January 30, 2020 UPDATE

A roundup of domestic and international news

Newsroom, 30.01.2020, 20:00

PARLIAMENT The Social Democratic Party, in opposition, on Thursday tabled its first motion of no-confidence against the Liberal Government of Romania. The move was triggered by the Orban Cabinets decision to take responsibility for a bill reintroducing the 2-round voting system for the election of mayors, half a year ahead of local elections. The text of the motion entitled The Orban/Liberal Government – the privatization of Romanias democracy reads that the Government must go not only because attempting to change the voting system right before the election comes against European standards, but also because these changes were operated unilaterally, without parliamentary consultation and debate. According to the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies and interim leader of the Social Democrats, Marcel Ciolacu, this is the most serious case of abuse of power. The Liberals say that the resumption of the 2-round system will render the mayors more legitimate and more representative. The Social-Democrats have stated they got the necessary number of votes for the motion to pass. Prime-minister Ludovic Orban says he is ready for any result of the vote, and the objectives are to ensure a stable governing and the winning of the next local and parliamentary elections.

PENSIONS On Thursday, the president of Romania Klaus Iohannis had a meeting with top officials from the Higher Council of Magistracy, to talk about the scrapping of special pensions for magistrates, following the vote in Parliament on January 28th. On Tuesday, the Council had stated that the elimination of magistrates pensions would affect their status and independence. Initiated by the Liberal Government, the bill passed by Parliament scraps all pensions that are calculated under a special procedure, except for those paid to military, police and intelligence service personnel. The benefits paid to retired artists, athletes and journalists also went untouched. On March 18th, Romanias Constitutional Court will discuss the notifications filed by the High Court of Cassation and Justice and the Ombudsman in relation to the law in question.

FLU Ten people have died in Romania from seasonal flu so far, according to the National Centre for Infectious Disease Monitoring and Control. According to specialists, the week between the 20th and the 26th of January is the first epidemic week this season. Several schools in Bucharest and elsewhere in the country have been closed because of flu cases. The Education Ministry has announced that full or partial suspension of classes because of the flu affects over 4,000 students, but that this is not the number of cases among children.

LABOUR Romania is the EU country that sends to other member countries the largest number of active people, with a 7% increase in 2018, according to the annual report on labour force mobility, published by the European Commission. The second largest grop of active people who have moved recently are the Polish, but with a 6% drop as compared to 2017. Next come Italy, Portugal and Bulgaria. According to the report, more than 4% of the total EU population lives in a member country other than that of origin.

BREXIT Britain is leaving the EU on Friday night, after 47 years since joining the bloc in 1973. The Brexit deal was endorsed by the European Parliament on Wednesday, and on Thursday the member states gave their formal agreement. The transition will take 11 months, during which the EU and the UK will work to define their new partnership. At midnight on January 31, the British colours will be taken off the EU institutions. At a meeting with members of the British business community in Romania, PM Ludovic Orban said Bucharest supports the negotiations for a future close relationship between the Union and the UK.

TENNIS The Romanian tennis player Simona Halep was defeated on Thursday by Spains Garbine Muguruza (32 WTA) 7-6, 7-5, in the semi-finals of the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam of the year. Halep fails to play a new final in Melbourne, after the one she lost in 2018 to the Danish Caroline Wozniacki. Despite the defeat, as of February 3rd Simona goes up to the second place in the WTA ranking. Halep will also be closer to the top ranked player, the Australian Ashleigh Barty, who also lost in the Australian Open semis. Muguruza will be playing the final against the American Sofia Kenin (15 WTA).