October 1, 2020

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Newsroom, 01.10.2020, 14:00

COVID-19 Romania yesterday reported an all-time high of Covid
infections, which according to authorities stood at 2,158 out of 26 thousand
tests conducted. The total number of infections exceeds 127 thousand since the
beginning of the pandemic in late February. The death toll stands at 4,825,
while 550 patients are in intensive care. The country’s Prime Minister Ludovic
Orban has voiced concern over the high number of infections calling for
seriousness in applying the prevention measures. According to him, outbreaks were
located at various events attended by a large number of people and in public
transportation and he has called on schools and universities to comply with the
prevention measures, like disinfection, mask-wearing and social distancing.

ROW
Last Sunday’s local election has caused a scandal in Romania. The outgoing
mayor of Bucharest’s district 1, Social-Democrat Dan Tudorache, who lost a
second mandate in the election, has today announced he will call on the Central
Election Office to stage another round of voting as the first was rigged. Last
night a TV channel broadcast footage of people opening ballot bags at the
District 1 Election Office. Tudorache’s opponent, Clotilde Armand, who
represents the USR-PLUS alliance and won the election, has denied all fraud
allegations but the police are conducting an investigation into the incident.
We recall that Social Democrats have lost their total control over Bucharest
after Sunday’s election. The seat of Bucharest mayor has been won by an
independent backed by the ruling Liberals and the USR-PLUS alliance. A district
mayor seat out of 6 has been won by the Liberals and two by the USR-PLUS.

INS Romania’s unemployment rate dropped
to 5.3% in August, being 0.1% lower than in July, the National Institute for
Statistics (INS) shows. The unemployment rate among men is one percent higher
than among women. With the gradual resumption of activities, initially ceased to
contain the Covid pandemic, the number of unemployed in August dropped to 479
thousand people as compared to 484 thousand in the month before. Another INS
survey reveals that the number of people over 65 stands at 3,664,411 early this
year, accounting for 19% of the country’s resident population.

MEETING Romania’s president Klaus Iohannis is attending the
European Council proceedings in Brussels today and tomorrow. High on the agenda
are topical issues like the EU single market, industrial and digital policy.
The European leaders are going to also tackle international issues such as the
EU’s relations with China and Turkey. Iohannis is expected to stand for a
strong and consolidated single market to be able to support the development of
the EU member states. According to the Romanian president, the development of
the transport, energy, environment and digital infrastructure is essential for
countries like Romania, located at the EU’s geographic limits. President
Iohannis is expected to hail the importance attached to the EU’s digital
transformation and will refer to the sums of money granted to the development
of advanced technologies in the field. Iohannis will also refer to the social
challenges the single market entails besides the incontestable opportunities
and stand for the protection of the vulnerable categories, including the
temporary workers, whose situation must improve through the concerted action of
the European institutions and member states.

(bill)