RRI Live!

Listen to Radio Romania International Live

Postal voting, debated in Parliament

The Senate has passed the draft law on postal voting.

Postal voting, debated in Parliament
Postal voting, debated in Parliament

, 20.10.2015, 13:15

Nearly a year after the presidential election in Romania, which sparked a huge scandal that went beyond the countrys borders, the Parliament in Bucharest is preparing to pass the draft law on postal voting. It took queuing for hours in front of embassy buildings abroad, with hundreds of thousands of Romanians still not being able to cast their vote, for the Romanian political class to take action.



The scandal resulted in two Foreign Ministers losing their mandate and entailed heated debates in Parliament. Power and opposition accused each other of lack of action, delaying the vote and ill will. On Monday however, the Senate passed the draft law on postal voting. Drafted by the Permanent Election Authority and sanctioned by parliamentary parties, the document stipulates that people residing abroad who want to vote by post in legislative, presidential or European elections shall register with the Election Bureau either in a written letter submitted to the local embassy or by filling in an online form. Liberal Senators have welcomed the project. Liberal Senator Ion Popa says the law had been much anticipated in the Diaspora:



I can see the efforts of Liberal MPs, also including our token strike, have not been futile, and therefore I want to thank Social-Democrat MPs for their wise choice. It is a law the Romanians have long expected.



In turn, Social-Democrat Senator Mihai Fifor underlined the importance of the law:



I will refer to a promise we have kept, a promise the Social-Democratic Party made to voters in the Diaspora, to Romanians there, and which we are keeping today. We pledged to submit the law to Parliament within a week, and today, ladies and gentlemen, the law stands before you, flawed as it may be, but it will reach the Chamber of Deputies. There it can be further amended.



Even so, the draft law was not passed unanimously. The Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania and the Liberal-Conservative Group ALDE did not vote in favour, arguing the bill raises a number of questions. As for president Klaus Iohannis, he hailed the passing of the law by the Senate, expressing hope the bill will be passed next week. President Klaus Iohannis:



I am very happy the Senate voted the draft law on postal voting and I continue to hope the parties will be just as enthusiastic about it, and that by next week we will have such a law.



The draft law will be submitted to the Chamber of Deputies, the decision-making body in this matter.

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
Photo: pixabay.com
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
Foto: Mediamodifier / pixabay.com
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
Today in the News Tuesday, 22 April 2025

Romania reacts to the Pope’s Death

Pope Francis passed away on Monday, the second day of Easter, after 12 years of pontificate, and the emotion caused by his disappearance crossed the...

Romania reacts to the Pope’s Death
Today in the News Thursday, 17 April 2025

Christians before Easter

The Orthodox Christians in Romania are preparing to celebrate Easter – the feast of light and joy, considered the greatest celebration of...

Christians before Easter

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