Radio România Internațional

Tag: street protests

  • The Year 2019

    The Year 2019

    Troubled political developments in the Republic of Moldova

    2019 was a year of turmoil in politics in the ex-Soviet neighboring Republic of Moldova. Towards the end of February, parliamentary elections were held, won by the Party of Socialists, followed by the right-wing ACUM bloc, and the Democratic Party of controversial businessman Vlad Plahotniuc. Right after the vote, a political crisis sparked in the Republic, lasting three months. In June, the Socialists and the ACUM bloc managed to strike a deal and form a government, led by pro-European leader Maia Sandu. Discord soon ensued, and the socialists quit the alliance, and in November, joined by the Democrats, voted down the Sandu executive. Pro-Russian president Igor Dodon appointed a new PM in the person of a former adviser of his, Ion Chicu. Also in 2019, for the first time since Moldova gained its independence in the early 1990s, the mayoralty of the capital Chisinau was won by a left-wing party member, Ion Ceban.


    European Parliament elections and the Brexit

    In the EU, the year 2019 was the year of European Parliament elections, held between May 23 and 26, which were won by the Popular Party, followed by the Socialists and Liberal centrists of the Renew Europe group, formed on the ruins of the former ALDE group. In July, leaders of member countries announced the names of the new holders of the top positions in the Union, which are: President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyden, President of the European Council Charles Michel, the President of the European Central Bank, Christine Lagarde, and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell Fontelles. The European Parliament also elected its president, David Sassoli. Ms. Van der Leyen’s term, which started on December 1, will be full of challenges, among the most important being the Brexit. Exiting the EU, voted by Brits in a referendum, initially scheduled for March 29, 2019, was postponed three times, lacking a consensus on the conditions of the divorce. MPs in London rejected the settlement reached with Brussels by PM Theresa May, who resigned in June. Also rejected was the agreement negotiated by her successor, Boris Johnson. He managed to obtain early elections, which his Conservative Party won by the half of December. Under these conditions, Brexit is supposed to occur on January 31, 2020.


    Donald Trump and US foreign policy

    In early August 2019, American President Donald Trump announced that the US was withdrawing from the Cold War medium range nuclear missile treaty with Moscow. In fact, under his famous slogan ‘America First’, the White House and the president personally kept making throughout the year very surprising announcements: withdrawal of troops from northeast Syria, withdrawal from the environmental Paris Treaty, or the trade war with China. In late September, Democrats in the House of Representatives initiated impeachment on two articles. The most powerful man on the planet was alleged to put pressure on Ukraine to investigate the son of his most important political rival, Joe Biden, the most likely counter-candidate for him in the 2020 elections. Donald Trump dismissed the accusations as ridiculous.


    Street protests all over the world

    2019 was the year of street protests all throughout the world. Some of the most notable were the ones that started in June in Hong Kong. The former British colony is going through the most serious crisis since 1997, when it was taken over by China once again. The protests, some violent, against what protesters say is Beijing’s authoritarian attitude, slowed down since the election of pro-democracy candidates in November. Another city that saw ample protests which left many dead and wounded was Paris, along other French cities. The so-called Yellow Vests were angry at the social and fiscal policies promoted by President Macron and his government.


    Global warming and environmental activism

    July 2019 was the hottest month ever recorded, with top temperatures in Europe and the North Pole alike. In August, Iceland said farewell to the first glacier to go extinct, with 400 more threatened. In September, Swedish activist Greta Thunberg held a very tough and emotional speech at the UN, referring, among other things, to the deadly fires that consumed the Amazon in 2019. In December, the controversial young activist was named Time magazine Person of the Year.


    Also in 2019…

    To wrap up, let us recall that in April, the roof of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris was consumed by a raging fire. French firefighters managed to save the Gothic edifice, thanks to a crowd effort, while safeguarding most of the priceless works of art and relics inside. The fire caused emotional reactions across the world, which resulted in donations worth 900 million Euro for reconstruction. Let us also recall that in 2019 we said farewell to former French president Jacques Chirac, the great Italian director Franco Zefirelli, famous designer Karl Lagerfeld, Austrian former Formula 1 star Niki Lauda, and writer Toni Morrison, the first African American woman to win the Nobel for literature.

