December 16, 2024
A roundup of local and world news
Daniel Bilț, 16.12.2024, 13:55
EVENTS The city of Timisoara, in western Romania, is today marking 35 years since the beginning of the uprising, which led to the fall of communism. 35 years ago on December 16, believers gathered in front of the local reformed church in support of Pastor Laszlo Tokes, who was to be evicted by the former political police, the Securitate. Their protest quickly developed into a real uprising, which triggered reprisals from the authorities who killed 100 people and wounded several hundreds. On December 20, Timisoara became the first city free of communism in Romania and the flame of revolution engulfed the entire country. Under the motto, “35 years of freedom” this week will be seeing a series of commemorative events devoted to the martyr heroes, like conferences, exhibitions, shows, concerts and film screenings. The ‘Freedom Portal’, a sound and light installation, which reproduces the sounds recorded during the revolution, will be inaugurated today. The inauguration will be followed by the traditional march, “Heroes Never Die”. The city will observe a day of mourning tomorrow and the series of events is to end on December 20 with a concert entitled ‘Rock for the Revolution’.
TALKS Leaders of the four pro-European parties – PSD, PNL, USR, UDMR – which will forge the future Parliament majority in Bucharest are meeting today again for talks over the ministries they are to rule in the following period. PSD will have seven ministries, PNL four, USR three and UDMR two ministries. The designated Prime Minister could also be announced today. Sunday’s talks focused on the party that would head the Senate or the Chamber of Deputies, as well as the specialized committees and those headed by the other political groups that had made it to Parliament, such as the sovereignists AUR, SOS Romania and POT. Another point in the discussions, which hasn’t yet been agreed upon by the pro-European parties, is that of the unique candidate for the upcoming presidential election. Talks are still going on over the ruling programme and budget planning, and are expected to be attended by the incumbent Finance Minister Marcel Bolos.
FAC Romania’s Foreign Minister, Luminita Odobescu, is in Brussels today attending the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) proceedings. This has been the first meeting since Kaja Kallas, took over the position of High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and vice-president of the European Commission. The talks agenda includes the Russian aggression against Ukraine, the latest developments in Georgia, the situation in the Middle East, Syria and Belarus. Russia’s aggression against Ukraine will be tackled prom the viewpoint of the latest developments and measures taken such as the consolidated EU pressure on Russia, including through the adoption of the 15th restrictive measures package as well as the continuation of the EU multi-dimensional support for Ukraine.
PARLIAMENT The present Legislature has kicked off its last week of activity. Four years have passed and many projects and legislative initiatives that have remained unfinished will be taken over by the new Parliament summoned on Friday for its first sitting. Among the issues pending there is also the new forestry code, which is a landmark in the National Plan of Recovery and Resilience and a government top priority, which says the document must be adopted by the end of the year. MPs have so far agreed upon a series of measures such as those enabling the authorities to seize the vehicles carrying wood stolen from forests, the implementation of the green areas around the cities, and a series of facilities for local furniture producers.
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