The week in review (February 10-16 2020)

the week in review (february 10-16 2020) A look at the main stories this past week

Lingering government crisis in Bucharest

Romania's Prime Minister designate, liberal Ludovic Orban, in Parliament on Monday submitted his cabinet members list as well as the slightly changed governing programme, so that the cabinet may be sworn in in due course, according to procedure. Orban stated no reshuffle occurred this time around and his cabinet members were the same as those who last week got the sack through a motion of no confidence tabled by the Social Democratic Party, in opposition, backed by the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians. The no-confidence vote was a swift reaction to Orban 1 Government's taking responsibility for resuming the procedure of electing mayors in two rounds of voting, only a couple of months ahead of the upcoming local ballot. According to the set timetable, the hearing of Orban 2 cabinet ministers in the Parliament's specialized commissions will take place over February 17 and 19, while the Romanian Parliament's session held so that the government may be sworn in is scheduled for February 24. Ludovic Orban also stated the National Liberal Party's set target was to trigger an early election. Leading members of the National Liberal Party therefore announced they would abstain from voting their own Government, in the hopes that their action may lead to snap election. Concurrently, Prime Minister designate Ludovic Orban approached some of the parliamentary parties, in a bid to get their support for early election.


How fares Romanian economy?

Romanian economy in 2019 saw a 4.1% growth, according to data made public by the National Statistics Institute in Bucharest on Friday, with the aforementioned percentage exceeding the European Commission's 3.8% forecast, but also the estimate made by the National Commission for Strategy and Prognosis, whose forecast pointed to a 4% growth. However, the economic growth is slower that in 2018 and 2017, when the reported percentages stood at 4.4% and 7.1%, respectively.

In Brussels, the European Commission this past Thursday, in turn published its winter economic forecast. The estimates of the Commission point to a 3.8 % growth for Romania's GDP in 2020, and to a growth of 3.5% in 2021. Of the European Union's 27 member states, Malta alone will have a higher economic growth than Romania.


A series of measures taken for the protection of forests

A 30-day grace time was given Romania by the European Commission to stop illegal logging, otherwise a new round of sanctions would be imposed. Romania has tens of thousands of hectares of virgin and quasi-virgin forests which make the perfect habitat for wild animal such as bears, wolves and lynxes. Large-scale illegal logging, however, has seriously mutilated vast expands of the country's forested surface areas, and it appears that part of such areas has been purposefully made available to illegal loggers. The outgoing Environment Minister, the liberal Costel Alexe reminded everybody the European Commission had issued its illegal logging warnings as early as 2016.

Costel Alexe:

"Even at that time the Romanian authorities were being asked why they didn't take any action to protect the country's forests and prevent thieves from robbing them. Three years have passed since then, three years during which the Commission showed its patience towards all those who ran this sector and those who ruled this country. Three years the European Commission waited for illegal logging to stop in Romania. And you know what I think? I believe that Europe and the European Commission cared more for Romania's forests than the previous governments."

Three environmental NGOs filed complaints at the European Commission for the destruction of the Romanian forests. According to these NGOs, authorities in Romania are approving deforestation in the Natura 2000 areas without analyzing the impact they might have upon these regions. Furthermore, according to Forestry Trade Union Silva in the past years, six rangers have been killed, while 650 others have been beaten, attacked with axes and knives or shot while trying to prevent illegal logging.


The coronavirus and seasonal flu epidemic

Authorities in Romania on Thursday announced the first case of infection with the dreadful coronavirus, which is wreaking havoc in China and is spreading throughout the world. The Romanian, who was on a cruise liner with other Romanian nationals, has been admitted to a hospital in Japan. Meanwhile, authorities in Bucharest have given assurances that there was no case of coronavirus infection in Romania. The outgoing Health Minister, Victor Costache, says that Romania has capabilities to diagnose the disease and intends to build another three laboratories to carry out tests on this disease outside Bucharest. The former Finance Minister Florin Câţu has announced that money has been earmarked for the purchase of thermo-scanners to fit Romania's main airports. In another development, a seasonal epidemic of influenza has so far killed 30 in Romania.


Campaigns to spur state involvement in sporting activities

Some of Romania's best athletes and champions have this week launched an appeal in the Senate for the appropriate funding of sporting activities. Romania's best gymnast, Nadia Comaneci, tennis player Simona Halep and former athlete Gabriela Szabo have joined their colleagues pleading for the earmarking of at least 1% of the country's GDP for sporting activities.


Nadia Comăneci: "We don't have the obligation of being here but our conscience obliges us to make something for this generation, which must have at least what we used to have, the opportunities that we had. And it is important for today's generation to see that it has our support."


Romania's top athletes and champions have been invited to join this initiative launched by two senators from the Social-Democratic opposition, who have kicked off a legislative project under which, the BNR Arenas sporting facilities can be taken over the Romanian state. The document, which was endorsed by the Senate has been sent to the decision-making Chamber of Deputies.


(Translation by Eugen Nasta and bill)



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Publicat: 2020-02-15 13:00:00
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