RRI Live!

Listen to Radio Romania International Live

A hot summer in Romanian politics

The coalition government is to face its first no-confidence vote

A hot summer in Romanian politics
A hot summer in Romanian politics

, 25.06.2018, 13:09

The coalition government led by Viorica Dancila is to face the first no-confidence vote against it. Read in Parliament on Monday, the motion will be debated and voted on this Wednesday. The accusations contained in the document are varied. Among others, the Liberals, supported by the Save Romania Union and the Peoples Movement Party, accuse the government of endangering the future of the privately managed pensions of 7 million contributors. They also condemn the recent changes to the Code of Criminal Procedure which they say threaten the act of justice, and blame the government for the inability to absorb European funds and failure to improve detention standards.



The discontent of the opposition is shared by part of civil society. In recent days, thousands of people have taken to the streets in Bucharest and other big cities to protest against the revisions to the Code of Criminal Procedure and of the justice laws. The protesters shouted anti-government slogans and demanded the cabinets resignation. On paper, the Social Democrats and their allies from the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats have the necessary votes to reject the no-confidence motion on Wednesday. Their leader, Liviu Dragnea, has given assurances that his party would continue to hold parliamentary majority together with their allies and promised that the motion would not pass.



Except the Social Democratic Party is seriously shaken and is going through a difficult moment after the High Court of Cassation and Justice in Bucharest on Thursday handed Dragnea a prison sentence of three and a half years for instigation to abuse of office while he was the head of the County Council in Teleorman, in the south. The sentence is not final and can be appealed.



Possibly in an attempt to take advantage of this situation, the president of the country Klaus Iohannis announced he would run for a second term. At least until now, Dragnea himself has been considered a potential candidate to the presidential elections of 2019. According to some commentators, after being notable more for his absence than for his presence in public life for three and a half years, Klaus Iohannis has taken a more vocal stance in recent months, criticising the Social Democratic Party. The Liberals, who say they will back Iohannis, have in fact revealed to some extent what his campaign will be based on. By launching his candidacy, says the National Liberal Party, president Iohannis is determined to fight to the death “to free Romania of the immense danger posed by Liviu Dragneas attempt to hijack it.



This summer is therefore likely to be very hot in Romanian politics, prefacing the fierce competition to come. No doubt that there will also be some surprises!


(translated by: Cristina Mateescu)

Photo: ©European Union, 2017, Source: EC - Audiovisual Service Photographer: Mauro Bottaro
Today in the News Monday, 28 April 2025

The 20th anniversary of a historic treaty

It’s been 20 years since Romania signed its EU accession treaty, which allowed it to officially become a member of the European Union on 1st...

The 20th anniversary of a historic treaty
Credits: Facebook/Sorin Grindeanu
Today in the News Monday, 28 April 2025

Additional bridges over Prut River

Romania and the Republic of Moldova will soon be connected by a new bridge over the Prut. The new bridge, for which construction works started last...

Additional bridges over Prut River
Mircea Fechet (Photo: gov.ro)
Today in the News Friday, 25 April 2025

The Environment Fund Administration gets record budget

The Environment Fund Administration this year received from the government a record budget for investments, worth over 3.2 billion euros. The money...

The Environment Fund Administration gets record budget
Minister of Education and research, Daniel David
Today in the News Friday, 25 April 2025

Measures for the Romanian education

During Thursday’s meeting, the Romanian government discussed several laws related to education. They established the legal framework for...

Measures for the Romanian education
Today in the News Thursday, 24 April 2025

A new law on the magistrates’ pensions

There are several occupational categories in Romania whose employees are usually retiring under the age of 50 and whose pensions aren’t exclusively...

A new law on the magistrates’ pensions
Today in the News Thursday, 24 April 2025

Downward forecast revision from the World Bank

According to its latest report, the World Bank expects growth in developing economies in Europe and Central Asia to slow down to 2.5% in 2025-2026...

Downward forecast revision from the World Bank
Today in the News Wednesday, 23 April 2025

From budget deficit to governmental debt

  The Romanian finance ministry reiterates Romania’s commitment to meet the 7% of GDP deficit target at the end of the year, and promises...

From budget deficit to governmental debt
Today in the News Wednesday, 23 April 2025

Romanian – German Friendship Day

A year ago, former Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, himself an ethnic German from Transylvania, promulgated the Law establishing April 21 as...

Romanian – German Friendship Day

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