State of Emergency Extended

Romania's President Klaus Iohannis has extended the state of emergency until mid-May

Leyla Cheamil, 15.04.2020, 02:00

Because the danger
is not over yet, and the risk of an escalation of the outbreak is still high, on
Tuesday, Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis announced an extension of the state
of emergency by another month. In fact, specialists expect the peak of the
pandemic to be recorded sometime in the second half of April, after the Orthodox Easter.

Klaus Iohannis explained that it’s in the interest of the general public for
the state of emergency to be extended, to maintain the measures already adopted
and to adopt new ones, for the public authorities to be able to intervene
effectively and manage the crisis properly. Therefore, schools remain shut, the
Government continues to ensure citizen’s food safety, and the prices of medicines,
foodstuffs and public utilities can be frozen. Also, during the state of
emergency, organizing and holding meetings and any kind of gathering, including
cultural, scientific, religious and sporting events, is still banned.

President
Klaus Iohannis believes that a relaxation of the restrictions, in the coming
period, would trigger a steep increase in the number of infections, which would
put a huge pressure on the health-care system. That is why he called again on
the Romanian citizens to observe the measures taken by authorizes, in order to
avoid painful consequences.

Klaus Iohannis: I make
an appeal to those who believe that the situation is not that serious and keep
ignoring the measures taken by authorities. Don’t fool the state institutions because
you are only fooling yourselves, your loved ones, your parents and
grandparents, whom you put in danger by ignoring these measures which were
taken to protect your lives and the lives of those you care for. Don’t expose yourselves
and don’t expose the others. Any step taken beyond the boundaries set by these
regulations can translate into you becoming ill, and therefore your loved ones
too. Don’t expose yourselves and don’t expose the others. Be responsible and show
solidarity!

The presidential
decree extending the state of emergency has been published in the Official
Journal, and, on Thursday, the Romanian Parliament will vote, using an
electronic system.

Currently at
the helm of the Government, the National Liberal Party has announced it
supports the extension of the state of emergency, just like the Save Romania Union
and the People’s Movement Party. On the other hand, the opposition Alliance of
Liberals and Democrats and PRO Romania say they will vote against.

The Social
Democratic Party has stated it will stand for a responsible solution, to
protect citizens and support an economic relaunch. The interim president of the
Social Democratic party, Marcel Ciolacu, has drawn attention to the fact that
the current Government has ignored the proposals set forth by his party for the
mass testing of the population and also concrete measures aimed to restart the
economy.

If Parliament does not endorse the extension of the state of
emergency, the head of state will have to revoke the decree, and the measures
enforced under this normative act will cease. (M.Ignatescu)