April 13, 2016

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România Internațional, 13.04.2016, 12:00

CONSULTATIONS — Romania’s president, Klaus Iohannis continues his consultations with the parliamentary parties on the national security laws. Today, president Iohannis has talks with representatives of the National Party for the Progress of Romania, ALDE and those of the national minorities. On Tuesday, the Romanian president met representatives of the Social-Democratic Party, the National Liberal Party and the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania. The Social-Democrats stated their readiness to participated in drafting the package of national security laws. The leader of the Social-Democratic Party, Liviu Dragnea proposed the establishment of a think tank including two members of each party and representatives of relevant institutions in the field. The Liberals agreed to join the think tank to be set up by Parliament and advocated the need for a stronger parliamentary control of secret services in Romania. In turn, the leader of the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania, Kelemen Hunor stood for the control of the secret services to be rethought.

IMF — Washington hosts the annual spring meeting of the IMF and the World Bank, rallying thousands of government officials, NGOs, academics and representatives of the private sector. IMF director general, Christine Lagarde said that the countries were recovering from the crisis, but the recovery was slow, too fragile and there were increasing risks related to the stability of that trend. On the other hand, the IMF has revised upward its estimates on the Romanian economic growth rate this year, from 3.9% to 4.2%, according to the report made public by the IMF. The IMF warns that Romania’s economic upsurge this year will be followed by a drop down to 3.6% next year, which however, will be one of the highest growth rates in Europe.

DEBT DISCHARGE LAW — The Chamber of Deputies of Romania’s Parliament, which is the decision-maker, has today voted on the debt discharge law article by article. It will cast its final vote today as well. The law was submitted again to Parliament for debate and approval by the head of state. The law refers only to loans which did not exceed 250,000 euros when they were given. Furthermore, people who contracted a loan in order to buy or have a dwelling built and those who guaranteed a loan by a dwelling can make use of the debt discharge law. On the other hand, people who are already subject to forced execution can also benefit from that law. Bank representatives said recently that a long series of trial would probably take place and the debt discharge law would be challenged for each client.

INVENTIONS — 40 countries are attending the international exhibition of inventions in Geneva lasting over April 12th-17th. Romania is present with 30 inventions at the 44th exhibition. Tomorrow, the Romanian stand will host the second Romanian-Swiss business forum and on Friday, a round table-discussion involving the Romanian participants will be held. Last year, the Romanian inventors won 28 medals, of which 18 were gold and 7 silver.

DAKINO — The 25th DaKINO International Film Festival is under way in Bucharest between April 12th and 17th. The festival starts with the screening for the first in Romania of the film Room directed by Lenni Abrahamson, starring Brie Larson and Jacob Tremblay. The film got three nominations to the Oscar awards and Brie Larson, won the 2016 Oscar for best actress in a leading role, the Golden Globe and BAFTA awards. Bucharest is also the venue for the Cinepolitica International Film Festival. The films to be screened include The Fool directed by Yuriy Bykov and The White Knights directed by Joachim Lafosse.

DRUG TESTS— Romanian biathlonist Eva Tofalvi tested positive for meldonium at a drug test in Oslo in March, the International Biathlon Union has announced. She participated in five winter Olympic Games, as well as in European and World Biathlon Championships. Her greatest performance is victory at the World Cup in 2008. Eva Tofalvi is the second Romanian athlete who tested positive for meldonium after athlete Mirela Lavric tested positive at the World Indoor Championships in Portland in March, where she had won the bronze medal with the 4×400 m relay team. Mirela Lavric is one of the most talented Romanian athletes in the last ten years, having won medals at under 21 competitions. Meldonium has been on the World Anti-Doping Agency list of substances banned from use by athletes since January 1st.

(Translated by A.M. Palcu)