The Week in review 19-25 February
A roundup of the week's main stories
Leyla Cheamil, 24.02.2017, 14:22
The National Anti-corruption Directorate presents 2016 activity report
Anti-corruption prosecutors last year achieved more than 870 convictions in a court of law. The head of the National Anti-corruption Directorate Laura Codruta Kovesi, who presented this bodys yearly report on Thursday, said 8 parliamentarians, one minister, one MEP, council county chairs and tens of mayors received convictions, while the acquittal rate remained below the European average of 10%. Following last summers ruling by the Constitutional Court with respect to abuse of office, 71 persons were convicted for this offence, while 15 were acquitted.
Laura Codruta Kovesi: “There is a wide-ranging debate in society at the moment with respect to abuse of office. The Constitutional Court did not decriminalise the act of abuse of office. It is not true that the offence of abuse of office was declared unconstitutional, an idea that has been intensely promoted recently. It was declared constitutional in so far as the wording ‘defective conduct is understood to mean ‘by breaking the law.
The state is to receive more than 226 million euros following confiscations ruled by judges as part of final convictions given in anti-corruption cases.
Government sees first reshuffle
Four new ministers for justice, economy, business and European funds proposed by Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu as part of his first cabinet reshuffle were sworn in on Thursday before President Klaus Iohannis. On Wednesday, the majority Social Democratic Party decided to make four replacements in the Cabinet, which were unanimously approved at a party leadership meeting. A former Constitutional Court judge, Tudorel Toader is the new justice minister. His priorities are, according to the prime minister, the closing of the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism and incorporating the rulings of the Constitutional Court into the criminal codes. Alexandru Petrescu, previously the economy minister, was nominated for the position of minister for small and medium sized companies and business. The post of economy minister is taken over by Mihai Tudose, who also held this position in the Ponta cabinet. Rovana Plumb was sworn in as the new minister delegate for European funds.
The president signs into law bill to repeal Order no. 13 and another to approve Order no. 14
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis on Friday signed into law two bills, one to repeal the controversial government decree no. 13 aimed at amending the criminal codes and another, known as decree no. 14, to repeal decree no. 13. The governments intention to amend the criminal legislation, such as by partly decriminalizing the act of abuse of office, led to hundreds of thousands of people taking to the street. The protests began on the 31st of January, the date when decree no. 13 was adopted, and have continued ever since, even after the piece of legislation was scrapped. The decree came under criticism from the President, the opposition parties, the main judicial institutions in Romania and the countrys EU and NATO partners.
The European Commission Report on Romania highlights economic growth
The European Commission has published its semester reports for the member countries, in which progress in all fields of activity are being monitored, from economy to social policies. The report on Romania shows that in the past two years, against the background of high consumption rates and eased fiscal policy, Romania has seen sustained economic growth with a peak of 4.9% in 2016. However, significant tax cuts caused a swollen budget deficit up to 2.8% of the GDP in 2016, a deficit estimated to exceed 3.6% this year and 3.9% in 2018. The labour market was consolidated, wages went up and the unemployment rate is lower. The countrys poverty level, one of the EUs highest, is also on a downward trend, in spite of lingering social inequality, particularly among the youth, large families, the disabled, the Roma and in the rural regions.
Several measures were taken in the healthcare sector in 2016 as well, although the system is still being affected by inefficiency and corruption and people have limited access to healthcare services, especially in the rural areas. The report also mentions the lack of measures to prevent school dropout, as well as reduced access to higher education for young people living in rural communities.
Romanian film-making industry gets award at the Berlinale
“Ana, mon amour, the film directed by Calin Peter Netzer has won over film critics at the Berlin International Film Festival, bringing a new award to the Romanian film making industry. Dana Bunescu won the Silver Bear for editing the film as well as for outstanding artistic and technical contribution. Hungarian director Ildiko Enyedis production On Body and Soul won the Golden Bear. Four years ago Calin Peter Netzer grabbed the Berlinales top prize for his film titled “Childs Pose.
Romanian football side Astra says a farewell to European Cups
Romanias football champions, Astra Giurgiu, said farewell to the European cups after losing their second game to the Belgians from Genk in the Europa Leagues round of 32. In the match played in Belgium, the hosts clinched a one-nil win, enough to secure their qualification after a first two-all draw in Romania a week ago. Astra qualified for this stage of the competition from a group that also included AS Rome, Viktoria Plzen and Austria Vienna. Astra, which had eliminated West Ham United in the playoffs, was the only Romanian side left in the European cups.
