August 1, 2016 UPDATE

Queen Anne of Romania dies in Switzerland at age 92

Newsroom, 01.08.2016, 00:05

QUEEN ANNE – Princess Anne of Bourbon-Parma, known as Queen Anne of Romania, 92, spouse to Romanias former King Michael I, died on Monday in Switzerland. She had long been suffering from cancer. The daughter of Prince René of Bourbon-Parma and Princess Margaret of Denmark, she met King Michael in 1947, but the pro-Communist government of the country did not approve the marriage and forced King Michael I to give up the throne on December 30, 1947. The two married the next year. After the fall of the Ceausescu regime, King Michael and Queen Anne were able to return to the country in 1992. Her Majesty Queen Anne will live forever in our hearts and memory as one of the most enduring symbols of wisdom, dignity, and a moral model, said the President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis. Throughout her honourable life, Anne of Romania was the epitome of the most distinguished values of decency, loyalty and love for her country. Queen Anne stood by His majesty the King during the long exile, and fought together with Him for the progress of Romania. her diplomatic missions and tours in favour of Romanias EU and NATO accession are a proof in this respect, the head of state also said in an official release.

PLAGIARISM – The former Prime Minister of Romania, Victor Ponta, was stripped of his doctors degree in law. The order came after a final decision of the National Council for the Confirmation of Academic Degrees, which dismissed the appeal and found that the ex-PM resorted to plagiarism and recommended that the Education Minister should withdraw his Ph.D. The Council also ruled that plagiarism had been used by the former interior minister Gabriel Oprea as well. The orders may be challenged in a court of law.

ELECTIONS – The Romanian citizens living abroad who travel to and from Romania will receive, in airports and checkpoints, a flyer issued by the Foreign Ministry concerning the forthcoming parliamentary elections and how to vote from abroad, as well as a form for registration in the Voter Registry. Information on this autumns legislative election will also be available at the offices of Romanias diplomatic missions and consular offices. To be able to vote in polling stations abroad or by mail, the Romanian citizens who live abroad must enter their data in the Voter Registry before the start of the election campaign.