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Romanian Opposition On Parliamentary Strike Until Elections

Romania's Social-Liberal Union (USL), made up of the three major opposition parties, will go on a parliamentary strike until the next elections, Liberal Party president Crin Antonescu said Monday.

Romania Lifts Bad Weather Alert For All Regions, Except Two Southeastern Counties

Romania has lifted the bad weather alert for heavy snowfall and blizzards in all regions, except for the southeastern counties of Tulcea and Constanta, which will remain under a yellow code advisory for gusty wind, Prime Minister Emil Boc said Friday.

Romanian PM Calls For Use Of Army Tanks In Snow Removal

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc called on the ministers of Defense and Transport to use military equipment, including army tanks, for emergency snow removal.

Romanian President Gives First Public Address Since The Start Of Protests

Romanian President Traian Basescu said Wednesday he perceives a "split" with the president for some Romanians, and pledged to regain the trust of the part of the public who has lost it.

Romania To Tax Sales To Scrapyards By 16%

Romania's Government has announced that income from the sale of scrap to scrapyards will be considered "income from miscellaneous sources" and will be subject to a 16% tax.

Romanian President To Address Public On Wednesday

Romanian President Traian Basescu on Tuesday said he will have "a talk with the Romanians" Wednesday, which will be his first since the beginning of protests against the government and politicians in general, almost two weeks ago.

Over 2,500 Protesters On March To Romanian National TV Network HQ

More than 2,500 protesters have left Bucharest's Victoriei Square on a march down Aviatorilor Boulevard to Dorobantilor Avenue, planning to rally again outside the headquarters of the public television network, TVR.

Romanian Government Won’t Amend Law Cutting Revolutionaries’ State Allowance

The Romanian Government will not amend a law that cut state allowances for revolutionaries, the institution said in a press release Tuesday.

Romanian Laid Off Military Staff Rally For Anti-Government Protest In Bucharest

Romanian laid off military staff have rallied Tuesday morning in Bucharest’s Victoriei square to show solidarity with the anti-government protesters who have been demonstrating countrywide for almost two weeks.

Romanian Liberal Party Proposes En Bloc Resignation Of Opposition MPs

Romanian Liberal Party leader Crin Antonescu said Monday evening that, since the ruling coalition does not agree to early elections, liberal MPs suggest the opposition's deputies and senators should all resign, but talks will be held with the other parties before a final decision.

Romanian Health Ministry To Begin Talks On New Health Bill Thursday, With Doctors’ College

Romania's Health Ministry will begin discussions Thursday to develop a new healthcare bill and revise the basic service package, with the Doctors' College being the first partner invited for talks.

Romanian PM Proposes Political Pact For 2012 To Maintain Economic Stability

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc has proposed a pact for 2012, to be signed by the Parliament, with the aim of maintaining economic and political stability, and allow Romania to retain its credibility abroad.

Romanian Opposition MPs Might Go On Parliamentary Strike – Sources

The Romanian opposition Social Liberal Union might to go on parliamentary strike for 30 days, as the ruling coalition discarded opposition’s demands, people close to the matter told MEDIAFAX Monday.

President: Nine EU States’ Decision To Keep Work Restrictions For Romanians Totally Unjustified

Romanian President Traian Basescu told diplomats Thursday that the decision of nine European Union member states not to lift work restrictions for Romanians is “completely unjustified.”

Romanian Romgaz GM Suspended Pending Investigation

Romanian Economy Ministry Ion Ariton Wednesday suspended Marcel Piteiu from his position as general manager of natural gas producer Romgaz, pending an investigation into allegations of undermining the national economy.

Romanian Parliament To Hold Extraordinary Session on Jan 23 And 24

The Romanian Parliament’s standing bureaus on Wednesday approved the organization of an extraordinary session on January 23 and January 24.

Romanian Education Unionists To Picked Education Ministry HQ Friday

About 300 Romanian education unionists will picked Friday the headquarters of the Education Ministry, the Federation of Free Unions in Education (FSLI) said Wednesday.

Romanian PM: Parliament To Hold Extraordinary Session Next Week

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc said Wednesday, after the meeting with the opposition, that an extraordinary Parliament session would be held next week, to "defuse any conflict."

Romanian Opposition To Organize Anti-Government Protest Rally

Victor Ponta, leader of the Romanian opposition Social Democratic Party, said Wednesday the party will participle in the anti-government protest rally and march planned by the opposition Social Liberal Union.

Romanian Unions, Employers Refuse To Meet With PM Regarding Protests

Romania's major trade union confederations and most employers' organizations have announced they will not meet with Prime Minister Emil Boc on Tuesday in the National Social Dialog Council, which will convene in the wake of four days of protests in Bucharest and many other cities.

