June 23, 2016
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Newsroom, 23.06.2016, 12:00
BREXIT — Over 46 million British are today expected to hit the polls to vote on their country remaining in or leaving the European Union. It is the first time in the history of this country and of the Union that such a referendum is held. People are voting in a total of 382 constituencies in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, as well as in the Gibraltar, a British territory off the Iberian Peninsula’s southern coast. According to Radio Romania’s London correspondent, the remain side has a slight lead in the polls. At the end of the day the ballots will be centralized and counted at the Manchester City Hall, and the results will be made public later on. Political pundits say Europe’s geopolitical outlook is at stake. If the Brexit vote pulls through, the EU would sustain not only an economic and financial slump, but will also lose influence and political power. Like most EU leaders, Romanian president Klaus Iohannis has expressed hope the British will vote against their country leaving the EU.
EFFECTS OF BREXIT — National Bank experts claim the United Kingdom leaving the European Union might destabilize Romanian economy, although the impact would be relatively small, accounting for 0.5% of the GDP, Digi 24 online writes. Standing at 800 million euros, loses would be incurred over several years by reducing trade with the UK and by means of a weaker absorption of EU funds. Economists have also warned against an immediate effect on the national currency, which will lose ground up to 4,7 lei against the euro. On the other hand, the Brexit could ruin Romanians’ plans to work in the UK, because accessing the labour market there would be more difficult. The National Bank recalls that there are already 180,000 Romanians legally employed in the United Kingdom. The Brexit might instead pave the way for new investment, at a time when foreign direct investment will be sorely needed, economic pundits say.
SENTENCE — Romanian businessman Puiu Popovici on Thursday was sentenced to nine years in prison in a case where he stands accused of corruption. Prosecutors say that, over the 2000-2004 period, the company owned by Popovici and the University of Agricultural Science and Veterinary Medicine in Bucharest struck deals allowing for the purchase of a 224-hectare land below market price. The file was sent to court in December 2012. The decision can be appealed.
CORRUPTION — Moldovan anti-corruption prosecutors have called for a 19-year prison sentence in the case of former Prime Minister Vlad Filat, who is investigated for passive corruption and influence peddling. Filat was arrested in October 2015, on suspicion of accessory to the mysterious disappearance of a billion dollars from the Moldovan banking system, tantamount to 15% of the country’s GDP. Filat’s lawyers claim the case is purely political and is grounded on no evidence, only allegations. One of the richest and most influential people in Moldova, Filat led the pro-Western Government coalition in the 2009-2013 period.
EURO 2016 — Italy will play Spain on Monday in the highlight match of the round of last 16 at the European Football Championship in France. The last matches of Groups E and F were played on Wednesday evening, deciding who will advance to the next phase. On Saturday, Switzerland will play Poland, Wales will take on Northern Ireland in an all-British game, and Croatia will go up against Portugal. On Sunday, the host team France is playing Ireland, Germany will take on Slovakia while Belgium will play Hungary. On Monday, England will play Iceland. We recall that Romania was bottom of the group tables, after drawing 1-all against Switzerland and losing to France, 1-2 and Albania, nil-1. The fans and the press have called for the resignation of coach Anghel Iordanescu and the leadership of the Romanian Football Federation.
EXTREME HEAT — The south and southeast of the country are under a code yellow alert against extreme heat, with highs reaching 37 degrees Celsius and the heat index exceeding the threshold of 80 units. Skies will be overcast in mountain regions and in the center of the country, with thunderstorms, strong wind and hail storms to be expected. The highs of the day range between 20 and 35 degrees Celsius. The noon reading in Bucharest was 33 degrees.
