Ionut Preda

President Sends 2019 Budget Bill Back to Parliament

17:15, 06 Mart. 2019
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis announced on Wednesday that he will resend the 2019 state budget to the Parliament, after the Constitutional Court rejected his challenge on the bill earlier in the day.

Ruling Party Leader: There is Discontent Regarding the Justice Minister’s Activity

13:56, 06 Mart. 2019
Social Democrat Party (PSD) Chairman Liviu Dragnea said on Wednesday that there is a state of discontent regarding Justice Minister Tudorel Toader within the party, adding that a discussion with coalition partners ALDE and PM Viorica Dancila on the subject will take place within the next week.

Lower Chamber Plenary Session Suspended for Lack of Quorum

13:08, 06 Mart. 2019
The Romanian Lower Chamber’s plenary session on Wednesday, which had a no-confidence vote against Justice Minister Tudorel Toader scheduled, was suspended due to lack of quorum after the ruling Social Democrat Party (PSD) decided to not attend the vote.

Justice Minister on No-Confidence Motion: It Has the Content of a Political Statement

19:30, 05 Mart. 2019
Romania’s Lower Chamber debated on Tuesday a no-confidence motion filed by the opposition Liberal Party against Justice Minister Tudorel Toader, with the minister accusing it of being a “political declaration”.

Judge Involved in Ruling Party Leader Appeal Receives Approval to Retire

17:55, 05 Mart. 2019
The Judges’ Section of Romania’s top judicial watchdog CSM approved on Tuesday a retirement request filed by Supreme Court judge Luciana Mera, who is part of the court’s five-judge panel handling Social Democrat Party (PSD) leader Liviu Dragnea's appeal against a prison sentence.

Belgium Requests Romania to Introduce Airline Pollution Tax on EU Council Agenda

16:58, 05 Mart. 2019
A Belgian regional minister representing the country at an EU meeting in Brussels requested Romania to file, as EU Council president, an initiative to increase taxes for commercial flights due to pollution on the Council’s agenda.

Dutch Citizens Detained Following Border Heroin Bust

15:56, 05 Mart. 2019
Two Dutch citizens were caught by Romanian authorities on Tuesday trying to cross the border from Ukraine while transporting more than 84kg of heroin, according to the country's top anti-organized crime agency DIICOT.

Top Judicial Watchdog Gives Negative Review for Partial Judicial Decree Repeal

15:29, 05 Mart. 2019
The plenary of Romania’s top judicial watchdog, the Superior Council of the Magistracy (CSM), offered a negative review for a decree partially repealing a controversial judicial bill adopted by the Government on February 19.

Ruling Party Senator Joins Re-Established UNPR Group

15:28, 05 Mart. 2019
Former Romanian Interior Minister Gabriel Oprea announced in a press conference on Tuesday that Senator Iustin Talpos, affiliated with the ruling Social Democrat Party (PSD), joined his re-established UNPR party and will hold the office of interim national deputy chairman.

Romanian Government Adopts Decree Partially Repealing Controversial Judicial Act

15:27, 05 Mart. 2019
Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dancila announced at the beginning of Tuesday’s cabinet meeting that the Government will pass a partial repeal of its February 19 judicial decree, as previously announced by Justice Minister Tudorel Toader.

Apuseni Mountains Plane Crash Surviovr Appointed National Transplant Agency Director

13:39, 05 Mart. 2019
Romanian Health Minister Sorana Pintea appointed Dr. Radu Zamfir, a survivor of the 2014 medical flight crash in the Apuseni Mountains, as the new executive director of the country’s National Transplant Agency (ANT).

Justice Minister Announces Activity Report Following Two Years in Office

18:59, 04 Mart. 2019
Romanian Justice Minister Tudorel Toader announced on Monday that he compiled a report on his activity during his two years spent in office.

Ruling Party Leader: Government Could Adopt Sovereign Fund Decree This Week

18:28, 04 Mart. 2019
The chairman of Romania’s ruling Social Democrat Party (PSD), Liviu Dagnea, said on Monday that the Government could adopt a decree establishing a Sovereign Investments Fund during this week’s cabinet meeting or the following one.

