Politics
New French president’s first meeting with Merkel focuses on Greece, economic growth in Europe
Newly sworn in French president Francois Holland flew to Berlin this week for his first as president meeting with Angela Merkel, the German chancellor to discuss fiscal policy and how to boost economic growth throughout recession hit Europe. Hollande’s flight was struck by lightning on the way to Berlin. Could it mean sparks in his [...]
Romania’s Education Minister resigns amid plagiarism accusations
The Romanian Education Minister Ion Mang resigned on Tuesday, amid plagiarism accusations, in order to save the Government from the effects of the campaign against him, according to him. The resignation would also allow Mang to clear his name, without further pressure from being the head of a minister. Liviu Pop was named interim minister [...]
Romania’s Education Minister accused of having plagiarized three international research papers
Ioan Mang, Romania’s Education Minister and a teacher of Information Technology, is accused of having plagiarized the works of some foreign authors, Eli Biham and Nathan Keller, Takeshi Shimoyama and Chu Hsin Lin, in three scientific papers. The first paper is called ”Cryptanalise Aspects on the Block Ciphers of RC5 and RC6″, and Takeshi Shimoyama [...]
New Government gets green light in Romania’s Parliament, already sworn in
The Romanian Parliament ok-ed the naming of a new Government in Romania on Monday evening (May 7 ), after a long day of debates and hearings. The Government received some 284 votes, according to intermediary results, well above the 231 needed to pass. After the debate session started with only 247 MPs, in total 370 [...]
Romanian Parliament starts vote session on new Government
The Romanian Parliament started the vote on the new Government on Monday evening (May 7 ), after a long day of hearings for the new ministers and an afternoon of heated debates. The new Government needs 231 votes to pass, out of the existing 247 MPs who take part in the voting session. 213 MPs [...]
Romania’s new governing plan: delay on shale gas, tax control every three years, energy authority under Parliament supervision
The new Government has already drafted its governing program and submitted it to the Parliament on Thursday evening (May 3 ), prior to the vote scheduled for next Monday (May 8 ). The 53-page document includes measures considered long-term and ideas that may well go beyond the short-term this Government might serve. The new Romanian [...]
New Government wants to audit Romania’s ‘real situation’ within a month from investiture
Romania’s new Government, which was announced on Tuesday evening (May 1 ) by Prime Minister designated Victor Ponta (in picture) and which should go through the Parliament vote next week, aims to present the country’s audit within a month from taking office. “In maximum a month from investiture, we will present an audit of Romania’s [...]
Victor Ponta unveils new Government: Number two in Romanian Central Bank becomes Finance Minister
Romanian Social Democratic Party (PSD) leader Victor Ponta (in picture), who was designated on Friday (April 27 ) to create the new Government, nominated Florin Georgescu, the First Deputy Governor of the Romanian Central Bank (BNR) to lead the Finance Ministry. Ponta also announced the list of ministers on Tuesday evening (May 1 ), with [...]
Comment: The ambush of a Government
Guest writer Ronnie Smith covers the latest political turmoil in Romania, with the vote of no confidence last week and the naming of a new head of Government. Following the much-heralded defection of a number of Democratic Liberal Party (PDL) members of parliament to both The National LIberal Party (PNL) and the Social Democratic Party [...]
Opposition gains power as leader Victor Ponta nominated to create new Government in Romania
Romanian Social Democratic Party leader Victor Ponta was designated to create the new Government, after the previous Government was toppled in the Parliament earlier today (April 27 ). This means the country’s opposition, the Social Liberal Union (USL), which includes the PSD, has become the ruling group, sending the Democratic Liberal Party to opposition. Ponta [...]
Shortest Romanian Government overthrown after vote of no confidence
Romania’s Government was overthrown after 235 MPs voted for the motion of no confidence earlier today (April 27 ) in the Romanian Parliament. The motion needed 231 votes to pass. Mihai Razvan Ungureanu, who took office in February this year, will leave his seat, after one of the shortest Prime Minister mandates. Victor Ponta, the [...]
Romanian Parliament starts vote of no confidence session
Romanian MPs are currently debating and will be later casting their votes on the motion of no-confidence recently submitted by the opposition alliance Social Liberal Union (USL), the first one filed against the government led by Prime Minister Mihai Razvan Ungureanu. Ungureanu’s cabinet, who took office in February this year, might be on thin ice, [...]
Opposition gains majority in Romania’s Senate after senator joins Liberal party
The opposition coalition in Romania the Social Liberal Union (USL) gained the majority in the Senate after a member of the ruling Democratic Liberal Party (PDL) joined the opposition National Liberal Party. Mihaela Popa joined PNL, raising the number of opposition senators to 67, while the ruling parties have 65. However, Senate meetings need at [...]
Vote of no confidence organized by Romania’s opposition over privatization of state resources
Romania’s opposition coalition Uniunea Social Liberala (USL) has called for a parliamentary vote of no confidence against the government led by Mihai Razvan Ungureanu over the planned privatization of state owned resources, such as the recent Cupru Min debacle. Reported by the Reuters news agency, the move was said to be in protest against the [...]
