PSD leader unveils his proposal as Romania’s next prime minister
The leader of Romania’s left-wing Social Democrat Party (PSD) said MP Alexandru Rafila was his party’s proposal for the position of prime minister. PSD leader Marcel Ciolacu made the announcement early on Thursday while pointing out he was going to make his fellow-MPs to accept the nomination. Mr Celacu’s announcement comes after Florin Cîțu, leader of the right-wing National Liberal Party (PNL), told reporters on Wednesday that he put forward the name of Mr Rafila during talks with PSD leaders and leaders of the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania (UDMR). Professor Alexandru Rafila is currently deputy speaker of parliament’s lower house and president of the Aspen Healthcare & Quality of Life Advisory Board. Mr Rafila is the elected President of the Romanian Society of Microbiology and has served in central administration as Secretary of State for Medical Assistance and Public Health among other positions. Professor Rafila’s expertise is fully recognised as expert for WHO, NATO and European Commission. He was a member of the Standing Committee of Regional Office for Europe of WHO (2014 – 2017) and represented Romania in the Management Board of ECDC (European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, 2009 – 2014).
EU Commissioner Thierry Breton on a visit to Romania
The EU Commissioner for Internal Market is visiting Romania on Thursday. His agenda includes talks with Romanian President Klaus Iohannis at Cotroceni Presidential Palace in the capital Bucharest, and meetings with the country’s acting ministers of health and defence. Commissioner Thierry Breton is also expected to attend a joint press conference with Raed Arafat, the head of Romania’s Department for Emergencies, and Valeriu Gheorghiță, head of Romania’s vaccination campaign. Romania reported a record daily number of COVID-19 deaths in November amid a persistently low vaccination rate and a wave of infections overwhelming the country’s ailing health care system.
Romania coronavirus updates
Romania reported 3,076 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday with 332 deaths (165 men, 167 women), and another 1,632 people under intensive care. In the capital Bucharest, the number of cases hit 380, according to data issued by the country’s Strategic Communication Group (GSC). With cases reported, the Romanian capital still leads among other regions across the country, followed by the central county of Brașov, with 171 cases, north-western county of Cluj with 168 cases, and western county of Timiș with 147 cases.
Alexandru Danga
