October 24, 2018

Romania earmarks 2% for defense for the second consecutive year

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Newsroom, 24.10.2018, 13:54

CONSULTATIONS – Romanian parliamentary parties are today holding consultations initiated by President Klaus Iohannis, on the justice laws recently modified by the governing coalition made up of the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats, but fiercely criticized by the opposition and civil society. All parties have confirmed their participation in the consultations, including the Social Democrats, who are in conflict with President Iohannis. The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats (ALDE) has announced its willingness to continue reforms in the justice system, having citizens and their rights at the center. ALDE has said that it favors a prospective political pact in this respect, but that it first wants to see its content. The National Liberal Party, in the opposition, has announced that at the consultations with President Klaus Iohannis it will insist that the recent recommendations of the Venice Commission be introduced into the justice laws, the Criminal Code and Criminal Procedure Code, or Romania risks colliding with the EU. Another party in the opposition, the Save Romania Union, has said that the modifications to these laws sabotage and block the act of justice in Romania. We remind you that last week the Venice Commission said in a report that modifications to the justice laws and Criminal Codes are weakening the fight against corruption and organized crime.

WAGES — Representatives of the Romanian Government, of the trade unions and employers’ associations have decided that an increase in the minimum salary in necessary. The topic was also discussed in the Economic and Social Council. According to the Government, the increase would have a positive impact on long-term economic growth, would stimulate consumption and demand and its impact on inflation would be insignificant. Aslo discussed was the introduction of a dirrefentiated minimum wage of around 505 euros a month for the employees with university studies and for the ones with 15 years of senority.

DEFENSE — The Romanian Government has earmarked for defense, for the second consecutive year, 2% of the GDP and will keep doing so at least until 2026, Romanian Defense Minister Mihai Fifor has said today in Bucharest. He also said that this amount allows for the solid modernization and development of the army. Minister Fifor has announced that on Thursday, October 25, on the Romanian Army Day, ceremonies will be held in memory of the Romanian heroes who died for the country. October 25th was also the birthday of Romania’s former sovereign, Michael I who died in 2017 aged 96.

LAW – The Romanian Chamber of Deputies is today debating and voting on the offshore bill, after the ruling coalition made up of the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats reached an agreement on it. In early August, President Klaus Iohannis did not sign the bill into law and sent it back to Parliament for a review. What is at stake is, first and foremost, the profit that Romania will make from natural gas extraction in the Black Sea.

JUSTICE – Romania’s Constitutional Court is today discussing the modifications to the Criminal Code and the Law on the prevention, discovering and sanctioning of corruption deeds. President Klaus Iohannis, the High Court of Cassation and Justice, the National Liberal Party, the Save Romania Union and People’s Movement Party have filed notifications. The head of state has called on the Constitutional Court to declare the law unconstitutional. The opposition says the proposed modifications encourage high level corruption while the High Court says that in the case of abuse of office, the number of people who can be incriminated has been restricted significantly.

CIVIL PARTNERSHIP — The Romanian Senators on the legal committee on Tuesday turned down a draft meant to regulate the civil partnership. The draft was aimed at granting legal protection to the couples which do not want to change their marital status, but are ready to officially acknowledge their relation. The senate was the first notified chamber. We recall that in early October a referendum was held in Romania to redefine family in the Romanian Constitution as being the consented marriage between a man and a woman, instead of the current wording, “between spouses”. However, the referendum was refuted because of a poor turnout , of only 21%. 91.5% of those who went to the polls stood for changing the Constitution, and only 6.5% stood against the change.

(Translated by Elena Enache)