CANDIDATE The National Executive
\nCommittee of the ruling Social Democratic Party PSD will today convene to
\ndesignate a new European Commissioner candidate after the Legal Affairs
\nCommittee of the European Parliament had turned down the candidacy of Rovana Plumb
\non alleged conflict of interest. Yesterday, Romania’s Prime Minister Viorica
\nDancila announced she would come up with another appointee for the seat of the
\nEuropean Commissioner for Transport. Dancila was invited by the country’s
\npresident Klaus Iohannis to have talks on this issue on Wednesday. Last week,
\nthe Social-Democratic MEP Rovana Plumb was asked to clear some controversial
\naspects in her asset declaration related to a loan she had taken to fund an
\nelection campaign. On Monday, Plumb said she had extinguished the 168 thousand
\neuro loan, which caused suspicions about the conflict of interest. <\/p>\n
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VOTE The opposition’s no confidence vote against the minority
\nPSD government is to be submitted to Parliament today, Ludovic Orban, leader of
\nthe National Liberal Party has announced. According to him, the vote has been
\ninitiated by the Liberals and is presently backed by MPs belonging to USR,
\nUDMR, PMP, ALDE, Pro Romania and even some from the PSD. The Social-Democrats
\nbelieve the vote will fail as it doesn’t come up with a governing programme and
\na new Prime Minister. We recall the Executive led by Mrs. Dancila lost its Legislative majority
\nafter its partner, ALDE, had left the ruling coalition in late August. <\/p>\n
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EUROPALIA Romanian president Klaus Iohannis is today participating in Brussels
\nin the official opening of the International Art Festival Europalia, where
\nRomania is an honorary guest. Iohannis’ visit comes in response to an
\ninvitation from king Philippe. The two heads of state are to visit an
\nexhibition entitled ‘Brancusi. Sublimation of Forms’ – the most important
\nexhibition devoted to the Romanian sculptor staged in the past decades, which
\nis also the festival’s main event. The two officials are also to participate in
\na concert entitled ‘the Romanian Rhapsody’ given by the SoNoRo ensemble. The
\nEuropalia Festival brings together numerous events held in Belgium, the
\nNetherlands, Germany, Luxembourg and Great Britain. Besides exhibitions, it
\nincludes theatre, dance and music performances, visual art and literature
\nprojects, and over 100 film screenings. <\/p>\n
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CEREMONIES Hundreds of thousands of students have today resumed courses in
\nuniversities all over the country. Some universities staged ceremonies as early
\nas yesterday but the university year kicked off today in all military
\nuniversities across Romania. Ferdinand l Technical Military Academy and Carol l
\nDefence University have opened their gates in the presence of Defence Minister
\nGabriel Les. Romania currently boasts 54 public and 47 private universities. <\/p>\n
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DIICOT Romania’s president Klaus Iohannis has called for the resignation
\nof Felix Banila, the chief prosecutor of the anti-mafia department DIICOT for
\nthe inappropriate way in which investigations into the recent killing of three
\nyoung girls in southern Romania have been carried out. According to Iohannis,
\nthe events have triggered belated responses and outrageous public reactions from
\nsome authorities, which imply their lack of concern for both the victims and
\ntheir families. In response, Banila announced he would pay maximum attention to
\nthe president’s request. In a communiqu\u00e9, Banila said he would glean opinions
\nfrom his colleagues, his bosses and all those involved in his appointment after
\nwhich he would make public his decision. According to the DIICOT head, his
\nresignation will have consequences leading to instability, which is
\ninconceivable in an EU and NATO member country. <\/p>\n
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(translated by bill)<\/p>\n
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