  • December 26, 2017

    December 26, 2017

    CHRISTMAS — In Romania, Orthodox and Greek-Catholic Christians celebrate today, on the second day of Christmas, the Synaxis of the Theotokos, which is a celebration of Mary, the Mother of God. This is one of the oldest feast days devoted to Virgin Mary, dating back to the 5th Century. The Synaxis of the Theotokos is the assembly of believers to honour the one through whom the incarnation of God was possible. Also today, Roman Catholic Christians celebrate St Stephen, the first martyr.





    HOLIDAYS — Thousands of Romanians are spending their winter holidays in the mountain resorts in Valea Prahovei region in the south, in Maramures in the north-west of the country and in Bucovina, in the north-east. Sinaia and Buşteni, on Prahova Valley, are among the most popular resorts in the country at this time of the year. In Bâlea Lac, in Făgăraş Mountains, at over 2,000 m altitude, the new Ice Hotel, the only one of its kind in Romania, was opened on Sunday. Most of the tourists having booked a room here come from abroad.




    ROYAL HOUSE — The Royal House of Romania attended on Tuesday the Christmas service held at the Orthodox church in Săvârşin, the west of Romania. The royals are on 40-day mourning after the death of Romania’s last king, Michael I. He passed away on December 5, aged 96, and was buried on December 16, in Curtea de Arges, southern Romania, where the other 3 monarchs of Romania are also interred. Tens of thousands of people took part in the national funerals of the one they regard as a model of dignity, honour, devotion and love for the country.




    CONSULTATIONS — The PM of Romania, Mihai Tudose, has agreed to hold talks tomorrow with representatives of over 40 NGOs involved in the street protests against the controversial changes in the justice laws. The organisations had sent the PM an open letter expressing their willingness to contribute to dialogue, consultation and solutions, in full compliance with the rule of law, democratic principles and fundamental human rights. They say there have been major deficiencies in the dialogue and consultations between lawmakers and society with respect to the justice laws and the changes of the criminal codes. On Friday, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Thorbjorn Jagland, sent a letter to President Klaus Iohannis, urging him to request an official opinion from the Venice Commission with respect to the legislative reform endorsed by Parliament. Previously, the embassies of Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Netherlands and Sweden to Bucharest issued a joint letter calling on all stakeholders in the judiciary reform process to avoid measures that would weaken the independence of the judiciary and the fight against corruption. In response, the Foreign Ministry said strengthening the rule of law and fighting corruption are among the priorities of the Government of Romania. In turn, the leaders of ruling coalition made up of the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in Romania, Liviu Dragnea and Calin Popescu Tariceanu, respectively, promised that the Justice Minister Tudorel Toader, and Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu would inform embassies properly with respect to the legislative changes in this field.




    EU — The German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said that if the EU managed to get a smart deal with Britain that governs relations with Europe after Brexit, it could be a model for other countries. The German diplomat added that Turkey and Ukraine are not likely to get full EU membership very soon, which is why the EU should consider alternative forms of closer cooperation. Gabriel also suggested that such an approach could take the form of a closer customs union with Turkey. Although the current situation proves that that country is still rather far from joining the EU, recent moves by Ankara indicate willingness to improve relations with Brussels, the German official also said. Shortly before Christmas, Turkey decided to free a German pilgrim after nearly 9 months of detention, and a German journalist who had spent 7 months in custody over alleged ties with a terrorist organisation.


    (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

  • Pardons Bill Stays in Parliament

    Pardons Bill Stays in Parliament

    From the Government to the Senate’s judicial committee, then to the Senate plenary and back to the committee for another week. This has been the route so far for a controversial piece of legislation, the pardons bill, which has caused street protests and friction in the main party in the ruling coalition, the Social Democratic Party. The junior partner in the coalition, the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in Romania, sensed its explosive potential and suggested that the bill should be sent back to the same committee which, much to the dislike of the Social Democratic leaders, had significantly altered the text drafted by the Cabinet.



    The head of the committee, the Social Democrat Serban Nicolae, has already been scolded by his party chief, Liviu Dragnea. In a tandem which years ago seemed impossible, Serban Nicolae and the ex-president Traian Basescu, currently a Senator from the People’s Movement Party in opposition, amended the original text so that offences like bribe taking and giving and influence peddling would be pardoned.



    After the infamous government order through which the Cabinet attempted to amend the criminal legislation, a new controversial law was the last thing that the Social Democratic Party needed. Liviu Dragnea was quick to understand this, and asked the parliamentary majority not to meddle with the text drafted by the Government.



