December 15, 2013 UPDATE
A look at some of today's news headlines in Romania.
România Internațional, 15.12.2013, 19:12
Referendum law Romania’s president Traian Băsescu has signed into law a controversial referendum bill which lowers the minimum voter turnout to 30%. The president signed the bill minutes before the expiry of the legal deadline so as to delay its enforcement and thus make it impossible for it to apply to a referendum on the amendment of the constitution that could be held on the same day as the presidential elections next year. Legally, the new law cannot be applied to a referendum held within a year of the date of its enforcement. Earlier this month, the Constitutional Court rejected the president’s claim that the referendum law was unconstitutional. The amendment of the constitution proposed by the ruling Social Liberal Union has been repeatedly criticised by the president.
FAO The Romanian agriculture minister Daniel Constantin travels to the Republic of Moldova on Monday. During his 3-day visit, he will hold official consultations in the run up to the Regional Conference for Europe of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) to be hosted by Bucharest between the 29th of March and the 4th of April. Constantin will have further talks with the Organisation’s deputy regional representative, Tony Alonzi and the future regional representative for Europe and Central Asia as of January 1st 2014, Vladimir Rakhmanin. The Romanian minister will also meet his counterpart in Chisinau, Vasile Bumacov and attend the official launch of the “Vin Moldova” wine brand.
Protests Several hundred people protested in Bucharest on Sunday against the latest changes to the Criminal Code and called for the government’s resignation. Security forces intervened to disperse the protesters who blocked traffic and prevent them from reaching the government building. The amendments to the Criminal Code have triggered a wave of protests in Romania and abroad. According to the new code, the head of state, members of Parliament and liberal professionals are no longer considered public servants and therefore cannot be investigated and punished for corruption related acts, such as abuse of office, bribe taking and trafficking in influence, as well for conflict of interests.
Theatre Viewed as a living legend of Romanian theatre, the actor Radu Beligan has entered the Guinness Book of Records for the longest career. He turned 95 on Saturday. In his 75-year-long career, he has appeared in 80 theatre performances and 30 films. From 1969 until 1990, he was also the director of the National Theatre in Bucharest. In 2002, he received the award of the Officer of the Legion of Honour, being the first Romanian actor to receive this distinction from the French government.
