January 17, 2019

A roundup of domestic and international news

Newsroom, 17.01.2019, 13:42

PRESIDENCY – Romania’s Presidency of the EU Council on Wednesday
concluded the first file on the protection of personal data. The new
regulations penalize the abusive use by political parties of personal data in
order to influence voters’ behavior. The text must be adopted quickly by the
European Parliament and the European Union Council over the next weeks in order
to serve as reference for the European election in May. The proposal is part of
a wider package of measures launched by the European Commission and aimed at
ensuring free and fair elections.

STRIKE – Energy Minister Anton Anton and State Secretary Doru Visan
are today meeting with trade unions representing the Oltenia Energy Complex in
southern Romania, who are on strike. The company leaders are willing to come up
with a new offer, General Director Sorin Boza has said. He has given assurances
that, while part of the Rovinari thermal power plant shut down last night due
to low coal stocks, the company’s production capacity remains unaffected. The
mixed negotiation committee has approved holiday vouchers and a 150-euro gross
salary increase. Miners demand a raise of at least 340 euros. On Wednesday, the
Gorj Tribunal passed a ruling establishing the illegality of the strike and
calling its immediate end. The management says losses stand at around 3.2
million euros per day. The strike at the Oltenia Energy Complex started on
Friday evening in the Jilt Nord quarry and eventually spread to all the
company’s quarries. Miners report in every day but refuse to work.

VIRUS – The number of deaths caused
by the cold virus this season reached 10. The last victim is a 82-year-old man
from Arad County with a medical history who hadn’t taken the anti-influenza
vaccine. The list of dead also includes a 10-month baby and a 17-year-old man.
Health Minister Sorina Pintea has dismissed the possibility of a flu epidemic,
saying the virus is simply more widely circulated. She said some 1,3 million
anti-flu shots were procured, with some 100,000 shots still remaining. The
Health Ministry recalls the anti-influenza vaccine is the safest and most
effective way to stay healthy.

EUROSTAT – Romania is one of the EU member states with the lower
number of physicians in 2016, a Eurostat report reads. Most member states had
between 60 and 120 physicians per a hundred thousand inhabitants in 2016. Two
countries fared above this mark, namely Portugal (253) and Ireland (179).
Austria, the Netherlands and France followed, with as many as 160 physicians
per a hundred thousand inhabitants. At the opposite pole, the lowest numbers of
physicians were reported in Greece (42), Bulgaria (64), Slovenia (68), Latvia
(72), Spain (75), Great Britain (76) and Romania (77).

ELECTION – The United States has urged Moldovan authorities to take
all necessary action to ensure a free and fair ballot ahead of the legislative
election scheduled for February 24, as well as transparent results that should
observe the voters’ choice. In a declaration of the US State Department, all
candidates must be allowed to enroll and be able to carry out their campaign
without any fear of physical aggression or harassment. The vote will be mixed,
namely 50 MPs will be elected based on party lists, while another 51 from the
constituencies they represent, in a single ballot. According to preliminary
polls, pro-Russian Socialists are favorite to win, followed by a pro-European
right-wing coalition and the Democratic Party in power. At the same time a
referendum will be held regarding the reduction of the number of deputies from
101 to 61, as well as the possibility of them being revoked by citizens.

VISIT – Russian President Vladimir Putin is today paying an
official visit to Serbia aimed at strengthening cooperation with this country
that wants to join the EU. In an interview to Serbian media, Vladimir Putin
denied the accusations of Western powers claiming that Moscow wants to destabilize
the Balkans. On the contrary, Putin argued, the destabilizing factor is the
policy of America and other Western states who want to consolidate their
domination in the region, including by supporting breakaway Kosovo and
attracting Montenegro and Macedonia into NATO. President Putin pointed out
Russia would continue to support Serbia by helping it strengthen its defense
capabilities. The Russian official’s presence in Belgrade triggered increased
security measures, after the latest protests targeting President Aleksandar
Vucic and his Government party, accused of blocking freedom of the press and
attacking the opposition.

BREXIT – The British Conservative Party on Wednesday survived a
vote of no-confidence the Labor Party has launched against Theresa May after
her Cabinet sustained a historic defeat in the House of Communes the other day
on her plan for leaving the European Union. Prime Minister May announced she
would immediately start consultations with parliamentary parties in order to
come up with solutions that would lead to getting the deal voted. The Prime
Minister, who is expected to present a new agreement proposal in Parliament
over the coming days, has invited MPs to work together and ruled out the
possibility of another Brexit referendum. In Bucharest, President Klaus
Iohannis said Wednesday’s vote in the British Parliament is regrettable, saying
there is no reason to worry however given that European leaders have contingencies
in place.

TENNIS – Romanian tennis
player world number one Simona Halep earlier today defeated Sofia Kenin (37
WTA) of the United States in the second round at the Australian Open, score
6-3, 6-7, 6-4. In the men’s singles draw, Marius Copil was ousted by Belgium’s
David Goffin, 5-7, 7-5, 6-2, 6-4. Also today in the women’s doubles, Sorana
Cirstea of Romania and Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia advanced to the second round
after knocking out Ying-Ying Duan of China and Vera Lapko of Belarus, 6-2, 6-7,
7-6. In the next round they will be taking on fifth-seeds Andreja Klepac of
Slovenia and Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez of Spain. Another Romanian pair, Irina
Begu – Mihaela Buzarnescu, made headway into the competition after winning 7-5,
3-6, 6-4 against Lizette Cabrera and Jaimee Fourlis of Australia. They will
next play Alize Cornet of France and Petra Martic of Croatia.

(Translated by V. Palcu)