    Serban Nicolae complied only in part, and changes have been operated. Among them were, for instance, the full pardon of sentences of up to 3 years, a 3-year shortening of sentences of up to 10 years, the reduction to a half of the sentences for pregnant women and, under certain conditions, full pardon for convicts aged over 70. The Social Democrat Serban Nicolae said that, according to the figures received from the National Penitentiary Administration, a few over 1,000 people may benefit from these measures.



    The report that included these amendments was sent to the Senate plenary, but it was later returned to the committee, proving that the Social Democratic Party leaders disagreed with that document. His back against the wall, Serban Nicolae pleaded for a rational discussion in Parliament. But the National Liberal Party and Save Romania Union, in opposition, question the very usefulness of the law. According to the Liberals, a pardons bill cannot solve the problem of prison overcrowding and of the inadequate conditions in some Romanian prisons.



    Romania was repeatedly sued over these problems, and the European Court for Human Rights has recently given Bucharest 6 months to adopt an action plan to address the situation. A pardons bill, however, is not a long-term solution to this, penitentiary administrators say. And, judging by the reactions in the street, nor does it save the public image of the Social Democratic Party. (Translated by A.M. Popescu)

  • The Romanian President’s Speech in Parliament

    The Romanian President’s Speech in Parliament

    Images featuring hundreds of thousands of Romanians getting together to protest against the Government decree amending the Criminal Code and the Criminal Procedure Code have been given extensive coverage by international media, taking Romania in prime time news. Meanwhile, the Sorin Grindeanu cabinet took a step back, by withdrawing the decree that generated a strong civic response among the Romanians living within the borders of the country and abroad.



    The Government then drew up a bill amending the Codes, to align them to some rulings and requests by the Constitutional Court. In the end, the government withdrew this bill, too. Considering that the changes to the criminal law initiated by the Grindeanu government should be brought into the focus of public attention from the Romanian Parliament too, President Klaus Iohannis last week sent a letter to the Speakers of the two chambers of the Romanian Parliament, expressing his intention to address senators and deputies.



    From the very beginning, the President disproved the changes brought to the criminal law by issuing emergency decrees and, in recent times, he has repeatedly expressed his discontent and disapproval, even choosing to briefly show himself in public attending street protests. He has also announced his decision to start all necessary procedures to hold a referendum, for the Romanian citizens to express their will with respect to continuing the fight against corruption and the integrity of public office. Klaus Iohannis has also said that his mission is to restore the rule of law and that he will do anything for Romania to be a corruption-free country- some ideas that he reiterated in the plenary session of Parliament.



    “The nation is on high alert, it is alive, it is watchful and very discontented. A significant sociological research conducted in the past three days shows that 80% of the Romanians say their country is going in the wrong direction. How do we end up here, less than a month since the elections? On December 11, the Social Democratic Party won a landslide victory in the elections, and then, embracing a strange, kamikaze-like strategy, it got into a head-on collision with a significant part of society”, the president has also said.



    Urgent solutions are needed to get out of this deadlock, and these solutions should come from those who caused the problem, that is the main ruling party, the Social-Democrats, Klaus Iohannis went on to say. In his opinion, repealing the decree and a possible resignation or sacking of the line minister is not enough, and holding early elections is too much. The president has called on the Government to govern the country in a transparent, predictable and responsible way, and on Parliament, dominated by Social-Democrats, to issue laws benefiting the population and not just a group of politicians, facing judicial problems. (Translated by D. Vijeu)

  • February 2, 2017 UPDATE

    February 2, 2017 UPDATE


    EMERGENCY ORDINANCE Romanias president Klaus Iohannis announced on Thursday that he had sent a notification to the Constitutional Court concerning the emergency ordinance amending criminal law, which created a conflict between the Government, the judiciary and Parliament. The leader of the governing Social Democratic Party, Liviu Dragnea, has stated that the ordinance will not set the corrupt free and will not stop the trial in which he is accused of forgery. He has also stated that any attempt to undermine the activity of the Government formed by the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in Romania is an attempt at destabilizing the rule of law in Romania. In another move, Florin Jianu, the Minister for Business, Trade and Entrepreneurship resigned from Government. Also on Thursday, the National Anticorruption Directorate called on the Justice Ministry to provide the legal documentation regarding the drafting and issuing of the emergency ordinance that amends the criminal codes. The information was carried by a communiqué issued by the Ministry of Justice, in which the said ministry accuses the Anticorruption Directorate of interfering with the governments activity.



