July 15, 2020
A roundup of domestic and international news.
Newsroom, 15.07.2020, 14:32
BILL – In Romania, the Senate’s legal committee is today voting on the bill regulating quarantine and isolation. The document is next to be debated by the Chamber of Deputies’ plenary sitting. The bill was discussed on Tuesday and several modifications were made. Also on Tuesday, President Klaus Iohannis accused the Social Democratic Party, in opposition, of delaying the adoption of the quarantine and isolation bill. In his opinion, the Social Democrats are depriving the Liberal government of a vital tool in fighting the spread of the coronavirus. The Senate’s interim speaker, the Social Democrat Robert Cazanciuc said in turn that his party wanted a good law, that needs to include guarantees that the restriction of rights is not done in an abusive manner.
MEETING – Romanian President Klaus Iohannis is today chairing a new meeting on measures to fight the coronavirus. Attending will be PM Ludovic Orban, deputy PM Raluca Turcan, the ministers of health and the interior and the head of the Department for Emergency Situations. On Tuesday, Health Minister Nelu Tataru said the extension of the state of alert was needed, and that he prepared an assessment in this respect and sent his proposal to the President and PM, mentioning that there will be neither further relaxation measures, nor more restrictions starting July 15. Another 641 new infections were reported by the Group for Strategic Communication, taking the total number of coronavirus infections to over 34,000. Some 248 patients are in intensive care while almost 22,000 people have recovered. 21 deaths have been reported in the last 24 hours.
RESTRICTIONS – As of Today, Greece no longer allows the access to its territory, by car, without the presentation of a negative COVID-19 test. Tests must be carried out in licensed laboratories, maximum 72 hours before entering the Greek soil and certificates must be issued in English. Hungary has also imposed restrictions for citizens coming from the so-called yellow or red areas. Romania is in the first category, and its citizens will undergo medical checks at the border. If they show no sign of infection, they will be allowed access on the Hungarian territory, but they will have to stay under quarantine or isolation for 14 days, with the exception of those who present two consecutive negative COVID-19 tests. In keeping with the new regulations in force, crossing Hungary is allowed only on special corridors. Romanians are also on the list of restrictions in Austria. Thus, direct flights to Austria will be suspended beginning July 16, following a decision of the Austrian authorities. This is also valid for another nine states, among which Bulgaria, Moldova and countries from the Western Balkans.
GROWTH – Data provided by the National Institute of Statistics shows the start of economic growth in Romania, Economy Minister Florin Citu said on Tuesaday. He also said that the recovery started quicker than expected and pleaded for a further massive allocation of budget resources towards investment. Romania is among the EU countries with the strongest advance of industrial production in the month of May as compared with April, being on 5th place after Italy, France, Slovakia and Hungary.
PLAGIARISM – The High Court of Cassation and Justice in Bucharest on Tuesday dismissed the request of former Social Democrat PM Victor Ponta, leader of Pro Romania party at present, to annul the education minister’s order from 2016, through which his doctor in law titled was withdrawn due to plagiarism. The National Council for Attesting University Titles, Diplomas, and Certificates found in late-June 2016 that the plagiarism allegations against the former PM were justified and asked the education minister to withdraw Ponta’s doctor degree. Ponta opened two court cases requesting the annulment of the minister’s order, but they have both been dismissed.
(Translated by Elena Enache)
