Ionut Preda

Opposition To Challenge Money Laundering Prevention Bill At The Constitutional Court

15:23, 24 Oct. 2018
Romania’s main parliamentary opposition parties PNL and USR announced on Wednesday that they will challenge the recently passed money laundering prevention bill at the Constitutional Court, after it was controversially adopted following the repeat of its Lower Chamber vote.

Twenty Counties Under Code Yellow Warning Of Strong Winds

14:44, 24 Oct. 2018
Twenty counties from Western, Center and Notheastern Romania will be under a code yellow warning of strong winds starting with Wednesday evening, according to Romania’s National Meteorological Administration (ANM).

Lower Chamber Passes Money Laundering Prevention Bill Amid Vote Controversy

14:08, 24 Oct. 2018
Romania’s Lower Chamber passed on Wednesday a bill implementing EU directives on preventing money laundering, after the initial failed vote was controversially repeated at the request of the Social Democrat Party, which accused a malfunction of the electronic voting system.

Prime Minister: Minimum Wage Will Not Be Raised In November

13:31, 24 Oct. 2018
Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dancila announced on Wednesday that the country’s minimum wage will not increase starting with November, as was proposed by the Government’s Prognosis Commission, but that the raise could happen in December 2018 or January 2019.

General Prosecutor Requests Consultation Of Magistrates In Revising Criminal Codes

19:59, 23 Oct. 2018
Romania’s General Prosecutor Augustin Lazar stated on Tuesday that prosecutors from Romania’s top judicial agencies can contribute to revising draft bills amending the country’s criminal codes, requesting authorities to consult them before making further changes.

Offshore Bill Receives Committee Approval, Lower Chamber Vote Scheduled Wednesday

19:04, 23 Oct. 2018
The Common Industry, Budget and Public Administration Committee gave on Tuesday a positive review to the bill regulating offshore gas exploitation in the Black Sea, with a number of amendments.

Lead DNA Chief Prosecutor Nominee Appointed Deputy-Chief Of Magistrate Investigation Section

18:38, 23 Oct. 2018
Constanta prosecutor Adina Florea, the current nominee for chief prosecutor of Romania’s National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA), was appointed deputy-chief prosecutor of the newly-established section for investigating judicial offences.

Senate Judicial Committee Rejects Civil Partnership Proposal

17:36, 23 Oct. 2018
The Judicial Committee of Romania’s Senate rejected on Tuesday a bill which would regulate civil partnership in the country, initiated by unaffiliated MP Oana Bizgan.

General Prosecutor: New Magistrate Investigation Section Will Take Over 1,400 Cases

16:54, 23 Oct. 2018
Romania’s General Prosecutor, Augustin Lazar, announced on Tuesday that the newly-established section to investigate judicial offences will take over 1,400 cases involving magistrates, with its activity having started on Tuesday.

Justice Minister To Announce Results Of General Prosecutor Assessment On Wednesday – Sources

15:01, 23 Oct. 2018
Romanian Justice Minister Tudorel Toader will announce on Wednesday the results of his assessment on the activity of General Prosecutor Augustin Lazar, sources from within the ministry told MEDIAFAX.

European Commission President: Romania Needs Political Consensus On Fight Against Corruption

14:12, 23 Oct. 2018
European Commission President Jean Claude Juncker sent a message to the Romanian Government and Parliament during a speech in the EU Parliament on Tuesday, stating that the country needs consensus on the rule of law and the fight against corruption.

Judicial Committee Chairman: Bills To Be „Corrected” After Constitutional Court Reasoning

21:59, 22 Oct. 2018
The chairman of the special parliamentary committee for the ongoing judicial overhaul, Florin Iordache, announced on Monday that bills amending Romania’s criminal codes will be revised after the Constitutional Court publishes its reasoning for deeming at least one of them unconstitutional.

Hungarian Minority Party Will Not Vote Money Laundering Bill If Anti-NGO Provisions Stand

21:57, 22 Oct. 2018
The MP of Hungarian Minority Party UDMR, Marton Arpad, announced on Monday that his party will not vote on the pending bill on preventing money laundering if it maintains a stipulation which forces NGOs to declare all beneficiaries of their activities.

