November 21, 2017 UPDATE
Click here for a round-up of domestic and international news
Newsroom, 21.11.2017, 20:02
ANTI-CORRUPTION – The Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies and the leader of the ruling Social Democratic Party, Liviu Dragnea on Tuesday went to the headquarters of the National Anti-Corruption Directorate, where anti-corruption prosecutors informed him that his assets have been sequestered in the so-called Teldrum file. The investigators want to make sure that the prejudice estimated at over 20 million Euros and 30 million lei (approximately 6.5 million Euros) in the aforementioned file, which involves a total number of nine persons, will be recovered. Dragnea is prosecuted for setting up a crime group, abuse of office and financial crime, when he was the president of the Teleroman County Council, in southern Romania. According to the anti-corruption prosecutors, the file was based on a notification from the European Anti-Fraud Office raising suspicions of several offences, such as illegally obtaining European funds, based on fake documents, to rehabilitate county roads. Dragnea is also investigated in another file, at the High Court of Cassation and Justice, where he is accused of instigation to abuse of office, whereas in another file he got a two year suspended sentence, for having urged PSD local representatives across the country, in his capacity as Secretary General of the Social Democratic Party, to illegally determine people to go to the polls and vote in after in a 2012 referendum.
PATRIOT MISSILES – The bill on the purchase of Patriot missile defence systems from the US was fully endorsed on Tuesday by the Romanian Chamber of Deputies, which is the decision making forum in this matter. Previously, the bill was endorsed by the Senate. Romania wants to purchase seven Patriot systems, whose total value stands at some 3.9 billion dollars. The first system, costing 765 million dollars is to be purchased by the end of the year.
CHILDREN – The Chamber of Deputies on Tuesday decided to set up the Children’s Ombudsman, in an effort to protect and promote children’ rights. The Children’s Ombudsman, which will function as part of the bigger Ombudsman institution, will have as prerogatives, among others, solving individual notifications sent by children or their representatives, actions taken by the line public institutions and notifications of cases of violation of child rights. Romania becomes the 36th European country to have an independent institution or a specialised department devoted to children.
STATE BUDGET — The coalition government in Bucharest might adopt the draft state budget for 2018 on November 29, the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Liviu Dragnea, said on Tuesday. According to him, after the National Day of Romania, celebrated on December 1, debates on the draft budget might start in the line parliamentary committees. Dragnea also said that by November 29, the government will have also set the national minimum wage.
CENSURE MOTION – The Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania has decided to abstain from voting on the no-confidence motion filed by the right-wing opposition against the Government formed by the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in Romania. The leader of the union Kelemen Hunor has stated that he agrees with some of the statements included in the motion, but has blamed the initiators for not providing alternatives to the current prime-minister and his governing programme. Signed by senators and deputies members of the National Liberal Party, the Save Romania Union and the People’s Movement Party, the motion accuses the Executive that, through its policies, has deeply disturbed Romanian economy. In response, the Prime Minister Mihai Tudose has stated that, thanks to the latest fiscal reform, more money will get to the state budget and to the pension fund and companies will benefit from simplified procedures.
GERMANY – Consultations have started in Germany on ways to exit the political crisis triggered by the Conservatives, the Liberals and the Greens failing to reach consensus on the formation of the new Government. The president of the country Frank Walter Steinmeier, who, according to the Constitution, must manage the crisis, has announced his intention to hold talks with all the political parties that could be part of the Government headed by Angela Merkel. We recall that her party won the legislative elections of September 24th. Steinmeier has excluded the participation of the far-right Alternative for Germany and the far-left Die Linke parties, as Angela Merkel refuses to engage in a dialogue with them. Also, the president has rejected the idea of early elections. According to the outcome of the September elections, Angela Merkel can only head a coalition government, as she excludes the alternative of a minority executive.
GAUDEAMUS BOOK FAIR – For the first time in its history, the GAUDEAMUS International Book Fair, organised this year by Radio Romania between the 22nd and the 26th of November, will have as the guest of honour not a country, but a Union, namely the European Union, through the Representation of the European Commission in Romania. This year’s edition is special, as it marks 60 years since the signing of the Roma Treaty, 30 years since the launch of the Erasmus programme and also 10 years since Romania joined the European Union. Under the motto “unity in diversity”, the European Union encourages people to discover and explore the rich cultural heritage of the old continent. This year’s edition will enjoy the participation of 300 exhibitors and will host more than 800 events.
