15 November, 2016

Romanian president challenges radio fee cut; Romanian economy grows 4.4% in 3rd quarter

Newsroom, 15.11.2016, 11:59

President Klaus Iohannis filed a motion in Constitutional Court in Romania to declare unconstitutional the law introduced by Social Democrats that slashes 102 non-fiscal taxes, among them the public radio and TV fees. The head of state claims that the law violates separation of powers and legal principles governing the relationship between Parliament and the government, the role of the government, and the national budget. In a debate on the impact of the elimination of the public radio and TV fees, the president emphasized that the fees paid by citizens for public radio and television are a guarantee of public service. Klaus Iohannis criticized the way in which the bill was rushed through, and the fact that there was no public debate regarding this issue. He specified that he received requests to block the law from international bodies. The sponsor of the law, the head of the Social Democratic Party, Liviu Dragnea, said that the funding of the two institutions would not be affected, and that their management has to be depoliticized, ensuring editorial independence.

The Romanian economy has grown in the third quarter of this year by 4.4% as compared to the same period in 2015, and by 0.6% as compared to the previous quarter, according to the National Institute of Statistics (NIS). The data indicates a significant slowdown of economic growth as compared to the second quarter, when Romanias GDP went up 6% compared to the same period last year. The IMF expects the total economic growth for 2016 to be 5%, and the latest forecasts by the European Commission shows that the growth in the real GDP in Romania is among the fastest in Europe, by 5.2% in 2016, 3.9% in 2017, and 3.6% in 2018. The Commission, however, reiterated its warning on Romania going above the 3% deficit threshold due to tax cuts and increased public wage spending.

Romanian Foreign Minister Lazar Comanescu pleaded for continued reforms to be carried out by the neighboring Republic of Moldova, while taking part in the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels, saying that the EU should continue its engagement with the authorities in Chisinau. His statements come after Sundays presidential elections in the ex-Soviet republic, won by pro-Russian Socialist Igor Dodon. The opposing candidate, pro-European Maia Sandu, said that elections were badly run. Thousands took to the streets in Chisinau to protest, claiming the elections had been rigged. Stay tuned for more after the news.

In Romania, the head of the Permanent Election Authority, Ana Maria Patru, is under investigation by the Anti-Corruption Directorate for money laundering and influence peddling. She has been the head of the Authority since 2012. For two years, between 2005 and 2007, she acted as coordinating director of the Southern Regional Branch of the Permanent Election Authority. Since October 2013 she has been the vice-president of the world association of election bodies.

Former star athletes Gabriela Szabó and Mihai Covaliu run today for president of the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee. Szabó, multiple Olympic, world and European champion in track, was appointed in 2013 ambassador of Romanian tourism, and one year later she came to head the Ministry of Youth and Sports. Her opponent, Mihai Covaliu, is Olympic and world champion in fencing, coaches the Romanian national mens saber team, and is head of the Romanian Fencing Federation. In Rio at the Olympics, Romanias womens epee team won the only gold medal for the country.

US President Barack Obama went on his last foreign tour before ending his term. He will be visiting Greece, Germany and Peru, where he will be taking part in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit. According to Radio Romanias correspondent in Washington, Obama will try to reassure European allies of the future of NATO, as president elect Donald Trump has them worried. In his first post-election press conference, Obama warned Trump that it will be hard to pull out of agreements such as the Paris climate accord and the nuclear deal with Iran, or take rash action against illegal immigration.

Romania’s national football team in Grozny today takes on Russia, in a friendly game ahead of the World Football Championship in 2018. We recall that after the dismantling of the Soviet Union in 1991, Romania had taken on Russia only once, in 2008, when our national squad grabbed a 3-nil win. This past Friday on home turf, Romania sustained a 3-nil defeat against Poland, and diminished its chances to go through to the World Championship in 2018. With only 5 points on its record sheet, Romania is 4th-placed in preliminary Group E, where Poland is at the top of the table with 10 points, Montenegro is the runner-up team with 7, while Denmark is 3rd placed, with 6 points. Romania’s next scheduled fixture will be played in March, when the national squad takes on Denmark.