May 25, 2014
Click here for a roundup of domestic and international news
Roxana Vasile, 25.05.2014, 12:00
Over 18 million Romanians with the right to vote are today expected to the polling booths to designate their 32 representatives in the European Parliament. 15 political groups and 8 independents are vying for an MEP seat and voters are expected to cast their ballot in 18.532 voting stations across Romania and 190 abroad, on the premises of Romania’s diplomatic missions, its overseas cultural institutes as well as in operation theatres in Afghanistan. 4.61 % of the Romanians have reportedly cast their vote until 10 o’clock. Eligible voters are today expected to the polls in 20 EU countries out of a total 28. The Netherlands and Britain were the first to cast their votes on Thursday, followed by Ireland, Latvia, Malta, Slovakia and the Czech Republic, whose citizens voted on Friday and Saturday. About 375 million voters from Europe are expected to designate the 751 MEPs who will represent them in Brussels in the next five years. The first official returns will be made public tonight after the closing of the last polling booth on the continent. Against the bckdrop of a frail economic recovery and high unemployment rate, the opinion polls have shown that Europhobic and far-right parties are enjoying an upsurge of populary and could gain more seats than in the previous election. The subtle and difficult process of forging alliances and political groups in the European Parliament is to begin shortly after the polling booths are closed.
Pope Francis has today called on Israeli and Palestinian leaders in Bethlehem to step up efforts and create the necessary conditions for the conclusion of a peace accord. Bethlehem, which according to Christian tradition is the place where Lord Jesus was born, is the first leg of the Pope’s tour around the Palestinian territories and Israel. After holding an open-air mass, in front of the Church of the Nativity, the Pontiff will fly to Tel Aviv in Israel. Yesterday, the Pope went to Amman in Jordan, where he called for more respect for religious freedom.
The Federation of Jewish Communities in Romania has voiced consternation over yesterday’s gun attack inside the Jewish Museum in Brussels, which it describes as a new manifestation of violent anti-Semitism. According to a communique the event isn’t singular and severe mesures must be taken in order to fight any form of anti-Semitism in Europe. We recall that a gunman opened fire inside the Jewish Museum in Brussles on Saturday; three people were killed and another one seriously wounded.
Ukrainians are today electing their new president, a major move in their attempt of solving the crisis currently facing the country. The snap election was scheduled after pro-Russian president Viktor Yanukovich had left the country, Russian troops had seized the Crimean peninsula and a pro-Russian insurgency had broken out in eastern Ukraine. The separatists have declared they won’t allow the election in the territories they are controlling in Donetsk and Lugansk. The main favourite in the presidential race is pro-western candy tycoon Petro Poroshenko, who also speaks Romanian. According to the polls, Poroshenko will get 44% of the votes. Another strong point would be his recognition by Russia, which might contribute to easing tensions in eastern Ukraine. Russian president Vladimir Putin said Moscow would respect the choice of the Ukrainian people and was ready to cooperate with the new power in Kiev.
Romanian gymnasts Marius Berbecar and Andrei Muntean are today competing in the bars event of the European Gymnastics Championships underway in Sofia, Bulgaria. Yesterday, Romania’s male team came seventh in the teams’ contest, where the gold, silver and bronze medals went to Russia, Britain and Ukraine respectively. In another development French capital Paris will be seeing the opening of the season’s second Grand Slam tournament Roland Garros. In the first round of the women’s contest, Romania’s best player Simona Halep will be playing Russian Alisa Kleybanova; Monica Niculescu, from Romania, will be facing Estonian Kaia Kanepi, Sorana Carstea will be up against Aleksandra Wozniak from Canada while Alexandra Cadantu will meet Kiki Bertens from the Netherlands. In men’s competition Victor Hanescu from Romania will be playing Gael Monfils from France.
