Statements by the President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, from Brussels, at the European Council meeting
The President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, is in Brussels, where he is attending the two-day meeting of the European Council. Speaking to reporters, President Iohannis said that the issue of energy and the so-called green deal, as well as the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, are topics on the agenda of the talks in Brussels and are extremely important topics for Romania. „We know we have a problem with energy prices, especially electricity prices, and the truth is that we have found solutions at home for low-income families, vulnerable families as they say. We have a ready legislation and the bills will be compensated, there will be possibilities to postpone. So we have already solved the problem for the next few months at our home „, said Klaus Iohannis. The Romanian president also said that, unfortunately, the issue is not so simple, because, if energy prices continue to rise, these increases will automatically be reflected in other prices. „We need to find, in addition to national solutions, so the solutions that everyone finds at home, we must also find firm European approaches and solutions,” said Klaus Iohannis. The Romanian president insisted that the epidemiological situation in Romania is very serious and again urged the population to get vaccinated against COVID-19. „The solution is clear, it is free, it is available, and it is called vaccine. Dear Romanians, go and get vaccinated, don’t get to the hospital, don’t pass on the disease, let’s end this pandemic. Until then we have support from all sides, everyone helps us, but let’s be serious, no one can get vaccinated in our place, that’s what we have to do „, said Klaus Iohannis.
Romanians’ interest in vaccination has grown steadily, according to the latest figures
Romanians’ interest in anti-COVID immunization has grown steadily, reaching the threshold of 100,000 people vaccinated in a single day on Thursday. In addition, a vaccination marathon will be organized in Bucharest this weekend. The authorities’ approach comes to the aid of doctors, who are exhausted due to the large number of patients. The interim Minister of Health, Cseke Attila, warns that if 70% of the population is not vaccinated, there will be a fifth wave. In the meantime, more and more countries are helping Romania in the fight against the pandemic. Currently, there are almost 5,800,000 Romanians with a complete vaccination scheme, and over 6,100,000 are immunized with the first dose. According to official data, there are 1,815 people in the ICUs, and 448 people have died in the last 24 hours due to COVID. Of the 67,000 tests performed within 24 hours, more than 16,000 were positive. The capital Bucharest remains in first place in number of cases, followed by Ilfov, Iaşi and Prahova counties. Romanian doctors continue to receive external help. Romania will send today the first patient in serious condition to Austria and will continue to transfer critical cases to Hungary and Poland. Several countries, such as Denmark or Italy, have promised to deliver medical equipment, treatments and they expressed their willingness to take patients with COVID.
Prime Minister-designate Nicolae Ciucă begins to form a new government
The Romanian Prime Minister-designate and interim minister of defense, Nicolae Ciucă will hold on Friday the first talks with the leaders of the parliamentary parties in order to convince them to support the governmental formula he will propose. A first meeting has already been confirmed, that with the leader of the Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR) Kelemen Hunor. UDMR expressed its readiness for dialogue, stressing the need for a government with full powers. The Prime Minister-designate appealed to all political actors responsible to support the formation of the new executive, so that Romania can quickly overcome the medical crisis as well as the economic one it is going through. The Save Romania Union (USR) is waiting to be called for talks to rebuild the coalition with the National Liberal Party (PNL) and UDMR, but the most popular scenarios are related to a minority government with the support of the Social Democratic Party (PSD). It remains to be seen what the agreed formula will be.
Magda Baciu
