May 5, 2020 UPDATE

A roundup of domestic and international news.

Newsroom, 05.05.2020, 19:56

MEETING — Romanian President Klaus Iohannis discussed on Tuesday with representatives of the business sector about measures to relaunch the economy which has been affected by the coronavirus pandemic. After the meeting, Iohannis has said a massive increse in public invesment in all types of infrastructure is considered, with a focus on Romanian products. The Romanian Government has negotiated with the European Commission the redirecting of all non-repayable EU funds towards programmes for companies and large infrastructure projects. Iohannis has also said that a gradual reopening of the economic sectors will take place, the top priority being the protection of Romanians’ health.

RULING – The European Court of Human Rights ruled on Tuesday that Romania violated the right to a fair trial and the right to free speech of the former head of the countrys Anti-Corruption Directorate, Laura Codruta Kovesi, who is now the European Union’s first chief prosecutor. According to the Court, “there had been no way” for Laura Codruta Kovesi, who was fired in July 2018, to make a court claim against her removal from office. Also, according to the Court, freedom of expression was violated because of Kovesi’s dismissal for criticizing the governments anti-corruption legislation. Kovesi said the ECHR ruling would help strengthen judicial independence across the continent and defend magistrates from discretionary political interference. Kovesi’s dismissal was initiated by the then Social Democratic Minister Tudorel Toader. President Klaus Iohannis had to fire Kovesi following the ruling of Romanias Constitutional Court. The Head of state said on Tuesday, after the court ruling, that the credibility of the Romanian Constitutional Court, already affected by some controversial decisions over the past few years, is now even more seriously shaken. Iohannis also said that the rulingshows that Romanian Constitutional Court needs to be reformed at the constitutional level. In his turn, the current Justice Minister said he would propose Government to dismiss former minister Tudorel Toader from the position of member of the Venice Commission.

CORONAVIRUS ROMANIA – Barber shops, dental clinics and museums across Romania will reopen on May 15, after being shut down due to the coroanvirus pandemic. People will also be able to move around the city without a signed declaration. President Klaus Iohannis on Monday spoke about these measures, saying the state of emergency would be replaced with a state of alert, allowing the authorities to keep the situation in check. Meanwhile the COVID-19 death toll in Romania has reached 841 people, while the number of confirmed cases now stands at 13,800. 5,500 people have recovered. Health Minister Nelu Tataru says the pandemic could reach its peak at the end of the week. According to the Governments Group for Strategic Communication, some 2,400 Romanians living abroad have tested positive for coronavirus and 96 of them have died.

PANDEMIC – Italy, the first country in the world to impose total quarantine for the entire population due to the coronavirus pandemic, has started easing restrictions. For the second day in a row, the number of deaths was below 200, while the total number of confirmed cases stands at some 100,000. On Tuesday, 4.5 million Italians returned to work. Until May 17, Italians can move around the city only for work, health problems, to shop or to visit their relatives, while observing social distancing measures. The British Government is also expected to announce a gradual lifting of restrictions this week. In France, the Governments plans for a gradual return to normal life starting May 11 have been met with political criticism. The right-wing Senate has voted against the Governments relaxation plan, although the vote is purely consultative, bearing no effect on the implementation of the strategy already approved last week in the National Assembly. Over 250,000 people have died worldwide since the beginning of the outbreak in December last year in China.

(Translated by Elena Enache)