November 21, 2021 UPDATE

november 21, 2021 update

GOVERNMENT The Social Democrats and the Liberals, which have the largest number of seats in Parliament and are seeking to form a new cabinet jointly with the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania (UDMR), announced they would present president Klaus Iohannis on Monday with a joint nomination for the PM post. The structure of the new government was agreed on in Sunday's negotiations, the Social Democratic leader Marcel Ciolacu announced, and added that Romania will have an operational government on Thursday. According to the chief of the Liberal negotiation team, the interim defence minister Nicolae Ciucă, the ministries of transport and finances will be headed, in principle, by the other party than the one nominating the PM. In turn, the leader of the UDMR, Kelemen Hunor, says 2 new ministries will be created, one for tourism and entrepreneurship and one for family and youth. Political sources say the new PM designate will be Nicolae Ciucă (Liberal). A retired general, Ciucă was designated by president Iohannis to form a new government, but he stepped down following indications that his minority government would not be endorsed in Parliament. A previous minority cabinet headed by the president of USR, Dacian Cioloş, also failed to get a confidence vote in Parliament. If endorsed, Ciucă will be the first senior military officer to head a post-communist Romanian government. He will replace the Liberal leader Florin Cîţu, dismissed last month following a no-confidence vote initiated by the Social Democrats.


COVID-19 The number of new coronavirus infections in Romania dropped below 2,000 on Sunday, for the first time in 9 weeks. 1,936 new COVID-19 cases were reported out of nearly 23,000 tests, along with 121 related fatalities, 16 of them from an earlier date. As many as 1,573 patients are in intensive care, but the number of patients is on the decrease. The National Committee on Emergency Situations agreed that in places with infection rates below 3 per thousand schools may resume on-site teaching regardless of the vaccination rate among teaching staff. Several activities subject to restrictions in recent weeks may now be resumed, but a final decision is to be made by the government. Such activities include sports events, concerts, performances and outdoor festivals, conferences and training sessions. Only holders of the digital Covid certificate will be permitted to take part.


MOLDOVA The president of the Republic of Moldova Maia Sandu will be on an official visit to Romania on Tuesday, at the invitation of her Romanian counterpart Klaus Iohannis. This is Sandu's first visit to Romania since July's early election won by her party Action and Solidarity (PAS), and it takes place in the context of the celebration of 30 years of diplomatic relations, after in 1991, the ex-Soviet republic proclaimed its independence from Moscow. According to the Romanian presidency, this is an opportunity to reconfirm the special, privileged Strategic Partnership between the 2 countries, based on common linguistic, cultural and historical elements. The talks between Iohannis and Sandu will encourage the development of joint projects in the fields of energy, transport, healthcare, education and information society, with a focus on projects designed to help connect the Republic of Moldova with the EU to the benefit of all its citizens.


SPORTS Romania's national rugby team defeated Tonga 32-20, in a test match in Bucharest. According to the media, the game was quite useful to both teams, which are trying to qualify for the 2023 World Championships in France. Won the other 2 matches played this month, 29-14 against Uruguay, in a test match in Verona, Italy, on November 7, and 56-15 against the Netherlands in Bucharest, in Rugby Europe Championship 2021, on November 13. Romania is currently placed 15th in the World Rugby standings. (tr. A.M. Popescu)


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Publicat: 2021-11-21 21:44:00
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