Romanain PM: Dr. Raed Arafat Rejoins Health Ministry

Dr. Raed Arafat, who resigned prom the position of Health Ministry deputy secretary of state last week, will return to the ministry to fill the same position, Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc said Tuesday.

Romanian Healthcare, Education Unions Announce Protests In Iasi

Education and healthcare system unionists in the Romanian city of Iasi are planning to hold a rally on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

PM: Romanian Authorities To Draft New Healthcare Bill With Input From Social Partners

Romania’s health minister will set up a team tasked with drafting a new healthcare bill, with input from social partners, associations of patients and doctors, Prime Minister Emil Boc told a news conference Monday.

Romanian PM Asks Interior Minister To Deal With Violent Protesters

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc called on Interior Minister Traian Igas to order measures against people who will engage in acts of violence during protests, people close to the matter told MEDIAFAX Monday.

Romanian PM: Ruling Coalition To Discuss New Healthcare Bill On Monday

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc said the ruling coalition on Monday will discuss developing a new bill on healthcare reform, which will not shut down or privatize the emergency services.

Romanian Health Ministry Resignation Sparks Antigovernment Protests

Romania was the scene of anti-government protests Saturday evening, with as many as 2,000 people occupying Bucharest's University Square, while smaller rallies of no more than a hundred people took place in Sibiu, Suceava, Iasi, Cluj-Napoca and other cities.

Romanian President Calls For Healthcare Bill To Be Withdrawn

Romanian President Traian Basescu has called on the prime minister to withdraw the new healthcare bill, having seen that a large part of the public and of the healthcare system do not want it to change.

Romanian Authorities To Process Refund Requests For EU Farming Aid Within 45 Days

Reimbursement requests for EU farming aid will be processed within 45 days, the same as in the case of structural and cohesion funds, Romania's Government announced.

Vacancies In Romanian Healthcare Might Be Filled, Staying Within Approved Expense Limits

Hiring in the Romanian healthcare system may be unfrozen, where this does not exceed budgeted personnel expenses, says a draft decision put up for public debate on the Health Ministry's website.

Romanian Justice Minister To Discuss CVM With EU Officials In Brussels Next Week

Romanian Justice Minister Catalin Predoiu will meet Monday, in Brussels, with European officials to discuss the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism (CVM), stressing that he will reject the use of the CVM as a pretext to affect Romania's interests in cases like Schengen Area accession.

Romanian Health Ministry Honorific Adviser Dismissed Two Days After Appointment

Tudor Ciuhodaru was released Thursday from the position of honorific adviser with the Romanian Health Ministry, two days after appointment, ministry spokeswoman Oana Grigore told MEDIAFAX.

Andrei Georgescu Appointed Romanian Health Ministry Deputy State Secretary

Andrei Georgescu, head of the emergency room of the University Emergency Hospital in Bucharest, told MEDIAFAX Wednesday he accepted his appointment as Health Ministry deputy secretary of state to replace Raed Arafat who resigned Tuesday.

Romanian President Asks Parliament To Reject Law Banning Natural Gas Exports

Romanian President Traian Basescu has asked the Parliament to reject a bill amending the gas law, whereby domestic production of natural gas is used on the internal market exclusively, until import sources are diversified.

EU Members With Low Foreign Debt May Exceed Structural Deficit Limit

Romania's Minister of European Affairs, Leonard Orban, said Tuesday that a suggestion was made in the negotiations on the future inter-government treaty, whereby states with foreign debt below the limit imposed by the EU could be allowed to run a higher structural deficit.

Romania To Ask EC If Prolonging Labor Restrictions For Romanians Is Justified – Minister

Romania will ask the European Commission to explain if the decision of nine EU member states to keep work restrictions for Romanians is justified considering that, under the country’s EU Acession Treaty, such a measure may be taken only in exceptional cases.

Romanian PM Calls For More Controls To Prevent Tax Evasion

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc has asked the ministers of Finance and of the Interior to take action against tax evasion, focusing on "high evasion," as well as step up controls using teams made up of representatives of every relevant institution.

About 70% Of Romanians Believe Corruption Increased In Romania Last Year – Poll

About two thirds (67%) of Romanians consider that corruption in the country increased in 2011, 6% believe it decreased and 26% say the level of corruption remained unchanged, according to a survey conducted at the request of the Association Implementing Democracy.

Romanian President Passes Law On Car Pollution Tax

Romanian President Traian Basescu on Thursday passed the law on the car pollution tax, the Presidential Administration said in a press release.

Romania’s New Criminal Code To Take Effect In March-June 2013

Romania's new Criminal Code and Criminal Procedure Code will be implemented in March-June 2013, Justice Minister Catalin Predoiu announced Thursday.

Constanta Casino Restoration To Take Two Years, Cost EUR9M

The restoration of the Constanta Casino will take 24 months and cost 39.2 million lei (EUR9 million), according to the project's technical indicators, approved Wednesday by Romania's Government.