September 11, 2019 UPDATE
A roundup of domestic and international news
Newsroom, 11.09.2019, 20:00
Proposals – The Romanian Social Democrat Prime Minister, Viorica Dancila, on Wednesday made six new nominations for ministers, of whom three are members of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats (ALDE), the former junior partner in the ruling coalition, that withdraw from government last month to become part of the opposition. Dancila has said she highly appreciates the ALDE members who, beyond any personal or political interest, understand that Romania needs stability. Sources from the Social Democratic Party (PSD) said previously that if the three ALDE members agreed to take over the minister portfolios, the new Cabinet would no longer need reconfirmation by Parliament, as the head of state and the opposition had initially required. ALDE has decided to expel all its members who agree to take over posts in Parliament and Government or are supported by another political party to do so.
Meeting – Romanian Defence Minister Gabriel Les met on Wednesday in Skopje, with his North Macedonian counterpart, Radmila Sekerinska-Jankovska. The two officials discussed about developing bilateral cooperation in the field of defence given that North Macedonia’s NATO accession, which began in 2008 at the Bucharest Summit, is almost completed. Also tackled were international security, measures to fight terrorism, regional security and stability and cooperation within regional initiatives.
9/11 – Romanian senators on Wednesday held a moments silence to pay tribute to the victims of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. The United States also commemorated the victims of these attacks 18 years ago. Almost 3,000 people, including Romanians, were killed in the attacks perpetrated by 19 members of the Al Qaeda network who hijacked four passenger planes to crash them into some of the United States most emblematic buildings. The number of victims who inhaled toxic substances at the time continued to grow in the years that followed. The 9/11 attacks were considered the bloodiest in history, and their impact is still strongly felt among Americans.
Vote – The Government has been asked to extend, until September 15, the deadline for the online registration of Romanian citizens who wish to vote abroad in the presidential elections on the 10th and the 24th of November. The initial deadline was September 11. Prime Minister Viorica Dancila said the Government may pass an emergency order in this respect on Thursday. Under these circumstances, the Romanian electoral authority has decided to keep open the application www.votstrainatate.ro. Some 28,400 requests were received until Tuesday for voting at the polling booth and some 29,800 requests for voting by post.
Museum – The Chamber of Deputies on Wednesday passed a bill to create a national museum of Jews and the Holocaust in Romania. Funding will be provided by the state from the budget of the Elie Wiesel National Institute for the Study of the Holocaust, as well as own funds, donations and sponsorships. The goal of the museum will be to present and promote the history of the culture and traditions of the Jewish community in Romania, the protection of the victims of the Holocaust and combating anti-Semitism. The Chamber of Deputies is the decision-making body in this case. The bill was also passed by the Senate on the 4th of September. 78 years ago, the regime of marshal Ion Antonescu, an ally of Nazi Germany, began the deportation of the Jews in eastern Romania to the occupied Soviet territories. More than 300,000 Romanian Jews were killed between 1941 and 1945.
Football – Romanias Under-21 side lost 2-1 to Denmark away in their first match as part of a qualifying round for the Under-21 European Championship of 2021. In the same group, Finland drew against Northern Ireland 1-all, while Ukraine defeated Malta 4-nil. Romania will next face Ukraine on the 10th of October.
(Translated by Elena Enache)