    PROTESTS President Klaus Iohannis has criticised the Interior Ministry for the way in which it acted on Wednesday night, when, during the peaceful protest rallies held in Bucharest against the Grindeanu ordinances, isolated groups attempted to instigate violence. According to the president, both the Interior Ministry and the Gendarmerie had been warned about potential incidents, aimed to compromise the peaceful protest. In response, the Interior Minister Carmen Dan has stated the ministry did not receive any such information concerning Wednesday nights protests. These are the most serious protests staged in Romania in the past 25 years, held against the Governments decision to amend the criminal codes under an emergency ordinance. Romanians living abroad have too protested against the governments decision.



    EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT The situation created by the Romanian Governments decision to amend criminal law under emergency ordinances was the subject of a heated debate in the European Parliament on Thursday. Romanian MEPs members of the European Peoples Party called for the withdrawal of the ordinance, while the representatives of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats and the Social-Democratic Party, claimed the protesters were trying to overthrow a legitimate Government. The European Commission has called on the Romanian Government to re-evaluate the ordinance. In turn, the Embassies of France, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Canada and the United States in Bucharest have expressed their deep concern over the Governments actions, which they see as undermining Romanias progress regarding the rule of law and the fight against corruption in the last ten years.



    REACTIONS The Pro Democratia Association, one of the oldest and most respected NGOs in Romania, has expressed concern with respect to the rapid and serious degradation of democracy in Romania, also in connection with the concerted attack of some political forces against fundamental principles such as the rule of law and human rights. According to Pro Democratia, the systematic campaign against democracy gained momentum with the adoption of the controversial Government emergency ordinance modifying the criminal and criminal procedure codes, which seem to be aimed at preventing certain political leaders and their contributors from facing criminal justice. The Association calls on those responsible to stop all attacks against institutions, organizations and the principles of the rule of law and human rights and the immediate and unrestricted withdrawal of the emergency ordinance criticized by the general public.



    2017 STATE BUDGET The specialised budget-finance committees of the Romanian Parliament will convene in joint sessions on Saturday and Sunday to draw up the report on the draft state budget for 2017. On Monday, the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies will debate, also in joint session, the bills, and the final voting is to be held on Tuesday. The 2017 draft budget is built on a 5.2% economic growth rate and a deficit of maximum 3% of the GDP. The Government estimates a inflation rate standing under 1.4% and a 4.3% unemployment rate. According to the Finance Minister Viorel Stefan, special attention will be paid, in the coming period, to investments, health-care, education and infrastructure.



    TENNIS The best-rated Romanian tennis player, Simona Halep, no.4 in the WTA rankings, has qualified to the quarterfinals of the Sankt Petersburg tournament in Russia, totalling over 700,000 dollars in prize money. On Friday, Halep will take on Natalia Vikhlyantseva of Russia, who in the second round ousted her better-seeded co-national Daria Kasatkina. Halep is the tournaments no. 1 seed. In the womens doubles, also in the quarter finals, Irina Begu and Monica Niculescu will take on Daria Gavrilova of Australia and Kristina Mladenovic of France.




  • February 2, 2017

    February 2, 2017

    EMERGENCY ORDINANCE — Romania’s president Klaus Iohannis today announced he has notified the Constitutional Court regarding the Government’s emergency ordinance modifying criminal legislation, which creates a legal conflict between the Government, Parliament and the judiciary, thus breaching the Constitution, the president has argued. Klaus Iohannis has also criticized the Interior Ministry for the way it handled last night’s protest, when an isolated group of people resorted to violence. The President claims the Ministry and the riot police had been duly informed regarding the risk of such incidents aimed at compromising the protest. In turn, Interior Minister Carmen Dan said she received no information regarding any intention to instigate violence in last night’s protest. We recall that unprecedented protests were staged in Bucharest and many other cities across the country against the Government’s decision to modify the criminal codes by emergency ordinance. Protesters called on the Government to withdraw the ordinance and step down. Romanians in the Diaspora also protested the Government’s decision. Florin Jianu, Minister for the Business Sector, has stepped down.



    DEBATE ON THE PROTESTS — The recent street protests staged in the wake of the Government’s ordinance modifying the criminal legislation were the subject of a heated debate in the European Parliament today. Romanian MEPs, members of the European People’s Party called for withdrawing the ordinance, while the representatives of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats and the Social-Democratic Party, claimed the protesters were trying to overthrow a legitimate Government. The European Commission has called on the Romanian Government to re-evaluate the ordinance. In turn, the Embassies of France, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Canada and the United States in Bucharest have expressed their deep concern regarding the Government’s actions, which they see as undermining Romania’s progress regarding the rule of law and the fight against corruption in the last ten years.



