3 November, 2024
A roundup of local and international news.
Newsroom, 03.11.2024, 13:41
Moldova elections. Neighbouring Moldova is holding the second round run-off of the presidential elections. Incumbent pro-European president Maia Sandu is running against Alexandr Stoianoglo, a former prosecutor general supported by the pro-Russian Party of Socialists. According to the latest opinion poll published before the ballot, Maia Sandu is favourite to win a second term. The first round was held on 20th October, on the same day as a referendum on the country’s accession to the European Union. Maia Sandu won 42.49% in the first round, and Stoianoglo 25.95%. The Constitutional Court validated the referendum on Moldova’s accession to the EU, which won the votes of 50.38% of voters. The Moldovan elections are taking place against the background of a tense election campaign that has seen unprecedented interference with the election process from Russia and attempts to corrupt voters through a Russian bank subject to western sanctions. The Republic of Moldova officially submitted its bid to join the European Union in March 2022 and was awarded EU-candidate country status in June that year, and on 25th June this year, the EU opened accession talks with this former Soviet republic with a majority Romanian-speaking population.
Moldova voting. Romanian foreign minister Luminiţa Odobescu, speaking to Radio Romania, emphasised the importance of the presidential elections in the Republic of Moldova, both for Moldovan voters and in order for Bucharest to have a trusted partner in dialogue. She went on to say that Moldovan citizens must vote not only with their hearts, but also with their minds, for a better future and to bring their country into the European Union, where it belongs. Of the 1,957 polling stations in Moldova, 306 are in the capital Chişinău and 30 in the break-away region of Transnistria. Moldovan citizens living in Romania can vote at one of the 16 polling stations set up here, namely three in Bucharest, two each in Cluj-Napoca and Iaşi and one each in Braşov, Sibiu, Timişoara, Craiova, Oradea, Suceava, Bacău, Galaţi and Constanţa. Moldovan citizens can vote based on their Moldovan passports or ID cards. Of the 234 polling stations abroad, 60 are in Italy, 26 in Germany, 20 in France and 17 in the UK, as well as 2 in Russia. Voting is monitored by Moldovan and international observers. It’s the 5th time Moldova is holding presidential elections since it won its independence from the Soviet Union, but for almost 20 years the president was elected by Parliament.
Floods. Seven Romanian nationals of the 16 previously reported missing in the floods in Spain are safe, said the foreign ministry in Bucharest. Through the Romanian embassy in Madrid and the Romanian consulate in Castellon de la Plana, the ministry is verifying information about the other 9 Romanian citizens who are missing in the wake of the recent floods. The Romanian diplomats in Spain are monitoring the latest developments closely and are in permanent contact with the Spanish authorities and with the Romanian citizens who reported the missing cases and are ready to provide consular assistance where needed. Spain’s prime minister Pedro Sánchez has requested assistance from the European Union to help the country recover from what he described as “the gravest floods our continent has seen this century”. He said thousands of military will help clear the roads and distribute aid. So far, the floods have caused the death of 213 people, including a Romanian national, and dozens are still missing. The Spanish media also reported on a Romanian family killed in the floods in La Torre, near Valencia.
Beginning on Monday, the European Parliament is holding the hearings of commissioners-designate for Ursula von der Leyen’s future Commission. MEPs will assess their competence, independence and commitment to European values. According to the timetable published by the European Parliament, the hearings will end on 12th November, when the 6 nominees for the post of executive vice-president of the Commission will be interviewed. This includes Romania’s Roxana Mînzatu, who is designated to be in charge of people, skills and preparedness. The entire European Commission must receive the confirmation of the European Parliament, with the vote being scheduled for the plenary session to be held between the 25th and the 28th November in Strasbourg. After being confirmed by Parliament, the Commission must be officially appointed by the EU Council, with a qualified majority, namely 55% of member states, accounting for at least 65% of EU’s population.
