October 18, 2024
A roundup of domestic and international news
Newsroom, 18.10.2024, 13:55
ELECTION – October 17 was the deadline for political parties to submit their lists of candidates for the parliamentary election, slated for December 1. 21 parties have enrolled in the race. To be represented in Parliament, they must secure a minimum of 5% of the total number of votes.
EUROPEAN COUNCIL – On the sidelines of the European Council meeting in Brussels, Romania’s president, Klaus Iohannis, has called on the EU to convey a strong message of support for Moldova’s EU integration process, particularly ahead of this Sunday’s presidential election in Moldova, condemning Moscow’s interference and destabilization attempts. The list of topics on the two-day summit’s agenda includes the war in Ukraine, developments in the Middle East, EU competitiveness, migration, as well as prospects on Georgia, supporting the multilateral system and international rules-based order and energy tariffs. President Iohannis underlined the importance of ensuring affordable energy prices, the need to boost connectivity and do away with structural gridlocks at the level of energy transport networks.
MOLDOVA – 3.3 million voters are expected to hit the polls on October 20 in the Republic of Moldova for a historic ballot: a presidential election and a referendum on Moldova’s EU accession. According to the Central Election Commission, some 2,219 polls have been set up, and for the first time the ballots are printed in Romanian and 5 minority languages: Ukrainian, Bulgarian, Găgăuz, Russian and Romani. 231 stations are open in 37 countries, 60 in Italy, 26 in Germany, 20 in France and 17 in Great Britain. Moldovans can also vote in one of the 16 stations open in Romania, the same as in the United States. For security reasons, only two stations will be available in Russia, both in Moscow. 2 stations will be made available in Ukraine, in Kyiv and Odesa. The incumbent president, Maia Sandu, is favorite to win the presidential election, with approximately 29.5% of voters’ choice. A former World Bank official, Sandu won her first term in November 2020, capitalizing on her growing approval rating as an anti-corruption reformer with a pro-European governing program. Polls also show that over 54% of Moldovan citizens support the idea of introducing EU accession in the country’s Constitution. Since the collapse of the USSR, the Republic of Moldova has constantly oscillated between a pro-Western and a pro-European orientation.
ROME FILM FEST – Held until October 28, the Film Festival in Rome this year also includes a Romanian production: the documentary “Nasty” delving into the life and career of Romanian tennis player Ilie Năstase, produced by Tudor Giurgiu in cooperation with Cristian Pascariu and Tudor D. Popescu. Having reached its 19th edition, Rome Film Fest celebrates the latest international productions and young European filmmakers. The list of special guests this year includes American director Fancis Ford Coppola and actors Johnny Depp and Viggo Mortensen. Filmmakers Tudor Giurgiu and Cristian Pascariu will travel to Rome for the event and will meet with the public on October 21 and 22 for the two film screening events. Joining them will be the legendary ATP manager and tennis lobbyist Vittorio Slemi, as well as one of the most reputed sports journalists in Italy, Ubaldo Scanagatta. Both are featured in “Nasty”, speaking about the glory days of the Romanian player.
THEATRE FESTIVAL – The National Theatre Festival kicks off in Bucharest today. The 34th edition is held this year under the motto “The Drama of the Possible”. Until October 28, theatre afficionados will be able to attend performances that express “possibilities”, organizers say. Over 30 shows from Bucharest and other cities are included on the festival’s agenda, including “The Anthology of Disappearance”, written and directed by Radu Afrim, “The Twelfth Night” by William Shakespeare, directed by Andrei Șerban, or Henrik Ibsen’s “Hedda Gabler” directed by Thomas Ostermeier. Five plays produced by theatre companies from Germany, Ireland, Poland and Belgium will also be staged. The National Film Festival is organized by the Theatre Union of Romania (UNITER) and funded by the Ministry of Culture.
MEN’S HANDBALL – Romania’s handball champions, Dinamo Bucharest, lost 35-32 to Paris Saint-Germain of France on Thursday away from home, in a Group A fixture in the men’s Champions League. This is the second consecutive defeat for Dinamo after three straight wins. The team from Bucharest will next play Sporting Lisbon of Portugal at home on October 23. Ranking first in the group tables is Sporting Lisbon with 9 points, followed by Veszprém HC of Hungary with 8 points, Paris Saint-Germain Handball of France with 8 points, Füchse Berlin of Germany with 6 points, Dinamo Bucharest with 6 points, Orlen Wisla Plock of Poland with 2 points, Eurofarm Pelister of North Macedonia with 1 point, and Fredericia Håndbold Klub of Denmark with 0 points. (VP)
