February 5, 2017
Protests continue in Romania for the 6th consecutive day.
Newsroom, 05.02.2017, 14:01
EMERGENCY DECREE – The Bucharest Government is today holding an emergency meeting to repeal a highly controversial emergency decree that decriminalises official misconduct, which has sparked mass protests over the past few days. The Social Democratic PM Sorin Grindeanu has announced that consultations with political parties will be initiated to harmonise the legislation with the rulings issued by the Constitutional Court. He has also said that Justice Minister Florin Iordache will bear the consequences. The Social Democrat-led coalition government has come under huge pressure at home and abroad to repeal the emergency decree which critics say will clean the record of politicians, local officials and some business people and will drastically weaken an anti-corruption fight widely praised by Romanias Western allies. Protests continue today in Bucharest for the sixth consecutive day. Over the past few days, hundreds of thousands of Romanians have taken to the streets in the capital Bucharest, in many other Romanian cities and abroad to protest against the government’s decisions, in what is seen as the biggest rallies in Romania since the 1989 Anti-Communist Revolution. President Klaus Iohannis, challenged the emergency decree at the Constitutional Court, evoking a possible legal conflict between the government, the judicial system and Parliament. The Higher Council of Magistracy, the General Prosecutors Office and the Ombudsman have also taken a similar stand in the mater. The embassies of France, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Canada and the United States voiced concern about the events in recent days, saying the governments actions risk affecting partnerships with Romania, based on common values inherent to the guiding principles of the EU and NATO.
FOREIGN MINITRY – Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu is travelling to Brussels on Monday to discuss with Romania’s European partners about the controversial emergency decree that amends the criminal codes. Melescanu has said that holding talks on this issue is normal. The Foreign Minister has also said that the controversial emergency decree could have been presented better and that there have been communication issues which he hopes will be overcome. A Foreign Affairs Council meeting is held on Monday in Brussels attended by EU foreign ministers.
UNITED STATES – The US Justice Department filed an appeal against the suspension of President Donald Trumps travel ban on people from seven Muslim countries. The move seeks to reverse Fridays ruling by a federal judge in Washington state. The US reopened its borders on Saturday for citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen and Syria, after President Trump’s immigration ban. The US President has said that the ruling of judge James Robart from Seattle is “ridiculous” and that it will be annulled.
BUDGET BILL – Romanian Parliament’s budget and finance committees continue debates on the 2017 budget bill. A final report on it will be drawn up this evening. The budget bill is to be presented to Parliament’s plenary sitting on Monday and voted on the following day. Finance Minister Viorel Stefan, has given assurances, on behalf of the coalition government, that the budget observes the main guidelines, such as cutting the VAT from 20% to 19% or eliminating the income tax for pensions lower or equal to 2,000 lei. This year’s budget is based on a 5.2% economic growth rate and a deficit of maximum 3% and will allow Romania to comply with its commitments to allocate 2% of its GDP to the defence ministry. The government expects an inflation rate under 1.4% and an unemployment rate of 4.3%. On the other hand, the opposition claims the revenue forecast underling the bill is hyped.
TENNIS – The Romanian men’s tennis team is today holding in Minsk the last two singles, against Belarus, of the first round of Davis Cups Europe/Africa Zone Group I: Marius Copil – Ilya Ivashka and then Adrian Ungur – Egor Gherasimov. Leading the competition is now Belarus 2-1. On Saturday, Horia Tecau and Marius Copil were defeated in Minsk by the pair Max Mirnyi – Yaraslav Shyla, in the doubles. On Friday, the Romanian Adrian Ungur defeated Ilya Ivashka, while Marius Copil lost to Egor Gherasimov.
BOXING – WBO European heavyweight champion, Romanian Christian “Hammer” Ciocan (21-4, 12KOs) knocked out former British heavyweight champion David Price (21-4, 18 KOs), in a match held on Friday night at the Olympian in London. Hammer teed off 33-year-old Price until the referee halted the fight. The official time of the stoppage was at 1:22 of round 7.
(Translated by Elena Enache)
