The Week in Review 16-22 November 2014

A look at the main events of the week in Romania in politics, society, culture and sports.

România Internațional, 23.11.2014, 19:22

Surprising winner in the presidential runoff in Romania

Christian Liberal Alliance presidential candidate Sibiu Mayor Klaus Iohannis won Sunday’s second round of the by nearly 9% ahead of his opponent, Social Democrat Prime Minister Victor Ponta, seen as favourite to win. The voter turnout was surprisingly high, standing at 64.10%, a record high for the last 18 years. Romanians in the Diaspora also hit the polls in large numbers, some 380,000 casting their votes. A less pleasant surprise was to see thousands of Romanians queuing up to vote, enduring the freezing rain and the cold, in front of embassies or consular offices in several European cities. The Constitutional Court on Friday validated Sunday’s ballot, which confirms Klaus Iohannis as the fourth president of Romania since the 1989 revolution. Klaus Iohannis is expected to take over at Cotroceni starting December 21, when the mandate of president Traian Basescu is due to come to an end.

The effects of the poor organisation of the second presidential ballot in the Diaspora

Flaws linked with the organization of the second round of the presidential election in the Diaspora have not remained without consequence. On Monday Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu tendered his resignation, after the previous week his predecessor Titus Corlatean resigned for the same reasons, both assuming responsibility, although blaming the failure on the current election legislation, which they say prevented the opening of new polling stations. This resounding failure prompted Parliament to resume talks on a new election law. In another development, the General Prosecutor’s Office has started the investigation of how the authorities handled the voting process abroad. Hundreds of complaints were received accusing government ministers and public servants of interfering with the right to vote.

Several senators and deputies had their immunity lifted after the Chamber of Deputies voted against the amnesty law

The Chamber of Deputies on Tuesday evening voted against a draft law on amnesty and pardoning of MPs. Filed nearly a year ago, the project sparked the anger of the civil society. Following this Tuesday’s vote, Conservative MP Ion Dinita, Social-Democrat MP Ioan Adam and Liberal MP Mircea Roscau saw their immunity lifted. Previously the Supreme Court ruled in favour of placing Ioan Adam and Mircea Rosca under a pre-emptive 30-day arrest and of the non-custodial investigation of Ion Dinita. In another development, another two senators lost their immunity, Social-Democrat Ecaterina Andronescu and Serban Mihailescu representing the National Union for the Progress of Romania. Both are wanted in a high-profile corruption scandal involving the illegal selling of Microsoft products to schools. President Traian Basescu also green lighted the criminal investigation of former Liberal Minister Cristian David who is wanted for bribe-taking.

The head of the Directorate for the Investigation of Organized Crime and Terrorism is arrested

The head of Romania’s organized crime division (DIICOT) Alina Bica was detained by anti-corruption prosecutors, who’ve accused Bica of abuse of office. Bica is facing charges of having committed irregularities while she was an undersecretary with the Ministry of Justice, and member of a committee that operated returns of land seized by the communist regime. In 2011, together with two other colleagues, also under investigation, she allegedly facilitated restitution payments for a 13-hectare plot of land on Bucharest’s outskirts. Based on a gross overvaluation, the payments ended up costing the Romanian state 62 million euros.

Russia is the guest of honour of the 21st Gaudeamus Book and Education Fair in Bucharest

The 21st edition of the Gaudeamus International Book and Education Fair is taking place in Bucharest until November 23. Over 300 Romanian and foreign publishers, education institutions and cultural institutes are attending the fair. The Russian Federation is this year’s guest of honour. 17 writers, literary critics and journalists from Russia will organize book launches, presentations, signing sessions and debates. Organizers have prepared a total of 750 events, a record high in the history of the fair. A highlight of the of the festival is the launch of the bilingual volume entitled “Distance will never come between us”, based on interviews with and pictures of listeners of Radio Romania International from 20 countries, winners of Grand Prizes in contests organized by Radio Romania International since 1995.

2014 — a good year for the national football team

Romania’s national football won the last friendly match of 2014 against Denmark 2-nil this Tuesday on National Arena Stadium in Bucharest. Following this result Romania is now ranked 15th in FIFA standings, an all-time best since 2008. Following the wins against Greece and Finland, both away from home, the home draw against Hungary and last week’s 2-nil win against Northern Ireland, Romania ranks first in Group F. Over the last two years, Romania went up 42 places in FIFA standings. In September 2012 Romania ranked 57th, an all-time low. Romania’s best ranking in FIFA standings was 1997, when Romania was in 3rd place.