February 19, 2018
Click here for a roundup of domestic and international news
Newsroom, 19.02.2018, 14:20
FILM Romanian film productions are vying for a place in all major sections of the 68th edition of the Berlin Film Festival underway between February 15th and 25th. Adina Pintilie’s debut feature film ‘Touch Me Not’, a world premiere in Berlin, is running for the big prize. The 2013 Golden Bear-winner, Romanian director Calin Peter Netzer, is part of the jury. ‘Touch Me Not’ is a personal exploration casting a question mark over the preconceived ideas of intimacy as a fundamental aspect of human existence. Ioana Uricaru’s ‘Lemonade’ has been selected for the Panorama section, devoted to artistic vision and the courage to be different. Corneliu Porumboiu’s ‘Infinite Football’ will be participating in the non-competition section Forum while two Romanian productions are to be screened in the Generation Kplus section devoted to children and young people. We recall that Dana Bunescu last year became recipient of the Silver Bear for editing Calin Peter Netzer’s film ‘Ana mon Amour’.
VISIT On Tuesday and Wednesday, Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dancila will be paying a formal visit to Brussels, the first in her new capacity. The Romanian official’s agenda includes talks with the European Commission president Jean Claude Juncker, the head of the European Council, Donald Tusk, and is also to meet Antonio Tajani, president of the European Parliament. Prime Minister Dancila has recently said that stepping up relations with the main community institutions represents a priority of her cabinet.
STOPOVER American destroyer USS Ross is making a stopover in the Romanian port of Constanta on the Black Sea. According to Romanian Navy communiqué, this has been the destroyer’s third stopover in Romania’s waters and the activities of training of the Romanian and US sailors are part of the strategic partnership between the two countries. USS Ross is fitted with Aegis and Tomahawk missiles, surface-to-air and anti-submarine missiles.
RULING Romania’s Higher Court of Cassation and Justice today issues the final ruling in a file involving Ludovic Orban, president of the National Liberal Party, Romania’s main opposition party. Orban, who is being tried for using influence in obtaining undue benefits, has been previously acquitted by a lower court. Anti-corruption prosecutors have indicted Orban for having requested from a businessman financial support in the local election campaign. Ludovic Orban had been nominated by the party to run for the mayor of Bucharest.
MOTION The Chamber of Deputies in Bucharest is today debating on the simple motion the National Liberal Party, the main opposition political force in Romania, has tabled against Labour Minister Lia Olguta Vasilescu. The Liberals are denouncing the pay cuts for certain categories of employees after the introduction of the unitary pay law and the transfer of social insurance contribution from employers to employees. In turn, the Labour Minister has said the simple motion is a good opportunity to present a review of her activity. The MPs are to vote on the motion on Wednesday.
