November 30, 2024 UPDATE
A roundup of domestic and international news
Newsroom, 30.11.2024, 19:00
National Day. On December 1, Romanians celebrate the National Day and 106 years since all the provinces with predominantly Romanian-speaking populations came under the authority of Bucharest. The rehearsal for the military parade dedicated to the National Day took place in Bucharest on Saturday. On Sunday, approximately 2,500 army soldiers and specialists from other force institutions will parade, along with approximately 190 technical means and 45 aircraft. The Romanian soldiers will be joined by 240 foreign soldiers from allied and partner countries. A rehearsal was also organized in Alba Iulia, the city where the great union took place. Wreath laying ceremonies and outdoor concerts and events, began on Saturday.
Celebration. Receptions dedicated to Romania’s National Days took place, on Saturday, in several Romanian embassies and diplomatic missions. In Italy, the celebration coincides with the 145th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two states, and the double event was marked by a gala concert, hosted by the Venice Opera. In the capital of Spain, hundreds of representatives of the central and regional authorities, of the cultural world and of the Romanian communities took part in the reception organized by the Romanian Embassy. In Australia, the Romanian tricolor was projected on emblematic buildings in several cities.
Elections. More than 18 million Romanian voters are called to the polls, on Sunday, on Romania’s National Day, to elect the future Parliament. In the diaspora, voting takes place over two days, Saturday and Sunday, in the record 950 polling stations set up abroad. Most people have voted in the countries with the largest communities of Romanians: Italy, Germany, Spain and France. Almost 7,000 people registered to exercise their right to vote by mail.
CCR. The Constitutional Court of Romania postponed until December 2 the debates regarding the annulment of the first round of the presidential elections, requested by one of the candidates. On Thursday, the CCR requested the recount of all ballots from the first round, and is now waiting for the completion of this process. The independent candidate who came in first after the first round, Călin Georgescu, considered almost unanimously a pro-Russian extremist, criticized the CCR decision and accused the governing parties, PNL and PSD, of using state institutions for personal interests. The president of the Save Romania Union (center-right), Elena Lasconi, who came in second after the first round, also accused the Constitutional Court of playing with national security. Prime Minister and Social-Democratic leader Marcel Ciolacu, ranked third after the first round, has stated that he does not want to be a candidate after the recount of votes and will withdraw from the presidential race even if it is found that he is in second place. The interim president of the National Liberal Party (PNL), Ilie Bolojan, has said that the Court’s decision will increase tension in society, raise uncertainty and decrease trust in state institutions. The Central Electoral Bureau has set December 1 as the deadline for completing the vote recount. The process could, however, be prolonged. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has informed that the ballots from abroad are being shipped to Bucharest for recount.
St. Andrew. On Saturday, Christians celebrated Saint Andrew the Apostle, the Spiritual Protector of Romania. According to tradition, Saint Andrew is the only apostle who arrived on the territory of the country, in Dobrogea, where he founded the first Christian communities. Saint Andrew is one of the 12 apostles of Jesus Christ. He was born in Bethsaida, in Galilee. He died as a martyr in the city of Patras in Greece, crucified on an X-shaped cross. Since 2001, Saint Andrew’s Day has been a national church holiday. Approximately 970 thousand Romanians celebrated their name day on November 30.
Handball. The Romanian national handball team plays, on Sunday, in Debrecen, Hungary, against the team from Montenegro, at the European Women’s Handball Championship. The tricolors are part of group B, along with the Czech Republic, Montenegro and Serbia. On Tuesday, the Romanian team will take on Serbia. On Friday, the Romanian national handball team defeated the Czech team with a score of 29-28, also in Debrecen, in its debut match. This is the first continental final tournament with 24 teams at the start. (MI)
