December 21, 2024

A roundup of domestic and international news

Newsroom, 21.12.2024, 13:50

Parliament. The two chambers of the Romanian Parliament have gathered in plenary session to validate the mandates of the newly elected MPS, after they were analyzed by the specially constituted commissions. For the Chamber, all the elected members were validated, but for the Senate, four members renounced their seat, so the next four on the list were validated. Also today, the MPs are electing the new leadership structures of the Senate and of the Chamber. A number of 465 parliamentarians, 331 deputies and 134 senators – will be active in the new Legislature. Seven parties have representatives in the two Chambers, four pro-European parties – PSD, PNL, USR, UDMR – and three sovereign parties – AUR, SOS Romania and POT. The 19 national minorities also have representatives in the Parliament.

Negotiations. In Bucharest, the leaders of the pro-European parties, PSD, PNL and UDMR, together with the representatives of the national minorities, resumed today negotiations on the future Government, at the end of which they could establish a joint presidential candidate. The spokesperson for the PSD, Lucian Romaşcanu, has stated that it is premature to talk about an official nomination for prime minister, specifying that this will be done after tomorrow’s consultations with the head of state, Klaus Iohannis. Depending on the evolution of the discussions in the coalition, the Liberals will determine the mandate with which they will go to the consultations. Liberal sources also said that the structure of the Government would have been established at the coalition meeting on Friday, except for who will lead the new Executive. There will be 16 ministries, five of which run by the PNL. On Monday, an accelerated procedure would begin in the Parliament, with hearings in the specialized commissions and the vote to invest the future cabinet.

Commemoration. A ceremony commemorating the freedom fighters who died during the anti-communist Revolution of December 1989 took place in Bucharest today. The demonstrations dedicated to the Revolution will continue, in the capital, this weekend, with several religious and military ceremonies held at the monuments to the heroes of December ’89. December 21, 1989 is considered the first day of the anti-communist revolution in Bucharest, after the failed rally called by the dictator Nicolae Ceauşescu, followed by the erection of barricades in the city center and the bloody repression of the anti-communist demonstrators. Ceauşescu’s speech, full of promises and in which the achievements of communism were evoked, was interrupted by the booing of the participants. The rally, broadcast on radio and television, ended earlier. In the evening, groups of demonstrators gathered, and the repression forces opened fire on them, killing and wounding many of them. Many protesters were arrested. Initiated a week before, in Timişoara (west) and spreading to other large cities, the Revolution culminated in Bucharest, on December 22, with Ceausescu’s attempt to flee the headquarters of the central committee of the communit party. Captured and tried summarily, Ceausescu and his wife, Elena, were executed on December 25. Romania was the only communist country in Europe where the regime change was done with bloodshed. Over a thousand people were killed in the December 1989 anti-Communist revolution.

Solidarity. Romanian President Klaus Iohannis has expressed his dismay at the terrorist attack in Magdeburg, stating that Romania stands in solidarity with the German people in these difficult moments. The Romanian Government has also voiced its solidarity with the German people, friend and ally. The Bucharest government sent its condolences to the families of the victims of the tragic attack in the German city of Magdeburg and hopes for a speedy recovery of those injured. Four people died and dozens were injured, many in critical condition, after a man drove a car into the crowd at the Christmas market in Magdeburg. The suspect has already been arrested. He is a doctor originally from Saudi Arabia, but who has permanent residency in Germany, where he has lived since 2006. Authorities say it was a terrorist attack, but have not disclosed the motivation of the attacker, who is believed to have acted alone. He had not been listed as an Islamist in the law enforcement records.

Education. Romania has received the formal approval of the OECD in the field of educational policies, a step that confirms the end of the evaluation process and the alignment of national policies with the standards promoted by the organization in the field of education and skills, the relevant ministry announced today. The following priority actions were considered: the quality of programs and results, opportunities and equal access to education, as well as governance strengthening. The OECD has thus completed the evaluation of the country in the field of education and training and encourages the adoption by Romania of some future actions to strengthen school leadership, the development of dual education, continuous training, access to quality education and training in rural communities, the recognition of previous learning non-formal and informal, financing or governance. (MI)