Ionut Preda

Health Minister: Inquiry Launched Concerning Possible Fake Medical Phyiscist

18:55, 13 Feb. 2019
A third scandal in the past two weeks regarding fake medical practitioners in Romania erupted on Wednesday, as Health Minister Sorina Pintea announced investigations into a possible fake medical physicist employed by the ministry.

Constitutional Court Postpones Ruling On Tax Evasion Bill Challenge

17:53, 13 Feb. 2019
Romania’s Constitutional Court postponed on Wednesday a ruling on a challenge filed by opposition parties against the tax evasion adopted by the Parliament in December 2018, which allows all culprits in a tax evasion case to escape prosecution if one of them pays the damages and a 20% fine.

Health Minister: Inquiry Launched Concerning Possible Fake Physician

17:06, 13 Feb. 2019
A third scandal in the past two weeks regarding fake medical practitioners in Romania erupted on Wednesday, as Health Minister Sorina Pintea announced investigations into a possible fake physician employed by the ministry.

Cab Drivers Protest Ridesharing Apps In Major Cities

15:09, 13 Feb. 2019
Hundreds of Romanian cab drivers held a protest against Uber and other ride-sharing apps in Bucharest, while other similar protests were staged in Timisoara and Iasi on Wednesday.

Constitutional Court Rejects Lower Chamber Regulation Challenge

14:28, 13 Feb. 2019
Romania’s Constitutional Court rejected on Wednesday a challenge against the Lower Chamber’s Regulation, brought forth by a number of 63 MPs.

Flu Epidemic Death Toll Grows To 118

13:40, 13 Feb. 2019
An 82-year old man from Arges county became the latest victim of Romania’s influenza epidemic on Wednesday, raising the death toll to 118.

Vasilescu Withdraws Candidacy For Development Office Following President Refusals

20:36, 12 Feb. 2019
Former Labor Minister Lia Olguta Vasilescu announced on Tuesday evening that she withdrew her candidacies for the roles of regional development minister and deputy prime minister, after her bid was rejected several times by President Klaus Iohannis.

President Accuses Ruling Party Of Populism Regarding 2019 Budget

19:50, 12 Feb. 2019
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis accused the country’s ruling Social Democrat Party (PSD) resorted to populism after its MPs voted to pass an amendment in parliamentary committees which cuts the Romanian Intelligence Service’s share of the 2019 budget.

Parliament Committees Approve 2019 Education Ministry Budget On A 46.7% Yearly Increase

19:08, 12 Feb. 2019
The Romanian Parliament’s combined budget-finances committees gave a positive review on Tuesday for the Education Ministry’s proposed 2019 budget, worth RON30.6 billion, a 46.7% increase from 2018.

Rieker Closes Shoe Factory In Lugoj, About 700 Employees To Be Laid Off

18:26, 12 Feb. 2019
Approximately 700 employees of the Rieker footwear factory in Lugoj, Timis county will be laid off after the factory will close this spring, the Timis Territorial Labor Inspectorate (ITM) announced on Tuesday.

New Fake Doctor Case Discovered At Ilfov County Public Hospital

17:55, 12 Feb. 2019
A woman who worked 10 years for the Ilfov Emergency Hospital was found to have falsified her medical degree, Health Minister Sorina Pintea announced on Tuesday, after newspaper Libertatea published a report on the matter one week after it also broke the news on a fake Italian plastic surgeon.

Romanian Foreign Affairs Minister: Nuclear Arms In Post-INF Europe Would Be An “Inadequate Reaction”

17:03, 12 Feb. 2019
Romanian Foreign Affairs Minister Teodor Melescanu said that Romania is “very concerned” with the announced US withdrawal from the INF treaty and warned that stationing nuclear weapons in Europe would be an “inadequate response”, in an interview for German newspaper Die Welt.

Flu Epidemic Death Toll Reaches 109

15:00, 12 Feb. 2019
Two more people were confirmed on Tuesday to have died because of influenza, raising the death toll of Romania’s current flu epidemic to 109.

