October 18, 2015
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Newsroom, 18.10.2015, 12:00
The Social Democratic Party, the largest partner in the ruling coalition in Romania, is to elect, in a special congress today, its new National Standing Bureau, after having validated Liviu Dragnea as party president. After winning the party election last Saturday, he proposed a new leadership structure for the Social Democratic Party, with a smaller National Standing Bureau having slightly different powers. Running for the second highest position in the party, executive president, are the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Valeriu Zgonea, and the former economy minister, Constantin Niţă. The congress is to validate the proposed changes of the party statute, including a provision that forbids a member to hold more than one position in the party. The National Council will become a specialised body, in charge with coordinating the work of the various departments.
In Bucharest, Monday morning is the last chance for Senators to table amendments to the postal voting bill. Later on the same day the document is to be discussed by the Senate in a plenary meeting, and subsequently it will be forwarded to the Chamber of Deputies, the decision-making body in this case. The bill was drafted by the Standing Electoral Authority and stipulates postal voting can be used in parliamentary, presidential and European elections next year, by the Romanian citizens who reside abroad. Six months before the election, voters must notify the relevant embassies or consulates of their intention to vote, and they will be included in an Electoral Register. The Liberals, the main party in Opposition, and the Social Democrats in power support the bill. The Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania believes the law generates disparities between the Romanians living abroad and those in the country, whereas the co-president of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats, Călin Popescu-Tăriceanu, opposes postal voting, which he sees as too complicated and cumbersome.
In Chişinău, magistrates are to decide today on the arrest of Moldovas former Liberal Democratic PM Vlad Filat. He was detained by prosecutors under corruption and influence peddling charges, and the detention warrant expires this afternoon. Criminal proceedings were started on Tuesday, after businessman Ilan Shor, accused for the theft of one billion US dollars from the countrys banking system, wrote a self-incrimination report stating he had transferred to Vlad Filat around 250 million USD in exchange for decisions that would have favoured his companies, and for misuse of authority in the Savings Bank affair. Vlad Filat said his prosecution had political purposes.
The immigrant crisis is the main topic on the agenda of a visit made to Ankara by the German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who is to discuss this with the President and the PM of Turkey. Angela Merkel Friday voiced openness to making some concessions to Turkey, which wishes to be viewed as a safe country by the Europeans, in exchange for Ankaras help in curbing the influx of migrants. The EU Thursday agreed on an action plan in this respect with Turkey, which is currently the gateway into Europe for hundreds of thousands of migrants. Brussels wants Turkey to strengthen security on its border with the Union, to stem the inflow of migrants and refugees. In exchange, Europe will provide financial support and stronger ties, including the prospect of easier travel visas for Turkish citizens. France Presse mentions that Germany opposed Turkeys EU accession.
Switzerland elects today the members of its two-chamber Parliament, in a vote in which the immigration issue was the main concern. Voting by post, available to most citizens, was opened two weeks ago. According to opinion polls, right-wing parties are likely to see their weight in the Swiss Parliament increased further to this ballot. The Socialist Party is also expected to stay firm and preserve its runner-up position. Smaller parties and the Greens will likely lose seats as support for the right wing is growing.
