Prime minister-designate Nicolae Ciucă held negotiations with parties in Parliament this week and will present his cabinet line-up this weekend. Romanians came out in huge numbers to get the anti-COVID-19 jab.
This and much more in this week’s Romanian Dispatch. If you like it, why not pass it on? New readers can subscribe here.
Romanian Dispatch #44 (October 23—29, 2021)
Sweeping new corona restrictions were introduced yesterday as infections and deaths are soaring. As of Monday, schools will be closed, a curfew put in place for unvaccinated people and a ban on sporting events, weddings and christening parties. Green certificates will become mandatory. President Klaus Iohannis called the current situation “catastrophic”. He appointed a new prime minister-designate, reserve general Nicolae Ciucă, who promised to negotiate “with all the responsible forces” so that a new government will be formed and approved by Parliament soonest.
This and much more in this week’s Romanian Dispatch. If you like it, why not pass it on? New readers can subscribe here.
Romanian Dispatch #43 (October 16—22, 2021)
The corona pandemic does not let up in Romania. Mobile hospitals have re-opened and the first patients have been transferred to Hungary in order to relief intensive care units. President Iohannis appointed the leader of the reformist USR to form a new government. And along with other nuclear powers, Romania publicly appealed to EU leaders to consider nuclear energy on par with other low-carbon sources.
This and more in this week’s Romanian Dispatch. If you like it, why not pass it on? New readers can subscribe here.
Romanian Dispatch #42 (October 9—15, 2021)
After having weathered the pandemic well for 18 months, coronavirus infections are now skyrocketing. A devastating milestone of 15,000 daily infections was recorded this week — the highest number since the start of the health crisis. The problem is compounded due to a government crisis that has been raging for months; parliament toppled the centrist government on Tuesday.
This and more in this week’s Romanian Dispatch. If you like it, why not pass it on? New readers can subscribe here.
Romanian Dispatch #41 (October 2—8, 2021)
We are back after a summer hiatus! The next few days will determine the fate of Prime Minister Florin Cîțu and his (rump) cabinet. After winning the PNL leadership last weekend, will he survive the motion(s) of non-confidence from the opposition and his former governing partner, USR-PLUS? Will there be a new cabinet or will Romanians go to the polls for the first early elections since 1990?
Romanian Dispatch #40 (September 25—October 1, 2021)
Southeast Europe – Zuidoost-Europa correspondent