Ionut Preda

Flu Epidemic: Two Women And Child Die As Death Toll Reaches 82

17:46, 05 Feb. 2019
The death toll of Romania’s current flu epidemic reached 82 after local data was centralized on Tuesday, with three more deaths attributed to the disease.

Prosecutors To Investigate Fake Italian Plastic Surgeon In Bucharest

16:10, 05 Feb. 2019
Bucharest prosecutors launched a criminal probe on Wednesday after an investigative press report revealed that an Italian citizen performed dozens of surgeries in private clinics without having the right to practice medicine.

Ruling Coalition Leaders And Government Officials Meet To Discuss 2019 Budget

14:01, 05 Feb. 2019
The leaders of Romania’s ruling PSD-ALDE coalition, Liviu Dragnea and Calin Popescu Tariceanu, will continue discussions regarding the country’s 2019 budget with PM Viorica Dancila and Finance Minister Eugen Teodorovici on Tuesday, political sources told MEDIAFAX.

Train Car Loaded With Dangerous Substances Derails In Caras-Severin County

13:50, 05 Feb. 2019
A train car loaded with dangerous substances, including petroleum gas, derailed on Tuesday morning near a train station in Caras-Severin county.

Former Anticorruption Chief Favorite To Lead EU Public Prosecutor’s Office

20:12, 04 Feb. 2019
The former chief of Romania’s National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA), Laura Codruta Kovesi, ranks first in a shortlist of candidates favored to lead the upcoming European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), according to a document published on Monday.

Health Minister: Analysis Shows Bucharest Tap Water Chemicals Within Admitted Limits

19:46, 04 Feb. 2019
Romanian Health Minister Sorina Pintea announced on Monday that analysis made on tap water in Bucharest showed that chemical substances were within admitted concentration limits, but that some of them were found to be close to the maximum limits.

Romanian PM Accuses EU Of Double Standards On Corruption Criticism

19:09, 04 Feb. 2019
Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dancila accused the European Union of using double standards when it criticizes the country on issues of corruption and cracking down on protests, in an interview offered for Politico.eu.

PM Economic Counsellor: We Hope To Radically Change The ROBOR Calculation Method

18:24, 04 Feb. 2019
The main economic counsellor of Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dancila, Darius Valcov, told Bloomberg in an interview published on Monday that the Government aims for a radical change in the formula used to calculate Romanian Interbank Exchange Rate (ROBOR) indexes, or their repeal altogether.

Lower Chamber To Appoint New Standing Bureau Secretary, Quaestor

17:18, 04 Feb. 2019
Minorities MP Dragos Gabriel Zisopol will be appointed secretary of the Lower Chamber’s standing bureau, following the former secretary's resignation from the ruling party; the bureau will also appoint a new chamber quaestor, political sources told MEDIAFAX on Monday.

Government To Postpone Passing 2019 Budget For Friday Meeting

15:47, 04 Feb. 2019
Romania’s Government could delay adopting the state budget yet again, despite the fact that PM Viorica Dancila announced that the cabinet would make every effort to pass the project during Tuesday’s cabinet meeting, political sources told MEDIAFAX.

Flu Epidemic Death Toll Grows To 72

15:14, 04 Feb. 2019
Two more people infected with type A influenza died during the weekend, raising the death toll of Romania’s current flu epidemic to 72, according to the country’s National Public Health Institute (INSP).

Flu Epidemic: Three More Die As Death Toll Reaches 67

22:26, 01 Feb. 2019
Three more people were confirmed to have died due to influenza in Romania on Friday, brining the death toll of the current epidemic up to 67.

Hungarian Minority Party Leader: 2019 Budget Share Is Neither Fair Nor Acceptable

18:55, 01 Feb. 2019
The chairman of Romania’s top Hungarian minority party UDMR, Kelemen Hunor, joined in voices criticizing the Government’s proposed budget for 2019 on Friday, stating that county councils will lose between RON17 million and 70 million because of the new spending share.

