A roundup of domestic and international news
MEETING - The Chamber of Deputies will convene over the coming days to debate the possibility of eliminating amnesty and pardon as well as Emergency Decree 114, providing for a series of economic and fiscal measures. The opposition considers the decree to be the most toxic instrument in Romanian economy. The Social-Democrats say the decree also provides for an increase in pensions starting September 1, as well as capping natural gas and electricity prices for home consumers.
CANDIDACY - About one thousand Social Democrats from the PSD, number one in the government coalition in Bucharest, on Saturday convened in a congress to launch the candidacy of Romania's incumbent Prime Minister Viorica Dancila for the presidential election in November. The country's incumbent president Klaus Iohannis has also announced his intention to run for a second term in office with support from the main opposition party, the National Liberal Party. Dan Barna, leader of the opposition USR-PLUS, will also run for the presidential seat and so will Calin Popescu Tariceanu, leader of ALDE, part of the present ruling coalition. Also during the congress, the PSD's National Executive Committee has also adopted proposals for the ministers the Prime Minister is going to submit to president Iohannis on Monday. So, the party's secretary general, Mihai Fifor will be heading the Interior Ministry, Ana Birchall will become Deputy Prime Minister for Strategic Partnerships while MP Iulian Iancu will be Deputy Prime Minister in charge of economic affairs. Dana Girbovan had been proposed for the Justice Ministry, but the move attracted a lot of heat from the opposition who recalled that Girbovan was a staunch supporter of the justice reforms that had been proposed by PSD and ALDE with the alleged intention to gain control over the magistrates and hinder the anti-graft fight.
GOLDEN STAG - The 2019 Golden Stag trophy went to Eliza G of Italy. 12 artists from ten countries competed for the trophy. The jury decided on Saturday to award 1st prize to Sara De Blue of Austria, 2nd prize to Ralfs Eilands of Latvia, and 3rd prize to Monika Marija of Lithuania. Alfie Arcuri got the award for best interpretation of a Romanian song, awarded by the Romanian television and radio corporations. The Golden Stag Festival started in 1968 and continued for 18 editions, the last staged in 2018. Radio Romania is co-producer of the festival.
PROETNICA - The Pro-Etnica Intercultural Festival came to a close on Sunday in Sighisoara. For five days traditional ensembles of Italian, Greek, German, Roma, Macedonian, Serbian, Bulgarian, Hungarian and Jewish communities performed live on stage. Craftsmen's workshops and national minority pavilions were open all throughout the festival. The 17th edition of the Festival also introduced the Literary Salon, a place devoted to national minority writers presenting their works, organizing debates, readings as well as book launches.
TENNIS - Romanian tennis player Simona Halep, world no. 4, on Tuesday will be playing Nicole Gibbs of the US in the first round of US Open, the last Grand Slam tournament of the year. Another four Romanians have made it to the main draw. Sorana Cirstea (106 WTA) will play Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic, Monica Niculescu (105 WTA) will play Dayana Yastremska of Ukraine, Mihaela Buzarnescu (136 WTA) will play Andrea Petkovic of Germany, while Ana Bogdan (147) will play Harriet Dart of Great Britain. In the men's competition, Marius Copil (96 ATP) will take on Ugo Humbert of France.
VOLLEYBALL - The Romanian national women's team on Saturday grabbed its first win in the 2019 European Championship, defeating Hungary 3-1 in Group C. On Friday, Romania had lost nil-3. Romania will next play Croatia, Estonia and Azerbaijan.
(Translated by V. Palcu)
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