Four Counties Under Code Orange Snowfall Alert

13:30, 12 Feb. 2019
Romania’s National Meteorological Administration (ANM) issued a code orange warning of snowfall for four counties, while eleven counties in the country’s south will be under the effect of a code yellow warning for strong winds.

SRI Parliamentary Committee Approves 2019 Budget, No Debate On Dragnea Amendments

19:02, 11 Feb. 2019
Romania's combined parliamentary control committee over the Romanian Intelligence Service (SRI) decided on Monday to approve the yearly budget proposed by the Government for the institution, without debating cuts proposed by Lower Chamber Chairman Liviu Dragnea.

Central Bank Governor: Separation Of Bank Assetts Tax From ROBOR Index Is Intended

18:15, 11 Feb. 2019
National Bank of Romania (BNR) Governor Mugur Isarescu said on Monday that the country's current political power intends to separate the tax on bank assets from Romanian Interbank Offer Rate (ROBOR) index rates, on which it currently depends.

Mountain Areas In Twenty-Four Counties Under Yellow Code Warning For Snowfall

17:11, 11 Feb. 2019
Romania’s National Meteorological Administration (ANM) issued on Monday a code yellow warning for heavy snowfall and snowstorms for mountain areas in 24 counties, starting with Monday night.

Ruling Party: European Commission Should Clarify How It Gathers CVM Report Data

15:12, 11 Feb. 2019
Romania’s ruling Social Democrat Party (PSD) requested the European Commission on Monday to clarify the manner in which it obtains the data used to prepare its yearly Cooperation and Verification Mechanism (CVM) reports for the country.

Romanian EU Council Presidency Given Negotiating Mandate For Gas Directive

20:12, 08 Feb. 2019
Romania’s EU Council presidency obtained a mandate to launch negotiations to amend the Natural Gas Directive, with the initiative largely supported by member-states, according to the Romanian Government.

Finance Minister: No Cuts For Local Administration In 2019 Budget

19:13, 08 Feb. 2019
Romanian Finance Minister Eugen Teodorovici said that the 2019 budget, approved by the Government on Friday, does not reduce local administration budgets, but admitted that Government must continue talks with all of its administrative structures on the topic.

Businessman Sentenced In Constanta Beach Retrocession Case Possibly Fled Country

18:42, 08 Feb. 2019
Romanian businessman Dragos Savulescu, sentenced to prison in the same case with former Constanta Mayor Radu Mazare and football investor Cristian Borcea on Thursday, was not found by the police as of Friday evening, with reports suggesting that he left the country, judicial sources told MEDIAFAX.

Government: Workers To Have Easier Access To Additional Pensions

17:39, 08 Feb. 2019
Romania’s Government will pass during Friday’s cabinet meeting a bill which streamlines the process of gaining and keeping the right to additional pensions for retiring workers, according to Prime Minister Viorica Dancila.

Flu Epidemic: Death Toll Reaches 95

17:11, 08 Feb. 2019
Two more people died from flu on Thursday, according to Romania’s National Public Health Institute (INSP), bringing the current epidemic’s death toll to 95.

Romania Recognizes Juan Guaido As Interim President Of Venezuela

16:45, 08 Feb. 2019
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis decided on Friday to recognize Juan Guaido as interim president of Venezuela, in the context of the current political crisis unfolding in the South American country.

Former Constanta Mayor, Football Investor Sentenced To Prison For Illegal Public Lands Scheme

15:47, 08 Feb. 2019
Romania’s Supreme Court decided on Thursday night to sentence former Constanta Mayor Radu Mazare to nine years in prison, football investor Cristian Borcea to five years in prison and several others in a case regarding illegal beach retrocessions, in a final decision.

Prime Minister: We Will Discuss President’s Refusal To Appoint Minister In The Ruling Coalition

15:13, 08 Feb. 2019
Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dancila announced on Thursday that the country’s ruling PSD-ALDE coalition will meet to decide on what actions it will take regarding President Klaus Iohannis’ repeated refusals to appoint Lia Olguta Vasilescu as regional development minister.

