Ionut Preda

Iasi University Senate Member Resigns in Protest at Former Justice Minister Resuming Office

20:39, 23 Mai 2019
Vasile Cotiuga, a lecturer at the “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University in Iasi, resigned from university’s Senate on Thursday in protest against former Justice Minister Tudorel Toader resuming his previous office as a rector.

Five Injured in Mures County Car Crash

19:42, 23 Mai 2019
Five people were injured in Mures county on Thursday afternoon, following a crash between a car and an utility vehicle. The crash happened because the car’s driver switched onto the oncoming lane, according to local police.

Hungarian Minority Party Suspends Collaboration Protocol with Ruling Coalition

17:33, 23 Mai 2019
Romania’s main Hungarian minority party UDMR announced on Thursday that it suspended its collaboration protocol with the ruling PSD-ALDE coalition, over tensions on recently-erected gravestones for Romanian soldiers in a military cemetery situated at the border between Harghita and Bacau counties.

Romanian President Criticizes Possible Ruling Party Leader Presidential Bid

21:13, 22 Mai 2019
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis criticized on Wednesday the possibility that Social Democrat Party (PSD) leader Liviu Dragnea will announce a presidential bid following Sunday’s European Parliament elections.

Romanian PM: I Do Not Fear an Eventual Dismissal

19:42, 22 Mai 2019
Romania Prime Minister Viorica Dancila stated on Wednesday that she does not fear losing her office, amid rumors that she might be replaced by the Social Democrat Party (PSD) following Sunday's European Parliament elections.

President Criticizes Treatment of Anti-Government Protesters in Arges County

19:53, 21 Mai 2019
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis criticized incidents which happened last week in Topoloveni, Arges county, where anti-government protester were detained by the gendarmerie, stating that “not even communist authorities” allowed themselves similar actions.

Ruling Party Leader To “Analyze” Prime Minister Situation after EU Elections

18:45, 21 Mai 2019
The chairman of Romania’s ruling Social Democrat Party (PSD), Liviu Dragnea, said on Tuesday that he will “analyze” the current situation of the country’s government and prime minister after the conclusion of Sunday’s EU Parliament elections.

Romania Not Registered in EU’s New Tobacco Track and Trace System

18:07, 21 Mai 2019
The European Commission announced on Tuesday that Romania has not yet registered in the EU’s newly launched track and trace system for tobacco products.

Flood Warnings Issued for 22 Counties

19:14, 20 Mai 2019
Romanian hydrologists issued on Monday afternoon flood warnings of various severity for twenty-two Romanian counties, in effect until Tuesday.

Robbers Blow Up Bucharest ATM, Steal More than RON350,000

18:40, 20 Mai 2019
An unusual heist in Eastern Bucharest resulted in a commercial bank losing more than RON350,000 after currently unknown robbers blew up one of its ATMs in the capital on Monday morning.

Military Prosecutors Investigate Arges Gendarmes for Detaining Anti-Government Protesters

16:02, 20 Mai 2019
Military prosecutors from the Bucharest Court initiated legal proceedings on Monday in the case of gendarmes who detained anti-government protesters in Topoloveni, Arges county, last week, during a visit of the ruling Social Democrat Party (PSD) leader Liviu Dragnea, judicial sources told MEDIAFAX.

Constitutional Court Postpones Ruling on Supreme Court Corruption Panels for June 5

15:15, 20 Mai 2019
Romania’s Constitutional Court postponed its ruling on a possible judicial conflict between the Parliament and the Supreme Court, on the subject of three-judge corruption panels, for the fourth consecutive time on Monday.

Businessman, Former Football Investor Florian Walter Dies Aged 56

14:25, 20 Mai 2019
Romanian businessman Florian Walter died on Sunday evening at the Floreasca Hospital in Bucharest, days after he was hospitalized following a massive stroke.

Romanian Police: No Information on Reports about Former Constanta Mayor’s Escape

20:40, 17 Mai 2019
The Romanian Police announced on Friday evening that it was not officially informed about a possible escape of Radu Mazare, following media reports that the former mayor of Constanta managed to evade authorities in Madagascar days before he was to be extradited.

