April 19, 2019
Romanian president to decide on cabinet reshuffle; Constitutional Court delays ruling in judicial conflict case
Corina Cristea, 19.04.2019, 14:15
PRESIDENCY – Romanian President Klaus Iohannis will announce early next week his decision regarding appointing three new ministers, including the minister of justice. Social Democrat PM Dancila sent the head of state for signing the resignations of two members of her cabinet. They are the Minister for European Funds, Rovana Plumb, and the Minister for Romanians Everywhere, Natalia Intotero. They are running for seats in the European Parliament in May. Their proposed replacements are Oana Florea, MP, and Senator Tit Liviu Brailoiu respectively. The replacement proposed by the MP for Minister of Justice is Eugen Nicolicea, in order to replace Tudorel Toader. The latter lost support from his Social Democratic Party after controversies related to proposed changes to the Criminal Code. The President has 45 days to sign the order to revoke Toader, after he announced his decision to resign on Thursday night.
CONSTITUTIONAL COURT – In Bucharest, the Constitutional court postponed until May 20 the decision of ruling on a possible judicial conflict between Parliament and the High Court of Cassation and Justice in the panels prosecuting corruption cases. This is the third time when the court delays a decision in this case. The motion was filed by the deputy speaker of the Chamber of Deputies while he was delegate speaker. On April 10, Iordache claimed that the High Court of Cassation and Justice refused to put together panels specialized in prosecuting cases of corruption, which he claimed were obligatory. Head justice with the highest court Cristina Tarcea said that Iordache filed the motion in violation of the will of the court, and that constitutional attributions cannot be delegated.
TENNIS – Romania’s tennis team will be up against France this weekend in an away contest for a place in the Fed Cup finals. The semis matches are to take place on Saturday and Sunday in Rouen. The Romanian side includes Simona Halep, the world’s second tennis player, Mihaela Buzarnescu, Irina Begu, Monica Niculescu and Raluca Olaru. They will be playing French challengers Caroline Garcia, Pauline Parmentier, Alize Cornet, Kristina Mladenovic and Fiona Ferro. This would be Romania’s second participation in a Fed Cup after 46 years. France’s performances are superior in this competition, as they reaped the trophy twice, in 1997 and 2003 ending up finalists in 2004, 2005 and 2016. If Romania beats France, they will be playing the winner of Australia versus Belarus in the finals in November.
MILITARY — The Romanian Drill Team with the Michael the Brave 30th Guard Brigade takes part in the Virginia International Tattoo NATO Festival, the Romanian Defense Ministry informs. The Romanian servicemen are there for the first time, joining detachments from Australia, Canada, Switzerland, France, Jordan, the UK and the US. The festival is focused on women in the military, and the Romanian unit is one of the few to enlist women. The festival also celebrates NATOs 70th anniversary.
CHISINAU — Moldovan PM Pavel Filip held talks with Romanian Ambassador to Moldova Daniel Ionita about major bilateral projects. Among them are the Ungheni-Chisinau gas pipeline, connecting power grids, developing infrastructure, and eliminating roaming charges for mobile networks between the two countries. Experts believe that these projects are hindered by political decisions made in Moldova, and because of the political tensions in the region.
