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Romanian Democrat Liberals Challenge Extended Referendum Schedule In Constitutional Court

Romania's Democratic Liberal Party (PDL) on Thursday filed three challenges with the Constitutional Court against amendments to the ordinances on the referendum and on the duties of the Court, and against a law whereby a referendum's voting schedule is set through a government decision.

Romanian President Suspended By Parliament, Referendum on July 29

Romanian President Traian Basescu has been suspended by Parliament with 258 votes in favor, more than the necessary 217 votes. A referendum on whether or not to impeach Basescu will be held on July 29.

Romanian Govt Changes Referendum Law To Impeach President With Majority Of Votes Cast

Romania's Government has issued an emergency ordinance amending the referendum law to provide that the President may be impeached with the votes of the majority of participants in the ballot, people close to the matter told MEDIAFAX.

Romanian Degree Certification Council: PM Victor Ponta Plagiarized PhD Thesis

Romania's National Council of Degree and Diploma Certification (CNATDCU) decided Friday that Prime Minister Victor Ponta plagiarized his PhD thesis, and asked the Education Ministry to withdraw his doctorate degree.

Romanian Democratic Liberal Party Leadership Resigns

Romanian Democratic Liberal Party (PDL) president Emil Boc and the rest of the party's leadership resigned Thursday, and a meeting will be held Sunday to prepare an extraordinary national party convention.

Parliament: PM Will Represent Romania In European Council On June 28

Romania's Parliament on Tuesday adopted a declaration by ruling alliance USL, which says the Prime Minister will represent Romania in the European Council on June 28.

Romania To Cooperate With Prince Charles To Promote Tourism In Carpathians

Romania's Government will cooperate with the British Royal Family, specifically with Prince Charles' representatives, to promote tourism in the Carpathian Mountains, minister Eduard Hellvig announced Friday.

Romanian Court Bars Decision To Set Up Hungarian Teaching Division At Targu Mures University

The Romanian Government decision establishing a Hungarian teaching division in the University of Medicine in Targu Mures was suspended Friday by a ruling of the Targu Mures Court of Appeals, which admitted a request filed by the university's management.

Romanian Outgoing Govt Plans To Allot RON33M For Church Construction, Repairs

Romania's outgoing Cabinet wants to allot more than 33.6 million lei (EUR7.6 million) from the budget reserve fund to build and repair churches, arguing that they were damaged by last winter's snowfall.

Romania To Give Public Sector Day Off On April 30, 2012

Romania's Government will declare April 30, 2012 a non-working day for the public sector, to be recouped in a Saturday in May, so that the May Day vacation might be longer, Prime Minister Mihai Razvan Ungureanu said Sunday.

Mediafax.Ro Now Available As iPad App

Mediafax.ro, one of the top Romanian news websites, is now available as an iPad application, allowing more dynamic delivery of exclusive, quick and unbiased content to its readers, says a press release.

Code Yellow Storm Advisory For N, E Romania On Sunday-Monday

Romanian meteorologists have issued a code yellow advisory for rain, sleet, snow and strong winds for 20 counties, valid starting Sunday at 6 p.m. until Monday at 3 p.m.

Romanian PM Ungureanu To Take Over Environment Ministry Temporarily

Romanian Prime Minister Mihai Razvan Ungureanu has confirmed that Environment Minister Laszlo Borbely handed in his resignation Thursday, and announced he will take over the ministry in an acting capacity until a replacement is appointed.

Romanian PM Wants Parliament To Endorse Anticorruption Strategy

Romanian Prime Minister Mihai Razvan Ungureanu will propose the signing by the Parliament of a political declaration on the application of the 2012-2015 National Anticorruption Strategy, which simplifies the procedure to lift MP immunity.

Romanian Health Ministry Proposes Changes To Prescription Drug List, Length Of Hospital Stay

Romania's Health Ministry has put forward for public debate a draft Government decision, which restricts the prescription of three drugs, and a draft order changing the duration of hospitalization for all illnesses.

Romanian Govt Allots RON100M For Local Elections, One Third More Than In 2008 – Sources

Romania's Government will allot around 100 million lei (EUR23 million) for the local elections this year, one third more than for the previous elections four years ago, people close to the matter told MEDIAFAX.

Romanian Court Annuls Conviction Of Businessman Dinel Staicu

The Bucharest Court of Appeals has annulled the conviction of businessman Dinel Nutu, formerly known as Staicu, in the case of the fraud at the International Bank of Religions (BIR).

Romanian Opposition Supports Ratification Of EU Fiscal Stability Treaty

The opposition Social-Liberal Union (USL) agrees that Romania should sign and ratify the European Union fiscal stability treaty, and its MPs will attend the related Parliament discussions, social democrat leader Victor Ponta said Monday.

Romania To Contribute EUR25.28M To NATO’s Allied Ground Surveillance System

Romania will participate in NATO's Allied Ground Surveillance (AGS) system, along with 12 other member states, with a contribution of EUR25.28 million or 2% of the total cost, the Foreign Ministry informs.

