Populism and hate speech on the rise again, warns Romania’s president
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said that populism and hate speech are on the rise again today in various forms, in a message on the Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Fascism and Communism. The Head of State says also that this is precisely why the vigilance of society as a whole is necessary, so as not to expose ourselves to the risk that all these values to which Romania has adhered will be swept away. The President Iohannis also recalls the crucial decision made by King Michael I of Romania, who acted with responsibility and dignity, thus changing the adverse course of events of the Second World War and saving Romania from imminent disaster. In his message, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu also reaffirms the Government’s firm commitment to combat all forms of extremism and to strengthen civic conscience by educating young people regarding all the moments that have affected our recent history.
Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu held talks in Brussels with the head of the European Commission
Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu is sticking to his original intention that Victor Negrescu, currently Vice-President of the European Parliament, should be Romania’s next Commissioner and wants an economic portfolio relevant for our country. Prime minister Ciolacu discussed the issue in Brussels on Thursday with the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, who is in the middle of negotiations with the European political groups to shape the future EU executiv. Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu’s declared objective is for Romania to hold a relevant portfolio in the future European Commission, and this can only be an economic one, because Ursula von der Leyen’s intention is that European policy will focus on investment in the future. „I hope that at the latest on Monday we will submit the proposal from the Romanian government. This is the exclusive prerogative of the Prime Minister, but, as is normal, and I have already agreed with president (of the Senate) Nicolae Ciucă, we will have a following discussion in the coming days,” said Marcel Ciolacu. The Prime Minister also said that a discussion on this subject could also be held with the President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis. For his part, Victor Negrescu recalled that the structure of the future European Commission is still being negotiated and that not all the countries have yet nominated their commissioners. He believes, however, that Romania could get an important portfolio. Also on Thursday in Brussels, Marcel Ciolacu and Victor Negrescu also discussed with the President of the Party of European Socialists, Stefan Löfven, in order to harmonize the Romanian Prime Minister’s position with that of the European Socialist family.
The heatwave persists in southern Romania, the Danube’s flow continues to decrease
The flow of the Danube at the entrance to the country continues to decrease, falling below the multi-year average, which primarily affects navigation. The ferry crossing at Bechet has also been suspended and problems will persist, experts say, even if hydrologists forecast a slight increase in the volume of water on the Danube after August 25. Flows on the Danube have fallen in the last 24 hours and stand at 2,450m³/sec, much lower than the multi-year average for this period in August, which is 3,400m³/sec. The river flows have also been decreasing in the naval part of the Porțile de Fier hydropower plant, in Salcia, Gruia, Bechet and Calafat, where very low water levels make navigation difficult. In Salcia, in Mehedinți, sand sills have appeared on the navigable channel, which may jeopardize navigation safety. Port authority officials have issued warnings and recommend loading ships at lower capacities to avoid running aground on these sand beaches. The lack of rainfall is the main cause of the drop in the Danube’s flow. The drought has affected tens of thousands of hectares of maize and sunflowers in Romania, and farmers across the country have suffered huge losses. In this context, the Romanian authorities want to rehabilitate and expand irrigation infrastructure. Meanwhile, meteorologists have updated the weather codes for the weekend. The heatwave will persist today in southern Romania, more specifically in the regions of Oltenia, Muntenia and continental Dobrogea. The counties of Teleorman and Giurgiu will experience heat discomfort, with temperatures up to 37 degrees Celsius. The orange heatwave code will cover a wider area tomorrow, namely the counties of Mehedinți, Dolj, Olt, Teleorman, Giurgiu, Ilfov and also Bucharest, where temperatures may reach 38 degrees Celsius.
The fourth edition of the BIAF festival starts on Friday in Buzău
The fourth edition of the BIAF (Buzău International Arts Festival), an event dedicated to the arts that will last for almost a month, until September 20, starts in Buzău on Friday. This year’s edition brings together the two festivals that founded the event, the Buzău International Film Festival and the Comic 7 B International Independent Theater Festival. The official opening will take place at 17:30 in Crâng Park, where a tribute concert will be held this evening dedicated to the late Phoenix frontman Nicu Covaci, who passed away earlier this month. The festival will also see the opening of a unique exhibition of icons painted on ammunition crates left behind by troops during the war in Ukraine.
Magda Baciu
