September 18, 2016
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Newsroom, 18.09.2016, 12:00
CELEBRATION — Celebrations continue in Bucharest to mark 557 years since the city was first officially documented. A number of cultural events are held on this occasion, including concerts, exhibitions, workshops, arts and crafts fairs, theatre plays, street concerts, parades and chariot rides in squares and parks. Music bands from Spain, Italy and France are taking part in the event. Bucharest was first documented on September 21, 1459, in an official document issued by Vlad the Impaler, the ruler of Wallachia at the time, which subsequently inspired Bram Stoker’s famous novel Dracula.
ELECTIONS IN RUSSIA — Legislative elections are today taking place in Russia. According to recent polls, only four in the 14 political parties taking part in the ballot will exceed the threshold of 5%. The leader of the polls is the United Russia Party of president Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Dmitri Medvedev, with 41% of the votes, followed by the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia of ultranationalist leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky with 12.4%, the Communist Party with 7.5% and A Just Russia Party with 6.4%. The Romanian Foreign Ministry on Saturday announced for the first time it did not recognize the legitimacy of the elections held in Crimea. The Ministry has reasserted its support for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of neighboring Ukraine, arguing that Romania does not recognize the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol by the Russian Federation.
REPORT — Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos on Monday is presenting a report on the country’s economy before Parliament. The Prime Minister will give details regarding the current budget framework. Parliamentary factions are also expected to address the plenary session. Ciolos will appear before Parliament after the National Forecast Committee has upgraded the economic growth forecast for this year to 4.8%. Earlier this year, the institution estimated a 4.2% growth of Romania’s GDP. Over the next three years, the committee has maintained its economic growth forecast to 4.3, 4.5 and 4.7% respectively. The GDP per capita is expected to grow steadily in coming years, from 8,581 euros in 2016 to 10,587 euros in 2019.
SCULPTURE — Romanians on Sunday could see Constantin Brancusi’s Wisdom of the Earth sculpture on show at the National Bank of Romania Museum. Access was free of charge, with no preliminary reservation required, Culture Minister Corina Suteu said, who described the move as a gesture of gratitude to the hundreds of thousands of donations to procure Cosntantin Brancusi’s work. So far some 800,000 euros have been collected, but an additional 5 million euros are required. People can still make donations until the end of the month.
EXPLOSION — Romania’s General Consular Office in New York has reported an explosion in the Chelsea district on Saturday night and is taking steps to ascertain whether any Romanian citizens are among the victims. The Foreign Ministry has told Radio Romania that so far no assistance has been demanded by Romanian citizens. The Consular Office is monitoring the case and is ready to provide assistance. 29 people were injured.
(Translated by V. Palcu)
