March 20, 2025
A roundup of local and world news
Newsroom, 20.03.2025, 13:55
LIST As of today, the list of candidates in the presidential election in May is definitive after the Constitutional Court on Wednesday turned down the last challenges submitted. There are eleven names, seven representing political groups whereas four are independent candidates. 12 candidates have been validated by the Central Electoral Office but Anamaria Gavrila, leader of the Young People’s Party, has decided to withdraw from the electoral race. Their order on ballots is to be decided on Saturday.
VISIT Romania’s interim president, Ilie Bolojan, is today participating in the European Council’s proceedings and the Euro Summit held in an inclusive format. The White Paper for European Defence, the latest defence strategy presented by the European Commission, is to be voted upon with a view to limiting the reliance on US arms imports and increasing purchases from the European defence industry. The White Paper for European Defence is based upon five funding pillars, the most important being the credit guaranteed by the Commission of 150 billion Euros. The plan also relies on the readiness of the member states to increase budget expenses for defence up to 650 billion, thanks to the flexibility of budget deficit conditions. All the projects in the first pillar must envisage purchases from the European Defence Industry of 65%. Also high on the meetings’ agenda are ways of increasing the military support for Ukraine, new European Commission proposals for the repatriation of illegal migrants and also ways of achieving European competitiveness, with three main directions: simplified administrative procedures, a consolidated energy market and the union of economies and investment. The agenda also includes action plans for the car-making and metallurgical sectors as well as debates over the latest developments in the Middle East, especially in Gaza and Syria.
FAIR The city of Craiova, in southern Romania, on Wednesday saw the opening of the first book fair part of the Radio Romania Gaudeamus Caravan this year. The event brings together some of the most prestigious publishing houses in Romania, agencies of book distribution, university publishing houses as well as suppliers of music and educational games. This edition’s honorary president is the Romanian-French playwright, poet and journalist, Matei Visniec. The Radio Romania Gaudeamus Caravan will continue to other major Romanian cities such as Cluj-Napoca, Oradea, Buzau, Brasov, Sibiu and Iasi. The aforementioned events will be culminating with the Radio Romania Gaudeamus Book Fair to be staged in Bucharest soon.
WEATHER The weather is getting warmer in most of the Romanian territory with highs ranging from 8 to 15 degrees Celsius. The sky is overcast and moderate wind has been reported. The noon reading in Bucharest stood at 13 degrees centigrade.
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