Category Archives: Blog

Grootste anti-vaxx demonstratie in Boekarest terwijl derde coronagolf zich aandient

BOEKAREST — Ruim duizend Roemenen protesteerden gisteren in Boekarest tegen verplichte vaccinatie. De demonstranten keerden zich ook tegen de invoering van een zogeheten vaccinatie paspoort. De menigte verzamelde zich in het Izvor Park, tegenover het parlement. Slechts weinigen droegen een mondkapje en de meesten hielden zich niet aan de afstandsregels.

“Niet tegen vaccinatie, maar VRIJHEID om zelf te beslissen” was het thema waarmee de organisatoren, de Alliantie van Ouders, de demonstratie hadden aangekondigd. Het protest was gepromoot door AUR, de Alliantie voor een Verenigd Roemenië — de nieuwe extreem-nationalistische partij die in december in het parlement werd gekozen. AUR voorman George Simion en mede-oprichter Claudiu Târziu bevonden zich tussen de demonstranten.

De organisatoren van de grootste anti-vaxx demonstratie totnutoe zijn beboet met een geldstraf van 7.000 lei (€ 1.500) voor het niet nemen van de nodige maatregelen om het aantal deelnemers tot honderd te beperken en voor het niet naleven van andere maatregelen ter bescherming van de gezondheid, aldus de politie.

Zondagnacht werden nieuwe maatregelen van kracht in de hoofdstad om het coronavirus te beteugelen. Cafés en restaurants moeten hun deuren weer sluiten de komende veertien dagen en sommige scholen gaan weer over op on-line onderwijs. In Boekarest zijn sinds vorige week gemiddeld meer dan drie inwoners per duizend met het coronavirus besmet.

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Budget battles

The numbers are going up. Daily infection rates are crossing the 4,000 mark frequently and there are now more than 1,000 corona patients in ICU’s again. Four counties and the capital are in the “red scenario”. Meanwhile more than 1 million Romanians have been vaccinated and the pace is picking up. This and more news in this week’s Romanian Dispatch.

Romanian Dispatch #22 (February 27 — March 5, 2021)

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Reversing demographic decline

Happy Mărțișor. Spring has come at last! While teaching staff started to get vaccinated and the Romanian government donated 20,000 anticorona vaccines to neighbouring Moldova, health authorities are preparing for a third wave of the pandemic. This and more news in this week’s Romanian Dispatch.

Romanian Dispatch #21 (February 20 — 26, 2021)

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Political battles

The Cîţu cabinet approved the draft 2021 state budget, which will now go to parliament for approval. After a visit to Brussels, the prime minister announced that Romania could join the Schengen Area as early as this year and introduce the euro in 2027 or 2028. This and more good news in this week’s Romanian Dispatch.

Romanian Dispatch #20 (February 13 — 19, 2021)

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Vaccine politics

The Cîţu government finally presented a draft budget for 2021, but it looks like few are happy about it, including his own ministers. Among other things, the budget foresees cuts in the many bonuses and other benefits for public servants. And new data show that Romania experienced a mini-babyboom in December. This and more in this week’s Romanian Dispatch.

Romanian Dispatch #19 (February 6 —12, 2021)

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More corona jabs

Good morning. After some delay the national vaccination campaign against the SARS-CoV-2 virus has resumed with new supplies of the Moderna vaccin. The 2021 budget should be ready soon, although coalition partners disagree on the direction for sustainable economic growth. And 2021 looks to be a good year for coffee lovers. That and more in this week’s Romanian Dispatch.

Romanian Dispatch #18 (January 30 – February 5, 2021)

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Muscular president

After a short hiatus and a long holiday break we are back! And back with mostly good news: daily corona infections are down, vaccinations are up, and the new centre-right government, which was formed at the end of 2020, seems to be on track to reverse legislation that undermines the rule of law and tackle economic challenges.

Romanian Dispatch #17 (January 16 – 22, 2021)

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#Parlamentare2020

And the polls are open! An estimated 740,000 Romanians in the diaspora have two days to vote in the parliamentary elections. At 07:00 this morning, 21,500 Romanians abroad had already cast their ballot. This issue of Romanian Dispatch is dedicated to the elections. We interviewed renowned sociologist Dumitru Sandu about the Romanian electorate and what the likely outcome of the elections will be.

Romanian Dispatch #16 (November 28 – December 4, 2020)

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Virtual merger

Here is your weekly roundup, featuring highlights of news and events in Romania, not over the past seven but 14 days as we have been pre-occupied with reporting the presidential elections in Moldova and the tragedy in Piatra Neamț.

Romanian Dispatch #15 (November 8 – 20, 2020)

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Change and infections in the cabinet

Good morning. Here is your weekly roundup, featuring highlights of news and events in Romania over the past seven days.

Romanian Dispatch #14 (October 31 – November 6, 2020)

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