June 22, 2016 UPDATE

Four former ministers prosecuted in Rompetrol II case; extreme heat expected in Romania until Friday

Newsroom, 22.06.2016, 00:06

GERMAN VISIT – German President Joachim Gauck, on Wednesday, the final day of his visit to Romania, took part in a meeting with business people from both countries. On this occasion, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said that Romania plans to follow an economic model based on innovation and competitiveness. He said the country was committed on the long term to expanding economic cooperation in various areas through programs able to generate new opportunities and further German investment in Romania. The German official had talks throughout the visit with high Romanian officials, and gave an address at the New Europe College and the German Embassy in Bucharest. He also visited the city of Sibiu, which has the largest community of ethnic Germans in Romania. President Gauck praised the Romanian model of inter-ethnic cooperation, thanking the Bucharest authorities for the way they address the needs of the German community in Romania.

JUDICIARY – In Romania, 4 former ministers have been prosecuted in the so-called Rompetrol II case. They are the former finance ministers Mihai Tănăsescu, Gheorghe Pogea, Sebastian Vlădescu and a former economy minister, Dan Ioan Popescu. They have been charged with having established an organized criminal group, abuse of office and aiding and abetting embezzlement. According to the Directorate Investigating Organised Crime and Terrorism, they had colluded with businessman Dinu Patriciu to have an emergency government order passed, which turned nearly 600 million US dollars owed by the company Rompetrol Rafinare SA to the State Budget into government bonds.

LAW – The President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, Wednesday notified the Constitutional Court with respect to the law on local elected officials, under which the mayors, county councillors and local councillors having received a suspended sentence for corruption-related offences may stay in office. The head of state said the law comes against the Constitution, the Court case law and the principles of the rule of law. The President also argued that the law hinders the fight against corruption.

BREXIT – On June 23rd, the UK is to decide in a referendum whether or not it remains a part of the EU or breaks with it after 43 years of membership. The referendum on this topic was one of the election campaign promises made in early 2013 by David Cameron. If the British voters decide to leave the EU, this would be the first time a country gives up its membership. One day ahead of the vote, opinion polls indicated a slight advantage for the pro-European side. The optimism of investors pushed the pound up, on Wednesday morning, and financial markets reported increases, news agencies said.

WEATHER – Until Friday the south and south-east of the country will be facing extreme heat, with temperatures exceeding 37 degrees Celsius, and the heat index over 80 units, weather experts have announced. The temperature will not drop under 20 degrees at night either. A code yellow alert is in place in these areas. In the mountains, on the other hand, heavy rainfalls are expected, as well as thunderstorms and hailstorms.