US continues plan to install missile shield in Romania and Poland
US is continuing the installation of its missile shield in Romania and Poland, said Patrick O’Reilly (in picture), the director of Missile Defense Agency (MDA) of the Pentagon, during a conversation about the MDA’s budget request for USD 7.75 billion for 2013 with the American Senate. Locations to be prepared for the Aegis Ashore system [...]
Romanian PM: Rosia Montana remains a priority, project contested politically, not environmentally
The Rosia Montana gold mining project remains a priority for the Romanian Government, as it will create new jobs, said Romanian Prime Minister Mihai Razvan Ungureanu. He also claimed the project has met resistance for political rather than environmental reasons. “Rosia Montana means jobs. I’m looking at it very technically and I will not back [...]
Hungarian minority wants Magyar to become official regional language in Romania in 20 years
The Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR) hopes to make Magyar, the Hungarian language, an official regional language in Romania in the next 20 years, according to Kovacs Peter, secretary general of UDMR. To achieve this target, Hungarian politicians in Romania would need a change in the Constitution and the support of Romanian politicians. [...]
Romanian President asks new Environment Minister for a decision on gold mine, shale gas projects
Romanian president Traian Basescu asked the new Environment Minister Attila Korodi, who took the oath on Tuesday evening, to give an answer soon concerning the Rosia Montana gold mining project and Chevron’s shale gas exploration. “What I’m asking, Mr. Minister, is to see whether Rosia Montana is feasible. If it is, give the permits rapidly, [...]
Romania’s Environment Minister Borbely steps down amid corruption accusations
Romania’s Environment Minister Laszlo Borbely on Thursday ( April 5 ) resigned, amid accusations from the country’s National Anti-Corruption Body (DNA). Borbely headed the ministry responsible for granting the environmental approval for projects like Rosia Montana gold mine and Chevron’s shale gas exploration and exploitation. Borbely met Prime Minister Mihai Razvan Ungureau on Thursday morning [...]
Romanian and Turkish EU cooperation, “a Hagi goal against opponents of Turkish accession”
Turkey’s EU minister, Egemen Bagis said the agreement signed yesterday between Romania and Turkey was “Like Hagi scoring against opponents of Turkish EU membership.” The Turkish minister referred to the famous Romanian football player and coach Gheorghe (Gica) Hagi, who used to coach the Turkish team Galatasaray. (Read more about Hagi in our Famous Romanians section here) The memorandum, co-signed by [...]
Opposition leader: Romania is in recession, Govt. busy selling off natural, energy resources
Social Democrat Party leader Victor Ponta (in picture) said Sunday ( April 1 ) that Romania is officially in recession, following two consecutive quarters of economic decline. “It’s a fact. We’ll be told that it’s technically, statistically… when we are in recession it is just a technical fall,” said Victor Ponta, adding that this is [...]
Ex Romanian PM Nastase gets second conviction this year: 3 years probation for corruption
Romania’s former Prime Minister Adrian Nastase and his wife Dana Nastase were recently placed on several years of probation in the Zambaccian case, where the two are accused of corruption. In conviction number two this year, Adrian Nastase got three years of probation after Romania’s Supreme Court found him guilty of blackmail while he was [...]
Romanian MP Boldea nicked after return to country from Kenya
Police arrested Romanian MP Mihail Boldea earlier this week, when he returned to Romania after earlier fleeing to Kenya to escape being caught. Boldea is alleged to be involved in organized crime and real estate fraud and could be charged with serious offences, including money laundering and human trafficking. He said his trip to Kenya [...]
Sorin Frunzaverde, VP of ruling PDL in Romania joins opposition party due to ‘administrative chaos’
Romanian MP Sorin Frunzaverde has defected to the opposition National Liberal Party (PNL), which is part of the Social Liberal Union (USL), after recently stepping down from the position of first vice-president of the ruling Democrat Liberal Party (PDL) in Romania. Frunzaverde said today ( March 28 ) that he decided to switch because he has a different opinions [...]
Romanian president Basescu: New safety features to be included in tender for Cernavoda 3 and 4 reactors
Romania’s President, Traian Basescu said at the Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul that the tender file for the country’s Cernavoda power plant 3 and 4 reactors will be changed in order to include new safety features, because of the accident at Fukushima. The tender could be launched in the second part of the year. “Those [...]
Romania strikes gold, silver and bronze at European Gymnastics Championship, wins title after four years 
‘Magic mentalist’ wins ‘Romania’s got talent’ competition after flat-lining during live show 
Three trams collide, derail in Bucharest accident, at least 86 injured 
‘The Avengers’ epic movie almost covers production costs with first week-end box office revenues 
Athletic Bilbao files official complaint over Bucharest airport delays after Europa League final 
Wajiha Haris, Scheherazade Foundation president: “No” is never an option 
Romania’s Education Minister accused of having plagiarized three international research papers 
German STEAG buys wind farm from Romanian Monsson, plans EUR 200 mln investments 
Romanian actor Serban Ionescu left bed bound after catching Lyme’s disease from tick bite 
S Immo to put EUR 66 mln into The Mark – Bucharest office building with intelligent facade
