February 7, 2017 UPDATE

President Klaus Iohannis addressed Parliament / Anti-government protests continue

Newsroom, 07.02.2017, 20:07

ADDRESS – In a Parliament address on Tuesday, Romania’s president Klaus Iohannis called on the left-wing government to find solutions to the crisis it caused with the ordinance on amending the criminal legislation, an ordinance they later withdrew. The head of state blamed the ruling coalition made up of the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for having collided with a large part of society only a month after coming to power and reminded the large-scale protests triggered by the government’s decision. Iohannis pleaded for a responsible governing, predictable and transparent, and called on Parliament to draw up laws for Romania, not for a group of politicians with legal problems. He warned that unless the Social Democratic Party found a rapid solution to the crisis he would summon talks to settle the issue. At the same time, the president reiterated his decision to call a referendum, for the Romanians to have their say on the continuation of the anti-graft fight and on ensuring the integrity of public functions. The leaders of the ruling coalition accused the president of partisanship and of not playing his part as a mediator in society. On the other hand, the members of the parliamentary parties in opposition, the National Liberal Party, Save Romania Union and People’s Movement Party said that President Iohannis did nothing but express Romanians’ will.

PROTESTS — The anti-government protests continued in Bucharest and other Romanian cities on Tuesday, for the 8th consecutive day. Protesters, who gathered in front of the government offices in smaller numbers than in the previous days, asked for the resignation of the leftist government. We remind you that on Sunday, more than half a million people protested in the capital Bucharest and in other cities against the emergency decree amending the criminal codes, in spite of the fact that the decree had been abrogated that same day. Also on Tuesday protests against the head of state were held in Bucharest for the third day in a row. The government has announced that for the time being it scraps plans to amend the criminal codes.

RULING – Romania’s Constitutional Court ruled on Tuesday that that the draft law on the conversion of loans in Swiss francs into national currency is unconstitutional. The Constitutional Court had postponed several times a decision on this matter. The draft law adopted by the Chamber of Deputies on October 18, 2016, stipulated the conversion into the national currency of loans in Swiss francs at the exchange rate valid when the loan was contracted. The law was challenged at the Constitutional Court by the former government headed by Dacian Ciolos, who specified that he did that for clarification and not because he was against it.

BUDGET – Parliament in Bucharest adopted on Tuesday the 2017 budget bill and social security bill. On Monday, Prime Minister Grindeanu underlined the budget contributed to raising the Romanians’ standard of living and was based on a GDP under 200 billion euros, an economic growth of 5.2% and a deficit of 3% of the GDP. The opposition parties’ amendments to the bills have been dismissed.

MOLDOVA – The president of the Republic of Moldova, the pro-Russian socialist Igor Dodon discussed on Tuesday in Brussels with the European Council president Donald Tusk about the relationship between Chisinau and the EU. In a Facebook post Dodon said that he pointed out, during the meeting with Tusk, that two years since his country signed the Association Agreement with the EU the situation in Moldova has worsened. Dodon also said that in the case of a referendum on this matter, if people voted for the annulment of the agreement, he would respect their wish. The Moldovan president proposed, in Brussels, three-side talks among the EU, Moldova and Russia on trade. Igor Dodon is yet to meet the speaker of the European Parliament, Antonio Tajani, foreign policy commissioner Federica Mogherini, and NATO officials.

(Translated by Elena Enache)