Senate Tacitly Adopts “Greed Tax” Decree

17:33, 04 Mart. 2019
The Romanian Senate tacitly adopted on Monday the late 2018 Government decree which instated several new fiscal and economic measures, including a controversial tax on banking assets linked to the ROBOR index dubbed the “greed tax”.

Bucharest Deputy Mayor Excluded From Local Ruling Party Branch

15:43, 01 Mart. 2019
The Social Democrat Party’s (PSD) Bucharest Sector 4 branch decided on Friday to exclude the capital’s deputy mayor, Aurelian Badulescu, from the organization, its executive chairman Cristian Zarescu told MEDIAFAX.

Magistrate Investigation Section Chief Accuses Obstructions from General Prosecutor

20:32, 28 Feb. 2019
The chief of the Romania’s Section for Investigating Judicial Offences (SIIJ), Gheorghe Stan, accused General Prosecutor Augustin Lazar of obstructing the section’s activity, in a press statement on Wednesday evening.

Romania Will Not Take Part in Negotiations for EPPO Chief Prosecutor

18:58, 28 Feb. 2019
Romania will not have a representative in the team of three ambassadors delegated to represent the EU Council in negotiations with the European Parliament for appointing a chief for the upcoming European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), a council representative told MEDIAFAX on Thursday.

Anticorruption Chief Requests Government To Repeal Judicial Decree

18:48, 28 Feb. 2019
The interim chief of Romania’s National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA), Calin Nistor, announced on Thursday that he officially requested PM Viorica Dancila and Justice Minister Tudorel Toader to repeal the recent judicial decree which might result in the agency losing two of its section chiefs.

Prime Minister: Romania Supports North Macedonia’s EU Accession

17:53, 28 Feb. 2019
Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dancila said on Thursday, in a common press conference held with North Macedonian PM Zoran Zaev in Bucharest, that she assured her counterpart of Romania’s support for the Balkan country’s accession to the European Union.

Parliament Leadership Fires Electoral Body Director Supervising Party Spending

15:03, 28 Feb. 2019
The combined standing bureaus of the Romanian Parliament decided on Thursday to fire an electoral body director responsible with supervising campaign and political party spending, in a move the opposition accused of being tied to an investigation the body launched into the ruling party's spending.

Magistrate Investigation Section To Summon Kovesi For New Hearing – Sources

13:25, 28 Feb. 2019
Romanian prosecutor Laura Codruta Kovesi will be interviewed again by the Supreme Court’s Section for Investigating Judicial Offences (SIIJ) in a case regarding the 2011 repatriation of a fugitive businessman, sources close to the investigation told MEDIAFAX.

Bucharest Prosecutor’s Office to Partially Suspend Activity until March 8

19:07, 27 Feb. 2019
The Bucharest Prosecutor’s Office decided in its General Assembly meeting on Wednesday to suspend two hours per day of its activity until March 8 and all of its public related-work, in protest against the recent Government judicial decree.

ALDE Chairman: Norica Nicolai To Head Party European Election Lists

19:03, 27 Feb. 2019
The chairman of Romanian ruling coalition party ALDE, Calin Popescu Tariceanu, announced on Wednesday that his party will run on separate lists from government partners PSD in the upcoming European Parliament elections, and that the group's list will be headed by current MEP Norica Nicolai.

Kovesi: I Do Not Expect Support from the Romanian Government

18:06, 27 Feb. 2019
Romanian prosecutor Laura Codruta Kovesi said on Wednesday that hse does not expect Government support in her bid to lead the upcoming European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), after she won two votes in European Parliament committees for the role.

Parliament Appoints New Permanent Electoral Authority Chairman

16:20, 27 Feb. 2019
The combined chambers of Romania’s Parliament voted on Tuesday to appoint the secretary-general of the Permanent Electoral Authority (AEP), Constantin Mituletu-Buica, as the agency’s new chairman for the next eight years.

Romanian Prosecutor Ranks First In CONT Committee EPPO Vote

12:40, 27 Feb. 2019
Romanian prosecutor Laura Codruta Kovesi received the highest number of votes for the leadership of the upcoming European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in the European Parliament’s Committee on Budgetary Control (CONT) on Tuesday.

Public Finance Employees Stage Protests in Cluj and Iasi

19:51, 26 Feb. 2019
Hundreds of employees of Romania’ Public Finance Administration held protests in Cluj and Iasi on Tuesday over concerns of a bill which would abolish regional finance directorates.

