April 29, 2024 UPDATE
A roundup of domestic and international news
Newsroom, 29.04.2024, 19:48
PASSION WEEK. The Holy Week started on Monday for the Orthodox and Greek-Catholic believers, the last week before Easter, in which they commemorate the Passion of Jesus Christ. In churches, believers participate every evening in special services called Denii, in which the last moments of Jesus’ life, before the crucifixion, are recalled. The most important are the mass of the 12 Gospels on Maundy Thursday and the mass of the Lord’s Prophecy on Good Friday.
ELECTIONS. The former mayor of Bucharest between 2016 and 2020, Gabriela Firea, submitted her new candidacy for the capital city’s town hall, representing the Social Democratic Party (PSD). Previously, Sebastian Burduja also registered his candidacy at the Central Election Bureau, as candidate of the National Liberal Party (PNL), which rules Romania alongside the PSD. The current mayor, Nicuşor Dan, supported by the United Right Alliance (USR, PMP, FD), Cristian Popescu Piedone, supported by the Social-Liberal Humanist Party (extra-parliamentary), and Mihai Enache, from AUR (nationalist opposition) are also running for mayor of Bucharest. Tuesday is the last day on which candidacies can be submitted for the local elections due on June 9. According to a new survey, published on Sunday, the current mayor of Bucharest, Nicuşor Dan, ranks first in Bucharesters’ voting intentions, with 31%. He is followed by Gabriela Firea, with 24%, and Cristian Popescu Piedone with 20%. Sebastian Burduja would get 15%, and Mihai Enache – 7%. The Avangarde survey was conducted between April 24-27 and has a margin of error of plus – minus 2.9%.
EP. The European Parliament launched on Monday morning a video promoting the European Elections due in June, as part of the second stage of its communication campaign, which takes place under the slogan “Use your vote. Or others will decide for you”. Between June 6 and 9, 2024, over 370 million people from the 27 member states of the European Union are called to elect their MEPs. The video, with the message “Use your vote!”, contains testimonies of elderly people from several countries of the Union, including Romania, who pass on their life stories about democracy. The clip will be uploaded on the website of the European Parliament and on the YouTube channel of the European Parliament Office in Romania. According to this spring’s Eurobarometer survey, interest in the European elections is growing: 71% of respondents say they are likely to vote, by 10% more than in the 2019 survey.
TAROM. The European Commission has given its consent for the national air carrier of Romania, TAROM, to receive a state aid of over 95 million euros for its restructuring. According to a press release from the Community Executive, the subsidies will allow the company to restore its long-term viability. However, Brussels states, in order to limit the possible distortions in terms of competition, TAROM will significantly reduce the number of routes and aircraft. The measures provide for the cancellation of a debt of more than 49 million euros, corresponding to the value of the rescue aid, approved by the Commission in February 2020, and a capital injection of almost 46 million euros. TAROM also has its own contribution to the restructuring plan, of over 77 million euros.
FORESTRY. The Bucharest Senate adopted on Monday, with a large majority, the draft Forestry Code. The document initiated by the government underwent several changes following the debates in the committees and consultations with civil society, numerous amendments being approved. The Minister of the Environment, Mircea Fechet, has stated that the new provisions include free and unrestricted access for any citizen in Romanian forests, on foot or by bicycle, the confiscation of vehicles used for stealing wood, the extension of the ban on cutting down forests. Also, the conflict of interests will be more strictly regulated, so that forestry personnel and their relatives up to second remove will no longer be able to carry out economic activities in the field. The adoption of the Forestry Code is a commitment assumed by the Romanian authorities under the NRRP. The Chamber of Deputies has the decisive vote in this matter.
ROWING. Romania won 8 medals at the European Rowing Championships hosted by Szeged, Hungary – 4 gold, 2 silver and 2 bronze. Romania won gold in the women’s double sculls, thanks to Ioana Vrînceanu and Roxana Anghel, on Sunday, when Florin Arteni and Florin Lehaci also won the silver medals in the men’s double sculls event. On Saturday, Romania won three medals: one gold, in lightweight women’s double sculls, one silver, in women’s coxless four, and one bronze – in men’s 8+1. Romania was ranked 2nd in the medal standings, with Great Britain topping the list with 8 gold medals. (MI)
