March 11, 2018 UPDATE
The three main political parties in Romania made important decisions at the weekend/ In Romania, the number of flu-related deaths has reached 93, according to the National Centre for Infectious Disease Surveillance and Control
Florentin Căpitănescu, 11.03.2018, 19:25
POLITICAL PARTIES — The National Council of the National Liberal Party, the main opposition party in Romania, which convened in Bucharest on Sunday decided that the incumbent president of the country, Klaus Iohannis, be the party’s nomination for the 2019 presidential elections. The National Council also validated the proposal on nominating Liberal leader Ludovic Orban for the position of prime minister, if the National Liberal Party comes to power. Orban has announced his party will draft a governing program, based on a cabinet including 14-15 portfolios and not 28 as is the case now. In another move, on Saturday, the main party in the ruling coalition, the Social Democratic Party, organised elections for the positions of executive president, secretary general and vice-presidents of the party. Following the elections, PM Viorica Dancila has become no.2 in the party led by Liviu Dragnea. Also on Saturday, the Political Committee of the Save Romania Union, USR, in opposition, decided to render more flexible the party joining procedure, with the declared aim that by 2020, USR should have branches in at least 80% of the country’s towns and villages.
FLU SEASON — In Romania, the number of flu-related deaths has reached 93, after three new deaths have recently been reported, the National Centre for Infectious Disease Surveillance and Control has announced. The latest flu victims are two women, aged 72 and 52, respectively, and a man aged 56, who had not been immunized. The total number of acute respiratory infections registered over the past week exceeded 140,000, that is 67% more than in the same week of 2017, and 4.5% more than in the previous week. 1,170 flu-cases were reported since the start of the flu season until last weekend.
STEEL AND ALUMINIUM TARRIFS — The US President Donald Trump says the EU might be exempted from paying the new US tariffs on steel and aluminium, if it removes commercial barriers imposed on American products. The announcement has been made by representatives of the Commission in Brussels who have also announced they have had an inconclusive meeting with Washington’s special enjoy. Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malstrom has said the US did not provide guarantees that the EU will be spared from paying the new customs duties. The introduction of tariffs on steel and aluminium imports announced by President Trump has generated strong international reactions. China has described the measure as a severe attack on the global trade system. Chinese associations have launched an appeal to the US, to give up on the idea. This has been a major promise made during Trump’s election campaign, and it is now a reality: in two weeks’ time, new tariffs will be imposed on all countries, except for Canada, the largest steel exporter to the US, Mexico and Australia. China and the EU have warned they will take measures in response to the move and numerous people voiced concern that this step taken by the US might actually be the start of a new protectionist era. According to Donald Trump, the measure allegedly protects the US national defence and security industry.
PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA — The National People’s Congress, NPC, the Chinese legislative body, has adopted a constitutional amendment which abolishes the limitation of the number of presidential mandates, which gives the opportunity to the incumbent Chinese head of state, Xi Jinping, to lead the country post 2023, international news agencies report. So far, the Chinese Constitution has provided for a maximum of two 5-year presidential mandates. This is the first constitutional amendment adopted by China in the past 14 years. Since he came at the helm of the Chinese Communist Party in 2012, and he became the head of state in early 2013, Xi Jinping, 64, has gradually increased his authority, laying special emphasis on propaganda and the state media’s coverage of his actions, FP reports.
BOOK FAIR — 20 years on, Romania will again be the honorary guest of the International Book Fair in Leipzig (eastern Germany), which will open its doors on March 15. Attending the fair will be the Romanian writers Mircea Cărtărescu, Nora Iuga, Andrei Pleşu and Varujan Vosganian. The Romanian Ministry of Culture will organise 60 events at Romania’s stand, whose motto is “Romania. Zoom in”. One such event is the concert given by Ada Milea, who will be performing songs on lyrics translated into German by the German writer of Romanian origin Herta Muller, who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2009, a communiqué issued by the Romanian Ministry of Culture reads. (Translated by D. Vijeu)
