January 30, 2017 UPDATE
President Iohannis asks Government to scrap controversial draft emergency orders.
Newsroom, 30.01.2017, 19:57
PUBLIC DEBATE — Romanian President Klaus Iohannis on Monday called on the country’s leftist government to scrap the controversial draft emergency orders aimed at granting collective pardon and amending the criminal codes. The President’s request came on the same day with a public debate on the matter, hosted by the Romanian Justice Ministry. Following the debate, Justice Minister Florin Iordache said that all the “unclear” provisions would be removed from the drafts. On Sunday evening massive street protests took place in Romania and abroad against these draft laws.
UN – The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein, on Monday released a brief statement on Twitter, referring to Donald Trump’s immigration ban, saying that discriminating against people on the basis of their nationality was illegal. Moreover, according to Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein, the US ban was also mean-spirited, and wasted resources needed for proper counter-terrorism. On Friday, the US President Donald Trump had signed an executive order that banned the arrival of all refugees for 120 days, indefinitely barred all Syrian refugees, and suspended the entry of all nationals from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for at least 90 days. Trump’s actions have been heavily criticised by world leaders, EU leaders included, and sparked massive protests across the US.
TRIAL – The city of Izmir, in western Turkey, is hosting, as of Monday, the biggest trial yet over the failed July coup aimed at ousting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. As many as 270 suspects are on trial, including, in absentia, the alleged mastermind, Fethullah Gulen. The Islamic preacher Gulen, who is currently in the US, is charged with ordering the failed coup, an accusation he strongly denies.
MEDIA ATTACKS – The National Anti-Corruption Directorate (DNA) on Monday called on the Higher Council of Magistracy (CSM) to take a firm stand against what the first defines as “unprecedented attacks at the institution’s prosecutors.” According to a DNA release, media groups supporting certain political factions or interest groups in the business field, as well as people convicted or under investigation are behind these attacks that risk obstructing justice.
INVESTIGATION – Romania’s National Energy Regulatory Authority (ANRE) has started an investigation in the case of two energy contracts suspected of being illegal. ANRE has also asked for the Competition Council’s support in this matter. The two energy contracts are suspected of being over-evaluated. Prices on the energy market have reached historic highs over the past few days, almost double their level at the start of the year.
(Translated by Elena Enache)
