The Week in Review (June 10-15, 2019)

A look at some of the main stories in Romania this week.

România Internațional, 15.06.2019, 12:21

The opposition has filed a new censure motion against the Government

The right-wing opposition in Romania
has filed a new censure motion against the ruling coalition Government, which
will be voted next week. 233 MPs need to
vote the motion in order to pass. The National Liberal Party, the Save Romania
Union and the People’s Movement Party in opposition also need the support of
the Pro Romania party headed by the former Social Democrat PM Victor Ponta, by
the MPs of the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania (UDMR), of the
other national minorities and even of the ruling coalition. On the other hand,
Prime Minister Dancila has asked the Social Democratic MPs to be present at the
meeting to secure the quorum but not to cast their vote.

Simple motion filed against the Foreign Minister

Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu
this week survived a simple motion filed by the National Liberal Party, Save
Romania Union and People’s Movement Party in opposition, regarding voting
issues reported at the European Parliament election and justice referendum on
May 26 in the Diaspora. The motion was rejected by the Senate’s plenary sitting
on Tuesday. The initiators of the motion say Melescanu and the Foreign Ministry
organised the elections abroad in an irresponsible manner. In turn, the Foreign
Minister apologised to Romanians in the Diaspora for the situation, claiming
however the Foreign Ministry fulfilled all its legal obligations. Melescanu
announced consultations would be held at the embassies that reported problems
in order to find out who is responsible and to prevent such situations from
ever happening.

Political agreement for a European Romania

The National Political Agreement on
consolidating Romania’s European track proposed by President Klaus Iohannis was
signed on Thursday by the leaders of opposition parties – the National Liberal
Party, the Save Romania Union, PRO Romania Party and the People’s Movement
Party. The parties agreed to support the efforts of transposing into national
law the results of the May 26 European Parliament election and justice referendum
and correct the controversial modifications brought to the justice laws in the
last couple of years. The Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians, a former
partner of the ruling coalition made up of the Social Democratic Party and the
Alliance of Liberals and Democrats, announced it would sign the agreement next
week. Coalition parties refused to sign the agreement.

The President has again criticised
the Social Democrats, saying the number of amendments they requested exceeds
the articles in the agreement. The President pointed out the other parties are
free to sign the agreement whenever they want. In his speech the President
insisted on the need to change the Constitution and the election law.

Political deadlock in the Republic of Moldova

As a member of the European Union
and a country with a special relationship with the neighbouring Republic of
Moldova, with which it shares a common language, history and culture, Romania
is concerned about the latest developments in Chisinau. Bucharest is worried about
the unprecedented political deadlock in this ex-Soviet state with a majority
Romanian-speaking population, where two governments contest each other’s
legitimacy.

The Romanian authorities have called
for calm in ensuring a peaceful exit to the crisis. President Klaus Iohannis has
sent a letter to the president of the European Council Donald Tusk and the
president of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker calling on them to
identify, as soon as possible, together with the EU member states, concrete
actions to end the current situation through a solution negotiated with the
Republic of Moldova based on the values and principles of the European Union.
Klaus Iohannis believes this crisis, which takes place in Romania’s immediate
vicinity, is a high stake when it comes to the regional stability and security
and which the Union and its member states cannot ignore. Romania believes that
in a democratic state the will of the citizens as expressed in the
parliamentary elections in February and reflected in Parliament’s political
make-up is the only means to ensure a legitimate political process.

Romania is faced with a rainy summer and hot summer

For several weeks now, Romania has
been faced with heavy rain, wind, hail storms and flooding, which have affected
almost all of the country. The unstable weather has been complemented for a few
days by heat. The heavy rainfalls and flooding have caused a lot of damage, but
fortunately no human losses. Hundreds of houses and farmsteads have been
flooded and road travel has been disrupted, with sections of county, national
and European roads being blocked by flash floods. Crops have also been damaged
by hail storms and flooding.

The 26th Sibiu International Theatre Festival gets under way

3,300 performers and special guests
from 73 different countries have descended on Sibiu beginning on the 14th
of June for the 26th edition of the city’s international theatre
festival, whose theme this year is The art of giving. According to the
organisers, the festival is a celebration of beauty that brings together
participants from all corners of the globe from the world of theatre, dance,
contemporary circus, music and film, as well as featuring conferences, book
launches and exhibitions among others. The Sibiu International Theatre Festival
is the biggest and most complex event of its kind in Romania and even Europe,
and Radio Romania is one of its co-producers.