June 25, 2017 UPDATE

The main political parties are completing the mandates for Mondays talks with President Klaus Iohannis for the designation of a new PM/ The Justice Ministry starts public debates on amending criminal legislation on the crime of abuse of office

Florentin Căpitănescu, 25.06.2017, 18:50

POLITICAL TALKS – The leaderships of the main political parties in Romania are completing the mandates for Mondays talks with President Klaus Iohannis, for the designation of a new prime minister. Talks are also held between political leaders to consolidate a parliamentary majority. We recall that the leftist cabinet led by Sorin Grindeanu was toppled by a no-confidence motion tabled by the ruling coalition made up of the Social Democratic Party, PSD, and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in Romania, ALDE, which supported it following the legislative elections of December 2016. The Social Democrats and their ALDE partners say they further hold a parliamentary majority and will make a nomination for a new prime minister on Monday. The centre-right opposition made up of the National Liberal Party, the Save Romania Union and the Peoples Movement Party rule out any collaboration with PSD, whereas the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania hasnt taken a clear stand so far.

CRIMINAL LEGISLATION – The Romanian Justice Ministry next week starts a series of public demands on amending criminal legislation on the “abuse of office, in agreement with the rulings issued by Romanias Constitutional Court. A debate with representatives of civil society and of the business environment is scheduled for June 28, whereas a similar meeting with representatives of institutions in the judicial system, the magistrates professional associations, members of the academia and representatives of legal liberal professions is due on July 3. The debates will be held at the ministrys headquarters. On Wednesday, the Constitutional Court ruled that criminal provisions in force regarding the crime of abuse of office are formulated in broader, vague terms. Also, the Court ruled that the provisions of an article on the prevention, discovery and punishing of corruption acts related to attempted abuse of office are not constitutional.

MILITARY EXERCISE – A Romanian-U.S. military air exercise is unfolding at the Campia Turzii Base in northwestern Romania. Participating are some 200 Romanian troops, pilots and technical staff, using MiG-21 LanceR fighters and IAR-330 Puma helicopters, alongside some 300 U.S. military, using F-15 fighters and the required technical equipment. According to the Romanian Interior Ministry, the exercise which will unfold until late August, gives the chance to Romanian military to practice tactics, techniques and standard procedures specific to air operations, at NATO standards and to carry out joint flying missions with their American partners.

DIPLOMACY – The Romanian foreign minister, Teodor Melescanu, and his Georgian counterpart, Mikheil Janelidze, on Sunday exchanged messages of congratulations marking 25 years since the inception of bilateral diplomatic relations. According to the Romanian Foreign Ministry, Romania is one of the most constant and staunchest supporters of Georgia’ European and Euro-Atlantic aspirations. The very good political dialogue between the two countries materialised in many bilateral meetings, which have been on the rise particularly in recent years, both at ministerial and expert level. Romania recognised the independence of the former Soviet Republic of Georgia in August 1991 and bilateral diplomatic relations were established in June 1992.

ENERGY – The price of energy in Romania is still at high levels in the first half of the year and there are no signs that prices will go down, says the president of the Association of Electricity Suppliers, Ion Lungu. According to him, the situation is not specific to Romania alone, but to the entire region, and it is caused by a lack of cheap energy sources, such as hydro and wind energy, against the backdrop of an increasing consumption. In another move, the National Energy Regulatory Agency on Friday announced electricity prices for domestic consumers will increase by 8% as of July 1.