November 6, 2023

A roundup of domestic and international news

Newsroom, 06.11.2023, 13:55

Hostages. The Romanian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Luminiţa Odobescu, had a telephone conversation with her Egyptian counterpart, Sameh Shoukri, about the situation of the Romanian citizens in Gaza who requested support for their evacuation. The Romanian official appealed to the Egyptian authorities to treat with priority the evacuation requests of the Romanian citizens, when the Rafah border point becomes functional again. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is prepared to provide consular support for the safe evacuation of Romanian citizens and family members who requested this, Luminita Odobescu said, and the Egyptian official assured that the authorities in Cairo are paying special attention to the request. Luminita Odobescu mentioned that more than 260 Romanian citizens and members of their families want to be evacuated from Gaza, and negotiations are underway. Previously, the Romanian foreign minister had a conversation with her Israeli counterpart, also approaching the situation of the six Romanians with dual citizenship held hostage in the Gaza Strip. The Embassy of Romania in Tel Aviv and the Consulate General of Romania in Haifa maintain contact with the Israeli authorities.

Offensive. The Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip continues with intensity, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says it will not stop until the hostages taken by Hamas are released. The Israeli military has released images and video footage that it claims are evidence that Hamas is using hospitals in the northern Gaza Strip as cover for military operations. The UN, which has renewed its call for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, says that 70% of Palestinians in the area have left their homes and are now sheltering in schools or hospitals. Meanwhile, the American government intensified its diplomatic moves in the Middle East. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is discussing today in Ankara with his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, and in a phone call with world leaders, Vice President Kamala Harris will ask for more aid and increased protection for civilians. Meanwhile, CIA Director William Burns is in Israel to discuss, among other things, intensified intelligence cooperation. William Burns will meet with regional leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as well as his counterparts from several Middle Eastern countries. Over the weekend, protests were held around the world against Israels continued attacks on Gaza, and in Tel Aviv thousands of Israelis joined a demonstration organized by the families of the 240 hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.

Cash payments. Limiting cash payments to lower ceilings than before will be discussed today by the Social-Democratic prime minister Marcel Ciolacu with representatives of commercial banks. The topic has gained momentum in the last few days and after some banks notified customers of their intention to raise the commissions for deposits and withdrawals over the counter – a decision harshly criticized by the Prime Minister of Romania. The executive has capped cash payments in order to eliminate evasion. Between a natural person and a legal entity, cash payments of a maximum of 5,000 lei per day (about 1,000 euros) can be made, and between two natural persons a maximum of 10,000 lei (about 2,000 euros). Also, these amounts are to be halved starting January 1st, 2025. Nicolae Ciucă, the leader of the National Liberal Party, a member of the ruling coalition alongside the Social Democratic Party, believes that the measure must be re-discussed in the coalition, since, he says, not all Romanians can be considered tax evaders and citizens have the right and freedom to use their money as they wish.

Election. The acting mayor of Chisinau, the former Socialist Ion Ceban, a rival of President Maia Sandu, won the local elections in the capital of the Republic of Moldova in the first round, according to the partial results announced by the Central Electoral Commission after the centralization of votes from almost all polling stations in the city. Ceban, who now ran on behalf of the National Alternative Movement, of which he is the president, was supported by over 50% of all citizens who went to the polls in Chisinau. In second place is the candidate of the ruling Action and Solidarity Party, Lilian Carp, who got some 28% of the votes. Coming in third and fourth are the candidate of the Socialist Party, Adrian Albu, and Victor Chironda from the Justice and Truth Platform respectively, each with about 4%. In the local elections held on Sunday, 27 people ran for Chisinau mayors office. The regional vote is considered an important test before next years presidential and parliamentary elections. According to Radio Chisinau, this years local elections took place against the background of unprecedented accusations regarding Russias interference in the electoral process in the Republic of Moldova. (MI)