December 6, 2017 UPDATE
Around 100 personalities from all over the world, expected to take part in King Michael's funeral
Newsroom, 06.12.2017, 13:47
KING MICHAEL – Around 100 personalities from all over the world, including heads of state and government and members of royal families, are expected to attend the funeral of Romania’s former king Michael I, who died on Tuesday at his residence in Switzerland, aged 96. King Michael’s body will be flown to Romania on Wednesday, December 13, and placed in the Hall of Honour of the Peles Castle in Sinaia, the Romanian Royal House has announced. On the evening of the same day, the coffin will be brought to Bucharest and placed in the Throne Hall of the Royal Palace, to lie in state until the 15th of December. The King will be buried next Saturday in Curtea de Arges, in the south, where all of Romanias kings are interred. The Bucharest Government declared three days of national mourning on December 14, 15 and 16. On Monday, December 11, Parliament will convene in plenary sitting to pay homage to the former monarch. King Michael of Romania was credited with pre-emptively saving thousands of lives in World War II when, at 22, he had the courage to arrest the pro-Nazi leader, Marshal Ion Antonescu, which took Romania into the war on the side of the Allies. Historians say the monarch’s action might have shortened the war by months, saving tens of thousands of lives. King Michael ruled Romania from 1940 to 1947, when he was forced by the communists to abdicate and flee. Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said that King Michael was one of Romanias greatest figures and his death is a great loss for the country. In his turn, the European Commission President, Jean Claude Junker, conveyed condolences on his behalf and on the behalf of the European Commission saying “I would like to pay tribute to King Michael’s role when, in 1997, he undertook a tour of European capitals to promote Romanias entry into the European Union. Twenty-two years later, his beloved country will, for the first time, in the first half of 2019, hold the presidency of the European Union. This will be an important moment for Romania and an important moment for the future of our Union.”
STATE BUDGET — Romania’s Government approved on Wednesday the 2018 budget bill centred on health, education and investment. According to a Government release, the budget has been built on a 5.5% economic growth, an average inflation rate of 3.1% and a budget deficit of less than 3% of the GDP. The budget bill also provides for the resources needed to increase the net minimum and average salary in the public and private sector and to also increase pensions. One of the objectives for the next year is a 4% decrease in the unemployment rate. Also, 2% of the GDP is earmarked for defence in 2018 as well. Parliament will have the final say on the 2018 budget bill and social security bill.
MOSCOW – President Vladimir Putin, who has been ruling Russia for 18 years, announced on Wednesday that he would seek a new six-year term in March. If he wins what would be a fourth presidential term, he will be eligible to serve another six years until 2024. Opinion polls show him as the clear winner, in the absence of a contender able to win public support. In spite of economic difficulties and tense relations with the West, Vladimir Putin has managed to remain widely popular in his country. His critics, however, say that during his rule the country has regressed in terms of observance of human rights and freedoms.
BUDGET DEFICIT – The Romanian finance minister Ionut Misa has told the EUs Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN) that met on the 4th and 5th December in Brussels that Romania is committed to taking the necessary steps so as not to exceed the recommended 3% budget deficit of the GDP. In a press release published after the meeting, the EU Council said Romania failed to take efficient measures to address a significant budget deviation. The Council thus issued a new recommendation revising its previous one. The Council established the deadline of 15th April 2018 for Bucharest to present a report on the actions taken in response to the revised recommendation. According to the autumn forecast published by the European Commission, the budget deficit is to reach 3% of the GDP in 2017 and is predicted to grow to 3.9% in 2018 and 4.1% in 2019.
HANDBALL – The Romanian womens handball side defeated Spain 19 -17 in a Group A match on Tuesday to secure their qualification for the round of last 16 at the World Championships in Germany. In the other group matches, Slovenia defeated Angola 32-25, while France defeated Paraguay 35-13, thus also making it to the next round. Russia, Germany and Serbia have also qualified. After three wins, Romania, who also defeated Slovenia and Paraguay, top the group with 6 points followed by France, Spain and Slovenia with 4 points each, and Angola and Paraguay with no points. Romania will next face Angola on Thursday and France on Friday before the knock-out round. (Translated by E. Enache)
