July 27, 2017 UPDATE
A roundup of domestic and international news
Newsroom, 27.07.2017, 19:25
LEGISLATION – On Thursday, the Government of Romania discussed a bill on vaccination, which lays down responsibilities for authorities, healthcare staff and parents. The bill is designed to regulate the organisation and financing of vaccination in Romania, and to raise awareness of the benefits, safety, quality and potential adverse reactions of vaccines. The bill also provides for a national reserve stock covering at least the annual needs, with doses valid for at least one and a half years. The bill was drafted after the large number of measles cases and deaths caused by this disease prompted the World Health Organisation to include Romania in the 5 countries that total over 80% of the number of cases reported worldwide.
INVESTIGATION – The parliamentary commission investigating into the 2009 presidential election in Romania has proposed the two chambers of parliament to notify the Constitutional Court about a legal conflict between Parliament and the Public Ministry. The members of the commission invoke the refusal of the Prosecutor Generals Office to provide a copy of the file on the presidential election case, which has been classified. Both investigations were started following allegations by a controversial journalist, who claims that the result of the 2009 presidential election was influenced by high-ranking public officials, including the heads of some of the most powerful institutions in Romania. The election was won by the right-wing candidate Traian Basescu, to the detriment of the Social Democrat Mircea Geoana.
EXPO 2017 – The Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu is on a visit to Kazakhstan, to take part in the official ceremony occasioned by Romanias Day at Expo 2017 Astana. Future Energy and to mark 25 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries. During talks with Prime Minister Bakytzhan Sagintaev, the two officials voiced their countries interest in further developing bilateral ties, especially with regard to political dialogue and economic cooperation. Also on Thursday, Teodor Melescanu paid a visit to the region of Karaganda, which is home to an important Romanian community. Expo 2017 Astana has gathered participants from 114 countries and is due to end on September 10. Romanias stand will present the most powerful laser in the world, which is currently being built in Magurele, southern Romania.
MOLDOVA – The Constitutional Court of the Republic of Moldova on Thursday dismissed as unconstitutional a decree signed by the pro-Russian Socialist President Igor Dodon regarding a planned referendum in September. The Court president Tudor Panţâru, quoted by Radio Romania correspondents in Chişinău, said that by signing that decree Dodon breached the Constitution. According to the decree, the referendum scheduled for September 24 was designed to give the President increased powers in order to dismantle Parliament and call early elections. The Moldovan pro-European Liberals challenged the order and notified the Constitutional Court.
FRAUD – Six people, including four professors, have been detained in Arad, western Romania, in the case dubbed graduation diplomas without studies. In all, 36 people, staff, students and former students of two universities in the city are being prosecuted in this case. Prosecutors say that during the 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 academic years, professors provided some students, with the help of IT specialists, the answers to the online tests they had to take, in exchange for money. According to investigators, some foreign students passed all exams in Romanian, although they could not speak the language at all.
ART – As part of a Romanian-American cultural exchange project, the National Museum of Maps and Old Books in Bucharest and Blue Hill Art and Cultural Center have put together an exhibition on contemporary American printmakers. The exhibition includes 34 works by 11 American artists. The opening event was held in Bucharest on Thursday.
