November 28, 2018 UPDATE

The Romanian Parliament on Wednesday held a solemn session to celebrate one century since the Great Union of 1918/ Next years state budget provides for higher pensions and a drop in the VAT

Roxana Vasile, 28.11.2018, 19:25

SOLEMN SESSION – The Romanian Parliament on Wednesday held a solemn session to celebrate one hundred years since the Great Union, of December 1. Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis said that 100 years on, politicians, irrespective of party and doctrine, should answer the question whether or not they want to keep on promising much and delivering little or if they take the courage and responsability to lay the foundations of Romanias development in the second Centenary. Klaus Iohannis also underlined that the Romanians have big hopes for the countrys future as well as justified expectations from those who lead the country. In turn, PM Viorica Dancila urged the Romanian political class to show unity. The guests who have been invited to attend a solemn session in the Romanian Parliament include the former presidents of the country Ion Iliescu, Emil Constantinescu and Traian Basescu, members of the Government, the heads of the diplomatic missions in Bucharest, the president of the Romanian Academy, the Governor of the National Bank, the president of the War Veterans’ National Association, the Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church and representatives of the Roman Catholic and Greek Catholic churches.

GREAT UNION – November 28 marks 100 years since the completion of the historic process of Bukovina’s union with Romania. After a century and a half of foreign occupation, Bukovina became an integrated part of the country it had been severed from by the Hapsburg Empire. After the dismantling of the empire into national states, the National Council of Bukovina decided, with a majority of votes, the union with Romania. Previously, in March 1918, Bessarabia, another Romanian province, had united with the mother-country, followed by Transylvania, Banat, Maramures and Crisana. This is how the Romanian National Unitary State came to life. These days, the last preparations are being made for the military ceremonies which will mark the National Day on December 1, and 100 years since the creation of Greater Romania. Bucharest will host the largest national parade since 1990. Some 4,000 military and military experts, with over 200 military vehicles will march under the Triumphal Arch. Some 500 military from 22 allied and partner countries will join the parade, alongside the Romanian troops. 50 military aircraft will fly over the Triumphal Arch Square in Bucharest. A military parade will also be held in Alba Iulia, central Romania, the town where the Great Union of December 1 was achieved. Attending the event will be 1,600 military, equipped with 150 military vehicles and 23 aircraft. The local authorities say some 400 journalists, Romanian nationals and foreigners, have been accredited to attend the events held in Alba Iulia on Romanias National Day.

VISIT – Bucharest’s general mayor Gabriela Firea is on a five day formal visit to Ireland. She will meet with the mayor of Dublin, Lord Nial Ring, for talks on urban mobility, health and social care. Ms. Firea will also participate in the draw ceremony for the 2020 UEFA European qualifying tournament. The event will enjoy the participation of the mayors of the 12 host cities, Bucharest included, of the UEFA Euro 2020 final tournament, as well as representatives of football federations from the 55 countries that are affiliated to UEFA.

BUDGET – Next year’s state budget is to be approved by the Government and submitted to Parliament for debates, most likely in the second week of December, the Romanian Finance Minister Eugen Teodorovici has announced. The new budget provides for a 15% increase in the pension point as of September 2019 and a 1% drop in the VAT. The finance minister has also said that the budget deficit in the first 10 months of the year stood at 2.22% of the GDP, so Romania will manage to observe the 3% target established for this year.

MOTION – The opposition National Liberal Party and Save Romania Union on Wednesday filed at the Senate a simple no-confidence motion against the tourism minister Bogdan Trif. The document titled ‘Romanian tourism: an incompetent minister and a country with no brand’, is to be debated and voted on in early December. The signatories claim the activity carried out by Bogdan Trif as minister is marked by ‘a total lack of transparency’ and call for his resignation. Despite the fact that Romania boasts tourist attractions that are unique in Europe and even in the world, Romanian tourism accounts for very little as share of the GDP (1.3%), the signatories also say. The Liberals blame minister Trif for worsening the economic climate in tourism. Romania has tourism-generated revenues of 2.24 billion Euros, while the Romanian citizens spend 3.12 billion for similar services abroad.

MARTIAL LAW – Martial law was enforced on Wednesday in ten regions in Ukraine, most of them along the border with Russia, but also in two regions in the south-west: Odessa and Vinnytsia, which neighbor Transdniester, and also in the internal waters in the Azov Sea – Kerch Strait area. In order not to affect the presidential elections due in March next year, the measure will be enforced for only 30 days. Martial law entails lesser civil rights and traffic. Also, public gatherings are forbidden, and radio and TV broadcasts censored. The decree signed by president Petro Porosenko was enforced after on Sunday, three Ukrainian ships were seized by the Russian coast guards in the Black Sea, near the Kerch Strait. The incident ended in six Ukrainians being injured, two of them quite seriously, according to Kiev.