More Courts and Prosecutor’s Offices Join Protests Against Judicial Decree

17:55, 26 Feb. 2019
One court and multiple prosecutor’s offices announced on Tuesday that they will join a growing list of judicial institutions suspending their non-urgent activity, in protest against a recent Government judicial decree which magistrate associations say will negatively impact the justice system.

Top Anticorruption Body Vacates Two Lead Offices Following Government Judicial Decree

17:07, 26 Feb. 2019
Romania’s National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA) will have to fill vacancies for lead offices in its anticorruption and criminal sections, after top judicial watchdog CSM rejected its request to extend the delegations of their chief prosecutors, following the recent Government judicial decree.

Two Candidates Validated For Permanent Electoral Authority Leadership

16:02, 26 Feb. 2019
The combined judicial committees of Romania’s Parliament validated on Tuesday two candidacies for the office of Permanent Electoral Authority (AEP) chairman, both from within the agency.

Government to Repeal Judicial Decree Provision Allowing Judges to Lead Prosecutor’s Offices

19:11, 25 Feb. 2019
Romanian Justice Minister Tudorel Toader announced on Monday that the Government will repeal article 54 of the recent judicial decree, which allowed judges to lead main prosecuting bodies and amended the review process for appointing top prosecutors.

Romanian President Requests Government To Immediately Repel Judicial Decree

19:02, 25 Feb. 2019
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis criticized on Monday the Government’s judicial decree which sparked protests from courts and magistrates all over the country, requesting its immediate repeal.

Brasov Court of Appeals Starts Procedure to Revoke Membership of CSM Chairman

17:49, 25 Feb. 2019
The Brasov Court of Appeals initiated on Monday the procedure to revoke the membership of CSM chairman Lia Savonea from the judicial watchdog, in the context of her attending talks with PM Viorica Dancila on a recent judicial decree which were boycotted by major magistrate associations.

Ruling Party Appoints Timis MP Alfred Simonis As Lower Chamber Group Leader – Sources

17:48, 25 Feb. 2019
Romania’s ruling Social Democrat Party (PSD) has decided to appoint Timis MP Alfred Simonis as the party’s new group leader in the Lower Chamber, political sources told MEDIAFAX.

Top Judicial Watchdog Requests Government To Urgently Repel Judicial Decree

16:00, 25 Feb. 2019
The plenary of Romania’s top judicial watchdog, the Superior Council of the Magistracy (CSM), voted on Wednesday to request the Government to urgently repel the recent emergency decree amending judicial laws, with the exception of provisions requested by the body.

Top Anti-Terrorism Body Suspends Activity Until March 8 In Protest Against Judicial Decree

15:22, 25 Feb. 2019
Romania’s top anti-terrorism and anti-organized crime agency DIICOT announced on Monday that it will suspend four hours per day of its non-urgent activity until March 8, in protest against a Government decree amending judicial bills.

Top Judicial Watchdog’s Judges’ Section: Judicial Decree Provisions Not Proposed By CSM

19:27, 22 Feb. 2019
The Judges’ Section of Romania’s top judicial watchdog CSM announced on Friday that the institution was not the proponent of several controversial provisions in a judicial decree passed by the Government on Tuesday, as Justice Minister Tudorel Toader initially said.

Top Anticorruption Body Requests General Prosecutor To Decide Competency In Tel Drum Case

18:46, 22 Feb. 2019
Romania’s National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA) officially requested General Prosecutor Augustin Lazar on Friday to decide which body has competency to prosecute the TelDrum case, after the magistrate investigation section (SIIJ) filed several requests to take over the case.

Bucharest Magistrates Stage Protests Against Government Judicial Decree

18:36, 22 Feb. 2019
Approximately 200 judges and magistrates staged a protest on Friday evening in front of Bucharest’s Palace of Justice against a Government decree adopted earlier this week which amends several judicial bills.

Constitutional Court To Discuss 2019 Budget Challenge On March 6

15:54, 22 Feb. 2019
Romania’s Constitutional Court announced that it will discuss President Klaus Iohannis’ challenge against 2019 state budget bill in its March 6 meeting.