June 29, 2019
PSD extraordinary congress, European Film Festival in Sibiu
Newsroom, 29.06.2019, 14:32
PSD Congress — Over 4 thousand Social Democrats have gathered today for an extraordinary congress to elect their president, vice-president and secretary general. On Friday the PSD National Executive Committee validated the candidates running for the leading positions in the party. 4 Social Democrats are running for the president position, the incumbent PM Viorica Danciala, interim president of the PSD, running as favorite. The position became vacant one month ago when the party’s strongman Liviu Dragnea was sentenced and imprisoned for corruption.
Festival – The European Film Festival is back to Sibiu (in central Romania) bringing 7 new films as well as a 1990s classic. The festival opened on Friday with the film ‘Lazar the Happy’ directed by Alice Rohrwacher winner of the best script award in 2018 at the Cannes Festival. Until Sunday when the festival ends, film lovers have the opportunity to also watch a romantic drama “Memoir of Pain” a French-Belgian coproduction directed by Emmnauel Finkiel, a political thriller “Power Games” by Rodrigo Sorogoyen, the comedy “Woman at war” by Benedikt Erlingsson, Bálint Kenyeres’ film “Yesterday”, “Son of Sophia” by Elina Psykou, “Julia” by Elena Martín and the classic “My Left foot” a 1989 production by Irish director Jim Sheridan. This year the European Film Festival has also been venued in Bucharest, Râmnicu Vâlcea (south), Târgu Mureș (center) and in Chisinau, the Republic of Moldova.
Olympiad — Romania’s geography Olympic teams (juniors and seniors) have won 6 gold medals (4 for the juniors and 2 for the seniors) and 2 silver medals (for the seniors) at the 5th edition of the International Geography Olympiad for Central, South and South Eastern Europe. According to the Romanian Education Ministry, the results have placed Romania on top position in the nations’ classification. The contest included three exams testing written, practical and multimedia skills. This year’s edition held in Belgrade between June 23 and 29 was attended by 78 students from 8 countries.
Europe — The European leaders have come closer to reaching an agreement over appointments to the main positions in the European institutions. The statement was made by the president of the European Council, Donald Tusk, on the sidelines of the Osaka summit. The European official stated that he had permanent consultations with the European leaders but a decision is expected to be made during Sunday’s meeting of the heads of state and government in Brussels. Besides the presidency of the EC, which is the most craved position, appointments need to be made, maintaining a political and geographical balance, to the positions of president of the European Council, of president of the European diplomacy, of president of the European Central Bank and of president of the European Parliament. The new EP meets for its first session next week in Strasbourg and the MEPs will have to elect their president, vice-presidents and quaestors.
Transfagarasan — Road traffic on the high-altitude segment of the famous Transfagaragan route (in central Romania) was opened on Saturday for all categories of vehicles. Dubbed ‘the road among the clouds’ Transfagarasan is one of the most scenic routes of Romania, being located at an altitude of 2,042 meters. Built in 1974 the road measures almost 92 kms and links the southern region of Muntenia with the central region of Transylvania crossing the Fagaras Mountains. In 2009 the producers of the famous Top Gear show of the BBC station declared Transfagarasan the most beautiful road in the world. Road traffic on Transfagrasan had been closed on November 1, 2018 due to weather conditions. (translation by L. Simion)
