April 23, 2018 UPDATE
Health Minister Sorina Pintea promises that Government will come up with solutions to problems regarding salaries in the healthcare system.
Newsroom, 23.04.2018, 18:54
HEALTHCARE – Romanias Prime Minister Viorica Dancila said on Monday that the Government would come up with concrete solutions to the problems regarding salaries in the healthcare system. PM Dancila, Health Minister Sorina Pintea, Labour Minister Lia Olguta Vasilescu and Finance Minister Eugen Teodorovici have discussed with hospital managers given the spontaneous protests that erupted recently in hospitals following the application of a new pay scheme. Also on Monday, the National Liberal Party, in opposition, tabled a simple motion against Minister Pintea, blamed for the crisis in the healthcare system.
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. Also, the committees on security and defence with Moldova’s Parliament and Romania’s Chamber of Deputies signed on Monday in Chisinau a collaboration accord and launched the idea of a trilateral with the expert committee of Ukraine’s Parliament.
MEETING — Romanian Justice Minister Tudorel Toader met on Monday in Bucharest with his Croatian counterpart Drazen Bosnjakovic. According to a release by the Romanian Justice Ministry, the procedure of appointing judges and prosecutors, their professional training and the modern IT solutions used in the legal system were among the topics discussed by the two officials. Also tackled were the preparations for Romania’s taking over the EU Council presidency in the first six months of 2019.
CHALLENGE – The Romanian justice minister Tudorel Toader on Monday announced that Prime Minister Viorica Dancila signed the challenge to the Constitutional Court regarding a legal conflict with President Klaus Iohannis on the dismissal of the anti-corruption chief Laura Codruta Kovesi. Minister Toader said previously he wanted 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 states institutions. Earlier, Toaders request had received a unanimously negative opinion by the Superior Council of Magistracy.
PROTESTS – Railway workers staged a fresh protest in Bucharest on Monday. They demanded 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 companys 1,200 trains are formed by only 300 carriages.
LAND FORCES DAY – Orthodox and Catholic Christians in Romania on Monday celebrated 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 Romanias 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 were held throughout the country. An exhibition opened in Bucharest in which the Land Forces present their combat technology, weaponry and equipment.
DEFICIT- Romanias budget deficit stood at 2.9% of the GDP last year, according to a preliminary estimate published by Eurostat on Monday. 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%.
TENNIS – Romanias 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 hasnt seen any major changes, either, with Denmarks Caroline Wozniacki still in the no. 1 spot, followed by Halep. On Sunday, Romanias Fed Cup team, composed of Halep, Begu, Cirstea and Buzarnescu, defeated Switzerland 3-1 in the World Group I promotion play-offs. (Translated by Elena Enache)