Romanian Opposition Challenges Constitutionality Of New Cabinet’s Instatement

Romania's opposition Social Democratic Party and Liberal Party on Thursday filed a notice with the Constitutional Court, arguing that the Ungureanu Cabinet has been endorsed by the Parliament without following procedure.

Romanian Lower House Adopts Articles Of Bill Protecting Victims Of Domestic Violence

Romania's Chamber of Deputies on Tuesday adopted the articles of a bill amending the law against domestic violence, which says the victim may ask in court for a protection and restraining order against the aggressor.

Romanian Railway Operator CFR Has Until Yearend To Pay Debts Without Added Penalties

Romanian state-owned railway operators owe energy suppliers 1.2 billion lei (EUR275.6 million), and the Government allotted RON400 million at the end of 2011 to pay overdue bills, former Transport Minister Anca Boagiu said Friday.

Romanian Fmr State Secretary Silviu Bian To Be Tried At Large For Corruption

Romanian former state secretary Silviu Bian, indicted on charges of corruption last year, has been released from arrest and will be tried at large.

Romania Ex-Senator Sentenced To Five Years In Prison For Fraud

Former social democrat senator Emilian Cutean has been sentenced to five years in prison by the Bucharest Court of Appeals for defrauding the government of over 200,000 lei (EUR45,998) during his term as head of the State Secretariat for the Problems of Revolutionaries (SSPR).

EC: Report On Romania’s Justice Progress To Be Adopted Wednesday

The European Commission’s report under the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism (CVM) for Romania will be adopted Wednesday, EC spokesman Mark Gray told MEDIAFAX Monday.

Romanian President Nominates Mihai Razvan Ungureanu As New PM

Mihai Razvan Ungureanu, head of the Foreign Intelligence Service (SIE), was nominated Monday evening by Romanian President Traian Basescu as the new prime minister, replacing Emil Boc.

Romanian Administration To Carry On Regardless Of Political Context – Acting PM

Romania's Government will ensure the country's administration carries on as usual and will only adopt decisions, not ordinances or bills, acting prime minister Catalin Predoiu said Monday.

Romanian Acting PM Catalin Predoiu Heads First Govt Meeting Monday – Sources

The Romanian Government convenes Monday at 5 p.m. in an informal meeting to be headed by acting Prime Minister Catalin Predoiu, people close to the matter told MEDIAFAX.

Romanian President Invites Parties For Separate Talks Monday Afternoon On Designating New PM

Romanian President Traian Basescu invited parliamentary parties for separate talks Monday starting 3 p.m. on appointing a new prime minister, following Emil Boc’s resignation.

Romania Might Have Political-Majority Government With Technocratic PM – Sources

Romanian ruling democrat liberals are considering proposing a technocratic prime minister to replace Emil Boc, who resigned earlier Monday.

Romania Issues Code Orange Weather Advisory For S, SE

Romanian meteorologists warned that a code orange advisory for the south and southeast will enter effect Sunday after 6 p.m., while other parts of the country will remain under a code yellow.

Romanian Constitutional Court: Merging Local, Parliamentary Elections Might Affect Voting Process

Merging local and parliamentary elections might affect the voting process and restrict the right to vote, considering the procedure’s complexity, the Romanian Constitutional Court said Friday.

Romanian Businessman Sorin Ovidiu Vintu Sentenced To Six Months In Prison For Blackmail

Romanian businessman Sorin Ovidiu Vantu has been sentenced by a court to six months in prison for blackmailing former Realitatea Media manager Sebastian Ghita.

Romanian 2011 Census Preliminary Results: Population Down 2.3M To 19,042,936 People

Romania's population has decreased by more than 2.3 million since 2002, to 19,042,936 people, according to the preliminary results of the 2011 census, published Thursday by the National Statistics Institute.

Romanian Govt Might Thaw Hiring In Authorities Running EU-Funded Projects

Romania's Government is preparing a bill to permit hiring in public institutions that run programs financed from EU funds, arguing that allowing these exceptions from the hiring restrictions will speed up the absorption of structural and cohesion funds.

Romanian Opposition On Parliamentary Strike Indefinitely

Romanian opposition social democrat and liberal MPs on Wednesday approved a proposition to go on parliamentary strike for an indefinite period.

Romanian Miners Stage Spontaneous Protest Calling For Higher Wages, Improved Work Conditions

Over 1,500 miners at the seven coal mines located in the Jiu Valley, southwestern Romania, staged a spontaneous protest Wednesday and refused to go down, while others barricaded themselves underground.

Romanian Govt: Economy Ministry To Hold Public Debate On ACTA

Romania's Economy Ministry will hold public debates on the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA), which will enter force only after several stages, including being ratified by the Parliament, and which does not change intellectual property legislation, the Government informs.

PM: Romanian Govt May Look Into Slightly Raising Public Wages, Pensions If Economy Allows It

The Romanian Government will look into slightly increasing public wages and pensions providing the economy is stable and registers growth, Prime Minister Emil Boc said Monday.

Romanian Government Suspends Car Pollution Tax – Sources

Romania's Government on Monday decided that the car pollution tax, charged on the first sale of cars registered before 2007, would be suspended until next year, with a refund offered for car owners who have already paid it, people close to the matter told MEDIAFAX.