12 December 2019

A roundup of local and international news.

Newsroom, 12.12.2019, 13:55

Government bills. The minority
Liberal government in Bucharest today asked Parliament for a vote of confidence
on three bills referring to the amendment of the justice laws, free local road
transport for pupils, pensioners and people with disabilities, and to the
budget caps on next year’s spending. Given that the Senate already approved
yesterday some of the justice amendments proposed by the government, namely
postponing by two years the early retirement of magistrates and by one year the
transition to three-panel judges, the government says it will only ask for a
vote of confidence on the postponement of the increase in the length of service
required to enter the magistracy. Unless a no-confidence motion is filed within
the next three days, the bills proposed by the government will come into force
as soon they are signed into law by the president.

EU Council. The EU multi-annual budget,
its efforts to combat climate change and Brexit are the main subjects discussed
by the European Council meeting on Thursday and Friday in Brussels. Romania is
represented by president Klaus Iohannis, who is expected to support the
allocation of significant funding to the cohesion policy and the common
agricultural policy. With respect to climate change, Iohannis is expected to be
in favour of continued efforts from the European Union to achieve the
transition to climate neutrality. The Romanian president believes it is
essential to have a common understanding of the principles and conditions that
allow member states to contribute equitably to the Union’s goal to achieve
circular economy and one that is neutral in terms of its climate impact.

Army. Romania is to purchase
another five F-16 planes from Portugal, with the same configuration as the 12
that are already in the possession of the Romanian Air Forces. MPs have adopted
a bill on the continuation of the multiroll aircraft programme. The bill also
provides for the modernisation of all of the Romanian Army’s F-16 planes. The
bill has been backed by all parliamentary groups and the defence minister has
hailed the passing of the law.

UK elections. The Conservative Party
led by prime minister Boris Johnson is tipped to win the early parliamentary
elections taking place today in the United Kingdom. According to opinion polls,
the Conservatives are expected to win 399 seats in Parliament, 21 more than at
the previous elections in 2017. The opposition Labour Party is projected to win
231 seats, 31 less than in the previous elections, the Liberal Democrats are
tipped to win three extra seats to reach 15, the Scottish Nationalists are
expected to win six extra seats to reach 41, while the Welsh MPs and the Greens
are expected to win 4 and 1 seat, respectively. If this scenario becomes
reality, Boris Johnson could have a clear path to pass his EU deal through
Parliament and for Brexit to take place on the 31st of January.
Previous parliamentary elections have demonstrated, however, that opinion polls
are not infallible. If none of the parties wins a majority, talks will be
needed to form a hung Parliament, a scenario which could be in Labour’s
advantage.

France strikes. Public transport in France is again disrupted today by
strikes in response to the government’s intention to reform the pensions
system. Most trade unionists are categorically opposed to the replacement of
the current system. Prime minister Édouard Philippe on Wednesday made public
the pensions reform bill, which is to apply fully beginning in 2022. He said
the new system maintains the retirement age at 62, but that the government will
encourage employees not to retire by means of a system of reductions and
bonuses.

Israel. In Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu remains the prime minister of an interim
government after the Knesset has voted for its own dissolution and the holding
of new early elections in March next year. The leaders of the major parties,
Likud and Blue and White, Benjamin Netanyahu and Beny Gantz, respectively, have
failed to form a government. The two have made no fundamental compromise
allowing the formation of a ruling coalition and have accused each other for
this failure.