President: Plagiarism Is a Form of Thievery, But Politicians Think It Is Allowed

19:33, 17 Mai 2019
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said on Friday, during an event at the Western University in Timisoara, that plagiarism is a form of thievery, which helps “thieves” climb to important administration offices due to societal and academic tolerances towards the phenomenon.

Romanian Police: Former Constanta Mayor to Be Repatriated on Monday

15:32, 15 Mai 2019
The Romanian Police announced on Wednesday that it launched procedures to repatriate the fugitive former mayor of Constanta, Radu Mazare, who will be brought back from Madagascar with a police escort on next Monday, May 20.

Ruling Party Plans Massive Electoral Rally in Bucharest for May 21

20:25, 14 Mai 2019
Romania’s ruling Social Democrat Party (PSD) is planning to hold an electoral on May 21 in Bucharest, aiming to gather 120,000 participants from counties in southern Romania, PSD secretary-general Codrin Stefanescu told MEDIAFAX on Tuesday.

Ruling Party Leader Urges Palestinian Embassy to Correct Statements on Israel Embassy Situation

20:24, 14 Mai 2019
Romania's Lower Chamber chairman, Liviu Dragnea, requested the Palestinian Embassy to Bucharest to correct statements according to which he ensured the ambassador that Romania will not move its embassy to Israel in Jerusalem, stating that it did not reflect talks between the two.

Labor Ministry to Re-Draft Unconstitutional Pensions Law Provisions

19:31, 13 Mai 2019
Romanian Labor Minister Marius Budai announced on Monday that he will order the redrafting of three provisions from the pensions law proposed by his predecessor, Lia Olguta Vasilescu, after they failed a check by the Constitutional Court.

Former Bucharest Mayor Sorin Oprescu Sentenced to Prison for Corruption Offences

18:59, 13 Mai 2019
The Bucharest Court decided on Monday to sentence the former mayor of Bucharest, Sorin Oprescu, to four years and four months in prison for corruption offences, in a first decision.

European Commission Threatens Romania with Harsher Mechanism if it Enacts Criminal Code Amendments

15:23, 13 Mai 2019
The European Commission’s first vice-president, Frans Timmermans, sent a letter to Romanian authorities in which he threatens instating a harsher mechanism to supervise the rule of law if criminal code amendments recently passed by its Parliament are enacted, political sources told MEDIAFAX.

Bucharest Court Decides to End Trial Against Two Businessmen In “Microsoft 2” Case

20:31, 10 Mai 2019
Judges from the Bucharest Court decided on Thursday to close criminal proceedings against businessmen Dinu Pescariu and Claudiu Florica, who were investigated for money laundering in a notorious case regarding state purchases of Microsoft licenses.

President to Take Part in First Liberal Party Campaign Rally in Iasi – Sources

18:19, 10 Mai 2019
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis will attend, on Saturday, the Liberal Party’s first major electoral meeting in the EU elections campaign, scheduled to take place in Iasi, political sources told MEDIAFAX.

US Sends Hundreds of Troops, F-16 Fighter Jets to Romania to Deter Russian Aggression

17:47, 10 Mai 2019
The US Army sent hundreds of troops and supplemental F-16 fighter jets in Romania to bolster defense on NATO’s Eastern flank and discourage possible Russian aggression, according to army personnel quoted by American military newspaper Stars and Stripes.

Romanian President Challenges Criminal Code Amendments at the Constitutional Court

16:38, 10 Mai 2019
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis challenged at the Constitutional Court on Friday two bills passed by the Parliament in April which amend the country’s criminal code and criminal procedure code.

Romanian President on Sibiu Summit: We Are Deciding the Future of the EU

14:13, 09 Mai 2019
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said on Thursday, shortly before the EU Summit in Sibiu was due to begin, that the future of the European Union will be decided during the meeting, adding that a common statement has been drafted to show the resolve and unity of member states.

Three Newborns Infected with Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria at Bucharest Maternity Hospital

20:10, 07 Mai 2019
Three newborns birthed at Bucharest’s Giulesti Maternity were confirmed with staphylococcus aureus infections, one of which is still hospitalized in serious condition at the Grigore Alexandrescu Children’s Hospital.

