August 1, 2019 UPDATE
A roundup of domestic and international news
Newsroom, 01.08.2019, 19:47
CARACAL INVESTIGATION
– The Prosecutors’ Office attached to the Superior Council of Magistracy on
Thursday decided to suspend Prosecutor Cristian Ovidiu Popescu in Caracal,
southern Romania, who did not allow the police to enter the house of Gheorghe
Dinca, suspected of kidnapping two teenagers, before 6 a.m. on Friday. The Judicial
Inspection has started a disciplinary investigation and proposed the suspension
of the said prosecutor, until the procedure has been completed. The Caracal
case has revealed serious flaws in the activity of some employees in the public
sector. One of the girls, kidnapped on Wednesday, on Thursday managed to call
112, the public emergency number managed by the Special Telecommunications
Service (STS). The Service could not establish the girl’s exact location, and
the chief operator, and then the police officer that talked to the girl, were
not able to manage the situation with professionalism. Moreover, the Service
indicated three wrong addresses, and the police needed 19 hours to get into the
suspect’s house. This string of mistakes led to dismissals and resignations.
The Interior Minister Nicolae Moga and the head of the Special
Telecommunications Service Ionel Vasilca resigned, and the head of the Romanian
Police was sacked, alongside other local chiefs and the prefect of Olt County.
In the meantime, investigations into this case, which has shocked Romania,
continue and, given its complexity, is to be taken over by the prosecutors of
the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism. So, far the
investigation has been headed by the anti-mob prosecutors in Craiova. No
evidence attesting the death of the two girls has been found yet. Despite the
suspect claiming that he killed the girls, they might still be alive. The Chief
Prosecutor of the Directorate, Felix Banila, has stated that investigators
cannot fully rely on the suspect’s statement, as he became rather confused
during interrogation. Gheorghe Dinca is to undergo a psychiatric evaluation and
he will also be tested with a lie detector. In parallel, the interim Interior
Minister Mihai Fifor has stated that the management of the emergency number 112
will be transferred from the Special Telecommunications Service to the Interior
Ministry, in order to avoid wasting time transferring the calls to the police,
ambulance or the fire department.
ADJUSTMENT – The
budget adjustment will not result in salary slashes, Prime Minister Viorica
Dancila posted on a social network. The Romanian official said the impact of
every measure was estimated while taking into account Romanian citizens.
Previously, the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats, the Social-Democrats junior
ruling coalition partners, said it opposed the adjustment. Vice-President
Varujan Vosganian said the budget cuts for major ministries and budget
increases for intelligence services are unacceptable. The Government will
publish the adjustment bill that will be adopted on August 5. The adjustment is
negative, with a deficit of 4.2 billion euros, accounting for 1.94% of the GDP.
The Transport, Education and Healthcare Ministries will see budget slashes,
while the Presidency, the Romanian Intelligence Service, the Foreign
Intelligence Service, and the Guard and Protection Service will get additional
funds.
UNEMPLOYMENT -
Romania is below the European average with regard to unemployment, with a 4%
rate, 0.2% lower than last year. According to Eurostat, the rate of
unemployment in the EU dropped to 6.3% in June, the lowest level recorded in
the past 19 years. Among the member states, the highest rates were reported in
June in Greece, Spain and Italy. The Check Republic and Germany stand at the
opposite pole.
UNTOLD – More
than 200 artists will perform on 10 stages at UNTOLD, the biggest electronic
music festival in Romania, hosted by the city of Cluj between the 1st
and the 4th of August. One of the biggest stages in Europe was
placed inside the Cluj Arena stadium. It is 90 m wide and 30 m tall, with LED
screens over an area of 1,500 square meters and 1,000 light spots. One of the
most expected guests is Robbie Williams, who will perform on Sunday. Special
performances will also be given by Armin van Buuren, David Guetta and 3 Are
legend. The organizers are expecting some 350,000 people from 100 countries.
More on this after the news.
GAUDEAMUS – The
Black Sea Resort of Mamaia is hosting the 11th Gaudeamus Black Seacoast
Book Fair, organized by Radio Romania. For five days, visitors have the
opportunity to buy discount books, to attend special events, book launches and
presentations, as well as various performances, recitals and dance shows. The
fair is open every day from 3 p.m. until 11 p.m. and entrance is free of
charge.
TENNIS – The
Romanian tennis player Simona Halep will participate in the first edition of
the Zhengzhou Open, introduced this year in the WTA calendar. Also
participating will be Karolina Pliskova, of the Czeck Republic ( 3 WTA), Kiki
Bertens of the Netherlands ( 5 WTA), Elina Svitolina of Ukraine ( 7
WTA)and Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus ( 10
WTA). The competition will be held over September 9 – 15. Simona Halep, who is
now no.4 in the WTA rankings, was number one two times between 2017 and 2019,
for 64 weeks. Besides the Wimbledon trophy she’s won this year, she also won
another Grand Slam trophy last year, at Roland Garros.
(Translated by M. Ignatescu & V. Palcu)
