November 19, 2014 UPDATE
A roundup of domestic and international news
România Internațional, 19.11.2014, 19:58
The Romanian Senate met in plenary session on Wednesday and voted to lift immunity for the former Social Democratic minister of education, Ecaterina Andronescu and for the former Government secretary general Serban Mihailescu. They are investigated as part of the so-called Microsoft case, involving abusive contracts for software licenses. Also on Wednesday, the High Court of Cassation and Justice green lighted the proposal of the National Anti Corruption Directorate to extend, by another 30 days, the preventive arrest of former Social Democratic MP Viorel Hrebenciuc. One of the most influential representatives of the left wing, Hrebenciuc was arrested on October 29. He is suspected of involvement in the illegal retrocession of tens of thousands of hectares of forestland, alongside several party colleagues, magistrates and even his own son. The damage to the Forestry Authority exceeds 300 million euros. On Wednesday evening, President Traian Basescu announced he approved the request of the Anti Corruption Directorate to prosecute a former minister, the Liberal Cristian David, suspected of bribe taking.
Ford Romania announced on Wednesday that due to a lowering demand for cars on the European market the company is implementing a program of volunteer termination of the labour contract for 680 employees working with the plant in Craiova, in southern Romania. Employees can submit applications for this program until December 18. If less than 680 employees apply for the program, the company will resort to layoffs on economic grounds. Ford Motor Company took over Automobile Craiova plant in March 2008, when it bought the majority stake.
The appointment of Mihnea Motoc as Romania’s foreign minister will be completed after several legal procedures are met, Romanian President Traian Basescu said on Wednesday evening. Mihnea Motoc is a former ambassador, and Romania’s permanent representative with the EU. He will replace Teodor Melescanu, who announced his resignation on Tuesday, a week after taking over the portfolio. The position was vacated as a result of the scandal surrounding the second round of presidential elections in the Diaspora. Previously, another foreign minister, Titus Corlatean, lost his position for the same reasons.
Romania’s Constitutional Court has rejected all challenges to the second round of voting in the presidential elections of November 16. According to preliminary results issued by the Central Election Bureau, Klaus Iohannis got 54.43% of the vote, as opposed to his opponent, current PM Victor Ponta, who got 45.57%. The Bureau has until Friday to send to the Constitutional Court the final results of Sunday’s election, for validation.
Twelve former heads of state from Central and Eastern Europe will be present, on Thursday, in Bucharest, where they will take part in the international conference titled “25 years after the fall of communist dictatorships in Eastern Europe: looking back, looking forward”. The conference is aimed at emphasizing the great changes that took place in the wake of the fall of communism and at highlighting the many political, economic and social boundaries that still exist in today’s society. On this occasion, King Michael I will host an official dinner. Among the participants are former Polish leader Lech Walesa, former Romanian president Emil Constantinescu, Leonid Kuchma of Ukraine, and Hans-Gert Pottering, former chairman of the European Parliament.
The Russian Federation is the guest of honour at the 21st edition of the Gaudeamus International Book and Education Fair, which kicked off on Wednesday in Bucharest. Organized by the Romanian Radio Broadcasting Corporation, Guadeamus is the most important event of its kind in Romania. Taking part are over 400 Romanian and foreign publishers. Last year’s guest of honour was the Group of Nordic Countries — Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden.
