December 19, 2016
Timişoara commemorates the fourth day of the anti-communist revolution of December 1989
Newsroom, 19.12.2016, 00:02
COMMEMORATION – The western Romanian city of Timişoara commemorates today the fourth day of the anti-communist revolution of December 1989, with a conference organised by the Romanian Academy. Twenty-seven years ago, protesters were killed and wounded, and on December 20, Timişoara became the first Romanian city free from communism. Sparked by the locals opposition to an abusive measure of the city authorities, the protests quickly spread across the country, culminating on December 22nd in Bucharest, when the protesters stormed the headquarters of the central committee of the Romanian communist party. This is when the dictator Nicolae Ceauşescu and his wife attempted to flee by helicopter. They were caught and executed on December 25, after a summary trial. Over 1,000 people died and nearly 3,400 were wounded in the clashes, and Romania remains the only Eastern Bloc country where the communist regime was brought down through violence and the communist leaders were executed.
PARLIAMENT – The new MPs elected for the 2016 – 2020 term are expected to start today the procedures for taking office in Senate and the Chamber of Deputies. President Klaus Iohannis has announced that he will convene the new Parliament on Tuesday, and will hold talks with the parliamentary parties on Wednesday and Thursday. This week the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in Romania, which together hold 54% of the seats in the new parliament, will announce their proposal for the new prime minister. After the President has appointed the PM, the latter will have 10 days to put together a cabinet and the governing programme, after which he is to request Parliaments vote of confidence.
REPORTERS WITHOUT BORDERS – This year 57 journalists have been killed around the world, especially in countries affected by war, according to a report made public by Reporters without Borders, an NGO based in Paris. The largest number of deaths, 19, was reported in Syria, followed by Afghanistan, Mexico, Iraq and Yemen. Most journalists lost their lives in their own countries, and one-third of them were targeted by deliberate attacks. Apart from the 57 journalists, 9 bloggers and 8 media collaborators were assassinated. As for the journalists incarcerated or detained this year, their number has increased particularly because of the situation in Turkey, where more than 100 media workers are currently imprisoned.
SYRIA – The UN Security Council is to vote today on a draft resolution aimed at immediately deploying observers to monitor the evacuation of civilians and rebels from the Syrian town of Aleppo. The resolution initiated by France was originally scheduled to be put to a vote on Sunday, but Russia opposed it, voicing fears with respect to the deployment of UN officials unprepared to monitor the protection of the thousands of people still trapped in the last rebel-controlled area in the east of this Syrian town. After intensive negotiations, a compromise text was drafted.
US ELECTION – In the USA, the Electoral College is to vote today on Donald Trumps victory in the presidential race. Whereas in previous years this procedure was a mere formality, the controversial success of the Republican candidate, who lost the popular vote but was supported by presidential electors, is generating a variety of scenarios. Major changes are not expected however after todays vote, although some have requested electors to keep in mind that the businessman does not meet the moral criteria to lead the worlds foremost democracy. Adding to these are disclosures by American intelligence services that Russia contributed to Donald Trumps victory.
HANDBALL – Norways womens team Sunday won the gold medal at the European Handball Championship in Sweden, after having defeated the Netherlands, 30-29 in the final. Norway thus won the 7th European champion title in 12 editions of this competition. In the match for the 3rd place, France beat Denmark, 25-22. Romania came out 5th in this edition of the European championship. The national team had a good performance overall, but failed to qualify into the semi-finals after losing the match against Denmark. In this competition the Romanian players defeated the Olympic champions Russia, as well as Hungary, Croatia and the Czech Republic, and lost a tightly contested match against the European and world champions, Norway.
