Romania’s Official Gazette under debate in Constitutional Court
Romania’s Constitutional Court is expected to consider on Wednesday a notification put forward by Romanian President Klaus Iohannis last month concerning the status of the country’s Official Gazette (Monitorul Oficial – official publisher of laws, decrees and ordinances passed in parliament or signed by the president or other officials according to law). According to new proposals, the Official Gazette is expected to go from government’s authority under the authority of the parliament’s lower house while the president claims the move is unconstitutional. President Iohannis says the move remains a ‘declaration’ as the document fails to explain the tools the House of Deputies are supposed to use in making the changes.
Romania’s DNA chief at the UN
The chief of Romania’s anti-corruption watchdog, the DNA, is expected to address UN officials in New York on Wednesday. Laura Codruţa Kövesi, the head of the country’s National Anti-Corruption Directorate, is expected to attend a high-level debate organised by the UN General Assembly in New York. The debate marks the 15th anniversary of the United Nations’ Convention on Corruption (UNCC), known as the Merida Convention, signed by 182 countries including Romania. Participants in the event include
UN General Assembly President Miroslav Lajcak and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
Opposition leader before the Attorney General’s Office
The leader of Romania’s opposition National Liberal Party (PNL) appeared before the Attorney General’s Office on Wednesday. Ludovic Orban attended a hearing as a witness in a case related to a former prosecutor. It is the same prosecutor who investigated Mr. Orban’s file of illegal financing of his election campaign. The PNL leader was recently found not guilty in the case and the ruling was final.
INS report on Romania’s demography
Romania’s National Institute of Statistics (INS) published its report of the country’s demography on Wednesday. INS noted the population’s further decline in 2018. According to the report, population ageing continues with the number of people of 65 or over some 350,000 higher than the young population (0-14 years old). In february 2018, 12,691 children were born which is 4,437 fewer than in the previous month and 325 fewer than in February 2017. In february 2018, the number of deaths was at 22,828 which is 795 lower than in January 2018 though 119 higher than in February 2017. The demography figures are subject to a debate organised by ISN in the capital Bucharest on Wednesday.
Alexandru Danga, RADOR