Code Red Warning of Windstorms Issued for Ialomita and Calarasi Counties

20:11, 06 Mai 2019
Romanian meteorologists issued a code red warning of windstorms for the Calarasi and Ialomita counties, in southeastern Romania, predicting torrential rain, strong winds and large-scale hailstorms on Monday afternoon.

Prime Minister: I Am Waiting for the President to Reason His Cabinet Appointment Refusals

20:04, 03 Mai 2019
Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dancila said on Friday that she is expecting the official reasoning of President Klaus Iohannis for his refusal to appoint new justice, EU funds and Romanians abroad ministers before she will consider her next move in the matter.

Former Constanta Mayor Sentenced to 9 Years and 10 Months in Prison for Corruption Offences

15:52, 03 Mai 2019
Romania’s Supreme Court sentenced former Constanta mayor Radu Mazare to nine years and ten months in prison on Friday, as judged deemed he received bribes to hand out exclusive city sanitation contracts to the Polaris SRL company.

Romanian Presidency Announces Questions for May 26 Referendum

13:55, 25 Apr. 2019
Romania’s Presidential Administration spokesperson, Madalina Dobrovolschi, announced in a press statement on Thursday the two questions which will be asked at the upcoming referendum on the judiciary, set to take place at the same time with European Parliament elections, on May 26.

Ruling Party Treasurer Investigated for Second Embezzlement Offence

19:15, 22 Apr. 2019
Prosecutors from Romania’s National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA) extended prosecution against Social Democrat Party (PSD) treasurer Mircea Draghici, with the latter suspected of another embezzlement offence.

Social-Democrat MP Switches Allegiance to Pro Romania

19:15, 22 Apr. 2019
Romanian Social Democrat Party (PSD) MP Nicolae Georgescu announced on Monday that he left the ruling party to join the recently-founded group led by former PM Victor Ponta, Pro Romania, being the latest on a significant list of parliamentary switches between the two groups.

Former SRI Deputy to be Interviewed by Magistrate Investigation Section

19:14, 22 Apr. 2019
The former first-deputy of the Romanian Intelligence Service, Florian Coldea, was present on Monday at the Section for Investigating Judicial Offence (SIIJ). According to judicial sources, he receiveda citation for a hearing during May, in the case involving former anticorruption chief Laura Kovesi.

Romanian President Congratulates New Ukrainian Counterpart on Election Win

19:14, 22 Apr. 2019
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis sent a message of congratulations for comedy actor Volodymyr Zelensky, who was elected the new president of Ukraine on Sunday by a large margin.

DGA Chief Accuses Interior Minister of Interfering with Agency’s, Romanian Police’s Activity

12:03, 22 Apr. 2019
Catalin Ionita, the chief of Romania’s Interior Ministry’s anticorruption body DGA, published an open letter on Sunday in which he accused Minister Carmen Dan of interfering with the agency's activity, while detailing similar conduct during the time he served as chief of the Romanian Police.

Romania’s Ruling Party Withdraws Political Support for Justice Minister

15:55, 17 Apr. 2019
Romania’s ruling Social Democrat Party (PSD) decided in an executive committee meeting on Wednesday to withdraw political support for Justice Minister Tudorel Toader, who had been heavily criticized for failing to adopt emergency decrees to amend the country’s criminal codes.

Businessman Behind Highway Protests Announces Documentary on Traffic Deaths in Romania

15:42, 17 Apr. 2019
Suceava businessman Stefan Mandachi, who initiated a nationwide protest on May 15 to attract attention on the lack of highway infrastructure in the Moldova region, announced on Wednesday that he is working on a documentary on deaths related to traffic incidents on Romanian roads.

Senate to Reschedule Justice Minister No Confidence Vote for Wednesday – Sources

18:38, 16 Apr. 2019
Romania’s Senate could reschedule a thrice-delayed no confidence motion against Justice Minister Tudorel Toader for Wednesday, according to political sources.

Senate Postpones No-Confidence Motions against Justice, Finance Ministers

14:28, 15 Apr. 2019
The Romanian Senate’s leadership decided on Monday to postpone planned debates and votes on no-confidence motions against Justice Minister Tudorel Toader and Finance Minister Eugen Teodorovici, due to a lack of quorum.