The Week in Review October 24-30
A roundup of the week's main stories
Newsroom, 29.10.2016, 13:56
Political parties have submitted their lists of candidates for the legislative election
Political parties and independent candidates have submitted their lists of candidates for the December 11 legislative election. Most political factions have candidates for all counties and say their lists include both new names as well as people with vast political experience. The party currently holding most seats in the current legislature, the Social-Democratic Party, followed by the National-Liberal Party, say 75% of their candidates are new people, who are well-trained and honest. Candidacies can be appealed by November 7.
NATO is consolidating its eastern flank
More and more countries have announced their contribution to strengthening NATOs eastern flank in the wake of Russias growing presence in the Baltic and Black Seas. The announcement was made by NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, at the NATO Defense Ministers Council meeting in Brussels. Representing Romania was Defense Minister Mihnea Motoc. Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Turkey and the United States have confirmed their willingness to deploy land, naval and air forces in Romania to consolidate NATOs presence in the Black Sea region, Stoltenberg has said. The NATO official hailed Member States contributions to the four battalions the Alliance wants to set up by 2017 in three Baltic states and in Poland, aimed at dispelling the fears of Russias neighboring states with respect to their growing vulnerability in the wake of the conflict in Ukraine and Russias illegal annexation of Crimea in March 2014. On the sidelines of the meeting, Romanian Defense Minister held talks with British Secretary of Defense Michael Fallon. The British authorities decided to deploy two RAF Typhoon fighter jets to Romania in 2017, with a view to carrying out air policing missions and take part in joint military drills with the Romanian Air Forces.
The former King of Romania Michael I turned 95
On October 25, King Michael I turned 95 and the Royal House of Romania organized a series of events, until October 28, to mark his anniversary, including medals and distinctions award galas, concerts and book launches. Radio Romania broadcast a radio drama written by King Michael and Queen Anne 56 years ago. Forced by the communists to abdicate, on December 30, 1947, the former monarch lived in exile. After the Anti-communist Revolution of 1989, he returned to his native Romania and reclaimed his citizenship and part of his estates. King Michael promoted in the western chancelleries, as a special ambassador, Romanias accession to NATO in 2004 and to the EU in 2007. Also on October 25 the Romanian Army Day was observed at home and abroad. Military and religious ceremonies were organized in all garrisons across the country. Floral tributes were also paid at the cemeteries and memorials, in honor of the Romanian heroes in Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Russia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine. At present, 780 Romanian soldiers are taking part in international missions around the world, 629 of whom in Afghanistan.
Over 100 non-fiscal charges will be eliminated as of January 1, 2017
The Chamber of Deputies this week passed the draft law initiated by the Social Democratic Party to abolish over 100 non-fiscal charges. The law provides for the elimination of the so-called green stamp duty for vehicles, the fees for issuing tax records and temporary passports, for replacing lost identity papers or for alterations in identity papers, the fees for issuing recreational and sport fishing permits. Prior to Tuesdays vote, the Budget and Finance Committee in the Chamber of Deputies passed an amendment, ruling out from the aforementioned package the radio and TV license fee, but the Chamber of Deputies decided to eliminate this fee too starting January 1. The decision has generated harsh criticism voiced by the political class, civil society and representatives of public media institutions, who said the absence of such a fee would significantly impact the autonomy of the public radio and TV broadcasters. Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos says the bill contradicts the law on the functioning of the public radio and television.
Dacian Ciolos: “The law on the functioning of the public radio and television stipulates that these institutions cannot be funded by the state 100%, under the current legislation. If this law were to be amended, we should notify the European Commission and wait a few months before we get an answer on that.
In Romania, the radio and TV license fee accounts for 67.56% of the public televisions revenues and for 49% of those of the public radio. The fee stands at 0.8 euros per month for the TV service and at 0.6 euros for the radio service, which makes it the lowest in Europe.
