March 31, 2015 UPDATE
A roundup of domestic and international news
Valentin Țigău, 31.03.2015, 12:05
PRESIDENCY – One hundred days after taking office, the president of Romania, Klaus Iohannis reviewed his main achievements. In a press conference held at Cotroceni Palace, the head of state said he tried to be a mediator and a supportive president, and that after many years he managed to broker dialogue between political parties and civil society. He mentioned that in the forthcoming period he will continue to have political meetings, based on Romania’s partnership with the USA, and its EU and NATO membership. The President also said he will visit Romanian communities living abroad and that he wants a Romania to which the Romanians in the diaspora would like to return. Klaus Iohannis added that in his first 100 days in office, Romania has started to regain international respect and credibility. In a Facebook post, the President of Romania also mentioned that in all meetings with the EU leaders, he will support Romania’s Schengen accession, because a two-speed Europe is unacceptable and because Romania is as entitled to prosperity as any other EU country.
NATO – The President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, received on Tuesday in Bucharest general Philip M. Breedlove, with whom he discussed, among other things, the unstable situation in Ukraine, Romania’s contribution to mission Resolute Support in Afghanistan, the stage of preparations for the NATO command centre and the multi-national command in Romania. Previously, during a briefing with the Romanian Defence Minister, Mircea Dusa, general Breedlove announced that a decision on whether Romania would host heavy NATO equipment will be made very soon. The supreme allied commander in Europe also had a meeting with PM Victor Ponta.
PARLIAMENT – A specialised Senate committee has brought the Senate rules of order in line with the Constitution, as regards the lifting of MP immunity; this can be done on the majority vote of the MPs attending the meeting, and not the majority of all members of the Chamber. The amendment is expected to be discussed by the Standing Bureau. This decision comes after the Constitutional Court is to pass a ruling on April 8 on the lifting of Senator Dan Sova’s immunity, in a corruption investigation. Last week the Senate blamed lack of quorum, for failing to make a decision in this respect.
ECONOMY – The National Bank of Romania Tuesday decided to reduce the key interest rate to an all-time low of 2% per year, starting on April 1. According to the central bank, the annual inflation rate remains below the target market. Most monthly indicators for the first months of this year, particularly those regarding retail and consumer confidence, suggest that the economic growth trend will strengthen in the forthcoming period, reads a news release issued by the central bank.
IS – At least 30 people, including women and children, were executed by IS jihadists in an attack on a village in Hama, central Syria. On March 20, more than 80 Syrian troops were killed in ISIS attacks in the same region. The Islamic State, a radical group known for its brutality, controls large parts of Syria and Iraq, where they execute people accused of breaking the laws of Islam.
