May 26, 2023 UPDATE

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Newsroom, 26.05.2023, 20:06

STRIKE Teachers in Romania are carrying on the all-out strike they kicked off
three days ago as the talks between the authorities and trade unions have ended
in a deadlock. They took to the streets in several major cities around Romania,
like Sibiu, Craiova, Galati, Buzau and Botosani. Trade unions in Education are
asking for a 25% pay rise for all employees and the equivalent of 600 Euros for
beginners. The Executive has pledged to give only bonuses, an offer which has
been turned down by the trade unions, which threaten to continue their
protests.

CONTRACT The government in Romania on
Friday endorsed a new frame contract for social securities which is supposed to
come into effect on July 1st and has prevention as its main
component. It also offers bonuses to family physicians willing to treat
patients in rural areas and is for the first time regulating pay for
performance. Family physicians will also have at their disposal new instruments
for the preventive examination of patients in various age brackets. The legal
framework for increasing the access of the insured to outpatient services of
physical medicine and rehabilitation has also been created.

GOVERNMENT
The power sharing arrangement of the parties in the ruling coalition in
Bucharest has been postponed until the resolution of the teachers’ all-out
strike, the liberal Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă has announced. Ciuca was
supposed to resign his mandate on Friday, to be taken over by the Social
Democratic leader Marcel Ciolacu. In fact, Nicolae Ciucă made the announcement
alongside Marcel Ciolacu, and Kelemen Hunor, from the Democratic Union of
Ethnic Hungarians in Romania – UDMR, the third party in ruling coalition in Romania.
The Prime Minister Ciucă appealed to the reason of all teaching
staff, telling them that the Government cannot assume to unbalance the
State budget by granting them the salary increases requested, and that the
discussions with the unions will continue. In turn, the head of the PSD, Marcel
Ciolacu, said that the decision is correct, and that the teachers and employees
in the healthcare system are a priority. Predictability and responsibility are
needed, the leader of the UDMR, Kelemen Hunor, also said. The agreement between
the Liberal Party – PNL and PSD stipulated that each of them would hold the
position of prime minister for a year and a half. In the last few days, there
have been discussions between PSD and PNL regarding the distribution of ministries
in the future government. A retired general, Nicolae Ciucă was sworn in as
prime minister in December 2021.

FAIR
Romania participates in the Madrid Book Fair under the slogan Creating
good chemistry with Romanian literature (Creando buena quimica con
las letras rumanas). Until June 11, Romania’s stand will display numerous
volumes signed by Romanian authors, including those translated, in recent
years, into Spanish, with the support of the Romanian Cultural Institute. The
public has a wide range of activities to choose from: literary activities, book
presentations, recitals, debates, round tables, scientific workshops for
children and autograph sessions. There will also be events promoting Romanian
culture, especially contemporary culture. The Madrid Fair has reached the 82nd edition, in 2023
marking nine decades of existence, and it is one of the most important literary
events of its kind in Europe.

(bill&LS)