Two Lorry Drivers Dead Following Collision In Caras-Severin County

18:22, 01 Feb. 2019
A collision between two lorries in Caras-Severin county on Friday morning left both drivers dead, as fire also engulfed both vehicles

Education Minister Proposes Changes To PhD Grad School Reviewing, Rectors’ Council Opposes

17:56, 01 Feb. 2019
Romanian Education Minister Ecaterina Andronescu proposed a draft decree which changes the manner in which PhD grad schools are verified, heavily reducing the responsibility of higher education quality watchdog ARACIS, a move opposed by the country’s National Rectors’ Council (CNR).

Liberals To File Motions Against Justice, Finance And Defense Ministers

16:03, 01 Feb. 2019
Liberal Party (PNL) Chairman Ludovic Orban announced on Friday that the group’s MPs will file motions against Romania’s justice, finance and defense ministers at the beginning of the upcoming parliamentary session next week.

Opposition Leaders Criticize 2019 State Budget Project, Say Growth Projection Is Unfeasible

14:17, 01 Feb. 2019
Leaders of Romanian opposition parties heavily criticized the Government’s proposed state budget project for 2019 on Friday, with the main point of discontent revolving around the economic predictions on which the budget is based.

Romania’s Supreme Court: Cases To Stay With 2018 Five-Judge Panels If No Evidence Was Submitted

20:21, 31 Ian. 2019
Romania’s Supreme Court decided on Thursday that all cases which were assigned to five-judge panels drawn in December 2018 will remain with the same panels, if no evidence was submitted, instead of being assigned to the panels selected for 2019.

Flu Epidemic: Death Toll Reaches 63

19:56, 31 Ian. 2019
Two men, aged 57 and 46, from Bucharest and Arges county, respectively, became the latest victims of Romania’s flu epidemic on Wednesday, according to the National Public Health Institute (INSP), bringing the death toll up to 63 for the flu season.

Romanian President To Meet With EU High Representative For Foreign Affairs

19:48, 31 Ian. 2019
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis will meet on Friday with the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, at the Presidential Palace in Bucharest.

Dismissed Bucharest Prefect Appointed Counsellor To Mayor

19:13, 31 Ian. 2019
The controversial former Bucharest Prefect, Speranta Cliseru, was appointed contractual counsellor on issues of mobility and infrastructure for Bucharest Mayor Gabriela Firea, Bucharest Town Hall representatives told MEDIAFAX.

Government To Approve 2019 Budget Next Week

18:51, 31 Ian. 2019
The Romanian Government will not pass the state budget proposals for 2019 this week, with the executive to approve to finish and approve the draft in a meeting early next week, government sources told MEDIAFAX.

Health Minister: Bucharest Tap Water Chlorine Levels Within Admitted Limits

18:28, 31 Ian. 2019
Romanian Health Minister Sorina Pintea announced on Wednesday that tap water analysis from districts of Bucharest which reported unclean water showed chlorine concentration within admitted limits, but recommended caution until a microbiologic analysis is finished.

Bucharest City Council Meeting Ends In Scandal, Deputy Mayor’s Political Support Withdrawn

18:11, 31 Ian. 2019
Thursday’s meeting of the Bucharest City Council reportedly ended in a physical altercation, as the local Social Democrat Party (PSD) withdrew political support for Deputy Mayor Aurelian Badulescu and unsuccessfully tried to have him dismissed.

Judges Suspend Decree Extending Romanian Army Chief Of Staff’s Term

15:51, 31 Ian. 2019
The Bucharest Appeal Court decided on Thursday to suspend the effects of a decree issued by President Klaus Iohannis last year, which extended the term of Romanian Army Chief of Staff Nicolae Ciuca for another year.

Ruling Party: 99.9% Of Romanian Mayors Appreciate Their Share Of The 2019 Budget

15:01, 31 Ian. 2019
Romania’s ruling Social Democrat Party (PSD) criticized on Thursday municipality mayors who criticized the Government over its plans for the 2019 budget, saying that the large majority of in the country “appreciate” the share local communities will receive.

Romania To Receive Migrants Blocked On Humanitarian Ship

18:51, 30 Ian. 2019
Romania will receive part of the extra-EU migrants which are currently stuck onboard a humanitarian ship docked in Sicily, after the Italian Government refused to allow them access into the country, according to the country’s prime minister.

