February 20, 2018 UPDATE

The High Court of Cassation and Justice started trying the case concerning the June 1990 miners riots, in which ex-president Ion Iliescu and former PM Petre Roman are charged with crimes against humanity.

Newsroom, 20.02.2018, 19:58

VISIT — Romania’s Prime Minister Viorica Dăncilă, on Tuesday, after a meeting in Brussels with the president of the European Parliament, Antonio Tajani, said that they discussed about Romania taking over the presidency of the EU Council in 2019. Strengthening the relations between Bucharest and Brussels is essential, PM Dăncilă said, both in the context of Romania taking over the presidency of the EU Council and for the country’s involvement in the most important projects on the European agenda. In his turn, Antonio Tajani called on the Bucharest Government to continue the fight against corruption and further consolidate the rule of law. This is PM Dancila’s first official visit to Brussels in this capacity. Also on Tuesday, the Romanian official had meetings with the head of the European Council, Donald Tusk and with the European Commissioner for regional policy, Corina Creţu. On Wednesday she will have a meeting with the president of the European Commission, Jean Claude Junker.

MOTION — The Romanian Chamber of Deputies on Wednesday is voting on a simple motion against the Social Democrat Labour Minister Lia Olguta Vasilescu, tabled by the National Liberal Party, in the opposition. During the debates on Monday the Liberals asked for the Minister’s resignation over the fact that the transfer of social security contributions from employers to employees, starting January 1st, has resulted in pay cuts for a significant number of employees in Romania. The signatories of the simple motion also said that through the laws that she endorsed, Lia Olguta Vasilescu has created chaos in the public and private sector alike. In her turn, the Labour Minister said before Parliament that the Liberal’s estimates were not correct and that Labour Inspectorates must look into the matter and make sure the employees’ salaries do not go down.

MEETING – The development of the economic component of the Romanian-American Strategic Partnership was the main topic discussed on Tuesday with the US Ambassador in Bucharest, Hans Klemm, Speaker of the Romanian Chamber of Deputies, Liviu Dragnea, said on Tuesday. Dragnea defined the Partnership as vital for Romania and hailed the development of its military component, but voiced regret at the fact that Bucharest did not gain more in economic terms. The Romanian official said that also discussed with Ambassador Klemm was the Romanian-American cooperation within NATO.

TRIAL — The High Court of Cassation and Justice in Bucharest on Tuesday started trying the case concerning the June 1990 miners’ riots, in which the ex-president Ion Iliescu and former PM Petre Roman are charged with crimes against humanity. Prosecutors argue that the authorities have planned the violent attacks against peaceful protesters gathered at the University Square in Bucharest in June 1990. Governmental agencies were illegally involved in the crackdown, prosecutors claim, alongside coal miners and other workers from various parts of the country. Four people died and nearly 1,400 were wounded.

FLU — Another 2 people died from the flu in Romania, with the death toll reaching 39, and more than 500 cases this season, reported the authorities have announced. Most of the flu patients are in Bucharest, and in the counties of Constanta (south-east), Olt (south), Braşov (centre) and Iaşi (north-east). The authorities recommend vaccination, and the Healthcare Ministry announced that around 80,000 shots were still available. So far over 920,000 people have received flu vaccines. The Healthcare Minister, Sorina Pintea, says Romania is not facing a flu epidemic at present.

MAGISTRATES – For a nation that aspires to a dignified future, the law and the independence of the people working in the justice system are not negotiable, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said Tuesday. At a meeting with graduates of the National Institute of Magistracy, Iohannis said they chose to become magistrates “at a time when the act of justice is questioned publicly, by the very people that are being brought to justice.” The head of state made these statements against the background of accusations levelled against the National Anti-Corruption Directorate by politicians involved in corruption cases. On Thursday, Justice Minister Tudorel Toader will present an assessment of the activity of the General Prosecutor’s Office, the National Anti-Corruption Directorate and the Directorate for the Investigation of Organized Crime and Terrorism.

DEFENCE — The Romanian Defence Minister, Mihai Fifor, says the state will get involved in extending the military base in Mihail Kogălniceanu, in the south-east of the country, and announced talks in this respect had already been held with the American partners. He added he would like a permanent American presence in that unit. Over the past few years, thousands of Romanian and American troops have taken part in joint military exercises in Mihail Kogălniceanu, some of them also attended by troops from other NATO countries. The same base hosted last year air policing missions, with British, Canadian and Romanian aircraft taking part.

FOOTBALL – Romanian football vice-champions FCSB, former Steaua Bucharest, last week defeated Italy’s Lazio Rome 1-nil on National Arena Stadium in Bucharest and are now preparing for the return leg, scheduled for next Thursday, to be played on Stadio Olimpico di Roma. The match is counting towards the first leg of the Europa League round of 32. (Translated by E. Enache)