Romanian cabinet meeting
A Romanian cabinet meeting on Thursday will include among other issues a draft Emergency Order concerning a merger of local and EU elections on June 9 along with a draft Emergency Order on higher pay in Romania’s health system. Romanian ministers are also expected to approve a state aid schmeme for agriculture and construction companies as part of the IMM Plus state aid programme. The governing center-left Social Democrat Party (PSD) and the center-right National Liberal Party (PNL) have agreed to merge the European elections with the local elections with joint candidates for the EU Parliament to ensure the largest possible turnout of citizens to vote. Another reason is to mitigate the risk of extremist parties gaining ground. Presidential elections could be held in September, followed by parliamentary elections in November or December.
EPP Congress in Romania, Day 2
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, EPP candiidate for the same position, delivered her speech during the second session of the European People’s Party Congress in Romania’s capital Bucharest on Thursday. The EPP holds its Congress in Romania to choose their candidates for the EU Parliament elections in June. “Prosperity, security, democracy – this is what people care about in these difficult times,” Mrs. von der Leyen said, “and in times of change, Europe has your back. EU’s largest political party endorsed Mrs. von der Leyen’s bid for a second term as EU Commission chief. The former German defense minister turned Commission chief was all but guaranteed to keep hold of the European Union’s most powerful job until 2029.
Yellow flood code in western Romania
A tyellow flood codș was issued on western Romanian rivers such as Crișul Alb, Mureș, Old Bega and Bega hydrographic basins near such counties as Arad, Hunedoara, and Timișoara. The warning came into force today and is expected to last until tomorrow, March 8, with possible floods and an increase of water levels exceeding warning quotas. Romania is a flood-prone nation. Since 2000, floods have killed over 240 people, according to sources.
Alexandru Danga, RADOR RADIO ROMÂNIA
