9-14 December

A look at the headline - making events this past week

România Internațional, 14.12.2013, 13:51

Amendments to the Romanian Criminal Code cause wave of criticism

The amendments the Romanian MPs brought to the Criminal Code have this week caused a storm on the political arena in Bucharest. The amendments adopted by a Parliament dominated by the Social Liberal Union change the status of the president, MPs and liberal professions, that will no longer be considered civil servants and consequently will avoid being investigated and punished for corruption offences such as abuse of office, bribe taking and influence peddling, or for conflict of interests. The amendments to the Criminal Code adopted by the Chamber of Deputies shatter the 10-year long work of anti-corruption institutions such as the National Anticorruption Directorate and the National Integrity Agency, President Traian Basescu warned. In turn, the Anticorruption Directorate showed that following the adoption of these amendments the MPs indicted for corruption could be acquitted, while those already detained could be released. The High Court of Cassation and Justice has also reacted by notifying the Constitutional Court on the matter. Their argument is that the amendments to the Criminal Code, which place a certain category of people above the law, are incompatible with the rule of law. The Liberal Democrats in opposition also challenged the new amendments. External reactions were not late to appear. The embassies of the US, Great Britain, Germany and the Netherlands voiced concern with the recent developments in Romania. The stand of the European Commission on the amendments brought to the Criminal Code will reflect on the Mechanism for Cooperation and Verification report to be issued in January 2014, the EU spokesperson Mark Gray said. On the other hand, the Constitutional Court decided that the enforcement of sentences in murder cases could not be prescribed. In October, the Institute for the Investigation of Communist-era Crimes and the Memory of the Romanian Exile expressed concern for a possible blocking of investigations into the 1989 anti-Communist revolution, following the Constitutional Court’s possible approval of homicide sentence write-offs. At present two former commanders of Communist prisons are indicted for murder.

Romanian road carriers are discontent with increase in excise duty on fuels

The Romanian freight carriers have gone on strike to protest the government’s plan to increase the excise duty on fuels by 7 eurocents. Transporters also call for a drop in the excessively high fines and the elimination of town entry fees, adding that the 7-eurocent excise duty on diesel oil could disadvantage domestic operators. PM Ponta suggested that the excise duty should be applied for petrol alone, postponing the supplementary duty on diesel oil by 3 months. On the other hand President Traian Basescu rejects the introduction of this extra tax on diesel oil and petrol.

State-owned CEC Bank President and the finance minister heard by inquiry committee

The president of CEC Bank, in the Romanian state’s portfolio, Radu Ghetea, and the Romanian finance minister, Daniel Chitoiu, are being heard by the Senate’s budget and finance committee. The committee is investigating the bank’s managerial activity after one of President Traian Basescu’s daughters took out a loan worth more than 1 million euros to buy a plot of farming land. Suspicions over the loan emerged after the finance minister made allegations according to which the president asked him for a favor, namely to keep the current president of CEC Bank in office.

The National Bank Governor estimates Romania might join the Euro zone in 10 years

The governor of the National Bank of Romania, Mugur Isarescu, said Wednesday that Romania needed another 10 years to reach 60% of the EU average GDP per capita. He pointed out that at the end of that period, there will be political stability without elections for 3 years (2021-2023), which is actually recommended for euro zone accession. According to the timetable set in 2007 when Romania joined the EU, Romania should have joined the euro zone in 2015 but, in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, the target was abandoned.

Romanian women handball players have qualified in the eighth finals of the World Championship to be hosted by Serbia

Romania’s women’s handball team has qualified in the eighth finals of the World Championship in Serbia after defeating the Hungarian team. So far the Romanian handballers have won 3 world titles: gold in 1962 and silver in 1973 and 2005. On the other hand, two Romanian football teams have ended their path to the European Champions League. Romania’s vice-champion, Pandurii Targu Jiu pulled a nil-nil draw on Thursday night, on home turf, against the Portuguese Pacos Ferreira. On Wednesday Romania’s champions Steaua Bucharest were defeated 0-1 by Chelsea London, in the last leg of the Champions League’ groups.