November 14, 2016 UPDATE
An update on domestic and international news
Newsroom, 14.11.2016, 12:16
CHISINAU — The leader of the pro-Russian Socialist Party Igor Dodon won, Sunday, with 52% of the votes, the second round of the presidential election held in the Republic of Moldova (an ex-Soviet state with a majority Romanian-speaking population). His opponent, pro-European Maia Sandu, the leader of the Action and Solidarity Party got only 48% of the vote, show the results provided on Monday by the Central Electoral Committee. Also on Monday Maia Sandu announced she would challenge the result of the election at the Constitutional Court, as, according to her, there is evidence that the vote was rigged. The election was marked by protests after ballots in various polling stations in the Diaspora ran out. This election was the first after 20 years when Moldovans voted for their president through direct vote. So far the president was elected by Parliament. In Bucharest, President Klaus Iohannis reiterated Romania’s firm support for the Republic of Moldova’s European accession and for the continuation of bilateral projects.
ELECTION BULGARIA— Sunday’s presidential election in Bulgaria was won by the candidate of the Socialist opposition, General Rumen Radev, a former air force commander and a Russia-friendly political novice. He obtained 58.1% of the votes while his challenger, centre-right speaker of parliament, Tsetska Tsacheva, won just over 35% of the vote. Following the result, the PM Boyko Borisov has tendered his resignation, after the Socialist candidate defeated his nominee in the presidential election.
MILITARY DRILL – Romanian, Bulgarian, Croatian and Georgian soldiers are participating, as of Monday, in a multinational exercise meant to improve the activity of military engineers during operations in hostile environments under NATO command. Until November 18 the drills will take place on shooting ranges in southeastern Romania. This is an annual rotating exercise held in the 4 countries. It is meant to improve the capacity of the Integrated Logistic Support Multifunctional Unit with focus on military engineering, which participates in various missions under NATO command in several conflict areas.
OBAMA – The American President Barack Obama started on Monday his last tour abroad ahead of the end of his term in office. He will first visit Greece and then will meet with the German chancellor Angela Merkel, the French president Francois Hollande and the British and Italian prime ministers, Theresa May and Matteo Renzi. According to Radio Romania’s correspondent in Washington, the last leg of the tour will be Peru where Obama will participate in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. Obama will also have talks with the Chinese president Xi Jinping. The American President Elect, Republican Donald Trump, will take office on January 2017. (translation by L. Simion)