USR Leader: Most Of Our Voters Expect Common MEP Lists With Former PM’s Party

17:24, 22 Oct. 2018
The chairman of Romanian opposition party USR, Dan Barna, said on Monday that his group is looking into running on common lists with former Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos’ MRI party, a move which he stated was expected by up to three quarters of their voters.

Venice Commission Recommends Romania To Revise Procedures For Appointing Top Prosecutors

15:00, 22 Oct. 2018
The Council of Europe’s advisory body, the Venice Commission, recommended Romania to reanalyze the system for appointing and dismissing top prosecutors, which in their current states risk to undermine the independence of the country’s judicial system.

Romanian President To Summon Parliamentary Parties For Talks On Judicial Bills – Sources

20:31, 19 Oct. 2018
Romania President Klaus Iohannis intends to summon representatives of parliamentary parties to the Presidential Palace for talks on the ongoing judicial reform, in the context of criticism received on the subject from the Venice Commission, political sources told MEDIAFAX.

CSM Admits Candidacy Of Top Anticorruption Nominee For Magistrate Investigation Section

18:46, 19 Oct. 2018
Romania’s top judicial watchdog CSM approved, on Friday, the candidacy of Constanta prosecutor Adina Florea for an office within the new magistrate investigation section. The prosecutor is also nominated for the lead office of the country’s top anticorruption agency.

ALDE Europe: There Will Be Discussions On Excluding ALDE Romania In November

18:15, 19 Oct. 2018
The chief of the pan-European ALDE's communications department, Didrik de Schaetzen, told MEDIAFAX on Friday that a discussion regarding the exclusion of its ALDE Romania affiliated party will be discussed in November, following a request made by Austrian politician.

Justice Minister: Venice Commission Recommends Abolishing Early Retirement For Magistrates

14:31, 19 Oct. 2018
Romanian Tudorel Toader announced on Friday that the Venice Commission review on recently enacted judicial bills recommends the abolishment of a provision instating early retirement for magistrates, instead of delaying the measure.

Study: Cigarette Contraband Decreased Between July And September

17:59, 18 Oct. 2018
The cigarette black market in Romania accounted for a lesser share of total consumption in September, dropping to 15.3%, a 2.9% decrease from the value registered in July, according to a Novel Research study presented on Thursday.

President: Romania Will Not Accede To The Eurozone Too Soon

15:44, 18 Oct. 2018
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis stated on Thursday that Romania’s adoption of the Euro will not happen soon due to internal delays, though also announced that he will restate the country’s intention to accede to the Eurozone in a Euro Summit meeting.

Liberal Party To Inform Venice Commission Of Government Judicial Decree

11:23, 18 Oct. 2018
Romania’s Liberal Party will send an official letter to the Venice Commission to inform the institution with regards to a Government emergency decree which amends the recently enacted judicial bills this week, the party’s spokesperson announced on Wednesday.

Ombudsman Takes Rest Leave As He Receives Multiple Requests To Challenge Government Decree

11:22, 18 Oct. 2018
Romanian Ombudsman Victor Ciorbea was the target of heavy criticism on Wednesday, after it was revealed that he went on a two-week vacation to the United States without delegating his powers, despite being the sole authority able to challenge a recent government decree to the Constitutional Court.

Romania’s Constitutional Court Postpones Ruling On Criminal Code Challenges

12:14, 16 Oct. 2018
Romania’s Constitutional Court announced on Tuesday that it postponed for October 24 a ruling on challenges made by President Klaus Iohannis, the Supreme Court and opposition parties against a bill amending the country’s Criminal Code.

Simulated Earthquake Scenario Reaches 4,380 Deaths

11:53, 16 Oct. 2018
A drill to simulate a high-magnitude earthquake scenario, rolled out by Romanian authorities, estimated a death toll of 4,830 deaths in its fourth day, with 8,000 wounded and approximately 50,000 left homeless.