April 5, 2014
For a roundup of domestic and international news, click here.
Corina Cristea, 05.04.2014, 12:00
REACTION – The Romanian Foreign Ministry has expressed surprise regarding the comments of Russian diplomats on certain statements of Romanian officials regarding the developments in neighbouring Ukraine. The Ministry states that Romania supports, alongside its partners from the EU and NATO, the need to observe the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. Bucharest also says that the attempt of Russian Foreign Minister Serghei Lavrov to transfer the crisis in Russia’s relations with the EU and NATO to its bilateral relations with Romania is completely ungrounded and a mistake. On Friday, Moscow had criticized President Basescu and Minister Corlatean’s statements on Ukraine after the annexation of the Crimean peninsula to Russia, which is seen as an act of aggression in Bucharest.
ECONOMIC GROWTH – Romania’s capacity of export to non-EU states will represent a strong element of economic growth in the coming years, EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Romanian Dacian Ciolos said in Bucharest. The EU official went on to say that there was a growing demand for EU products on emerging markets outside the EU, such as China. His statements follow the 2014 report of the Romanian Academic Society recently made public, which shows a drop in Romania’s economic competitiveness at EU level. The report also shows that Romania’s trade with the EU has contributed to the deepening of our country’s trade deficit.
ANNOUNCEMENT – Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta suggested he might retire from political life after this year’s presidential elections. In a post on his Facebook profile, Ponta said that after November’s elections he wants to leave his place in politics to other, younger people, planning to devote more time to his family. Previously, Victor Ponta, the acting Prime Minister since 2012, had said he had no intention of running for president and that he was happy to hold the position of Prime Minister. Opinion polls and the public statements of Social Democrat MPs give Victor Ponta the highest rate of success at party level in the event of presidential elections.
RULING – The Tribunal in Bucharest is today ruling in the case of contestations filed by public figures whose candidacies for the European Parliament elections of May 25 have been rejected by the Central Election Bureau. The institution has signaled several irregularities on the list of signatures submitted by Greater Romanian Party president Corneliu Vadim Tudor, while the candidates of this party have made no official statements regarding their cooperation with the former political police the Securitate. The independent candidacy of former Culture Minister Liberal MP Mircea Diaconu has been turned down as he is forbidden from holding public office before 2015 after the National Integrity Agency has found him incompatible. Overall, nine parties and political factions and seven independent candidates have been ruled out by the Central Election Bureau.
ELECTIONS – Presidential elections are today held in Afghanistan, which might ensure the first democratic transfer of power in the history of this country. Among the candidates with the highest chance of winning are three former ministers, Zalmai Rassoul, supported by current president Hamid Karzai, opposition leader Abdullah Abdullh and economic expert Ashraf Ghani. Under the 2001 Constitution, Karzai is forbidden from seeking a second mandate. President Karza led Afghanistan after the ousting of the Talibans. According to analysts, Karzai leaves behind an impoverished country, with a high profile of producer and exporter of heroine, destabilized by the Taliban insurrection. The country is also facing the prospect of facing the Taliban threat alone after all NATO troops will be withdrawn by the end of the year. The results of the first ballot will be made public on April 24, while a possible second ballot will be held in late May.
PROJECT – Construction works have kicked off in central Romania to build a new factory for the German carmaker Daimler, which will make over 500 jobs available. Steering box manufacturing will start in 2016 will the production unit will operate at maximum capacity in 2017, representatives of the German group have announced. A total of 300 million euros will be invested, in addition to the 37 million euros disbursed by the Romanian Government, which argues the investment will be returned in the form of charges and taxes.
SPORTS – The Romanian men’s national team is today playing Finland away from home as part of the return leg of the 2016 European Championship playoffs. In Wednesday’s first leg on home turf, the Romanian side pulled a narrow 32-30 win. Also in Finland in Vantaa, the European Wrestling Championships continue. Romania has so far has one medal, Ana Maria Paval’s bronze in the 53-kg category.
