anti-corruption week at the borders has been launched in Romania. The citizens who will cross the border between Romania and the Republic of Moldova or Ukraine or will enter the country through the Bucharest – Otopeni airport by December 9th will receive information materials and recommendations from the National Anticorruption Directorate. The event is taking place against the background of Romanias aspirations to join Schengen. A decision on this matter is still hampered by political considerations.

    CANDIDACY – The
    French Prime Minister Manuel Valls on Monday announced his candidacy for the
    2017 presidential elections and his resignation as Prime Minister, France
    Presse reports. If he wins the competition within the Socialist Party, Valls
    will have to defeat in spring the rightist Francois Fillon and Marine Le Pen,
    member of the National Front. The socialist president Francois Hollande has
    announced he will not take part in the party’s internal competition for a
    second mandate.



    REFERENDUM – Italians on Sunday voted against the Constitutional reform proposed by Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, who decided to step down after the vote. The reform was aimed at cutting Senates powers, limiting the remit of local authorities and increasing the Governments authority. Political pundits say Italy might be facing a political deadlock, capable of generating a new shock at EU level after the Brexit vote. Snap elections in Italy might favour the populist movement Five Stars, an anti-Eurozone faction. At the same time, the economy might also bear the brunt of the vote, as Italy is the Eurozones third largest economy with one of the highest Government debt.



    ELECTIONS – Romanias president Klaus Iohannis has congratulated the winner of the presidential vote in Austria, Alexander Van der Bellen, expressing confidence his election will boost political and economic cooperation between the two countries. The Romanian president also said that strengthening the community bloc, based on the principles of liberal democracy, the rule of law, human rights, tolerance and non-discrimination, represent major joint objectives. Backed by the Greens, Alexander Van der Bellen on Sunday outran his opponent Norbert Hofer, supported by the far-right. This was Austrias third presidential ballot this year, after Mays vote was won by Alexander Van der Bellen, Hofer appealed the results and the Constitutional Court decided to re-stage the vote.


    (Translated by V. Palcu)

  • December 4, 2016

    December 4, 2016

    REFERENDUM– A constitutional referendum is held on Sunday in Italy, which is considered one of the most critical tests for the political career of the PM Matteo Renzi, the head of a center-leftist government. The reform plan stipulates, among other things, a drastic diminution of the Senates power and a limitation of the regions powers. Matteo Renzi said he would step down if the reform fell through. The ‘NO campaign is led by the Populist Party 5 Stars, which wants to review the countrys relations with the EU. Several EU states have expressed fears that unless the Italian PMs proposal gets public support, the country might enter a political deadlock, the BBC reports.


    ELECTIONS – 6.4 million Austrians with the right to vote are expected to the polls again on Sunday to elect their president. They will have to choose between Norbert Hofer representing the Freedom Party, considered of far right orientation, and independent Alexander Van der Bellen. The president plays a minor role, although he can dissolve the lower house of Parliament and call for snap elections. The first round of the presidential election took place in April and the second in May. The winner of the May election was Alexander Van der Bellen but the Constitutional Court in Vienna decided to cancel the second round because of irregularities reported in the postal voting procedure. Pundits say that if elected, Hofer will be the first far-right president in the EU. Presidential elections are also being held on Sunday in Uzbekistan. Voters will decide who will replace the former leader Islam Karomov, who died in September. Interim president Shavkat Mirzioviev, one of the four candidates in the race, has good chances of winning the vote. Mirzioiev has pleaded for continuity, while saying he might introduce certain economic reforms.




    EUROSTAT – One in three Romanians cannot afford to eat out with friends every month, shows the latest Eurostat survey. Figures indicate the same figures for Hungary and Bulgaria. In Romania, those affected are the elderly, of whom 43% lack the funds to eat out in a restaurant every month. Over a third of young people below 25 cannot afford to go out to a pub every month. Nearly one in ten European citizens lacks the money for such monthly activities.



    GREECE – Structural reforms will help Greece get sustainable growth instead of a debt-cutting deal, the German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble told Bild am Sonntag on Sunday. Greeces outstanding debt currently amounts to 300 billion euros, accounting for 180% of its GDP, the highest in the Eurozone. A Eurozone Finance Ministers meeting is scheduled to take place on Monday in Brussels, aimed at reviewing the progress Athens has reported in implementing the line of reforms demanded in exchange for granting financial assistance. Germany is unlikely to discuss a cut in Greeces debt ahead of the elections of September 2017. For the first time since 2014, Greece has reported a growth of its GDP for two consecutive terms, thus ending the economic slump.



    HANDBALL – Romanias national womens handball team are participating in Sweden between December 4 –18 in the European Handball Championship. Romania will take on Norway, in Group D, on December 5th, Russia on the 7th of December and Croatia on the 9th. The three top-ranking teams in each group will qualify to the second stage. Romanias team is coached by the Spanish Ambros Martin, who last month replaced the Swedish Tomas Ryde, who led the Romanians to victory at the 2015 World Championship hosted by Denmark, when they won bronze. Ambros Martin was designated the best coach of the world in 2013 and 2014 and won two times the Champions League with the Hungarian team Győr that he is also coaching. The teams of Norway and Denmark have won the most continental titles, 6 and 3 respectively. Romanias best result at the European Championship was the bronze medal in 2010.


    (Translated by V. Palcu)