July 10, 2023

A roundup of local and international news.

Newsroom, 10.07.2023, 13:49

Abuse.
The Romanian authorities have announced checks at
children’s homes, retirement homes and homes for people with disabilities
around the country. Prime minister Marcel Ciolacu said all their permits would
again be analysed. He also called for those guilty of abuse to be punished and
underlined that the social care system needs to be changed. His statement come
after the organised crime body began an investigation at three social care
centres in Voluntari and Afumaţi near Bucharest for the inhumane treatment to
which residents were subjected by the staff.

Healthcare.
The employees of health insurance houses around Romania today stopped working
for two hours in protest against their low salaries compared to their
responsibilities and amount of work and against the drastic cuts in personnel
nationwide. One of their trade union leaders said employees are no longer
motivated to work, are flooded with assignments and salaries haven’t gone up
since 2017. The national healthcare system ensures treatment for two million
seriously ill people and the budget managed by the National Health Insurance
House is almost 11 million euros, the largest in the public system in Romania.
Despite this, 1,200 jobs have been cut in this sector in the last two years.

Parliament.
Parliament is today holding an extraordinary session to declare vacant the
position of director of the Romanian Intelligence Service, following the
departure of Eduard Hellvig last week. The latter ran the Service for 8 years,
saying he has achieved his goals. The Service’s first deputy director, general
Răzvan Ionescu, currently serving as interim director. On 27th
January 2015, Hellvig had replaced George Maior, who had also resigned. The
director of the Romanian Intelligence Service is appointed by the president of
the country, following approval by the control committees of the Senate and the
Chamber of Deputies and also has to secure Parliament’s vote.

Incomes. Average monthly incomes per household in the first quarter of
the year amounted to around 1,400 euros in Romania, up more than 5% compared
with the last quarter of 2022, according to a survey published today by the
National Institute for Statistics. Average spending per household stood at
around 1,200 euros, 2.5% less than in the fourth quarter, and accounting for
more than 85% of total incomes. The biggest expenses were incurred with
consumption, taxes and duties and other fees. Food and non-alcoholic drinks had
a big share of consumption expenses, followed by housing expenses, water,
electricity, gas and other fuels.

Prison.
The Piteşti prison will be included on the list of historical buildings in
Romania. Culture minister Raluca Turcan said she would soon sign a decree to
this end and that she also supported to idea for this former communist prison
to apply for UNESCO status. The Piteşti prison was active between 1941 and 1977
and is known for hosting, between 1949 and 1951, the Piteşti Experiment, which
is considered the most extensive torture-based brainwashing programme in the
ex-communist bloc. The programme was discontinued in September 1951 and the
building was used as a detention centre for political and common-law prisoners
until 1977, when it was closed. A remembrance museum opened here in 2014,
hosting exhibitions, events and educational activities on the subject of
political anti-communist imprisonment.

Moldova. The director of the Intelligence and Security Service in the
Republic of Moldova Alexandru Musteaţa today announced the dismantling of a
Russian spying network that acted against Moldovan interests. According to
Radio Chişinău, Moldova’s intelligence service together with prosecutors
specialised in combating organised crime and special cases have opened a
criminal investigation into treason and espionage against two agents of
Russia’s security service FSB. The two were believed to have been involved in
organising hostile activities in respect of Moldova’s security, recruiting
Moldovan citizens to build a spying network. The goal was to influence social
and political processes in favour of Russia, maintaining Moldova’s dependence
on Moscow and trying to manipulate Moldovan public opinion.

Environment.
Romanian environment minister Mircea Fechet is attending an informal meeting of
EU environment ministers hosted by Valladolid, in Spain. The European
Commission says the Union must go ahead with initiatives to improve air quality
and provide more protection for citizens and the environment. Talks focus on
industry transformation by using latest technologies and stimulating innovation
to achieve safe and sustainable chemical substances, as well as on improving
water management, further treatment of residual waters, reducing pollution and
promoting a circular economy. (CM)