February 22, 2014 UPDATE

A roundup of domestic and international news.

Leyla Cheamil, 22.02.2014, 20:12

Ukrainian parliamentarians have voted to oust President Yanukovych and hold early presidential elections on 25 May. Previously, Viktor Yanukovych said a coup was underway against him as he left Kiev for an eastern stronghold. The embattled leader spoke from the eastern city of Kharkiv, the heartland of his support, where he appears to have fled earlier on Saturday, abandoning his presidential residence and offices. Ukrainian military leaders on Saturday said the army would not get involved into a political conflict but it would continue to be faitful to the Ukrainain people. Also, the police signalled their allegiance to anti-government protesters and announced they fully shared the latter’s will for a quick change. Also on Saturday, the prominent opposition leader, former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko, was freed from the hospital where she had been held under prison guard for most of the time since she was convicted in 2011. The political crisis in Ukraine has led to violence between anti-government protesters and riot police. Protests started in November 2013, when President Viktor Yanukovich refused to sign the association accord with the EU.

Italian centre-left leader Matteo Renzi was sworn in as prime minister on Saturday, taking his oath of office from President Giorgio Napolitano. According to Italian media, Renzi will have to relay on a rather unstable coalition in order to push Italy out of the deepest economic crisis since WW2.

Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta stated on Friday, in Chisinau, that the Bucharest government would guarantee 80% of the investment made by Romanian companies in the Republic of Moldova. He made it clear that irrespective of the political tensions in Bucharest, Moldova’s bid for the EU is supported at the level of presidency, government and parliament. Moldovan Prime Minister Iurie Leanca heailed the Romanian authorities’ constant support in this respect and the accords signed in the field of education and emergency medicine.

Romania’s national rugby team defeated on Saturday, on home turf, the Spanish side, 32 to 6, in the European Nations’ Cup and thus qualified to next year’s World Cup in England. Romania will next be up against Belgium, in a match held on March 8, also on home turf. ‘The Oaks”, as the Romanian players are also called, took part in all World Cup final tournaments.