November 1, 2021

A roundup of domestic and international news

Newsroom, 01.11.2021, 13:55

Covid — Latest data related to the Covid pandemic show a decrease in the number of infections in Romania, but many deaths are still reported. The Strategic Communication Group on Monday reported almost 7,000 new cases of COVID in the last 24 hours and 322 associated deaths. Compared to the previous Monday, the number of cases reported is by almost 2,200 cases smaller. On Mondays, however, fewer cases are usually reported compared to the other days of the week, as fewer tests are performed on Sundays. At the same time, almost 89 thousand people have been vaccinated in the last 24 hours, of whom over 57,500 with the first dose. The number of fully vaccinated people exceeds 6.2 million. The vaccination campaign has gained momentum recently, and the authorities estimate that, if the rate is maintained, 70% of the people over the age of 12 could be vaccinated by the end of the year. A medical team from Germany is in Romania to evaluate Romanian COVID patients who might be transferred to hospitals in that country. A German air force aircraft is also available today to evacuate the patients.

Government – The fate of the minority government made up of the National Liberal Party — PNL and the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania-UDMR led by Nicolae Ciucă will be decided in Parliament this week. The ministers proposed by the prime minister designate will be heard on Tuesday, in the commissions of the Parliament’s two Chambers. The investiture of the new executive and the governing program will be voted in the Parliament’s plenum meeting on Wednesday. The prime minister designate, Nicolae Ciuca, hopes that he will be able to gather the necessary number of votes, namely 234, and calls on MPs to be responsible to overcome the situation caused by the pandemic. The Liberal leader, who is interim Prime Minister, Florin Cîţu, is optimistic that the PNL-UDMR minority government will be voted in Parliament. UDMR says it will continue with the PNL in a minority government, even if there is no majority for investment yet. The negotiations of the prime minister designate with the Social Democrats – PSD, which has the largest parliamentary group, and with Save Romania Union – USR, a former junior partner in the Cîţu government, did not lead to the formation of a majority to give him the investiture vote. The governing program for which the minority government PNL-UDMR asks for a vote of confidence on Wednesday in Parliament, provides, among other things, for urgent measures to manage the health crisis, to reduce the impact of rising energy prices, to reform the pension system and also to reform the public sector salary law. Marcel Ciolacu, the Social Democrats’ leader, announced on Sunday that he was dissatisfied with the minority government’s program, because, in his opinion, it would make the lives of Romanians more difficult. USR have announced that they will not vote for a minority government, because they want to rebuild the coalition.

Summit — Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis is attending, as of today, a two-day World Leaders Summit as part of the United Nations Climate Change Conference 2021 (COP26) hosted by Glasgow, Scotland. According to a press release, during the meeting, the Romanian head of state will deliver the speech ‘the National Declaration’, in which he will convey Romanias stand, with emphasis on the steps taken by Bucharest to limit the effects of climate change. At the same time, the Romanian president will participate in events in a multilateral and bilateral format on the theme of nature-based solutions to the problem of climate change and the reduction of emissions in the energy system. The day before the Glasgow summit, the G20 leaders reached an agreement on limiting global warming. According to the Radio Romania News and Current Affairs channel’s correspondent, on Sunday, the G20 leaders reached, in Rome, an agreement on limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius compared to the pre-industrial period. The leaders of the worlds most developed economies have pledged to jointly allocate 100 billion dollars per year to finance the fight against climate change and to implement the new rules by 2023 for a more stable and equitable international tax system and for a minimum profit tax of 15% worldwide. They also pledged to help distribute COVID-19 vaccines better and faster in low- and middle-income countries, as well as to maintain uninterrupted energy flows and to promote open, competitive and free international energy markets.

Radio Day — The Romanian public radio celebrates, on Monday, 93 years since its first broadcast, on November 1, 1928. The anniversary takes place in pandemic conditions and, unlike other years, in an atmosphere of severe austerity. Since its establishment, the Public Radio has continuously broadcasted all the significant events in the history of Romania. In recognition of the decisive role in the history of our country, the Romanian Parliament established November 1 as the National Radio Day. In a congratulations message, the US Embassy said that the freedom of the press and the freedom of expression are fundamental in any democratic regime, and this day is dedicated to radio journalists, who often expose themselves to a high risk in this precarious health environment in their attempt to report on issues that otherwise could not be heard. For the Romanians abroad, Public Radio is a way to keep in touch with their home country.

Media – Several media organizations, federations and trade unions from the Romanian Public Radio Corporation – SRR and the Romanian Public Television Corporation – SRTV request the Parliament to unblock the functioning of the Public Radio and Romanian Television. Their representatives show that after the terms in office of the interim Presidents and Directors General expired, on October 29, the two institutions no longer have a leadership and demand the appointment of interim managers to manage day-to-day activities and also to organize, according to the law, elections for the appointment of the employees’ representatives in the future managing boards. The institutions are practically in an organizational and legislative vacuum, which prevents current payments, the payment of salaries, other current measures necessary for their functioning. (LS)