    REACTION — The Pro Democratia Association, one of the oldest and most respected NGOs in Romania, has expressed concern with respect to the rapid and serious degradation of democracy in Romania, also in connection with the concerted attack of political forces on the fundamental principles of the rule of law and human rights. The systematic campaign against democracy saw its apex with the adoption of a controversial Government emergency ordinance modifying the criminal and criminal procedure codes, which seems to be preventing certain political leaders and their election and financial contributors from facing criminal justice. The Association calls on those responsible to stop all attacks on institutions, organizations and the principles of the rule of law and human rights and the immediate and unrestricted withdrawal of the emergency ordinance criticized by the general public.



    BUDGET FOR 2017 — Romanian MPs can file amendments to the draft laws on the state and social security budgets for 2017, before the report of the Budget and Finance committees can elaborate a final report on the two bills this coming weekend. On Monday, the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies will debate the two laws, and a final vote is scheduled for Tuesday. The draft budget for 2017 is based on an economic growth of 5.2%, and a budget deficit below 3% of the GDP. The Government estimates an inflation rate of 1.4% and an unemployment rate of 4.3%. According to Finance Minister, Viorel Stefan, investment, healthcare, education and infrastructure will be given special importance over the coming period.



    TENNIS — The best-rated Romanian tennis player, Simona Halep, WTA no. 4, has qualified to the quarterfinals of the Sankt Petersburg tournament in Russia, totalling over 700,000 dollars in prize money. On Friday, Halep will play Natalia Vikhlyantseva of Russia, who in the second round ousted her better-seeded co-national, Daria Kasatkina. Halep is the tournament’s no. 1 seed. In the women’s doubles, Irina Begu and Monica Niculescu will take on Daria Gavrilova of Australia and Kristina Mladenovic of France. (Translated by V. Palcu)


  • Pros and Cons of Amending the Criminal Law

    Pros and Cons of Amending the Criminal Law

    Fifty thousand
    people took to the streets on Sunday night in Bucharest alone, and another
    40,000 in cities across the country as well as in Paris and Brussels,
    making this the largest-scale protests
    in Romania since the early 1990s, right after the anti-communist revolution.
    Once again, they demanded that the government appointed by the Social Democrats
    and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in Romania give up the bills on
    collective pardons and decriminalising a number of offences. One of the bills
    grants full pardon for all prison sentences of up to 5 years, while the
    detention period might be reduced by half for prisoners over 60 years of age.
    Moreover, abuse of office may qualify as a criminal offence only if the damages
    exceed the equivalent of 55,000 euros.


    The Social
    Democrat Justice Minister Florin Iordache claims that the changes are needed in
    order to solve the issue of prison overcrowding and to bring the legislation in
    line with certain Constitutional Court rulings. He has mentioned that Romania
    has already been sentenced by the European Court for Human Rights for reported
    inhuman detention conditions. In a statement on Radio Romania, Iordache
    promised that the pardons would not cover sentences for corruption offences or
    for violent crimes.


    But the
    arguments of the Justice Minister and of Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu could
    not convince the protesters. Firm and determined, although decent and peaceful,
    the participants in the rallies, mostly young people, resumed the protests they
    started a week ago, when some 30,000 people took to the streets of Bucharest.
    Together with the mass media, civil society, the right-wing Opposition and
    President Klaus Iohannis himself, people criticise what they see as an attempt
    to clean the criminal records of politicians in the ruling alliance who face
    corruption charges. Their outrage is fuelled by the fact that such amendments
    to the criminal law were not included in the governing programme that won the
    Social Democratic Party the parliamentary elections of December 11.


    The media
    supporting the Power in Bucharest first accused the protesters of attempting a
    coup, and then even ridiculed them, writing that Romanians took to the streets
    to celebrate the Swiss Roger Federer’s win in the Melbourne tennis tournament.
    Analysts however note that the Government’s initiative is opposed by the
    Superior Council of Magistracy, the Public Ministry, the National
    Anti-Corruption Directorate and the Directorate Investigating Organised Crime
    and Terrorism. As one observer put it, all of a sudden, the Social Democratic
    Party is deeply concerned with the fate of prison convicts, although it had
    stated that it wanted to rule in the name of people who are not prison
    convicts.