November 4, 2015 UPDATE
Tens of thousands of people continued protests in Bucharest and other big cities across the country on Wednesday evening, calling, among others, for the adoption of tough measures against corruption and the reform of the current political class.
Newsroom, 04.11.2015, 12:15
RESIGNATION- Romanias Prime Minister, Social-Democrat Victor Ponta on Wednesday announced he was stepping down together with his cabinet. The decision was made after on Tuesday night, tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets, denouncing corruption in local and central administration and demanded the resignations of the Prime Minister Victor Ponta, Interior Minister Gabriel Oprea and Cristian Popescu Piedone, the mayor of Bucharests fourth district where Colectiv nightclub is located. 32 people died and 130 others are still in hospitals, many in critical condition, following a devastating fire that broke out on Friday night in a Bucharest nightclub, an event which generated a wave of discontent.
Over 75,000 Romanians on Wednesday night rallied on the second night of mass protests in squares and public venues in Bucharest and other cities across the country to voice their discontent with the countrys leadership, despite Tuesdays resignations. Protesters want a top-down sweeping reform of the political class and call for early elections. The crowd chanted slogans against the corruption in the local administration and carried banners reading “Corruption kills! Demonstrators say the authorities disregard for the law was what originally compromised the safety regulations at the Colectiv rock concert.
Protesters observed a moment of silence and prayed for the victims.
Victor Ponta has expressed hope that his cabinets resignation meets peoples expectations. The resignation announcement follows Pontas decision to ignore previous calls to step down after anti-corruption prosecutors indicted him in September for forgery of deeds, money laundering and accessory to tax evasion during his time as a lawyer. Victor Ponta has nominated Defence Minister Mircea Dusa as interim president pending negotiations over the new government structure.
Romanias President Klaus Iohannis announced the start of consultations with the parliamentary parties. The first round of talks should be completed by the end of the week.
SUMMIT– Romanias President, Klaus Iohannis, has said in Bucharest at the Central and East European Countries Summit, that the transatlantic relation should be strengthened, as a key element for security in the region. Iohannis has also said the countries in the region show determination and capacity to increase the security of the region and of the whole Alliance. On this occasion, the president has also said a joint declaration on the concerns and commitments made by the countries in the region has also been issued. In turn, Polands President, Andrzej Duda, has said the Bucharest Summit is held in preparation for the NATO Summit due in Warsaw next year. The two heads of state co-chaired the high-level meeting in Bucharest, that has also been attended by the presidents of Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia, alongside the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Parliament and NATO Deputy Secretary General, Alexander Vershbow.
NEW EU SUMMIT ON MIGRATION– The European Council President Donald Tusk has announced he will summon a new EU Emergency Summit on Migration in Malta on November 12th. In a letter to EU heads of state and government, Tusk explains the measures implemented so far must be assessed, given the speed at which events in the refugee crisis are unfolding at present. In another move, the Hungarian Parliament has issued a decision turning down the EUs distribution quotas. Among other things, the decision says that the EU lacks a legal framework for the introduction of the quota system and that a centralized procedure will automatically come into effect sidestepping further consultations with member states.
ROYAL VISIT- Prince Harry of Great Britain visited the Romanian Cultural Institute in London on Tuesday evening. His visit was occasioned by the opening of a painting exhibition entitled “Transylvanian Landscapes, by British artist Clare Inskip and devoted to the natural beauty and the traditions in the western Romanian region of Transylvania. Prince Harry is the second member of the British Royal family to visit the Romanian Cultural Institute in London, after Prince Charles was the honorary guest of the institute in 2014, on the occasion of the “Transylvania Festival. “Transylvanian Landscapes includes 60 paintings and several sculptures inspired by the artists trip to Transylvania and by her fascination for the Romanian territory.
CRASH-Over 25 people have lost their lives in South Sudan Capital city, Juba, as a cargo aircraft crashed shortly after taking off. According to the authorities, the Antonov aircraft had around 20 passengers and crew on board, among whom many Russian citizens. People on the ground could also be among the victims. International news agencies quoted local media as saying the death toll stands at 40. We recall that last week 224 people lost their lives, in the crash of the passenger jet belonging to a Russian airline, in Egypts Sinai Peninsula. The flight provided the connection between the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Skeikh and Saint Petersburg.
