A roundup of domestic and international news
CONSULTATIONS - President Klaus Iohannis is today consulting with political parties after Liberal Prime Minister Ludovic Orban tendered his resignation as Prime Minister designate. The President explained the gesture was meant to remove the deadlock caused by the Social-Democratic Party, which boycotted Monday's Parliament session, the scheduled date for the Government's investiture. Also on Monday the Constitutional Court ruled that the nomination of the dismissed Prime Minister, Ludovic Orban, for the formation of a new government, was unconstitutional, as Orban had been allegedly nominated to ensure the collapse, not the success of the new Government. Two consecutive Governments must fail before the President can dissolve Parliament and call early elections, a scenario favored by the President, the National Liberal Party and Save Romania Union. The other political parties, the Social-Democratic Party first and foremost, have argued against early elections. We recall the first Orban Cabinet, sworn in last year in November, was removed through no-confidence motion after it took responsibility in Parliament over the return to the two-round voting system for local elections.
CORONAVIRUS - The country's Supreme Defense Council is today convening in Bucharest to address means of combating a potential coronavirus epidemic at national level. So far there has been no confirmation of any infection in Romania, but the authorities need to be prepared in case the situation takes a negative turn, President Klaus Iohannis said. The president urged the population to remain calm and the press to avoid sensationalist stories with a powerful emotional impact, which might generate and amplify panic. According to a press release of the newly-founded Strategic Information Group within the Romanian Government, 26 people are being quarantined and 2,077 are under house monitoring. The "Matei Bals" Institute for Infectious Disease in Bucharest is currently analyzing 32 samples obtained from people from areas visited by an Italian citizen who tested positive for COVID-19. The 71-year-old man visited Romania over February 18-22, and saw the relatives of his Romanian wife and met with business people. Northern Italy is home to some 300 thousand Romanians, and all people arriving in Romania from this region will be automatically quarantined for 14 days. We recall two Romanians who got infected with COVID-19 onboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship, currently in quarantine in the port of Yokohama, are in hospital care in Tokyo.
COVID-19 - The new coronavirus continues to spread. Austria, Switzerland, Croatia and Algeria have recently reported cases of infections. Thousands of tourists are blocked in a hotel on Tenerife Island in Spain. Most cases are reported in Italy, where 300 people are sick. The World Health Organization has urged all nations to immediately prepare for a potential spread of the coronavirus epidemic. According to the WHO, many countries are simply ill-prepared to deal with the disease. The biggest concern in terms of the impact of the epidemic is Iran. Health authorities in the United States are expecting the virus to hit soon, and have asked the local authorities to consider the cancelling of public events. The viral pneumonia caused by the new coronavirus broke out in December last year in China and has infected some 80,000 people worldwide. The death toll has exceeded 2,700. Some 2,700 infections and 40 deaths have been reported outside China so far.
COMMEMORATION - Authorities in Hanau, Germany, which last week saw a double-attack which killed nine people, including a Romanian, announced a special ceremony to commemorate the victims will be held on March 4. Attending the event will be President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Immigrants from Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Bosnia and Afghanistan, but also German nationals were killed by two attacks last week in the center of Hanau, in Hessa Land. The perpetrator subsequently killed his own mother and committed suicide. German authorities are treating the attack as an act of racism and terrorism, claiming the attacker acted alone. A few days before, the killer had posted videos where he spoke of his hatred for foreigners.
FOOTBALL - Romanian champions CFR Cluj is today playing FC Seville of Spain in the return leg of the Europa League round of 32. In the first leg played at home, Cluj drew 1-all. Coached by former national team player, Dan Petrescu, CFR finished the group phase in 2nd place in a group that included Lazio Rome of Italy, Celtic Glasgow of Scotland and Rennes of France. Four-time Europa League winner, Seville is coached by the former manager of Real Madrid, Julien Lopetegui and had easier opponents in the group phase, Apoel from Cyprus, Qarabaq of Azerbaijan and Dudelange of Luxembourg.
(Translated by V. Palcu)
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