December 20, 2015
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Newsroom, 20.12.2015, 12:00
The city of Timisoara in Western Romania today celebrates Victory Day marking the events 26 years ago when it became Romanias first city free of communism. After four days of protests, starting December 16th, which left scores of dead and wounded, the army joined the population and the protesters laid the foundations of the first democratic political platform. Sparked off by protests put up by the people in Timisoara against the abusive measures of the local authorities, the Revolution rapidly extended to all Romanian cities and climaxed in the ousting of dictator Nicolae Ceausescu. Over 1,000 people died and nearly 3,400 were wounded between December 16th and 25th 1989. Romania was the only country in the former Soviet bloc with a violent overthrow of the government and where the communist leaders were executed. Parliament in Romania is to convene on December 21st for a solemn session to mark 26 years since the revolts of 1989.
Over 36 million Spaniards are expected to the polls today to vote for a new Parliament. According to Radio Romania correspondent, the poll comes after four years of conservative rule, which promoted severe budget cuts and when high unemployment rates were registered as well as reforms in the labour market, education and healthcare. The ruling right wing remains the main favourite in the election in spite of its unpopular austerity measures. 350 deputies and 208 senators will be making the new legislature in Madrid, which, according to the polls, will also include new parties with very young leaders such as the liberal Ciudadanos or the left-wing Podemos, which stemmed out of the ‘Indignants Movement. For this reason it is estimated that none of the traditional parties, be they popular or socialist, will get majority to form a government on their own.
The Romanian womens national handball side will today be playing Poland in a match for the third position of the World Championship in Denmark. The Romanians lost in the semis on Friday to defending Olympic and European champions Norway. The finals will be pitching today Norway against the Netherlands, this tournaments revelation. We recall that Romania came tenth in the World Championship in Serbia in 2013 but it is the only team to have participated in all World Championships since 1957. Our athletes won a gold medal in 1962 and two silver, in 1973 and 2005 respectively.
Central and East-European countries, which do not accept refugees under the blocs quota programme could be facing sanctions, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said in an interview to German weekly magazine Der Spiegel. Romania, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary have voted against the relocation plan of 160 thousand migrants, but the scheme eventually got approved. After the November attacks in Paris, Poland said it would not accept more refugees. During the winter European Council in Brussels, Romanian Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos reiterated Romanias solidarity with the EU in the migration file, but said that Bucharest has conditions, such as strengthening the communitys capability of monitoring migrant inflows and assuring a functional Schengen zone. Over 990 thousand migrants have entered Europe since the beginning of 2015.
Romanian president Klaus Iohannis is leading in an INSCOP ranking on trusting public figures in Romania. He is followed by National Bank governor, Mugur Isarescu and Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos. According to the poll, 60% of the Romanians say they trust their president, while the Central Bank governor comes next with slightly over 40% and Prime Minister Ciolos with 32%. 30% of the interviewees has expressed trust in Romanias ambassador in the USA George Maior, while Mihai Razvan-Ungureanu, head of the Romanian Intelligence Service comes next with 22%. The poll was conducted between November 26th and December 2nd.
