RRI Live!

Listen to Radio Romania International Live

Romanian Parliament Starts the Spring Session

Parliament's spring session seems to be centered around the upcoming local elections.

Romanian Parliament Starts the Spring Session
Romanian Parliament Starts the Spring Session

, 01.02.2016, 13:10

Romanian deputies
and senators got back to work on Monday when Parliament’s first session this
year started. Their activity in the upcoming period will
be defined by preparations for the local elections due in June and
parliamentary elections at year-end. The resignation, last November, of the
coalition government controlled by the Social Democrats and its replacement
with a technocratic government have been regarded by some as convenient, as it
gives ambitious politicians time to prepare for their encounter with an
electorate that is increasingly disappointed with political leaders.

Many of the country’s politicians have been
brought to justice for corruption and for pursuing an agenda of their own that
has nothing to do with the goals of the communities they promised to represent
when they asked for their vote. From this perspective, the first Parliament
session this year will not be spared by controversy, generated mostly by
disagreements over the current election law, which stipulates that mayors will
be elected in just one round of voting. Less
than six months ahead of the locals, the National Liberal Party wants the
election law changed back to its previous form, namely to the two-round
system of voting. The Liberals’ initiative is
only supported by a small party, namely the People’s Movement Party.


Another priority for the Romanian MPs is the law on equity swap,
protecting people who took out loans to buy a house. Under the new bill, the debtor has the right to pay off the mortgage
loan by transferring to the lender the ownership right over the mortgaged
property in favour of the creditor, without further payment. President Klaus
Iohannis sent this bill back to Parliament to be re-examined at the end of last
year. According to the Social Democratic Party, the bill needs to support
citizens who are unable to pay their bank instalments, without, however,
having a great impact on the banking
system. The Social Democrats also want to bring the law in line with the
Constitutional Court’s decisions and resume debates on the revision of the
Criminal Code and Criminal Procedure Code.

This move has been triggered by the
criticism that the European Commission levelled against Romania under the
latest Cooperation and Verification Mechanism. Romania needs a coherent set of
laws that should convince Brussels of the fact that Parliament supports the
judiciary. Parliament’s green lighting the anti-corruption prosecutors’
requests to bring to justice some of its members suspected of corruption is
also a must. One such request was made by anti-corruption prosecutors for the
criminal investigation of former deputy prime minister and Interior Minister
Gabriel Oprea, for malfeasance in office.


The Parliament’s spring agenda also includes laws with social and
budgetary impact, some of them hiding some electoral interests as well. Talks
on the privileges that Romanian MPs have granted themselves, such as increased
salaries for some of them and special pensions for current and former
Parliament members and mayors will also be tackled.

Signing of the protocol (foto:
Today in the News Friday, 22 November 2024

Transition program towards F-35, launched

The Romanian Air Force’s transition program to 5th generation aircraft has been launched.   Romania’s decision to acquire advanced fighter...

Transition program towards F-35, launched
Energy (foto: EdWhiteImages / pixabay.com)
Today in the News Friday, 22 November 2024

The National Energy Strategy, adopted

Using local resources, reducing imports and making massive investments in production capacity are important elements of the new National Energy...

The National Energy Strategy, adopted
European Commission (photo: © European Union - Source: EC - Audiovisual Service / Photographer: Christophe Licoppe)
Today in the News Thursday, 21 November 2024

Political agreement on the new European Commission

    The leaders of the three major political groups in the European Parliament have given the green light to the members of the next...

Political agreement on the new European Commission
Photo: aep.ro
Today in the News Thursday, 21 November 2024

13 for Romania

    In Romania, presidential elections usually spark the greatest interest and emotions. Even more so this year, when the two rounds of the...

13 for Romania
Today in the News Wednesday, 20 November 2024

Romania’s natural gas, available for trading

On Tuesday, the Romanian company Romgaz launched its first issue of bonds on the Bucharest Stock Exchange, worth 500 million EUR. Romgaz is the...

Romania’s natural gas, available for trading
Today in the News Tuesday, 19 November 2024

Romania ahead of the presidential election

Next month, President Klaus Iohannis will end his second and last five-year term in office according to the Romanian Constitution. The so-called...

Romania ahead of the presidential election
Today in the News Tuesday, 19 November 2024

Romania’s Prime Minister on a visit to Brussels

NATO welcomes Romania’s continuous efforts and its significant contribution to strengthening the Alliance and Euro-Atlantic security, NATO...

Romania’s Prime Minister on a visit to Brussels
Today in the News Monday, 18 November 2024

Downward forecast from the European Commission

Romania’s economic growth estimate has been recalculated by the European Commission (EC), at a value well below the initially established...

Downward forecast from the European Commission

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