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Code Yellow Warning For Snowfall And Strong Wind Instated For 16 Counties

Romania’s National Meteorological Administration (ANM) issued a warning for very cold weather throughout the entire country until Friday, with Bucharest and 16 counties to be under a code yellow warning for strong winds and snowfall on Wednesday.

Finance Minister: 2019 Budget Will Be Forwarded To Parliament Until Mid-December

Romanian Finance Minister Eugen Teodorovici announced on Tuesday, in a press statement, that the draft project for the state’s 2019 budget will be sent for approval to the Parliament until the middle of the December and will be “more strictly constructed”.

New Pensions Bill Approved By Senate

The Romanian Senate approved on Monday a pensions bill adopted by the Government in October, following two previous failed votes due to a lack of quorum.

Lower Chamber Chairman Will Not Attend National Day Presidential Reception

Romania’s Lower Chamber Chairman Liviu Dragnea announced on Monday that he will not attend the traditional reception organized by President Klaus Iohannis for the country’s national day on December 1, amid an ongoing conflict between the president and the country’s ruling coalition.

Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry: US Missile Shield In Romania Breaks INF Treaty

Russia’s Foreign Affairs Ministry again criticized the United States’ AEGIS missile defense system, which is partially deployed in Romania, accusing that it has offensive capabilities and that it violates the Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty.

Bucharest Public Transport Authority Triples Fines For Riding Without Tickets

The Bucharest Transport Society (STB) published its new regulation on Monday, which sees a growth of the fine for using public transport in the city without tickets, from the current value of RON150 to RON500.

Regional Development Minister Resigns Among Office Deadlock

Romanian Regional Development Minister Paul Stanescu announced his resignation from the office and that of deputy-prime minister on Monday, among an ongoing conflict between the ruling coalition and President Klaus Iohannis.

Prime Minister: I Am Not Afraid Of A No-Confidence Motion

Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dancila downplayed on Monday an announced no-confidence motion which will be filed in the next period by opposition parties, stating that she trusts her party and coalition colleagues to support the Government.

President Enacts Bill Transferring Bucharest Public Transport Attributions To Town Hall

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis enacted on Friday a bill which dissolves the Transport Ministry sub-division AMTB which managed public transport in Bucharest and moves its attributions to the capital’s Town Hall.

President Enacts Bill Regulating Airline Passenger Data Collection

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis enacted on Friday a bill which regulates the collection of data from passengers of commercial airline flights, with regards to prevention of terrorism and other serious offenses.

Finance Minister Hints At January 2019 Minimum Wage Increase

Romanian Finance Minister Eugen Teodorovici stated on Friday that the country’s minimum wage increase will happen most probably in January 2019, apparently ending speculation that the government could raise the minimum income in December.

Opposition Parties Call For Resignation Of Bucharest Mayor Over Municipal Company Scandal

High-ranking members of Romanian opposition parties called for the resignation of Bucharest Mayor Gabriela Firea on Friday, after a court decided to invalidate a town hall 2017 decision regarding the establishment of municipal companies in various areas of the city’s administration.

Government Approves Second Budget Revision Of 2018

Romania’s Government approved on Friday a second budget revision for 2018, following an extra RON9.5 billion in state income and RON10.7 billion in spending and keeping within the deficit target of 2.9% of the country’s GDP, according to Finance Minister Eugen Teodorovici.

Opposition Could File No-Confidence Motion Around December 10

Opposition parties could file a no-confidence motion against the Viorica Dancila Government around December 10, liberal MP Ioan Cupsa told MEDIAFAX on Friday.

Supreme Court Appeal Cases Left Hanging As Bucharest Court Suspends Five-Judge Panels

All of the Supreme Court’s (ICCJ) five-judge panels have been suspended on Friday, with all of their cases postponed, after the Bucharest Appeal Court admitted a challenge made by Social Democrat Party (PSD) chairman Liviu Dragnea against the procedure to re-dra them earlier in November.

Fire Engulfs Apartment Blocks Near Bucharest, Intervention Hampered By Lack Of Hydrants

Firefighters faced a difficult intervention near Bucharest on Friday, after a fire started in the attic of two connected apartment blocks in Chiajna commune, Ilfov county, and quickly engulfed a third building.

Ruling Party Leader Contests New Judge Panel In His Appeal

Social Democrat Party (PSD) leader Liviu Dragnea filed a new contestation in his appeal trial to overturn a three and a half year prison sentence, stating that the new Supreme Court five-judge panel was selected before the Constitutional Court explained the exact procedure to follow.

Romanian Army Soldier Dies Electrocuted While Unloading Tanks For National Day Parade

A Romanian Army soldier died in the Alba Iulia train station on Friday, after he was electrocuted while unloading a tank brought to the city for the National Day parade.

Parliament To Hold Solemn Meeting Marking Centennial On November 28

The Standing Bureaus of Romania’s Lower Chamber and Senate decided on Wednesday that the country’s Parliament will hold a solemn meeting on November 28, to mark 100 years from the Great Union of 1918.

Prime Minister To Propose New Regional Development, Transportations Ministers

Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dancila announced on Wednesday that she will forward the proposals for Lia Olguta Vasilescu as regional development minister and Mircea Draghici as transportation minister, following President Iohannis’ refusal to appoint her previous nominees for the cabinet offices.

