Candidacy of Romania’s PM Nicolae Ciucă as PNL leader
“I have decided to run as president of the (right wing) National Liberal Party (PNL). I made the decision following talks with my colleagues and my advisers. I decided to take on the responsibility after thoroughly reviewing our country’s current politics”. Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă made the announcement on Wednesday at the end of a PNL summit. Former PNL leader Florin Cîțu resigned over the weekend under pressure of his party fellow-members who blamed him for damaging PNL’s relations with its governing coalition partner, the left-wing Social Democrat Party (PSD). Mr Ciucă is reportedly the sole candidate for the PNL leadership at the party’s elections scheduled on April 10.
Romanian cabinet meeting
At a meeting on Thursday, Romania’s government is expected to make a decision granting technical unemployment to people no longer working with partners in Russia following EU economic sanctions against the country but also with partners in Ukraine, affected by war. Such employees would get 75 percent of their basic wage, according to a document put forward by Romania’s Labour Ministry. The document is seen as a precautionary measure which also refers to companies in Belarus. Another government emergency ruling refers to the Covid-19 pandemic with measures in force even after the state of alert is over. At the same time, the Anghel Saligny National Investement Programme would receive additional funds of RON 15 billion (RON 10 billion for county and local roads, and RON 5 billion for gas distribution and transport networks across the country).
Final ruling in former Romanian minister case
A Romanian court on Thursday sentenced a former minister to six years in prison for bribery and official misconduct. Elena Udrea, a former tourism minister from 2008 – 2012 and member of the Liberal Democrat Party (PLD), illegally sponsored a gala with ministry funds featuring a fight between Romanian – Canadian boxer Lucian Bute amd Jean-Paul Mendy of France, taking a 10-percent commission for each contract. The ruling is final, and cannot be challenged. The court previously ordered her to pay the equivalent of some 3 million euros ($3.5 million) in damages. A former chairman of Romania’s Boxing Federation, Rudel Obreja, who also received a five-year prison term for tax evasion, will also go to jail, along with Tudor Breazu, administrator of a land in Nana owned by Mrs Udrea, who got a 3-year prison term.
Romania – coronavirus updates
Romania reported 1,984 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, which is 336 cases less than the previous day, with 23 deaths (15 men, 8 women), and two people under intensive care, the same number as figures reported a day before. In the capital Bucharest, the number of cases hit 595, according to data issues by the country’s Strategic Communication Group (GSC). With its 595 cases reported, Bucharest still leads among other regions in the country, followed by the north-western county of Cluj (179 cases), western county of Timiș (139 cases), and southern county of Ilfov (115 cases).
Alexandru Danga
