23 April, 2018

A roundup of the main stories in Romania today.

Newsroom, 23.04.2018, 13:44

Land Forces Day.
Orthodox and Catholic Christians in Romania today celebrate the Feast of St
George, a Christian martyr from the 4th century. A former general in
the Roman army during the time of emperor Diocletian, he was executed by
decapitation in 304 for not renouncing his faith. More than 900,000 people in
Romania are named after this saint. St George is also the patron of the Land
Forces, which account for around 70% of Romania’s armed forces. In a special
message, president Klaus Iohannis said Romania today is a democratic and modern
country that needs a strong army to strengthen its position within NATO and the
European Union, while Euro-Atlantic cooperation must form the basis of European
security and stability. A number of military events are held throughout the
country. An exhibition is opening in Bucharest in which the Land Forces present
their combat technology, weaponry and equipment.

Conference. The
Senate and Chamber of Deputies speakers, Calin Popescu Tariceanu and Liviu
Dragnea, respectively, are attending the Conference of the Speakers of the
European Union Parliaments in Tallinn, Estonia. The conference is attended by
over 40 speakers of national Parliaments and the speaker of the European
Parliament, Antonio Tajani. The topics discussed are the future of the Union
and its security and defence.

Challenge. The
Romanian justice minister Tudorel Toader is today seeing prime minister Viorica
Dancila to agree on a final version of the challenge to the Constitutional
Court on the dismissal of the anti-corruption chief Laura Codruta Kovesi. The
minister says he wants to incorporate into the challenge the arguments used by
president Klaus Iohannis to deny his request to dismiss Kovesi, whom Toader
accuses of serious violation of duty. The president believes the reasons
invoked are unconvincing and do not meet the legal requirements, while the
justice minister, supported by the ruling Social Democratic Party and the
Alliance of Liberals and Democrats, says this refusal creates a conflict
between state’s institutions. Earlier, Toader’s request had received a
unanimously negative opinion by the Superior Council of Magistracy.

Protests.
Railway workers are staging a fresh protest in Bucharest today. They demand the
adoption of a railway worker status ensuring additional salary rights, the
recovery of the freight division of the Romanian Railways Company and
investment in the maintenance and development of the railways network. The
leader of the National Trade Union Bloc Dumitru Costin says a general strike is
the only solution to resolve the demands. Transport minister Lucian Sova says
he supports the promotion of a railway worker status and increasing investment
in the field. 700 speed restrictions are in place in Romania, which has the 7th
longest railway network in Europe, while the railways company’s 1,200 trains
are formed by only 300 carriages.

Health system.
Romania’s prime minister Viorica Dancila is today expected to have talks
with hospital managers to discuss salaries in the healthcare system. Last
Wednesday, Dancila asked the healthcare, labour and finance ministers to
identify the problems in the system by the end of the week, so that solutions
can be found. A series of spontaneous protests have erupted recently in
hospitals following the application of a new pay scheme.

Budget deficit. Romania’s budget deficit stood at 2.9% of
the GDP last year, according to a preliminary estimate published by Eurostat
today. The lowest budget deficit levels were recorded in 2017 in Ireland and
Estonia, both with minus 0.3%, Latvia, with minus 0.5% and Finland, with minus
0.6%. The estimate also indicates that at the end of 2017, Romania had one of
the lowest levels of government debt to GDP ratio in the European Union, at
35%.

Macron-Trump talks. French
president Emmanuel Macron today begins an official visit to the United States
during which he will try to convince the White House leader Donald Trump not to
walk out of the deal with Iran. Trump warned he would pull the US out of the
nuclear agreement unless tougher conditions are imposed on Iran by the 12th
of May. Washington says the agreement with Tehran should also impose
restrictions on the Iranian ballistic missile programme. Talks are also expected
to tackle Washington’s new tariffs on steel and aluminium imports. These mainly
target China, but other exporters can also be affected, such as the European
Union. Washington temporarily excluded the EU from these tariffs, but the
exemption expires on the 1st of May.

Tennis. Romania’s Simona Halep
is still no. 1 in the WTA ranking published on Monday. Six other Romanian
female players are in Top 100. Sorana Cirstea retains the 34th
position, Irina Begu climbed one place to no. 37, Mihaela Buzarnescu climbed to
39, also one position, as did Monica Niculescu, who is in the 63rd
place. Ana Bogdan has kept her 66th ranking. The Race to Singapore
ranking hasn’t seen any major changes, either, with Denmark’s Caroline
Wozniacki still in the no. 1 spot, followed by Halep. On Sunday, Romania’s Fed
Cup team, composed of Halep, Begu, Cirstea and Buzarnescu, defeated Switzerland
3-1 in the World Group I promotion play-offs.