Prime Minister: Government To Pass 2019 Budget, 45% More Funds Allotted For Investments

14:04, 08 Feb. 2019
Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dancila announced at the beginning of Friday’s cabinet meeting that the Government will pass the country’s 2019 budget, which is built on a 2.5% target GDP deficit.

2019 Budget Not Featured On Friday’s Cabinet Meeting Agenda

18:34, 07 Feb. 2019
Romania’s Government published on Thursday afternoon the agenda for Friday’s cabinet meeting, which does not include the 2019 budget project, despite assurances from PM Viorica Dancila on Wednesday that there is “no danger” for the act to be delayed again.

Prison Workers Unions Request Better Work Conditions In Bucharest Protest

18:16, 07 Feb. 2019
Several hundred members of prison workers unions organized a protest at the headquarters of Romania’s interior and justice ministries in Bucharest on Thursday morning, demanding pay raises and better work conditions.

Three More Die As Flu Epidemic Death Toll Hits 92

17:28, 07 Feb. 2019
The death toll of Romania’s ongoing flu epidemic hit 92 on Thursday, after three more men were announced to have succumbed to the vrus.

Rejected Cabinet Nominee Announces Criminal Complaint Against President

14:54, 07 Feb. 2019
Former Labor Minister Lia Olguta Vasilescu announced on Thursday that she will file a criminal complaint against Romanian President Klaus Iohannis for abuse of office, after the president decided to reject her nomination for regional development minister.

President Rejects Proposal For New Development Minister, Asks For Different Candidate

13:59, 07 Feb. 2019
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis again rejected the Government’s proposal for the office of regional development minister, Lia Olguta Vasilescu, on Thursday, and requested the prime minister to propose a different candidate for the office.

Firefighters Extinguish Alba Iulia Spices Factory Fire After Five Days

20:13, 06 Feb. 2019
Romanian firefighters ended one of their most difficult interventions in recent history on Wednesday, as a fire which started last Saturday at a spice factory in Alba Iulia was entirely put out five days after it began.

Justice Ministry Proposal: Damages Paid For Inmates Who Did Not Receive Sentence Compensation

20:10, 06 Feb. 2019
Romania’s Justice Ministry is considering the option of paying damages for inmates who did not benefit from sentence compensation for convictions served in below-par prisons, calculated per number of reduced sentence days which were not granted, according to a draft bill obtained by MEDIAFAX.

Ruling Party Leader: Government To Pass 2019 Budget On Friday

19:01, 06 Feb. 2019
The leader of Romania’s ruling Social Democrat Party (PSD), Liviu Dragnea, announced on Wednesday, following a meeting with municipality mayors, that the Government is set to pass the 2019 budget on Friday, following several delays.

Senate Tacitly Adopts Law Abolishing Special Pensions For Dignitaries

18:05, 06 Feb. 2019
Romania’s Senate tacitly passed on Wednesday a bill which eliminates special pensions for all MPs, the ombudsman, diplomats and court auxiliary specialized personnel, among others.

2019 Budget Talks Continue For Third Consecutive Day

15:49, 06 Feb. 2019
Uncertainty regarding Romania’s 2019 budget continues as Government officials, ruling coalition leaders and municipality mayors entered a third day of talks, with little in the way of official announcements.

Flu Epidemic: Death Toll Hits 89 As Two More Victims Confirmed

14:05, 06 Feb. 2019
The death toll of Romania’s ongoing flu epidemic reached 89 on Wednesday morning, after two more people were confirmed by the National Public Health Institute (INSP) to have succumbed to the virus.

False Italian Plastic Surgeon Caught Trying To Flee Romania

13:31, 06 Feb. 2019
An Italian citizen who was revealed to have performed tens of surgeries in Romania without a medical license was caught on Wednesday morning in Arad county, at the Curtici border point, while trying to cross into Hungary.

Bucharest Mayor: The Current Draft Budgets Cuts 25% Of Capital’s Income

19:05, 05 Feb. 2019
Bucharest General Mayor Gabriela Firea stated on Friday that the country’s capital stands to lose about 25% of last years’ income if the 2019 state budget proposal forwarded by the Government is passed, which would hamper the town hall’s ability to keep several of its commitments.