October 10, 2017

Tudose Cabinet to undergo reshuffle. Catalonia to proclaim its independence today

Newsroom, 10.10.2017, 13:39

RESHUFFLE — Prime Minister Mihai Tudose said he wants to reshuffle his Cabinet this week, adding that several members of the Government who are involved in criminal investigations or whose performance has been unsatisfactory will be replaced. According to the Prime Minister, these Ministers mar the image of the Government and in some cases its relationship with the European Commission. Tudose said the decision will be made following talks with Social-Democrat leader Liviu Dragnea, and that he might step down himself. We recall that three members of the Government, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Regional Development Sevil Shhaideh, Minister Delegate for European Funds Rovana Plumb and Minister Delegate for Liaison with Parliament, Viorel Ilie, are being investigated by anticorruption prosecutors.

MOTION — The Chamber of Deputies in Bucharest is today debating a simple motion filed by the right-wing opposition against Health Minister Florian Bodog. The National Liberal Party, the Save Romania Union and the People’s Movement Party are calling for his resignation and for quick solutions in the field of healthcare. The opposition is criticizing the vaccine crisis and the ministry’s failure to implement infrastructure projects, in particular as regards emergency hospitals in Cluj, Craiova and Iasi. The vote is scheduled on Wednesday. The opposition also wants Bodog to step down amidst allegations of plagiarism over his PhD thesis, which Bodog has firmly dismissed.

FINANCE — Finance Minister Ionut Misa is as of Wednesday taking part in the annual meeting of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. According to a ministry release, Misa will meet with representatives of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, First Vice President Philip Bennett and Vice-President Alain Pilloux. The agenda for talks will focus on Romania’s fiscal and budget strategy in the 2017-2019 period.

DEFENSE COOPERATION — Bucharest authorities today signed a memorandum of understanding with the US security giant General Dynamics for the manufacturing of armoured vehicles in Romania, the Government has announced. Defence Minister Mihai Fifor recently said that based on the contract with General Dynamics, the Bucharest Mechanical Factory will make 8×8 Piranha transporters for the Romanian Army.

STATISTICS — The National Institute for Statistics today upgraded Romania’s economic growth rate from 5.9 to 6.1% for the second quarter of the year, as compared to the same period of last year. According to the Institute, the GDP went up 5.9% in the first quarter as compared to the same period last year. The main reason is the 4.7% increase in the VAT in the fields of constructions, public administration and defence and a 0.3% increase in the VAT in the fields of education, healthcare and social assistance. The official estimated growth for 2017 is 5.2%, while international financial institutions and experts say the growth will stand between 4 and 5%. Also today the Institute said Romania’s trade deficit went up 1.7€ billion in the first eight months of the year, as compared to the same period of 2016.

SPAIN — Catalonian Prime Minister Carles Puigdemont could announce the unilateral proclamation of Catalonia’s independence in his address in the regional Parliament. In turn, the Spanish Government is preparing to counteract this initiative. According to Radio Romania’s correspondent on the ground, Catalonia might see its autonomy suspended and its administrative power taken over by the central authorities. This would implicitly trigger snap elections. The authorities also threaten to take legal action. In another development, Germany and France have called for the unity of Spain, while the European Commission pointed out that Catalonia will not be included in the European Union if it should break away with Spain. Over 20 major companies have decided to relocate their business to other regions since the beginning of the conflict. (Translated by V. Palcu)