June 12, 2019

Romanias right-of-center opposition has tabled another censure motion against the leftist government

Newsroom, 12.06.2019, 14:00

SIGNAL – Romanian President Klaus Iohannis has called on the government today to take measures for the quick consolidation of public finances and for tax collection. Attending a meeting of the Coalition for Romania’s Development, Iohannis has pointed out that at the start of the year he sent the 2019 budget back to Parliament for reexamination. He has also said that the Social Democrats, representing the most important party of the governing coalition, have neglected investment in favor of a policy with short-term effects, and that this will affect everyone in the future. Iohannis has also pointed out that the business environment has been affected lately by unexpected measures. Private investors and employers need infrastructure modernization and development, Iohannis has said, explaining that he refers not only to motorways but to everything related to modern living standards for the citizens, such as hospitals, schools, railways, airports, energy infrastructure and so on.

MOTION — Romania’s right-of-center opposition has tabled another censure motion today against the government made up of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats (ALDE). It takes 233 votes for the Dancila Government to be ousted, so the opposition made up of the National Liberals Party (PNL), the Save Romania Union (USR) and the People’s Movement Party (PMP) also need the support of the Pro Romania party headed by the former Social Democrat PM Victor Ponta, by the MPs of the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania (UDMR), of the other national minorities and even of the ruling coalition. On the other hand, PM Dancila has asked the Social Democratic MPs to be present at the meeting to secure the quorum but not to cast their vote. The vote will be held next week.

EXERCISE – Exercise Saber Guardian 2019 continues in Romania until June 24. Its main goal is to enhance the cohesion, unity and solidarity of the partner and allied countries, with a view to ensuring defense against any type of aggression, especially by means of rapid mobilization and response, anywhere in Europe. In order to render international military training more effective, Saber Guardian is correlated with a number of other national and multinational exercises, so the total number of participants stands at some 13,500. Attending are 14 allied and partner countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Germany, Great Britain, the Republic of Moldova, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine and the US. 7,600 of the participants are Romanian. Saber Guardian was held every year between 2013 – 2017, and was hosted, in rotation, by Bulgaria, Romania and Ukraine. The exercise is included in the United States Army Europe and designed to improve the integration of multinational allied and partner combat forces.

VISIT — Romanian Senate Speaker, Călin Popescu-Tăriceanu, is paying a two-day official visit to France that started on Tuesday, at the invitation of his counterpart Gérard Larcher. The visit is aimed at consolidating and diversifying political dialogue and strengthening the traditional friendship ties with this country. From Thursday to Saturday Tariceanu will also attend, in Paris, the 20th meeting of the Association of European Senates.

FORUM – Current or former high government officials, both civilian and military, leading think tanks and prominent scholars and political analysts from EU and NATO member states and partner countries, including a strong contingent from the United States are taking part, as of today, in the Black Sea and Balkans Security Forum held in the Romanian city of Constanta between June 12 and 14, 2019. This third edition of the Black Sea and Balkans Security Forum is held under the auspices of the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union and in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defence. In a complex and troubled international environment, the Forum of 2019 seeks to address security concerns in the Black Sea and the Balkans. The 16 scheduled panel discussions will cover a vast range of topics such as the militarization of the Black Sea, the classical and newly emerging security challenges, the vital importance of the transatlantic ties and the on-going regional cooperation initiatives. Also tackled will be cyber security, energy, climate change, religion and security, connectivity and military mobility, urban and community development, hybrid operations and information warfare. (Translated by Elena Enache)