Ionut Preda

Bucharest Court Rejects Former Social-Democrat Chairman Challenge against New Leadership

19:31, 09 Aug. 2019
The Bucharest Court rejected on Friday a challenge made by former Social Democrat Party (PSD) chairman Liviu Dragnea on the validation of decisions taken at the party’s June congress, in which a new chairman was appointed following his imprisonment for corruption offences.

NATO Announces Completion of Technical Update for Aegis Shield in Deveselu

17:54, 09 Aug. 2019
The Romanian part of the US Aegis anti-missile shield in Deveselu, Olt county, completed a scheduled technical update on Friday, according to a NATO statement.

Ruling Coalition Party ALDE in Talks for Alliance with Pro Romania

15:40, 07 Aug. 2019
The chairman of Romanian ruling coalition party ALDE, Calin Popescu Tariceanu, announced on Wednesday that the group is currently holding talks with Pro Romania concerning a possible political alliance.

Romanian Interior Minister Replaces Gendarmerie Chief

19:02, 05 Aug. 2019
Romania’s interim interior minister, Mihai Fifor, announced on Monday that the decided to replace the current chief of the Romanian Gendarmerie, Ionut Sindile, with the chief of the local Craiova Gendarmerie, Gen. Constantin Florea.

Olt Police Deputy Chief Fired After Teenage Murder Scandal

19:05, 26 Iul. 2019
Romanian Police Chief Ioan Buda announce on Friday that the fired the deputy chief of the Olt County Police Inspectorate, Nicolae Alexe, due to irregularities in the authorities handling of a kidnapped teenager in the city of Caracal, who was found dead on Friday morning.

Romania Could Take Part in European Naval Mission in the Persian Gulf

18:51, 24 Iul. 2019
Romania is among the countries which could take part in a future European naval mission in the Persian Gulf to counteract Iranian actions in the region, according to EU sources quoted by AFP and Die Welt.

Liberal Party Bucharest Chairman Notifies Court of Accounts on Municipality Companies’ Spending

17:51, 10 Iul. 2019
The chairman of the Bucharest branch of Romania’s Liberal Party (PNL), Violeta Alexandru, announced on Wednesday that she notified the country's Court of Accounts regarding spending made by Bucharest Town Hall municipality companies after their establishment was nullified in court.

President, Ruling Party Disagree on Constitutional Referendum Date

17:32, 10 Iul. 2019
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said on Wednesday that a referendum to modify the Constitution should be held at the same with presidential elections this fall, but the ruling Social Democrat Party (PSD) shortly after stated that it wants the ballot held sooner.

Ruling Party to Discuss Cabinet Reshuffle, Presidential Candidate at July 22 Meeting – Sources

15:49, 10 Iul. 2019
Romania’s ruling Social Democrat Party (PSD) are planning to hold an Executive Committee meeting on July 22, with discussions to revolve around a new cabinet reshuffle and polls regarding the party’s presidential candidate, party sources told MEDIAFAX.

Romanian President Urges Government to Dissolve Magistrate Investigation Section

15:28, 10 Iul. 2019
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis requested the country’s government on Wednesday to draft a bill which would “correct the anomaly” of the Section for Investigating Judicial Offences, quoting a GRECO report which criticized the institution’s vague role and jurisdiction.

Constitutional Court to Discuss Opposition, Ruling Coalition Constitutional Amendments on July 18

16:28, 09 Iul. 2019
Romania’s Constitutional Court will discuss on July 18 two projects to amend the country’s Constitution, filed by opposition parties and the ruling PSD-ALDE coalition, respectively.

Former Tourism Minister Elena Udrea Arrived in Romania – Sources

15:48, 08 Iul. 2019
Romania’s former Tourism Minister, Elena Udrea, arrived in Romania on Monday morning for the first time in more than 18 months, sources close to the former dignitary told MEDIAFAX.

Author of Violent Timis County Rampage Caught, Tests Positive for Narcotics

14:10, 04 Iul. 2019
The author of several violent attacks in Timis county, 33-year old Ionel Boldea, was caught by a border police patrol in the early hours on Thursday while driving a car in the county. The man killed one person and wounded another five in a series of violent assaults on Wednesday.

