May 22, 2017

Bill to reform state wages goes to Senate floor; Committee investigates 2009 elections

Newsroom, 22.05.2017, 13:42

SALARIES — The Unified Pay Scale bill, which provides for raising state employee salaries gradually until 2022 is put to a vote today in the Senate in Bucharest. The Senate labor committee passed a number of amendments, among them raising by 25% the indemnities of local elected officials working on projects financed with European funds, and granting a 15% bonus to public servants in decentralized services under the Ministry of the Environment. The Unified Pay Scale bill raises state budget wages across the board. Stay tuned for details after the news.

INVESTIGATION — The parliamentary committee appointed to investigate the 2009 presidential elections starts hearings today with journalist and former political adviser Dan Andronic. Over the next few days, the committee hears former Minister of the Interior Vasile Blaga, former chairman of the Permanent Election Authority, Maria Patru, and Mircea Geoana, who ran in the 2009 elections. Recently, Dan Andronic alleged that the heads of major state institutions, such as the director of intelligence and the head prosecutor, had tampered with the elections in favor of the then incumbent president and candidate Traian Basescu. He won a second term in office with a narrow margin, running against Mircea Geoana. Prosecutors are already investigating the case for abuse of office, as well as forging documents and electoral records. The report of the parliament committee could get to the joint chambers by the end of this legislative season, which concludes on July 1st.

BRUSSELS — Romanian Delegate Minister for European Affairs, Ana Birchall, takes part in Brussels in the General Affairs Council Meeting, gathering 27 countries, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The ministers of the 27 gather to pass the authorization to open negotiations for the Brexit, the UK leaving the European Union. During her trip, Minister Birchall will hold talks with her Estonian counterpart, Matti Maasikas, on the priorities of the Estonian presidency of the European Council, and the main issues under debate at the European level. The minister pointed to Romanias intense interest in protecting the rights and interests of Romanians living and working in the UK.

TRUMP — US President Donald Trump arrives today in Israel, the second leg of his first international tour as head of state, the first being Saudi Arabia. He will hold talks in Jerusalem with President Reuven Rivlin, PM Benjamin Netanyahu, and other Israeli leaders. On Tuesday, he goes to Bethlehem, where he meets Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. In Saudi Arabia, a major US ally, Trump signed contracts worth 380 billion USD, mainly for armament and oil sales. In Riyadh, speaking to representatives of over 40 Muslim states, he called on leaders there to take the initiative in fighting Islamist militants. The tour will continue with Italy and Belgium.

TENNIS — Five Romanian tennis players attend the tournament in Roland Garros, the second Grand Slam of the year, with 36 million Euro in prizes. According to betting houses, Simona Halep, currently ranking fourth in the world, is among the favorites to win. On Sunday, she lost the finals of the tournament in Rome against 11th seeded Elina Svitolina of Ukraine. The four other Romanian contenders in the current competition are Irina Begu, 44th, Monica Niculescu (53 WTA), Sorana Cîrstea (67 WTA) and Patricia Ţig (119 WTA). The first day of the tournament is Sunday.

HANDBALL — Romanian mens handball team Potaissa Turda was defeated on Sunday in an away game by Sporting Lisbon, 37-28, in the first leg of the finals of the Challenge Cup. The return leg is scheduled for May 27 in Cluj-Napoca. In womens handball, Romanian champions CSM Bucharest came in third in the Champions Leagu Final Four, the most important European competition. In 2016, CSM won the Champions League in their very first year of attendance.

DRUGS — The Bulgarian authorities, working with Romanian authorities, have captured over 400 kg of heroin at the Vidin-Calafat crossing point between the two countries. The black market value of the transport is over 32 million Euros. The heroin was found in a truck transporting construction materials, transiting between Iran and Holland.