November 6, 2015 UPDATE 2
President Iohannis held talks with parties, civil society. A conclusion may be reached by next weekend.
Florentin Căpitănescu, 06.11.2015, 12:15
Romania’s President, Klaus Iohannis announced on Friday that fresh consultation for the appointment of a candidate for the prime minister position was set for next week. On Thursday and Friday the head of state met with representatives of parliamentary parties and, for the first time in Romanian politics, with civil society members. President Iohannis, who on Thursday appointed the Education Minister Sorin Câmpeanu as interim PM, said a solution could be presented towards the end of next week. Consultations are held following the resignation of the Social Democrat PM Victor Ponta, against the background of large-scale street protests in the past few days. Last week’s deadly fire at a nightclub in Bucharest, which killed 32 people and left more than 100 severely injured, fuelled public anger at the political elite. Tens of thousands of people protested every evening in Bucharest and other Romanian cities against corrupt politicians, asking for a reform of the political class.
As many as 65 people injured in a fire at Bucharest’s nightclub “Colectiv” last Friday continue to be in critical condition. The fire killed 32 people. Romania’s interim prime minister Sorin Campeanu announced that his cabinet will approve next week the payment of the medical treatment for patients who will be transferred to hospitals abroad, in countries like the Netherlands, Belgium, Israel, Germany and France. According to Health Minister Nicolae Banicioiu skin transplant was performed on several patients and some of them underwent surgical procedures needed to help them breathe. The National Anti-Corruption Directorate has announced it initiated criminal proceedings against the former mayor of Bucharest District 4, Cristian Popescu-Piedone, for abuse of office and forgery. He is accused of having issued permits for the club’s functioning in spite of the fact that his owners did not get the approval of the Department for Emergency Situations first. The club’s three owners were taken into temporary custody on suspicion of manslaughter and involuntary bodily harm.
Thousands of British holidaymakers are stranded in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, following London’s decision to suspend all flights to and from the Egyptian resort. The measure was taken over concerns voiced by the British Premier David Cameron and US President Barack Obama that it was possible a bomb on board had brought down the Russian plane which crashed last week, 23 minutes after takeoff from the Sinai resort of Sharm el-Sheikh. The crash on Saturday killed all 224 people on board.
Nicolae Timofti, the President of the Republic of Moldova, a former Soviet republic with a mostly Romanian speaking population, appointed Mihai Gribincea as the country’s Ambassador to the neighbouring Romania. Gribincea will replace the current Moldovan Ambassador, Iurie Renita, whose mandate has expired. Before being appointed in this new position, Mihai Gribincea was Moldova’s Ambassador to Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg, and head of Chisinau’s mission with NATO. According to the Chisinau media, Mihai Gribincea is a staunch supporter of the Euro-Atlantic values.
