Parliament and the Elections
The Romanian Government has set a date for the legislative elections this year, and has modified the voting procedure for Romanians abroad.
Mihai Pelin, 01.09.2016, 14:32
The Government in Bucharest has set the date for the legislative elections this year for December 11. The election campaign will unfold over November 11- December 10. Although the lawmakers had few options at their disposal to choose from, they opted for the second Sunday of the month of December.
Liviu Iolu, Government spokesman, explains: “Following consultations, we noticed that a majority of parliamentary parties are in favor of this date, December 11, namely the National Liberal Party, the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania, the Peoples Movement Party and the National Union for the Progress of Romania. Only the Social-Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats from Romania supported the date of December 4.
The Government has also operated certain changes to the manner in which Romanians in the Diaspora will be able to vote. Maria Ligor, Minister for Relations with Romanians Worldwide, said the measures are aimed primarily at removing certain technical barriers in the way of the voting process. Romanians can thus vote either by post, or at the polling stations set up with diplomatic missions, or in other polling stations set up based on the request of at least 100 Romanians residing in a certain area.
Minister Maria Ligor: “Romanians living or residing abroad can vote in any polling station on the additional lists, irrespective of the polling station they choose.
In another move, Parliament resumed its activity on September 1. The leaders of the main parliamentary factions say the main priorities for this months agenda are draft laws in the social, economic, health care and education sectors.
Social-Democrat leader Liviu Dragnea: “We are discussing about the Diaspora, we are interested in this topic, we are also discussing a draft law providing future Governments with a tool that should help create production capabilities.
On the other hand, the Liberals, too, have many legislative initiatives in store. Adriana Saftoiu, Liberal spokesperson: “We will submit the law on the statute of local elected officials, the law on the code of incompatibility for elected officials, the law on gender representation in politics, the law on prevention in healthcare, the law on making 10 May National Independence Day or the patronage law.
The list of draft laws awaiting Parliaments debate and approval also includes the 5% slash of social security contributions, the lawyers law, the law lifting the total ban on smoking in enclosed spaces or the law on prevention in the healthcare system.
(Translated by V. Palcu, edited by D. Vijeu)
