September 6, 2015 UPDATE

For a roundup of domestic and international events, click here.

Newsroom, 06.09.2015, 12:15

CORRUPTION – Subordinates and close associates of Bucharest General Mayor Sorin Oprescu were interrogated on Sunday by anti-corruption prosecutors as part of an investigation in which Sorin Oprescu has been arrested for bribe-taking, after he was caught receiving the sum of 25,000 euros. According to a press release by the National Anti-Corruption Directorate, in the 2013-2015 period a well-organized crime group, including Sorin Oprescu, set up a system in the local administration in Bucharest, forcing companies bidding in public tenders organized by the Bucharest City Hall to submit part of their profits in bribes to key decision makers with the City Hall. Sorin Opescu himself pocketed 10% of the value of each contract. A former member of the Social Democratic Party, Sorin Oprescu became Mayor of Bucharest in 2008 and was re-elected in 2012. His arrest was expected by pundits, after in the last several moths heads of public utilities and other departments of the City Hall, as well as one of Oprescus personal advisors ended up behind bars for acts of corruption.

AGRICULTURE – Romanian Agriculture Minister Daniel Constantin on Monday will call on EU officials for urgent support for Romanian farmers affected by the prolonged drought this season and for those animal breeders whove incurred major losses due to the milk crisis. Daniel Constantin is attending the emergency Farm Council organized on Monday in Brussels. Overseen by Luxembourgs presidency of the European Council, debates will tackle difficulties in certain agricultural fields at European level. Additionally, the EU Commissioner for Agriculture will hold technical talks in order to identify concrete measures to implement solutions.

MOLDOVA – Tens of thousands of citizens of the Republic of Moldova on Sunday protested in the capital city against what they term ‘crimes committed by the corrupt Government, especially in the banking sector. Summoned by a cartel of NGOs, protesters call for snap elections, the resignation of president Nicolae Timofti as well as lifting the political immunity of MPs, so that they may appear before the justice system like any other citizens. The overtly pro-Western Government in Chisinau was seriously affected after last year 1 billion dollars mysteriously disappeared from three banks.

DEVELOPMENT – Romania needs a different kind of vision, one that should effectively respond to its development needs, President Klaus Iohannis said on Sunday in a speech at the Dacia-Renault plant in Mioveni. The President said political decision-makers should not look just at the short-term, but should develop economic policies on the mid- and long-term. From the efficient administration of public spending to quality infrastructure, curbing bureaucracy and fighting corruption, there is still more to be done in order to attract foreign investors and support local companies, the president went on to say.

RUGBY – The Romanian national rugby team lost on Saturday to Tonga, 21-16 on home turf, as part of the last friendly match ahead of the World Rugby Cup, due to kick off on September 18 in England. The Romanian team displayed a solid performance, but lost to a superior opponent. The adversaries displayed a better physical condition. At the World Cup, Romania is part of Group D, alongside France, Ireland, Canada and Italy. Known as the Romanian Oaks, Romanias rugby team has taken part in every edition of the World Cup, although it never went past the group phase.

FOOTBALL – Romanias national football team is on Monday playing Greece as part of the 2016 European Championship preliminaries. On Friday, Romania held Hungary to a blank draw away from home. Following this result Romania is no longer top of Group F, lagging 1 point behind Northern Ireland, who defeated the Faeroe Islands in their last fixture. The last fixtures will be played in October, when Romania will play the Faeroe Islands away from home and Finland on home turf. Romania last qualified to a European Championship in 2008, when it didnt move past the group phase. Romanias Under-21 team on Tuesday is playing Armenia away from home, as part of the 2017 Under-21 European Championship. On Friday, our young players lost nil-2 to Bulgaria at home.

GEORGE ENESCU FESTIVAL – The “George Enescu International Music Festival continued in Bucharest. On Sunday, Elisabeth Leonskaja, dubbed the “last lady of the Russian school of music, held a recital. Climbing on stage was also the Hyperion ensemble, with Stephen oMalley as special guest. Until September 20, over 3,000 Romanian and foreign artists from the worlds music elite will perform live on the stage of the festival, one of the most prestigious events of its kind in Europe. This years edition brings together famous orchestras, such as the Royal Concertgebouw Amsterdam, the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, the latter under the baton of Romanian conductor Ion Marin. The agenda of the festival also includes dozens of outdoor concerts.