An Opposition motion under debate in parliament
A simple motion put forward by Romania’s opposition National Liberal Party (PNL) comes under debate in the parliament’s upper house on Tuesday. The Romanian Liberals accuse the government of Prime Minister Victor Ponta of losing 3 bl. euros in EU funds for a series of transport projects. The Liberals claim the loss affected a number of desperately needed infrastructure projects. The right-wing politicians call for an emergency programme of realistic measures designed to answer the chellenges in the country’s transports. They also criticise Mr. Ponta for „seizing merits” for projects started by previous governments.
Bucharest mayor remains in custody for alleged bribe
An Appeal Court in Romania’s capital Bucharest rejected on Monday objections raised by the defence against the preventive arrest of former city mayor Sorin Oprescu. Mr. Oprescu, who is already in custody for a week, remains under preventive arrest for 30 days, according to the ruling. Prosecutors with the country’s anti-corruption watchdog, the DNA, accused Sorin Oprescu of taking a bribe of 25.000 euros and involvement in a sophisticated group taking kickbacks from companies awarded public contracts. Mr. Oprescu may now be dismissed from the job while being replaced by his two deputies.
Romania’s far-right Corneliu Vadim Tudor dies at 65
Corneliu Vadim Tudor, a former leader of Romania’s far-right Greater Romania party, has died in the capital Bucharest on Monday. He was 65. Tudor died hours after being admitted to the Military Emergency Hospital for a lung desease. However, he died following a heart failure. Tudor began his career as a writer and poet glorifying Romania’s former Communist leader Nicolae Ceauşescu. After the 1989 revolution, he joined the Romanian Parliament as leader of the far-right Greater Romania party before becoming a lawmaker in the European Parliament from 2009 to 2014. Vadim Tudor wrote insulting articles against Hungarians, Jews, Roma and liberal-minded Romanians.
Alexandru Danga
