The Week in Review 4-10 January

A round-up of the main events of the week in Romania in politics, economy, society, culture and sports.

Mihai Pelin, 10.01.2015, 13:55

Romania condemns the deadly attacks in Paris

Romania firmly condemns terrorism and all violence against freedom of speech and the values of democracy, was the message made public by the authorities in Bucharest following Wednesday’s terrorist attack on the Paris office of the Charlie Hebdo magazine. The attack is a cruel and cowardly act, says Romania’s president Klaus Iohannis, who has assured his country’s partners of Romania’s full support in the fight against terrorism and any form of extremism. Prime minister Victor Ponta has also expressed his country’s solidarity with France and has firmly condemned the act of terrorism that threatens fundamental freedoms. The Romanian foreign minister Bogdan Aurescu has voiced outrage at the attack, which he has described as unprecedented. The entire international community has condemned the Islamist attack in Paris in harsh words, and most western states have increased their terror threat level. The Romanian Intelligence Service has said there is no indication that terrorist attacks are being planned in Romania and that there is no need to increase the level of terrorist threat, which remains “cautious”. Founded in 1969 and sold in 45,000 copies, Charlie Hebdo publishes caricatures, reports and controversial and non-conformist content about the far right, Catholicism, Judaism, culture and politics.

Judge Marius Tudose is the new president of the Superior Council of Magistracy in Romania

The Superior Council of Magistracy in Romania has elected its new leaders: judge Marius Tudose is the body’s new president, while prosecutor Bogdan Gabor its new vice-president. 42-year-old Tudose says his goal is to improve the efficiency and quality of the judiciary. A magistrate for the last 20 years, he has been a member of the Superior Council of Magistracy since 2011. President Klaus Iohannis, who attended the Council’s meeting, spoke about the need to have an independent and competent justice system with honest judges and prosecutors. He urged magistrates not to give in to intimidation, assuring them that he will be their loyal partner. With regard to the European Commission’s Mechanism for Cooperation and Verification, which assesses Romania’s judicial progress, Iohannis said it remains a useful instrument for Romania. He said, however, that Romania’s legal system must start working better so as to make the Mechanism unnecessary.

The Romanian President Klaus Iohannis wants a higher budget for the Defense Ministry

The Romanian president Klaus Iohannis talked with prime minister Victor Ponta about the defence funds for 2015 and about a possible allocation of 0.3% of the GDP for financing military expenses in 2015. Actually the president convened the parliamentary parties for consultations on this topic on Monday. The purpose of the consultations is to reach a political agreement that should ensure a minimum 2% of the GDP threshold for defence in 2017. Other topics approached at the working meeting called by the President were the degree of European funds absorption as well as ways to improve it.

The National Bank of Romania reduces the monetary policy interest rate

The National Bank of Romania has reduced the monetary policy interest rate from 2.75% to 2.5%. This is a new historic low, the central bank thus remaining consistent with its actions meant to boost crediting in the national currency. In 2014 the National Bank of Romania reduced the monetary policy interest rate on several occasions, from 4% per year to 2.75%. According the governor Mugur Isarescu, the decision follows a drop in the annual inflation rate under the forecast value, as a consequence of the decline in volatile prices and of the low inflation rate in the Euro zone.

As of February 1st all Romanians will have to use their national health insurance cards

In Romania the national health insurance card will become compulsory as of February 1st. Over 12.5 million cards have been issued and about 90% of them have been distributed so far. The health cards’ distribution should have been finalised in November 2014, but around 1 million cards did not reach their holders. Family doctors must activate the cards by January 31st for them to become operational. They announced they firmly rejected the possibility to distribute the cards that have not reached their holders.

Bucharest hosted the Gala of the League of Romanian Students Abroad

The young Romanians who obtained the best results at academic and extra-curricular level abroad, received awards in Bucharest at the Gala of the League of Romanian Students Abroad. The 6th edition of the Gala gathered almost 800 students, personalities of the Romanian society, diplomats, civil society representatives as well as journalists. The Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu, who attended the Gala, said that he wanted Romanian students abroad to find the opportunities that should make them return to Romania.

Romania saw a sharp drop in temperatures

Romania has been in the grips of frost for several days. The lowest temperature reported in 2015 stood at minus 34 degrees C and was registered in Intorsura Buzaului, in the centre of the country.