CANDIDATE The National Executive
Committee of the ruling Social Democratic Party PSD will today convene to
designate a new European Commissioner candidate after the Legal Affairs
Committee of the European Parliament had turned down the candidacy of Rovana Plumb
on alleged conflict of interest. Yesterday, Romania’s Prime Minister Viorica
Dancila announced she would come up with another appointee for the seat of the
European Commissioner for Transport. Dancila was invited by the country’s
president Klaus Iohannis to have talks on this issue on Wednesday. Last week,
the Social-Democratic MEP Rovana Plumb was asked to clear some controversial
aspects in her asset declaration related to a loan she had taken to fund an
election campaign. On Monday, Plumb said she had extinguished the 168 thousand
euro loan, which caused suspicions about the conflict of interest.
VOTE The opposition’s no confidence vote against the minority
PSD government is to be submitted to Parliament today, Ludovic Orban, leader of
the National Liberal Party has announced. According to him, the vote has been
initiated by the Liberals and is presently backed by MPs belonging to USR,
UDMR, PMP, ALDE, Pro Romania and even some from the PSD. The Social-Democrats
believe the vote will fail as it doesn’t come up with a governing programme and
a new Prime Minister. We recall the Executive led by Mrs. Dancila lost its Legislative majority
after its partner, ALDE, had left the ruling coalition in late August.
EUROPALIA Romanian president Klaus Iohannis is today participating in Brussels
in the official opening of the International Art Festival Europalia, where
Romania is an honorary guest. Iohannis’ visit comes in response to an
invitation from king Philippe. The two heads of state are to visit an
exhibition entitled ‘Brancusi. Sublimation of Forms’ – the most important
exhibition devoted to the Romanian sculptor staged in the past decades, which
is also the festival’s main event. The two officials are also to participate in
a concert entitled ‘the Romanian Rhapsody’ given by the SoNoRo ensemble. The
Europalia Festival brings together numerous events held in Belgium, the
Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg and Great Britain. Besides exhibitions, it
includes theatre, dance and music performances, visual art and literature
projects, and over 100 film screenings.
CEREMONIES Hundreds of thousands of students have today resumed courses in
universities all over the country. Some universities staged ceremonies as early
as yesterday but the university year kicked off today in all military
universities across Romania. Ferdinand l Technical Military Academy and Carol l
Defence University have opened their gates in the presence of Defence Minister
Gabriel Les. Romania currently boasts 54 public and 47 private universities.
DIICOT Romania’s president Klaus Iohannis has called for the resignation
of Felix Banila, the chief prosecutor of the anti-mafia department DIICOT for
the inappropriate way in which investigations into the recent killing of three
young girls in southern Romania have been carried out. According to Iohannis,
the events have triggered belated responses and outrageous public reactions from
some authorities, which imply their lack of concern for both the victims and
their families. In response, Banila announced he would pay maximum attention to
the president’s request. In a communiqué, Banila said he would glean opinions
from his colleagues, his bosses and all those involved in his appointment after
which he would make public his decision. According to the DIICOT head, his
resignation will have consequences leading to instability, which is
inconceivable in an EU and NATO member country.
(translated by bill)