Flu Epidemic: Classes Suspended Across Fourteen Bucharest Schools And Kindergartens

17:08, 30 Ian. 2019
Fourteen schools and kindergartens in Bucharest will be closed on Thursday and Friday due to the ongoing flu epidemic, following recommendations from the local Public Health Directorate (DSP), Bucharest School Inspectorate representative Marina Manea announced in a press conference on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Holds Talks With Municipality Mayors Regarding State Budget Dispute

16:09, 30 Ian. 2019
A delegation of mayors of Romanian municipalities attended talks with Prime Minister Viorica Dancila at the Government’s headquarters on Wednesday afternoon, amid discontent over the lack of debate regarding the state budget for 2019.

Man Arrested For Fake Sarin Gas Threat At Bucharest Airport And North Railway Station

15:24, 30 Ian. 2019
An individual who called the national emergency number on and claimed to have installed sarin gas recipients at Bucharest’s International Airport and North Railway in Tuesday evening station was arrested in Ploiesti, according to the Romanian Police.

Government To Approve 2019 Budget On Friday Or Saturday – Sources

14:00, 30 Ian. 2019
The Romanian Government will meet on Friday or Saturday to approve the state budget for 2019, political sources told MEDIAFAX on Wednesday. The combined standing bureaus of the Parliament will also be summoned on Saturday to set a timetable for debate and vote in the country’s legislative body.

HexiPharma Found Guilty In Diluted Disinfectants Case, Judges Issue Dissolution In First Decision

13:01, 30 Ian. 2019
Romanian disinfectant company HexiPharma was found guilty by the Bucharest Court on Wednesday of diluting its products, leading to a spree of nosocomial infections. In a first decision, magistrates decided to dissolve the company and sentence director Flori Dinu to three years in prison.

Romania Declares Flu Epidemic As Disease Death Toll Reaches 54

12:22, 30 Ian. 2019
Romanian Health Minister Sorina Pintea officially declared a flu epidemic thoughout the country on Wednesday morning, following three consecutive weeks in which the number of new cases outgrew predictions and 54 deaths caused by the disease.

Sarin Gas Threat Reported For Bucharest International Airport And North Railway Station

19:54, 29 Ian. 2019
Romanian special forces were checking both the "Henri Coanda" International Airport and the North Railway Station in Bucharest on Tuesday evening, after an individual who called the national emergency number claimed that he installed recipients containing sarin gas at both locations.

Foreign Affairs Minister: Romania Opposes Tying EU Funds To Rule Of Law

18:50, 29 Ian. 2019
Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu told AFP on Tuesday that the country opposes the European Union’s plan to condition access to its funds to the state of the rule of law, arguing that the judicial system should be “the prerogative of each country”.

Three Suspects Arrested With Connection To New Year’s Eve Murder Of Romanian In London

17:58, 29 Ian. 2019
British police have placed three individuals in protective custody on Tuesday, in connection to the killing of a Romanian citizen outside of a club in London in New Year’s Eve night, according to the British press.

Former Prime Minister Quits Ruling Party, Joins Pro Romania

17:12, 29 Ian. 2019
Former Romanian Prime Minister Mihai Tudose announced on Tuesday that he resigned from the country’s ruling Social Democrat Party (PSD) and will join the Pro Romania party, led by another former PM, Victor Ponta.

Romanian MEP Cristian Preda Joins Former Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos’ Party

15:57, 29 Ian. 2019
Romanian MEP Cristian Preda announced on Tuesday that he joined the party of former technocrat Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos, PLUS, but will not run for a new MEP term.

President: Romanian Will Continue To Grant 2% Of Budget For Defense Spending

15:17, 29 Ian. 2019
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said on Tuesday that Romania will continue to keep its commitment of allotting 2% of its national budget for defense spending, in a stamenent made during the yearly meeting with chiefs of diplomatic missions in Bucharest.

EU Affairs Minister: Macedonian Accession Talks To Begin During Romania’s EU Council Presidency

18:49, 28 Ian. 2019
Romanian European Affairs Minister George Ciamba announced on Monday that the country will support the beginning of negotiations for the accession of Northern Macedonia to the European Union during its EU Council presidency.