August 26, 2019

A roundup of domestic and international news.

Newsroom, 26.08.2019, 14:19

RULING COALITION – The parties making up the ruling coalition, the Social Democratic Party (PSD) and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats (ALDE) are holding separate meetings today after their leaders have met this morning. According to the Social Democrats’ candidate to the presidential seat, PM Viorica Dancila, the intention of the ALDE leader, Calin Popescu Tariceanu to run for president or to support another candidate, might take his party out of the ruling coalition. In another development, an extraordinary parliament session will be held this week, requested by the opposition that should clarify topics such as Emergency Decree 114 that generated increases in taxes and duties or Ordinance 51 related to public transport for students. The opposition also wants the amnesty and pardon law to be rejected. The Social Democrats have criticized the opposition for their move, and reminded that the Emergency Decree 114 provides, among other things, for the increase in pensions starting September 1 and sets a cap on natural gas and electricity prices for household consumers.

DIPLOMACY — Bucharest is hosting for four days the annual meeting of Romanian diplomacy, staged by the Romanian Foreign Ministry. Approached at the meeting will be the future of the EU and its global role, the trans-Atlantic ties, the ties with the eastern neighbors, European affairs, Romania’s political and economic ties with countries in the Asia-Pacific area, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America, humanitarian aid and the contribution to world peace and security. Attending the event are Foreign Minister Ramona Manescu, minister-delegate for European affairs George Ciamba and heads of Romania’s consular and diplomatic missions abroad. The special guests of this year’s meeting are the foreign ministers of Bulgaria and Moldova and the Croatian state secretary for European affairs.

MINISTERS — The proposals for new ministers, decided at Saturday’s National Executive Committee of the Social Democratic Party are to be submitted today by Prime Minister Viorica Dancila to President Klaus Iohannis. The partys secretary general, Mihai Fifor will be heading the Interior Ministry, Ana Birchall will become Deputy Prime Minister for Strategic Partnerships while MP Iulian Iancu will be Deputy Prime Minister in charge of economic affairs. Dana Girbovan is proposed for the Justice Ministry, but the move has been harshly criticized by the opposition who emphasized the fact that Girbovan was a staunch supporter of the justice reforms that had been proposed by PSD and ALDE with the alleged intention to gain control over the magistrates and hinder the anti-graft fight.

ELECTIONS – The Romanian Government’s decisions regarding the presidential election in November enters into force this week. The document includes information and regulations regarding the vote in Romania and abroad. The deadline for the submission of candidacies is September 22. The election campaign will start on October 12. The first round of elections will be held on November 10 and the second one on November 24.

G7 – World leaders are gathered in Biarritz for the annual G7 summit. The summit wrapped up its second day on Sunday, with the leaders of the US, France, Germany, Japan, the UK, Italy and Canada nearing agreement on the fires raging in the Amazon rain forest. French President Emmanuel Macron said leaders had neared agreement on helping fight deliberately lit fires that are raging through Brazils Amazon rain forest. Today, on the last day of the meeting, world leaders will tackle climate change and biodiversity.

VOLEYBALL – The Romanian national women’s volleyball team defeated Estonia 3-1 on Sunday in Budapest, Hungary, in Goup C of the European Championship. This is the second consecutive win of the Romanians, after defeating the host country’s team on Saturday, 3-1. Holland is first in the group, with 6 points in 2 matches, followed by Romania, with 6 points in 3 matches, Croatia, Hungary, Azerbaijan and Estonia. On Tuesday Romania will take on Croatia. (Translated by E. Enache)