March 27, 2019

President Iohannis meets magistrates' representatives, Romanian transporters join protest of European Transport Workers Federation

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Newsroom, 27.03.2019, 13:53

Bucharest — President Klaus Iohannis is discussing today with the representatives of the magistrates about the situation of the Romanian judiciary. On Tuesday, the Romanian head of state had consultations with the civil society representatives on the issue of a referendum on justice. After the meeting, one of the participating organizations announced the referendum would be held on May 26, at the same time with the EP elections. APADOR-CH, a human rights defense association, criticized the organization of the referendum on the same day with the EP elections, stating that such a referendum cannot be used to influence the result of elections. The Constitutional Court has recently decided that a referendum can be held on the day of EP elections.

Motion — The opposition Liberal and Save Romania Union parties on Wednesday called on justice minister Tudorel Toader, in a simple motion submitted to the Chamber of Deputies, to give up the ‘harmful’ legislative changes, to support the initiative of dismantling the special section for the investigation of magistrates and to observe the recommendations of international institutions. The motion initiators say that the justice minister should resign if he is not able to comply with these requests. Also on Wednesday the Liberal Party and the People’s Movement Party submitted to the Chamber of Deputies a simple motion on transports against the transport minister Razvan Cuc. The opposition believes that, in one month since he took office, two strategic domains for Romania’s economy, the rail and air sectors, are faced with an unprecedented crisis because of his irresponsible decisions regarding the management of these sectors.

Strasbourg — Representatives of the Trade Union Federation in Romanian Transports and Public Service will participate, today, in Strasbourg, in the protest organized by the European Transport Workers’ Federation, which includes organizations from 41 countries. The protest ends a campaign launched by the European Federation one week ago, which promotes fair transportation across Europe. Transport workers are asking for halting social dumping and pay exploitation of European transporters, for decent jobs, safe transportation accessible to all citizens, and ending unfair competition in this field. The protest is meant to show unity, solidarity and the power of the European trade unionist movement.

Football — Romania’s national football team on Tuesday defeated, 4-1, the team of Faeroe Islands in Cluj, northwest, in Group F of the preliminaries of the 2020 European Championship. On Saturday the Romanian footballers lost the first match in the group, 0-1, to Sweden. Also on Tuesday, Spain won against Malta and Norway drew the match with Sweden. Romania is ranked 3rd in the group, after Spain and Sweden. Qualifying to the final tournament are the first and second ranking teams. In another development, in women’s volleyball, Romania’s and Europe’s vice-champions, CSM Alba Blaj also lost, on Tuesday, the second leg of the CEV Cup final against the Italians from Busto Arsizio, 3-1, in the sets. The Italians had won the first leg 3-0.

Washington — The Romanian PM Viorica Dancila met in Washington with the Speaker of the House of Representatives in the American Congress, Nancy Pelosi. According to a Romanian government communiqué, the Romanian premier mentioned the good development of bilateral cooperation in terms of security, including the implementation of an ambitious endowment program of the Romanian armed forces. PM Dancila highlighted the attention granted by the American legislative to strengthening solidarity within NATO and the security of its eastern allies. In turn, Nancy Pelosi has given assurances that the American legislative is willing to provide strong support to NATO. The official underlined that consolidating relations between the Romanian and American legislatives will have an important contribution to building a trans-Atlantic alliance based on common interests and values. (translation by L. Simion)