August 23, 2019

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis reiterated that it is obligatory to firmly condemn Communism and Fascism, in all its forms; Social Democratic party leadership prepares to nominate PM Viorica Dancila as its candidate for the presidential elections

Bogdan Matei, 23.08.2019, 14:12

BUCHAREST — On the Day of Commemorating the Victims of Fascism and Communism, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis issued a message emphasizing the fact that honoring victims means firm action, in line with authentic democratic principles. 80 years ago in 1939, a Soviet- Nazi pact was signed, and the Romanian president said that Fascist and Communist regimes cannot be relativized, and that there is an obligation to firmly condemn the two ideologies in all their forms. He also recalled that, on this date in 1944, King Michael I decided to break the alliance with Germany and to join the Allies. Historians assess that this move shortened the war in Europe by half a year, saving hundreds of thousands of lives. Three years later, when the country was under Soviet occupation, led by a puppet government, King Michael for forced to abdicate and go into exile.

CANDIDACY — The National Executive Committee of the Social Democratic Party, the leader of the ruling coalition in Bucharest, meets today to validate the candidacy of PM Viorica Dancila in the presidential elections in November. President Klaus Iohannis, supported by the National Liberal Party, the main opposition party, also announced his candidacy. The other candidates are Dan Barna, the leader of the second most popular opposition coalition party, and Calin Popescu Tariceanu, on behalf of the second most important formation in the ruling coalition.

FOOTBALL — Romanian football vice-champions FCSB held on Thursday at home to a blank score Portuguese side Vitoria Guimaraes, in the first leg of the qualifying play-offs for the Europa League groups. The other leg is scheduled for next week. On Tuesday, Romanian champions CFR Cluj lost 0-1 against Slavia Prague in the first leg of the Champions League play-offs. The other game takes place in Prague on August 28. The winners will play in the Champions League groups, while the losers will play in the Europa League groups. The two other Romanian teams in the Europa League, Viitorul Constanta and CSU Craiova, have been eliminated in the preliminary rounds.

TENNIS — Romanian tennis star Simona Halep, number four in the world, will play in the first round of the US Open, the last Grand Slam of the year. Halep, who won the Wimbledon this summer, lost last year at Flushing Meadows. Three more Romanian players are in the top games, Sorana Cirstea, Monica Niculescu, and Mihaela Buzarnescu. Cirstea, 106th seeded, will play in the first round against Katerina Siniakova, 38th seeded. Monica Niculescu, 105th seeded, plays against 19 year-old Ukrainian Daiana Iastremska, 33rd seeded. Buzarnescu, 136th seeded, plays against German Andrea Petkovic, 89th seeded. Two other Romanians have a chance to play at the top, Gabriela Ruse and Ana Bogdan, who are in the last round of the qualifiers.

FESTIVAL — In Brasov, central Romania, the Golden Stag International Music Festival continues, in its 19th edition. 12 artists from 10 countries, two of them Romanian, compete for the Grand Trophy. The first two evenings are set aside for the voice interpretation competition. Continuing a tradition half a century old, the competitors have to sing a Romanian song in addition to one of their own choice. On Saturday, at the gala, the winners are announced and awards are granted. On Sunday, the evening is dedicated to folklore and traditional music. The Golden Stag International Music Festival started in 1968, and had 18 editions, with the last one, that of 2018, dedicated to its half century anniversary.

AIRSHOW — Baneasa Airport, north of Bucharest, is host today to the General Aviation Exhibition, dedicated to the biggest airshow in Romania. Also today, pilots who will perform in the airshow start training. The Bucharest International Air Show, in its 11th edition, is dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the inauguration of the main international airport in Bucharest, and to the 15th anniversary of Romania joining NATO.