October 19, 2019
A roundup of domestic and international news
Newsroom, 19.10.2019, 13:48
INTERMENT – The remains of the Queen
Mother Elena were reinterred on Saturday in the Royal tomb at Curtea de Arges,
southern Romania, after being brought to Romania on Friday. Queen Elena, born into the Greek royal family,
married prince Carol of Romania, the future King Carol II, but seven years
later she divorced him and focused on the education of her son, King Mihai I.
In January 1948, Queen Elena left Romania for good, together with her son, who
was forced by the communists to abdicate. A press release issued by the Royal
House of Romania reads that, after seven decades, Queen Mother Elena returns to
Romania for eternity.
CONSULTATIONS – Liberal Prime Minister
designate Ludovic Orban has this week concluded the first round of negotiations
with parliamentary parties, seeking support for his new government after the
Dancila Cabinet did not survive the no-confidence motion. Orban needs 233 out
of a total of 465 votes for his new cabinet. After Friday’s talks with Orban,
Save Romania Union leader Dan Barna said negotiations will continue in order to
see the Liberals’ reaction to other proposals the Union might come up with. In
turn, Ludovic Orban said the National Liberal Party and the Save Romania Union
are old partners, adding he is counting on their support for the new
government. Ludovic Orban this week also had talks with the Alliance of
Liberals and Democrats, the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians, the Pro
Romania Party and the People’s Movement Party. The group of national minorities
has already declared its support for the new cabinet. Next week Ludovic Orban will continue talks
with parliamentary parties and is expected to announce his list of ministers
and governing program.
NAVY
– The King Ferdinand frigate will join a Puma Naval battleship and a Special
Ops naval forces unit to take part in a new NATO mission in the Mediterranean
Sea, unfolded until November 7. According to a release of the Romanian Naval
forces, the main objectives of the Sea Guardian 19 military operation is the
deter illegal activities on the southern flank of NATO and the EU by means of
monitoring maritime traffic. During its mission, the King Ferdinand frigate
will stop in the ports of Aksaz in Turkey, Alexandria in Egypt, Haifa in Israel
and Limassol in Cyprus. For the first time, the Romanian Naval Forces have
invited members of the Romanian communities in Egypt, Israel and Cyprus to
visit the frigate. Over November 9-20, the King Ferdinand frigate will take
part in the Dogu Akdeniz multinational exercise, hosted by Turkey.
BREXIT – The British Parliament convenes today to vote on Boris
Johnson’s new Brexit deal, approved on Thursday by the 27 member states.
According to the BBC, less than 2 weeks before Britain’s scheduled withdrawal
from the community bloc, Saturday’s vote could go either way. In an attempt to
secure support for his deal, Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Friday said there
has never been a better deal than the one he has secured in Brussels.
TENNIS – Romanian tennis player Marius Copil (92 ATP) on Friday lost to
Andy Murray of Britain, 6-3, 6-7, 6-4 in the quarterfinals of the ATP
tournament in Antwerp, Belgium, totaling some 635 thousand euros in prize
money. Murray and Copil had previously met twice in the ATP circuit, in the
1,000 Masters Madrid Open in 2017, and last year in Washington, the British
player winning both times. On Thursday, Copil defeated Diego Schwartzman of
Argentina, 6-4, 5-7, 7-6.
(Translated by V. Palcu)