Prosecutors Raid TAROM Headquarters on Embezzlement Suspicions

14:12, 02 Iul. 2019
Prosecutors from Romania’s top anti-organized crime agency DIICOT carried out searches at the headquarters of the country’s flag carrier airline TAROM on Tuesday morning, for suspicions of embezzlement, judicial sources told MEDIAFAX.

Remus Truica, Paul Phillipe of Romania Sentenced to Prison in Baneasa Royal Farm Retrocession Case

14:46, 27 Iun. 2019
The Brasov Court of Appeal decided on Thursday to sentence businessman Remus Truica and Paul Phillipe of Romania, a descendant of King Carol II, to four years and three years in prison respectively, in a case regarding the illegal retrocession of the Baneasa Royal Farm and the Snagov Forest.

Small-Scale Aircraft Makes Emergency Landing in Harghita County

13:57, 27 Iun. 2019
A small-scale aircraft spreading anti-rabies substances near the Maldarasi Peak area made an emergency landing in Harghita county on Thursday, with both members of the crew escaping without serious injuries.

New Moldovan Prime Minister To Make first State Visit in Romania

17:44, 26 Iun. 2019
The recently-appointed Prime Minister of Moldova, Maia Sandu, will make her first state visit while in office in Romania next week, followed shortly after by a visit to Brussels, according to Moldovan news portal Unimedia.

Romanian Lower Chamber Passes Pensions Bill

14:20, 26 Iun. 2019
Romania’s Lower Chamber voted on Wednesday in favor of the pensions bill proposed by the country's ruling coalition, redrafted after it was declared unconstitutional back in March.

Three Dead, One Child Injured in Crash Caused by Drunk Driver on A1 Motorway

13:49, 21 Iun. 2019
Three people, including a 5-year old child, died on Friday morning following a violent crash on the A1 Motorway in Timis county, after an intoxicated driver collided head-on with their car.

Romanian Senate Rejects Pensions Bill

14:12, 19 Iun. 2019
Romania’s Senate rejected on Wednesday a revised version of the pensions bill adopted by the Labor Ministry in October 2018, redrafted after it was declared unconstitutional.

Dacian Ciolos Appointed Renew Europe Group Leader

13:05, 19 Iun. 2019
Former Romanian Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos was appointed on Wednesday as the leader of the Renew Europe group in the European Parliament, comprised of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE), French ruling party En Marche and Romania’s 2020 USR-PLUS Alliance.

New Constitutional Court Judges Take Oath of Office

13:45, 18 Iun. 2019
The former chief of Romania’s Section for Investigating Judicial Offences (SIIJ), Gheorghe Stan, and former Constanta Court of Appeal judge Cristian Deliorga were sworn into office as new Constitutional Court judges on Tuesday, in a ceremony at the Cotroceni Palace.

Prime Minister Wants Internal Financial Audit at Ruling Party – Sources

19:50, 14 Iun. 2019
Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dancila told her colleagues in the ruling Social Democrat Party (PSD) that she wants a financial audit to verify recent party spending, but no steps have been taken towards that for the moment, party sources told MEDIAFAX.

Romanian PM Dismisses Danube Delta Governor

19:31, 14 Iun. 2019
Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dancila dismissed the country’s Danube Delta governor, Malin-Matei Musetescu, on Friday, amid a wave of replacing several secretaries of state from the Energy, Environment and European Funds ministries.

Electoral Watchdog Says Different Number of Voters on Referendum Results Is Due to Error

18:51, 14 Iun. 2019
Romania’s Central Electoral Bureau (BEC) responded on Friday to an inquiry made by Constitutional Court Chairman Valer Dorneanu, saying that the different numbers of voters counted for the two referendum questions at the May 26 vote was a result of erroneous reporting by several voting sections.

European Commission Official: Romania Last in EU Research Spending

18:17, 14 Iun. 2019
European Commission official Aurora Mordonu said on Friday that Romania ranks last in the European Union regarding spending for research and innovation, during an event launching country-specific recommendations for Romania on Friday.

Dacian Ciolos Plans Bid for Renew Europe Group Leadership – Sources

20:38, 13 Iun. 2019
Former Romanian Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos wants to run for the leadership of the Renew Europe group, previously known as ALDE, in the European Parliament, political sources told MEDIAFAX on Thursday.

