30 May, 2019
A roundup of domestic and international news
Newsroom, 30.05.2019, 13:55
EP ELECTION – The Romanian Interior and Foreign Ministers, Carmen Dan and Teodor Melescanu respectively, have stated they will not resign, although president Klaus Iohannis has asked them to. Carmen Dan has stated that the institution that she is heading has fulfilled its responsibilities in organizing Sundays European Parliament elections, and the statements according to which elections were rigged are totally ungrounded. In turn, Teodor Melescanu has said that he has nothing to blame himself for regarding the voting process for the Diaspora. Dozens of thousands of Romanians queued for hours to exercise their constitutional right to vote, but some of them did not manage. The head of state has announced he will set up a joint commission, at the level of the Presidential Administration, to identify all issues, come up with solutions and propose this solutions to the decision-making authorities, namely the Government, Parliament and the Permanent Electoral Authority.
PAPAL VISIT – The first security measures for Pope Francis visit to Romania have started being enforced as of today. On Friday, schools will be closed and parking banned in the areas where the Pope will attend public events. Pope Francis will stay in Romania until June 2nd. His Sanctity will visit Bucharest, Iasi (north-east) and Blaj (centre), as well as the Marian Sanctuary in Sumuleu Ciuc. This is the second visit to Romania by a Sovereign Pontiff, after the one of Pope John Paul II two decades ago, which was a first for a predominantly Orthodox country.
YIDDISH DAY – On the Day of the Yiddish Language and Theater, Romanias President Klaus Iohannis has today conveyed a message of congratulations to all those “who make sure that the cultural heritage of the Jewish community in Romania stays alive”. According to the president, the Yiddish language and theater are a rich addition to the cultural heritage of this country and of humankind and the Yiddish Theatre Festival, organized annually in Bucharest by the State Jewish Theatre is an excellent means of showcasing, for the younger generations, the values that they need to cherish, promote and uphold.
COMMEMORATION – Sighetu Marmatiei, in north-western Romania, is today hosting events commemorating the Jews deported from Transylvania and Maramures 75 years ago, when these Romanian provinces were under Hungarian occupation. Attending are representatives of the Presidential Administration, members of the diplomatic corps and of the Jewish communities. 131,600 Jews, men, women and children, were deported from the area and most of them exterminated in the Auschwitz – Birkenau concentration camp, in the spring of 1944. One of Sighets Holocaust survivors is the winner of the Nobel Prize Elie Wiesel, in the honour of whom the local authorities have set up a memorial house.
BOOKFEST – The UK Ambassador to Romania, Andrew James Noble, has stated that, to his country, the participation in the Bookfest as a guest of honour is an opportunity to celebrate diversity in literature, reiterate the role of culture in the dialogue between countries and various identities. “We have the precious opportunity to celebrate the freedom to read and the freedom to write what we want as individuals, 30 years since the fall of Communism in Romania”, the British diplomat has also stated. The fair opened its gates on Wednesday and it will be open until Sunday. The Casa Radio publishers is attending with some 150 titles.
TENNIS – The Romanian tennis player Simona Halep, holder of the title and number three in the world, is today playing against the Polish Magda Linette (87 WTA), in the second round of the Roland Garros tournament, the second Grand Slam of the year. Also today, Sorana Carstea (84 WTA) takes on Aliona Bolsova of Spain (137 WTA), and Irina Begu (116 WTA) plays against the Czech Karolina Muchova (73 WTA).
(translated by Mihaela Ignatescu)