Senate Chairman: Ruling Coalition Could Challenge President To Constitutional Court

Romanian Senate Chairman Calin Popescu Tariceanu hinted on Wednesday that the ruling coalition could take President Klaus Iohannis to the Constitutional Court, if the head of state continues to refuse the appointment of cabinet proposals in contradiction with his constitutional powers.

Ruling Party Holds Meeting To Discuss Key Cabinet Roles Impasse

Romania’s Social Democrat Party (PSD) started on Wednesday a new meeting of its national executive committee, to discuss the actions it will take in response to President Klaus Iohannis refusing to appoint its proposals for new transportations and regional development ministers.

Hungarian Minority Party MP Leader: We Were Not Contacted Regarding A No-Confidence Motion

Atilla Korodi, the leader of Hungarian minority party UDMR’s MP group in the Lower Chamber, announced on Wednesday that the party was not contacted by opposition regarding support for a no-confidence motion, adding though that the party is open to discussing one.

Romanian Auto Market Heads for Fifth Year of Growth

October 2018 was the best October in the past decade for the local auto market, with 18,274 vehicles sold, 19.5% more than in October 2017, data from the Automotive Manufacturers and Importers Association (APIA) showed Wednesday.

European Commission Urges Romania to Adjust Ballooning Public Deficit

Romania's public deficit is seen reaching 3.3% of gross domestic product this year and the European Commission recommends an annual structural adjustment of at least 1% of GDP in 2019.

Ruling Party Decides On New Proposals For Transportations, Development Ministers – Sources

Romania’s ruling Social Democrat Party (PSD) voted in a top brass meeting on Tuesday evening to nominate Lia Olguta Vasilescu as development minister and Mircea Draghici for the transportations office, party sources told MEDIAFAX.

Constitutional Court Rejects Challenge To Data Protection Bill

Romania’s Constitutional Court rejected on Tuesday a challenge made by the opposition Liberal Party against a bill which obliges communications operators to inform users who are targeted by interceptions of the matter within 60 days.

Seven New Ministers Sworn In Following Government Reshuffle

Seven new ministers took the oath of office at Romania’s Cotroceni Palace on Tuesday, after a government reshuffle announced on Monday was partially admitted by President Klaus Iohannis.

Ruling Party Holds Meeting Following President’s Refusal To Appoint New Ministers

Romania’s ruling Social Democrat Party (PSD) summoned a meeting of its National Political Bureau on Tuesday afternoon, hours after President Klaus Iohannis refused to appoint new transportations and labor ministers.

Bucharest Court Decides Subway General Strike Illegal

Magistrates of the Bucharest Court decided on Tuesday that the general strike planned by subway workers in Romania’s capital is illegal, after it previously made the same decision regarding a warning strike they held last Thursday.

European Commission: We Are Not Concerned With Romania’s Readiness For The EU Council Presidency

The chief of European Commission spokespersons, Schinas Margaritis, stated on Monday that the European institution does not have any concerns on Romania’s capacity to take over the EU Council presidency.

Prime Minister Announces Eight Cabinet Changes In Government Reshuffle

Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dancila announced on Monday evening that she will propose the replacement of eight of her cabinet’s minister in a long-expected government reshuffle, including the transportations, economy and regional development ministers.

Bucharest Mayor Resigns As Ruling Party Deputy Chairman, Loses All Offices In The Party

Bucharest Mayor Gabriela Firea announced on Monday that she resigned as party deputy chairman and was dismissed from PSD Ilfov leadership, following a meeting of Romania’s ruling Social Democrat Party’s (PSD) executive committee, effectively losing all of her offices within the party.

Appeal Hearings In Senate Chairman Perjury Case Postponed For January 2019

The appeal to the case in which Romanian Senate Chairman Calin Popescu Tariceanu is accused of perjury has been postponed by the country’s Supreme Court until January 2019, after one of the case judges filed for retirement.

EU Justice Commissioners Meets With President, Justice Minister

The European Commissioner for Justice, Vera Jourova, is carrying out an official visit to Bucharest on Monday and Tuesday, where she is scheduled to meet to with Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, Justice Minister Tudoreul Toader and Supreme Court Chairman Cristina Tarcea.

Bucharest Subway Employees To Carry On Strike Plans Despite Unfavorable Court Decision

Bucharest subway workers unions will carry on with their plan to start a general strike on Wednesday despite a Bucharest Court decision rejecting their request, according to a statement issued by the Union of Free Subway Syndicates (USLM) on Monday.

Romanian Prime Minister To Meet With European Parliament President On Wednesday

Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dancila will have a meeting with European Parliament President Antonio Tajani on Wednesday, during the Conference of European Parliament Presidents with the Romanian Government, the Romanian executive announced today.

German Chancellor Requested Romanian President To Stop Movement Of Embassy To Jerusalem

German Chancellor Angela Merkel requested Romanian President Klaus Iohannis to block the plan announced by the country’s government to move its embassy to Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, according to Western Sources quoted by Israeli media.

Romanian Prime Minister “Disappointed” With The CVM Report’s Conclusions

Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dancila stated at the beginning of Thursday’s cabinet meeting that she is “disappointed” with the conclusions laid out by the European Commission’s critical 2018 Cooperation and Verification Mechanism (CVM) report on Romania.

Ruling Party Senator Renounces Affiliation, Declares Himself Independent

Social Democrat Party (PSD) Senator Emanuel Botnariu announced on Wednesday that he has renounced his affiliation with the ruling party’s Senate group and declared himself independent.