January 28, 2016
For a roundup of domestic and international events, click here.
Newsroom, 28.01.2016, 12:00
LOCAL ELECTIONS – Romanian Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos will meet with leaders of parliamentary parties over the next days to discuss the reintroduction of the two-ballot vote for local elections. Previously President Klaus Iohannis said the Liberals initiative to return to the two-ballot system was a good idea, while the decision rested with the Government and the parties. Apart from the Liberals, only the Peoples Movement Party has publicly expressed support for the change of system. While the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats from Romania originally supported the move, it has recently displayed reluctance. The Social-Democratic Party and the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians have clearly opposed the move. The National Union for the Progress of Romania, a party that wants to submit candidates jointly with the Social-Democrats, has so far taken no official stand in the matter. Last year Parliament passed a law package maintaining the single-ballot system for local elections, at the time rallying the support of the Social-Democrats and the Liberals.
NATO OPERATIONS – The Second Infantry Battalion Calugareni is today leaving for Afghanistan, where it will take part in the NATO Resolute Support mission. Our infantry will ensure the protection of the military base in Kandahar, in the south, and will provide military training to Afghan security forces. The Romanian military so far took part in NATO-led international missions in Afghanistan, Angola and Iraq, and were often decorated for their professionalism. The Resolute Support mission was launched last year, after the NATO-led ISAF mission to Afghanistan came to an end.
CORRUPTION – The High Court of Cassation and Justice in Bucharest on Thursday decided to place Senator Dan Sova under legal restrictions pending trial, after he was originally placed on house arrest. Dan Sova is accused of having received 100 thousand euros in bribes in exchange for using his influence over the head of a state-owned energy company to make it sign a contract with a particular law firm. In another corruption case involving former Transport Minister Dan Sova the former Social-Democrat Prime Minister Victor Ponta, who stepped down last November, is also being investigated.
MOLDOVA – The ultimatum given by the protesters expires today in Moldova. Protesters want the Government to step down and to have early elections. After the Filip Cabinet was sworn in last week, thousands of protesters took to the streets in Chisinau, protesting against the political class. Protest leaders have warned unless the Government meets their demands they will move to blocking national roads and causing civil unrest. On Tuesday, Pavel Filip made his first official visit as Prime Minister to neighbouring Romania. Both President Klaus Iohannis and Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos expressed their support for Moldovas European integration efforts, although calling for stepping up reforms and the fight against corruption.
SHIPWRECK – At least 12 migrants, of whom 8 children, have died in a new shipwreck off the coast of the Greek island Samos in the Aegean Sea. Another 20 people are missing. Another shipwreck on Wednesday killed two children, after last Friday no less than 45 immigrants died trying to illegally cross the Aegean Sea. Overall, the number of people who arrived in Europe this year via the Mediterranean stands at 40,200 people, of whom 80% come from conflict areas, according to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). 200 people have died or gone missing since January 1, 2016.
ZIKA VIRUS – The Zika virus, seen as inducing microcephaly in newborn babies, poses no threat to Romania at present, medical professor Alexandru Rafila, the head of the Romanian Microbiology Society has said. The virus is carried by a tropical mosquito and is currently causing an epidemic on both the American continents. Brazil is affected the most. Thousands have been infected, and the virus has so far spread to 20 countries. According to the World Health Organization, the virus has been identified in six European countries: Great Britain, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Denmark and Switzerland. A special debate on this topic is today place in Geneva.
TENNIS – Romanian tennis player Simona Halep, the worlds no. 2 player, was drafted into Romanias team for the Fedcup match against the Czech Republic scheduled to take place on February 6 and 7 in Cluj Napoca. Previously Halep said she wouldnt play, as she had to undergo surgery to correct her nasal septum deviation. Romanias team also includes Irina Begu, 31st ranked in WTA standings, Monica Niculescu, ranked 40th and Andreea Mitu, ranked 96th. The Czech Republics team is led by Petra Kvitova, ranked 7th in WTA standings. In other news from tennis, the pair made up of Horia Tecau of Romania and Coco Vandeweghe of the United States has qualified to the mixed doubles at the Australian Open, after defeating Bob Bryan of the US and Bethanie Mattek-Sands, the competitions second seeds. The Romanian-American pair will next play Andreja Klepac of Slovenia and Treat Huey of the Philippines in the semi-finals.
