December 17, 2024
A roundup of domestic and international news
Newsroom, 17.12.2024, 13:55
Government. The declared pro-European parties represented in the future Romanian Parliament are to resume today the discussions regarding the governing program, based on a common set of reforms, to be presented by Friday, December 20, when the new Legislature will be convened. On Monday, in the first part of the day, the four political parties did not agree on how the budget will be built for next year, which is why USR representatives were absent from last night’s meeting. Under these conditions, PSD, PNL and UDMR have conveyed that they can form a government even without USR, if this party decides to withdraw from the negotiations. In addition, PSD, PNL and UDMR reaffirmed that the priority is the program of the future government and that they are not currently discussing the distribution of political positions.
Elections. Four American senators, both Republican and Democrat, have condemned Russia’s interference in the presidential elections in Romania and expressed their support for Bucharest in the fight for the integrity of the electoral process. The senators assured that the United States stands by Romania, as the country urgently takes measures for free and fair presidential elections. The first round of the presidential elections in Romania was canceled after it was revealed that the voting had not bee not fair due to illegal practices supported by Russia on social media, especially on TikTok. For its part, the European Union announced on Monday that it adopted the first sanctions in response to “hybrid actions” on its territory, against Russian agents accused of “destabilizing” actions in the EU.
1989 Revolution. In Timisoara (western Romania), today is a day of mourning, in memory of the people killed at the outbreak of the anti-communist revolution in 1989. 35 years ago, parishioners gathered in front of the reformed parish to support the ethnic Hungarian pastor László Tőkés , threatened by the political police, the Securitate, with eviction. Their protest turned into a popular uprising. The repression triggered by law enforcement resulted in more than 100 deaths and hundreds of injuries. Timisoara became, on December 20, the first city free from communism in Romania, and from there the flame of the Revolution spread throughout the country, to culminate, on the 22nd, in Bucharest, with the attempted escape of the dictator Nicolae Ceauşescu. Under the banner of “35 years of freedom”, this week, extensive commemorative events dedicated to martyr heroes, conferences, exhibitions, shows, concerts and film screenings are scheduled. On Monday, the inauguration of the freedom portal took place, a light installation that reproduces sounds from the time of the Revolution, followed by the traditional march entitled “Heroes never die”. The demonstrations will end on Friday, with the Rock for Revolution concert.
Recession. Entrepreneurs warn about the danger of an economic recession in Romania in 2025 and ask the future government in Bucharest to take measures. During the debate “Back to the economy. How entrepreneurs see the year 2025”, organized on Monday by the Coalition for Freedom of Trade and Communication, businesspeople recalled that 2024 was an extremely challenging year and recommended the future government to avoid an excessive burdening of the business environment, in an attempt to reduce the budget deficit. They also called for more predictability. More on this after the news.
ANAF. The National Tax Administration Agency (ANAF) in Romania denies the information circulated in the public space according to which, starting next year, it would charge a tax of 10% of the money in taxpayers’ bank accounts. ANAF has stressed that it collects contributions only for the interest generated by the money in the accounts and only if the total income from these investments exceeds the legal ceiling. According to the legislation in force, the health insurance contribution must be paid for the sums obtained from interest, dividends or gains from the capital market, if, by cumulation with other categories of income, the annual threshold of 6, 12 or 24 gross minimum wages is exceeded. ANAF encourages taxpayers to obtain information only from official sources, to avoid confusion or misinterpretation. (MI)
