December 7, 2020
A roundup of domestic and international news
Newsroom, 07.12.2020, 13:55
COVID-19 IN ROMANIA – Another
3,660 new infections with SARS-CoV-2 and 127 related deaths were reported in
last 24 hours, the Group for Strategic Communication announced on Monday. The
total number of infections has thus climbed to 517 thousand, while the death
toll stands at 12,447. 1280 people are currently in intensive care. 80% of
people infected with COVID-19 have recovered. Several towns and villages in
Romania are still in quarantine. In Sibiu County, where the infection rate is 5
per thousand inhabitants, authorities have decided to extend the quarantine for
another week in Sibiu and 6 villages.
ELECTION – According
to the partial results of Sunday’s legislative election in Romania, the Social
Democratic Party grabbed the highest number of votes both in the Chamber of
Deputies and in the Senate, some 30%. The National Liberal Party is in second
place with 25%, followed by the Save Romania Union – PLUS Alliance with 15%,
the Alliance for the Union of Romanians with 9% and the Democratic Union of
Ethnic Hungarians in Romania with 5% of the vote. Romanians in the Diaspora
voted over the course of two days, on Saturday and Sunday. Italy, Moldova,
Spain, Great Britain, Northern Ireland, Germany and France reported high voter
turnout rates. The new Parliament will have 465 seats – 136 Senators and 329
Deputies. Sunday’s voter turnout stood at 32%, the lowest in the last 30 years.
MOLDOVA – Thousands protested
on Sunday in the Moldovan capital-city Chişinău, calling for the demise of
Parliament, at present controlled by a pro-Russian majority. The Moldovan
Parliament recently voted for limiting the president’s prerogatives and
strengthening the status of the Russian language. The rally was staged
following a public appeal launched by the pro-European President elect, Maia
Sandu. Sandu’s call was answered by leaders of parliamentary parties in
opposition, but also of non-parliamentary political parties. Protesters accused
Parliament and the Government of promoting corruption and the misappropriation
of public funds, also calling for snap elections. Maia Sandu said Sunday’s
protest is not advocating any ideology or political party, but is simply aimed
at voicing the will of the people, who have grown tired of corruption and want
a better life. The acting president, Igor Dodon, as well as members of the
Socialist Party in Parliament, have refused to comment on the allegations.
BREXIT – Representatives of
Great Britain and the European Union continue negotiations in Brussels with a
view to reaching consensus on a post-Brexit agreement, the absence of which
would have serious economic consequences for both sides. On Sunday evening the
chief negotiators conveyed diverging messages on how talks are progressing. EU
officials said they are close to solving one the major obstacles, related to
the fishing rights agreement, whereas the British side dismissed the
information. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and European Commission
President Ursula von der Leyen are expected to make an assessment tonight on
the progress reported so far in striking a trade agreement, which both the
British and the European Parliament must ratify before taking effect on January
1, 2021. London’s future relation with Brussels is also expected to rank high on
the agenda of the summit in Brussels, to be held on Thursday and Friday. The UK
is still subject to EU legislation following its official withdrawal on January
31, 2020.
HANDBALL – The Romanian
women’s handball team is today playing Norway in the last fixture in Group D at
the European Championships in Denmark. Romania has already secured its presence
in the main group phase, after defeating Poland 28-24 on Saturday. On Thursday,
in the first match, Romania lost 19-22 to Germany, whereas Poland lost to
Norway. The first three teams in each group will advance to the main group
phase. (V. Palcu)