Opposition Parties Sign Romanian President’s National Pro-EU Pact

18:04, 13 Iun. 2019
Romania’s parliamentary opposition parties – PNL, USR, PMP and Pro Romania – signed on Thursday a national political agreement proposed by President Klaus Iohannis aiming to strengthen the country's European course.

President Signs Retirement of New Constitutional Court Judge Cristian Deliorga

17:32, 13 Iun. 2019
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis signed on Thursday a decree retiring Constanta Court of Appeal judge Cristian Deliorga starting with Friday, as the magistrate is set to become a constitutional judge next week.

ALDE Will Not Support No-Confidence Motion, Has Not Set a Strategy

21:12, 12 Iun. 2019
The MPs controlled by ruling coalition party ALDE will not support an opposition no-confidence motion against the Romanian Government next week, according to ALDE Senator Daniel Zamfir.

Liberal Party Lower Chamber Leader: Not Enough Votes for No-Confidence Motion Currently

16:30, 12 Iun. 2019
The leader of the Liberal Party’s group in Romania’s Lower Chamber, Raluca Turcan, acknowledged on Wednesday that the opposition does not have enough votes to pass a no-confidence motion filed against the government, and appealed for ruling coalition MPs to support it in next week’s vote.

Two Social-Democrat MPs Switch Allegiance to Pro Romania Again

15:52, 12 Iun. 2019
Social Democrat Party (PSD) MPs Mihai Mohaci and Mihail Valentin Popa have left Romania's ruling party for the second time in order to join the future Pro Europe parliamentary group, representing the Pro Romania party. Both had a previous short stint with PM Victor Ponta’s party.

Social Democrat Party Interim Executive Chairman Resigns – Sources

14:22, 07 Iun. 2019
Former Regional Development Minister Paul Stanescu resigned from his office as interim executive chairman of Romania’s ruling Social Democrat Party (PSD) on Friday, less than two weeks after he was appointed to the role, knowledgeable sources told MEDIAFAX.

Over 100 Towns Affected by Flooding Throughout Romania

14:58, 04 Iun. 2019
More than 100 Romanian towns in 24 counties were affected by flooding in the past 24 hours, with 171 people evacuated preventively, following significant bouts of heavy rain throughout most of country.

Pope Holds Mass at St. Joseph Cathedral in Bucharest

19:17, 31 Mai 2019
Pope Francis was greeted by thousands of Romanians on Friday evening as he arrived at the St. Joseph Catholic Cathedral to hold a Mass, during his first day of his visit to the country.

Code Orange Warning of Heavy Rain Issued for 23 Counties and Capital

14:21, 31 Mai 2019
Twenty-three counties throughout Romania and its capital will be under the effect of a code orange of heavy rain, beginning with Friday, 15.00 local time, according to Romania’s National Meteorological Administration (ANM).

Pope Francis Arrives in Romania for Thee-Day Visit

14:15, 31 Mai 2019
Pope Francis’ airplane arrived at the Otopeni International Airport on Friday, with the Supreme Pontiff scheduled to make a three-day visit in Romania. Hundreds of people waited for the pope’s vehicle on its scheduled route towards the Cotroceni Palace.

Prime Minister to Make Proposals for Vacant Cabinet Offices This Week

18:48, 28 Mai 2019
Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dancila announced on Tuesday that the country’s ruling PSD-ALDE coalition will send proposals for three vacant cabinet offices and one deputy-prime minister office, specifying that she will discuss the subject with President Klaus Iohannis.

Social-Democrats Appoint Paul Stanescu as Executive Chairman

18:12, 28 Mai 2019
Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dancila announced on Tuesday that the ruling Social Democrat Party (PSD) decided to appoint former development minister Paul Stanescu as executive chairman, the second most important office in the party.

Romanians Abroad Waited Hours to Vote, Polling Stations Overwhelmed by High Turnout

13:21, 27 Mai 2019
Thousands of Romanians through Western Europe waited for several hours to be able to vote in Sunday’s European Parliament and judicial referendum, with some failing to cast their ballots, as polling stations in cities with large Romanian communities were overwhelmed by the high turnout.