December 14, 2016
For a roundup of domestic and international news, click here.
Newsroom, 14.12.2016, 12:00
CONSULTATIONS – Romanias president Klaus Iohannis is today holding consultations with political parties that entered Parliament after the elections of December 11, with a view to agree on the future Government. The Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats from Romania, currently owning majority, have turned down the invitation. The leaders of the two parties explained there were irregularities in the legal basis of the invitation. Their refusal has been labeled as an “impolite attitude by the president. Klaus Iohannis will meet representatives of the National Liberal Party, Save Romania Union, Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians from Romania, the Peoples Movement Party and the group of national minorities. Iohannis pointed out that if the final results of the elections are made public by the end of the week, he might be able to summon the new Parliament over the course of next week. The Social Democratic Party has won Sundays parliamentary elections by a large margin, with over 46% of the vote, followed by the National Liberal Party with 20%, Save Romania Union, the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats, the Peoples Movement Party and the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians.
CONSTITUTIONAL COURT – The Constitutional Court of Romania today ruled against the notifications filed by the Government and the National Liberal Party referring to the law amending the ordinance on the salaries of public sector employees, providing for an average 15% increase of salaries of employees in the education and healthcare sectors. In its notification, the Government pointed out that the law breached three articles in the Constitution on the separation of powers in the state, and that no budget expense can be approved without a source of funding. Also today the Court postponed ruling on a notification filed by president Klaus Iohannis on the law eliminating 102 non-fiscal taxes, initiated by Social-Democrat leader Liviu Dragnea. The president says eliminating these taxes could affect the survival of some public institutions and would have too large an impact on the budget.
ROMANIA AND NATO – Romania will consolidate its defense against Russia boosting its military presence in the Black Sea Region, Defense Minister Mihnea Motoc told Associated Press on Tuesday. The Romanian official said Romania will start earmarking 2% of its GDP to defense starting 2017, a prerequisite NATO has demanded of all its member states. Amidst escalating tensions between Moscow and the West after the illegal annexation of the Crimean Peninsula by Russia, NATO last year set up a NATO Force Integration Unit in Bucharest and activated the NATO Multinational Division South-East. The measures were part of NATOs action plan to increase its operational capabilities, adopted at the NATO Summit of 2014 in Wales.
TURKEY – The European Union has currently no intention of opening new chapters of negotiation for Turkeys EU accession. The announcement was made on Tuesday by the Slovakian presidency of the European Council, ensuing a ministerial meeting in Brussels, where Romania was represented by State Secretary for European Affairs Cristian Badescu. Despite long talks on the matter, a unanimous decision of the 28 member states could not be reached, due to opposition from Austria. The General Affairs Council addressed the anti-democratic interventions in Turkey after the failed coup of July.
SYRIA – The last of the rebels strongholds in Aleppo will be overrun within two-three days, after over four years of conflict in Syria, the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said today. Also today, the Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu accused the Syrian regime and the military of trying to prevent the implementation of the ceasefire allowing civilians and rebels to evacuate eastern Aleppo. The Syrian Observer for Human Rights reports that the Syrian regime has resumed bombing rebels in Aleppo after a several-hour break.
HANDBALL – The Romanian womens handball team is today playing Denmark in a match the will decide the teams that will perform in the semi-finals of the European Championship in Sweden. To advance to the next phase, Romania needs at least a draw, while Denmark has to win. Norway tops the second main group, with eight points, followed by Romania with six and Denmark with five. On Tuesday, Romania defeated the Czech Republic narrowly 30-28, while Russia drew against Denmark 26-all. The defending European champions Norway defeated Hungary narrowly 24-23 and have secured their presence in the semi-finals. Romania is coached by Ambros Martin of Spain, who last month replaced Tomas Ryde of Sweden, with whom our team won bronze at the 2015 World Championships in Denmark.
(Translated by V. Palcu)
