March 11, 2018
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Corina Cristea, 11.03.2018, 14:04
POLITICAL SCENE – Bucharest is today the venue for the National Council of the National Liberal Party and of the National Political Bureau of the party, which have convened for the activity report meeting of the main opposition party in Romania. The Liberals intend to simplify the party joining procedure, by a resolution meant to show more openness to society and which is expected to be issued later today. Talks will also cover the measures taken by the National Liberal Party to disapprove of the actions taken by the ruling coalition made up of the Social Democratic Party-the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in Romania, PSD-ALDE. A report on the parliamentary activity of the National Liberal Party will be made public, laying emphasis on the notifications filed by the Liberals regarding the justice laws and the actions they have been started against the economic measures adopted by the ruling coalition. The Liberals consider that the transfer of social security contributions from the employer to employee has created fiscal chaos and that the law on the unified payment scheme has led to significant salary cuts. In another move, on Saturday, the main party in the ruling coalition, the Social Democratic Party, organised elections for the positions of executive president, secretary general and vice-presidents of the party. Following the elections, PM Viorica Dancila has become no.2 in the party led by Liviu Dragnea. Also on Saturday, the Political Committee of the Save Romania Union, USR, in opposition, decided to render more flexible the party joining procedure, with the declared aim that by 2020, USR should have branches in at least 80% of the countrys towns and villages.
STEEL AND ALUMINIUM TARIFFS – The US President Donald Trump says the EU might be exempted from paying the new US tariffs on steel and aluminium, if it removes commercial barriers imposed on American products. The announcement has been made by representatives of the Commission in Brussels who have also announced they have had an inconclusive meeting with Washingtons special enjoy. Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malstrom has said the US did not provide guarantees that the EU will be spared from paying the new customs duties. The introduction of tariffs on steel and aluminium imports announced by President Trump has generated strong international reactions. China has described the measure as a severe attack on the global trade system. Chinese associations have launched an appeal to the US, to give up on the idea. This has been a major promise made during Trumps election campaign, and it is now a reality: in two weeks time, new tariffs will be imposed on all countries, except for Canada, the largest steel exporter to the US, Mexico and Australia. China and the EU have warned they will take measures in response to the move and numerous people voiced concern that this step taken by the US might actually be the start of a new protectionist era. According to Donald Trump, the measure allegedly protects the US national defence and security industry.
PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF CHINA – The National Peoples Congress, NPC, the Chinese legislative body, has adopted a constitutional amendment which abolishes the limitation of the number of presidential mandates, which gives the opportunity to the incumbent Chinese head of state, Xi Jinping, to lead the country post 2023, international news agencies report. So far, the Chinese Constitution has provided for a maximum of two 5-year presidential mandates. This is the first constitutional amendment adopted by China in the past 14 years. Since he came at the helm of the Chinese Communist Party in 2012, and he became the head of state in early 2013, Xi Jinping , 64, has gradually increased his authority, laying special emphasis on propaganda and the state medias coverage of his actions, FP reports.
FLU SEASON – In Romania, the number of flu-related deaths has reached 93, after three new deaths have recently been reported, the National Centre for Infectious Disease Surveillance and Control has announced. The latest flu victims are two women, aged 72 and 52, respectively, and a man aged 56, who had not been immunized. The total number of acute respiratory infections registered over the past week exceeded 140,000, that is 67% more than in the same week of 2017, and 4.5% more than in the previous week. 1,170 flu-cases were reported since the start of the flu season until last weekend.
TRAVEL FAIR – Hundreds of visitors came to see Romanias stand at the Berlin Travel fair and tried to find information on the available tourist offers. They have been attracted at the stand by numerous singers attending the event, among which the “Romanasul folk ensemble and “The Humans band, which will represent Romania at the Eurovision Song Contest this year. Today, on the last day of the fair, visitors will have the opportunity to see the “Junii Sibiului group, which will perform folk dances and will present traditions from all of Romanias historical regions, and they will equally have the opportunity to meet Sebastian Paic, a talented craftsman, who organises egg painting workshops.(Translated by D. Vijeu)
