RRI Live!

Listen to Radio Romania International Live

September 1-5 2020

A failed censure motion

The Liberal government in Bucharest survived without trepidation on Monday the attempt by the Social Democrats to dismiss it by censure motion. The main opposition party did not manage to gather a quorum, namely 233 MPs, meaning half plus one senators and deputies. Only 226 MPs showed up. The National Liberals and their allies announced they would boycott the vote, and the session collapsed after the Hungarian Union, the UDMR, announced they would not participate. In addition, a number of Social Democratic members and members in their allied parties were no-shows. Marcel Ciolacu, chairman of the Social Democratic Party and speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, announced he would dismiss from the party the members who missed the vote. PM Ludovic Orban said that the failed motion was an extremely beneficial moment for Romania, because his government had to face pressing challenges, and needed to have freedom of action.

September 1-5 2020
September 1-5 2020

, 05.09.2020, 14:00


Campaign with face masks

The election campaign continues for the local elections slated for September 27, with the challenge of preventing the spread of the novel coronavirus. According to the Ministry of the Interior, face masks are compulsory, and anyone attending events or gatherings have to be screened, and have to disinfect their hands. The rules for individual protection and access have to be posted and be visible at all times. A safety distance of at least one meter has to be observed, and indoor events cannot be attended by more than 50 people, and cannot run more than two hours. For outdoor events, organizers have to ensure that no more than 100 people attend at any given time. This round of elections is to put in office 41 chairmen of county councils, about 3,200 mayors, over 1,300 county counselors, and over 40,000 local counselors. The election was initially scheduled for June, but was postponed because of the pandemic, and local officials had their terms extended by half a year.


COVID and relaxation

In Romania, restaurants, cafes, cinemas, and theaters reopened on September 1. Upon the recommendation of the National Committee for Emergency Situations, clubs and bars stay closed, and the re-opened units have to observe strict safety measures. Theaters and cinemas, as well as other similar venues, can fill only a maximum of half their seats. The number of people allowed at indoor private events, workshops, or training courses went up from 20 to 50, while no more than 100 people are allowed at outdoor events.


The repression in Minsk as seen from Bucharest

The Romanian Senate on Wednesday voted unanimously in favor of a declaration of solidarity with the Belarus people, calling for a stop to violence against peaceful protests, pleading for a ‘more articulate reaction’ on the part of the international community, in case the situation does not improve. Senators are calling on the authorities in Minsk to respect the right of citizens to public assembly, to abstain from illegal or excessive use of force, and to free those unjustly detained, as well as to initiate an authentic and substantial political dialog with civil society. Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu called on political detainees to be freed, along with the thousands that had been arrested in Belarus. He underlined the need for a firm and coherent European policy in relation with the Russian Federation, which supports President Aleksandr Lukashenko, who has been in power since 1994, seen by many as the last dictator in Europe. Previously, Minister Aurescu announced that Romania had earmarked one hundred thousand Euro for civil society and independent journalists in Belarus, calling once again for those guilty of abuses in the ex-Soviet state to be punished. The actions of the authorities in Minsk cannot be left without an adequate response from the EU, the head diplomat in Bucharest concluded.


Romanian Language Day

On August 31, coordinated cultural manifestations were held in Romania, the Republic of Moldova, and diaspora communities, celebrating Romanian Language Day. President Klaus Iohannis said that ‘our language defines our identity and culture, it shapes, and inspires us’. He lauded the efforts made by Romanian language teachers outside the country, who bestow upon the younger generations the heritage of the past, helping them define themselves culturally and spiritually. Romanian Language Day was declared in 2013 by the Parliament in Bucharest to superimpose with the similar event in Moldova, as an homage to the movement of national revival in the neighboring country, with a majority Romanian speaking population. On August 31, 1989, 750,000 people, around a sixth of the population of the republic, picketed Parliament in Chisinau, forcing them to declare Romanian the state language, as well as to switch to the Latin alphabet instead of the Cyrillic alphabet imposed by the occupiers after the annexation of 1940.

Eveniment top
The Week in Review Saturday, 02 November 2024

THE WEEK IN REVIEW

Electoral campaigns in Romania The electoral campaign for the parliamentary elections in Romania started on the night of Thursday to Friday and will...

THE WEEK IN REVIEW
Eveniment top
The Week in Review Saturday, 26 October 2024

THE WEEK IN REVIEW

The electoral campaign at the start The electoral campaign for the presidential elections in Romania started at midnight from Thursday to Friday and...

THE WEEK IN REVIEW
Eveniment top
The Week in Review Saturday, 19 October 2024

THE WEEK IN REVIEW

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, at the European Council meeting in Brussels The leaders of the EU countries, including the Romanian President...

THE WEEK IN REVIEW
Eveniment top
The Week in Review Saturday, 12 October 2024

THE WEEK IN REVIEW

The Central Electoral Office announced, on Thursday, the final list of candidates for this year’s presidential elections. There are 10...

THE WEEK IN REVIEW
The Week in Review Saturday, 05 October 2024

THE WEEK IN REVIEW

German support for Romania’s accession to Schengen by land The fastest possible accession of Romania to the Schengen area by land will...

THE WEEK IN REVIEW
The Week in Review Saturday, 28 September 2024

22-29 September, 2024

The first budget adjustment in 2024 This past week, the Romanian Executive adopted the first budget amendment this year. Although it was operated on...

22-29 September, 2024
The Week in Review Saturday, 21 September 2024

The Week in Review 16-20.09.2024

Aid for victims   Like the authorities in several European states, the Romanian authorities have also been on alert this week, after the severe...

The Week in Review 16-20.09.2024
The Week in Review Saturday, 14 September 2024

The Week in Review 9-15.09.2024

A new school year in Romania Schools must be absolutely safe for the students, the teaching staff and the rest of the educational staff, said, on...

The Week in Review 9-15.09.2024

Partners

Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român
Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS
Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online
Institului European din România Institului European din România
Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti
Muzeul Național de Artă al României Muzeul Național de Artă al României
Le petit Journal Le petit Journal
Radio Prague International Radio Prague International
Muzeul Național de Istorie a României Muzeul Național de Istorie a României
ARCUB ARCUB
Radio Canada International Radio Canada International
Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti” Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti”
SWI swissinfo.ch SWI swissinfo.ch
UBB Radio ONLINE UBB Radio ONLINE
Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl
creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti
italradio italradio
Institutul Confucius Institutul Confucius
BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți

Affiliates

Euranet Plus Euranet Plus
AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters
Digital Radio Mondiale Digital Radio Mondiale
News and current affairs from Germany and around the world News and current affairs from Germany and around the world
Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona

Providers

RADIOCOM RADIOCOM
Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company