March 26, 2024 UPDATE
A roundup of the main domestic and international news
Newsroom, 26.03.2024, 20:15
VOTE The Chamber of Deputies in Bucharest on Tuesday turned down the simple motion tabled by the opposition USR and Force of the Right against the Social-Democratic Minister of Agriculture Florin Barbu. At the yesterday’s debates, the opposition criticized the way in which the minister handled the farmers’ protests at the beginning of the year but also the fact that he positively evoked the name of Romania’s former communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu. At the same time, the initiators said that Minister Barbu defied the Romanians who are paying higher prices at the market and in shops on a daily basis, whereas he is only promoting the interests of his party. In turn, Barbu said the motion contained many falsehoods through which the signatories want to spark off confusion and irritation in order to get political capital in this election year.
DAY The Romanian Cultural Institute and its representations abroad are staging a series of cultural events marking 106 years since the Union of Bessarabia with Romania, which are celebrated on Wednesday. A painting exhibition is to be launched at Romania’s Art Museum, which puts on display 100 works by artists from the Republic of Moldova while the National Theatre in Bucharest is staging three shows, involving actors from the two countries. The capital of the Republic of Moldova, Chisinau, will be seeing a classical music concert given by the National Chamber Orchestra including Romanian compositions and works by foreign composers.
RESOLUTION The presidents of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, of the European Council, Charles Michel, and of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, have welcomed a United Nations resolution calling for the first time for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. The UN Security Council adopted the resolution with 14 votes in favour and with the United States’ abstaining, demanding an immediate ceasefire during the month of Ramadan, which ends on 9th April, and leading to a lasting ceasefire. The resolution also calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas. The war in Gaza, which began five months ago, has so far killed over 32,000 people and injured more than 74,600, with most of the population of Gaza facing an imminent threat of starvation, according to Palestinian sources quoted by EFE. In response to the United States’ decision to abstain, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cancelled an Israeli visit to the US. According to Radio Romania’s correspondent in Israel, Netanyahu’s decision is yet more proof of the worsening of Israeli-US relations.
FINANCE Romania is still facing vulnerabilities relating to its external and fiscal accounts, the European Commission warned in an in-depth review of six member states published on Monday. According to the report, “the large current account, large government deficits and high inflation rate, which are all above pre-pandemic levels, make the economy potentially vulnerable to shocks”. So far, Romania has not had difficulties in covering its financing needs owing to its solid economy, medium-term growth and low debt levels. The report also notes that Romania’s hard currency reserves seem “broadly adequate”, covering almost five months of imports and more than 100% of short-term external debt at the end of 2023.
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