February 6, 2017
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Newsroom, 06.02.2017, 13:57
PROTESTS — Over half a million people on Sunday protested the Government decree amending the criminal legislation despite its repeal. Protesters in Bucharest and other cities shouted anti-Government slogans and messages against the Social-Democratic Party. Also on Sunday, a pro-Government rally was staged in front of the Presidency building, totalling some 2,000 people. Justice Minister Florin Iordache said he would present a new draft law on amending the criminal codes in order to harmonize some of their provisions with Constitutional Court rulings.
NO-CONFIDENCE VOTE — The National Liberal Party and the Save Romania Union in opposition have filed a no-confidence vote in Parliament against the Grindeanu Cabinet. The no-confidence vote was filed in the wake of a controversial decree the Government passed last week modifying the criminal legislation. The decree was rescinded on Sunday amidst mass street protests. Interim Liberal leader Raluca Turcan said the move was unprecedented, labelling it as an act of defiance against the population. In turn, the Save Romania Union leader Nicusor Dan said the Government is pushing Romania further away from civilization and is fostering corruption. The Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians has also argued against the Government decree, while the People’s Movement Party has also rallied the efforts of the Liberal Party and Save Romania Union. We recall that the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats are currently enjoying a steady majority in Parliament.
BUDGET FOR 2017 — Parliament is today debating the draft budget for 2017. On behalf of the ruling coalition made up of the Social-Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats, Finance Minister Viorel Stefan told Parliament committees that the bill observes the main guidelines in the governing program, such as cutting the VAT from 20% to 19%, eliminating the income tax for pensions lower or tantamount to 450 euros. The budget is based on an economic growth of 5.2% and a budget deficit of 3%, and will also allow Romania to fulfil its commitments at NATO level regarding the allocation of 2% of the country’s GDP to the field of defence. The right-wing opposition on the other hand claims the figures regarding revenues underlying the budget are overestimated.
VISIT — Moldovan President Igor Dodon is on a three-day visit to Brussels, where he is meeting with EU and NATO officials. Elected in November 2016, Dodon last month paid his first official visit to Moscow, where he announced he would renounce the Free Trade agreement with the EU and called in favour of closer ties with the Eurasian Union. President Dodon said he would call a meeting with NATO leaders in order to sanction the neutrality of the Republic of Moldova. Political pundits in Chisinau fear Dodon’s visit to Brussels might actually worsen relations between the Republic of Moldova and the West. In another development, Moldovan Parliament Speaker Andrian Candu highlighted the President’s limited remit regarding foreign policy, and that the current Parliament majority has made it its priority to implement the Association Agreement with the EU. (Translated by V. Palcu)
