May 29, 2019

PM Viorica Dancila announced she would submit a list of proposals to the president for ministerial positions left vacant before European Parliament elections; Pope Francis conveyed a message to Romanians before his state and ecumenical visit

Ştefan Stoica, 29.05.2019, 14:21

BUCHAREST — The National Liberal Party, leading the opposition in Parliament in Bucharest, got almost 27% of votes in the Sunday elections for the European Parliament, followed by the main ruling coalition party, the Social Democrats, with almost 23%. In third place comes the Save Romania Union, with almost 22%. Also represented in the European Parliament is the Pro Romania Party, the Popular Movement Party, and the Democratic Union of Hungarians. The Central Electoral Bureau has counted 96% of votes. In the referendum on justice reform, held at the same time, a majority of voters said Yes in the issue of not granting amnesty and pardons for corruption cases, denying the executive the possibility of making such rulings by government order.

GOVERNMENT — Romanian head of government Viorica Dancila announced that she would submit to President Klaus Iohannis a new list for nominations for cabinet positions left unfilled ahead of the European elections. Social Democrat Roxana Manzatu will be the proposal for European Funds, Ana Birchall is the proposal for Minister of Justice, which she fills temporarily, while Natalia Intotero is the proposal for the Ministry of Romanians Abroad. Senator Titus Corlatean is nominated to replace Viorel Stefan as Deputy Prime Minister, who was appointed recently to the European Court of Auditors. The appointments were endorsed in Tuesdays meeting of the Social Democratic leadership, in the wake of the arrest of party chair Liviu Dragnea.

BUCHAREST — Pope Francis sent a message for Romanians ahead of his upcoming visit, telling them that he is coming to the majority Orthodox country as a pilgrim and a brother. His state and ecumenical visit is scheduled for May 31st — June 2nd. The pontiff will be visiting Sumuleu Ciuc, an area in Transylvania with a majority Roman-Catholic ethnic Hungarian population, in the city of Iasi, in the northeast of the country, another major Catholic center, and Blaj, in central Transylvania, the spiritual center of the Greek Orthodox community.

There, Pope Francis will proclaim Blessed seven Greek-Catholic bishops who were killed for their faith in communist prisons. This is the second visit to Romania by a pontiff, after the visit made by Pope John Paul II in 1999, the first to a majority Orthodox country.

TENNIS – Romanian tennis star Simona Halep, title holder and third favorite, qualified for the second round at Roland Garros, the second Grand Slam of the year. On Tuesday night she defeated Austrialian Ajla Tomljanovic, 6-2, 3-6, 6-1. This round she meets Polish player Magda Linette, 87th seeded. Irina Begu and Sorana Carstea are the other Romanian players qualified for the second round of the singles competition.

BRUSSELS — EU member country leaders started on Tuesday evening negotiations for the top positions in major institutions, post Parliament elections. According to Radio Romanias correspondent to Brussels, the options for the future President of the EC revealed a rift between France and Germany. Chancellor Angela Merkel said she would support Manfred Weber, the candidate also supported by the European Popular Party caucus, the most numerous in the European Parliament. French President Emmanuel Macron, allied with leaders that got good results in the elections, dubbed Weber inexperienced, and support the candidacy of French negotiator for Brexit Michel Barnier. President Klaus Iohannis said in Brussels that he also supports Manfred Weber for the presidency.