Talks between Romanian President and EBRD chief
Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis is expected to meet Suma Chakrabarti, President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), on Monday at the Presidential Palace of Cotroceni in the capital Bucharest on Monday. Mr. Chakrabarti two-day visit comes at a time when Romania is expected to become one of the fastest-growing economy in Europe in 2016 amid efforts to extend investements in the private sector, according to a previous BERD statement. Mr. Chakrabarti is also expected to meet Prime Minister Dacian Cioloş, Finance Minister Anca Paliu Dragu, and Mugur Isărescu, Governor of Romania’s National Bank.
Talks concerning Romania’s Election Law
Romania’s left-wing Social Democratic Party (PSD) and representatives of the right-wing Alliance of Liberals and Democrats (ALDE) met Prime Minister Dacian Cioloş on Monday. Similar talks were reported between Prime Minister Cioloş and representatives of the right-wing National Liberal Party (PNL) and the National Union for the Progress of Romania (UNPR) as Liberals insist that mayors should face runoff elections. However, PSD leader Liviu Dragnea threatened to boycott the elections in case such changes would pass.
Former ONPM chiefs on trial for corruption
Romania’s anti-corruption watchdog, the DNA, sent to court former chiefs of the country’s National Office for Witness Protection (ONPM) for corruption related crimes. The former ONPM head Adrian Bărăscu, his former deputy Cristian Pintilescu along with other senior officials and ONPM’s psychologist are suspected of creating an organised crime ring while also being accused of embezzlement while in office. They are suspected of dishonestly getting money and acting fraudulently with a damage for the Romanian state of more than half a billion lei. Mr. Bărăscu was put under preventive arrest along with other defendants including Ion-Octavian Nanu, Felicia-Violeta Popa, Aurel Lehadus and Dan-Cristian Puşcaş.
Invitation to Radio Romania’s Concert Hall
Radio Romania’s Concert Hall in the capital Bucharest is expected to host a concert of the National Radio Orchestra with Slovak Peter Feranec as guest-conductor. In 1995, Mr. Feranec became the first foreign-born person to be appointed Chief Conductor at the Bolshoi Theatre. Other appointments include Principal Conductor of the Slovak Philharmonic, Music Director and Chief Conductor of the Mikhailovsky Theatre, and musical director of the Janáček Opera in Brno.
The concert on Friday, February 5, will include the Max Bruch’s violine Concert #1 (with Cristina Anghelescu as soloist), Richard Strauss’ poem of „Don Juan” and „The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” by French composer Paul Dukas.
Alexandru Danga
