July 3, 2019 UPDATE

Italian Socialist David Sassoli elected president of the European Parliament, Membership of the new board of the National Bank of Romania validated

Newsroom, 03.07.2019, 19:54

Brussels – The Italian Socialist David Sassoli was elected president of the European Parliament for the next 2 years and a half on Wednesday. Aged 63, the former journalist was elected MEP in 2009 and got new mandates in 2014 and 2019. The European leaders have agreed that the position of EP president should be shared by the Socialists and the People’s Party, with 2 years and a half for each representative. The presidency of the European Commission will be held by the current defense minister of Germany, Ursula von der Leyen, a member of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and a representative of the European People’s Party, the European Central Bank will be led by French center rightist Christine Lagarde, the incumbent chief of the IMF, the Spanish foreign minister, the Socialist Josep Borrell, will lead the European diplomacy and the Belgian PM, Liberal Charles Michel will be president of the European Council. The nomination of Ursula von der Leyen needs to be also validated by the EP following a vote scheduled for mid July.

National Bank — The plenum of the Romanian Senate and Chamber of Deputies on Wednesday validated the membership of the new board of the National Bank of Romania led by the same governor Mugur Isarescu who has been holding this position since 1990. The national bank will carry on the line of a cautious and responsible policy, its long term objective being accession to the Euro zone, said governor Mugur Isarescu during Tuesday’s hearings. Mugur Isarescu said that Romania should be prepared before joining the Euro zone, given that differences in terms of development level between various regions of the country are significant. The national bank board is made up of 9 members elected by Parliament for a 5-year term, with the possibility of extending their mandates.

Tennis — The Romanian tennis player Simona Halep (7 WTA) on Wednesday defeated her conational Mihaela Buzărnescu (53 WTA) 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 in the 2nd round of the Wimbledon tournament, the 3rd Grand Slam tournament of the year. In the 3rd round, Simona Halep will take on Byelorussian Victoria Azarenka (40 WTA) on Thursday. Romanian Monica Niculescu also qualified to the 2nd round and she will take on Belgian Elise Mertens (21 WTA). Simona Halep and Monica Niculescu are the only Romanians left in the competition. (update by L. Simion)