December 29, 2014
For a roundup of domestic and international events, click here
Florentin Căpitănescu, 28.12.2014, 12:15
BUDGET — The Constitutional Court of Romania on Monday will discuss the notification regarding the 2015 budget, submitted by the centre-right opposition. Liberal MPs believe the draft budget is unconstitutional, as it wasn’t adopted within the deadline under the law and does not include a fiscal and budgetary policy. Prime Minister Victor Ponta says that any delay in the adoption of the budget law will delay the increase of pensions, the disbursement of subsidies or the reduction of VAT for the travel sector. The draft budget is grounded on a 1.8% deficit, a 2.2% inflation rate and an economic growth of 2.5%.
FERRY — Some 400 people on Sunday were still stranded onboard a ferry on Otranto bay, between Greece and Italy. No victim has been yet reported, according to France Presse. Rescue operations, involving helicopters and ships, are carried out with great difficulty, due to unfavourable weather conditions.
ELECTION — The presidential administration is looking into the organization of the presidential election of November abroad. President Klaus Iohannis told an online television station that the organization of the presidential ballot abroad was partially adequate, although some ambassadors have warned that several polling stations were needed. After two ballots, on November 2 and 16, when thousands of Romanian could not cast their votes, the General Prosecutor’s Office has started a criminal investigation, taken over by the National Anti-Corruption Directorate. We recall that the vote in the Diaspora resulted in the resignation of Foreign Ministers Titus Corlatean and Teodor Melescanu within less than two weeks.
FOOTBALL — Romanian coach Cosmin Olaroiu will sit on the bench of Saudi Arabia as his first official match on December 30, in a friendly match against Bahrain, played in Melbourne, Australia. Saudi Arabia will play another friendly match against South Korea on January 4, 2015 in Sydney, the last before the Asian Nations Cup. Saudi Arabia has been drawn in Group B, alongside China, Uzbekistan and North Korea. Saudi Arabia has won the trophy 3 times, the last time in 1996.
ALERT — Meteorologists on Sunday issued a code orange alert against snowfalls, cold snap and sleet for ten counties in the south and southeast, valid from Sunday evening to Monday evening. Authorities have warned the alert might be upgraded to a code red during the interval in four counties in the south. Strong wind will be reported in this period, with a high likelihood to generate snowdrifts combined with fresh snow. Additionally, a code yellow alert will become valid on Sunday evening for the capital city Bucharest and 25 counties nationwide.
MOLDOVA — The Parliament of Moldova will convene on December 29, one day before the deadline for the first plenary session of the new Parliament. The three pro-European parties, the Liberal-Democratic Party, the Democratic Party and the Liberal Party have for the last three weeks holding talks with a view to setting up a new ruling coalition. Together, the three parties have grabbed 55 of the 101 seats in Parliament, which is enough to enable them to hold a majority, but not enough to allow them to vote for a new president or change the Constitution. Parliamentary elections were held in Moldova on November 30.
ISAF — The International Security and Assistance Force (ISAF) on Sunday completed its official mission to Afghanistan by means of a ceremony marking the end of 13 years of fighting in a country still facing terrorist rebels. Since 2001 some 3,500 military have been killed in this country. NATO has not made public any data regarding the ceremony due to Taliban threats and attacks, targeting the Afghan capital. On January 1, the Resolute Support mission will start in Afghanistan, aimed at helping and training Afghan security forces. Some 12,500 military will stay behind to help ensure the security of Afghanistan against the Taliban threat. Romania will contribute 450 military to NATO operations in Afghanistan in 2015.
