Boekarest — Afgelopen week heeft een rechtbank in Boekarest een strafzaak heropend tegen voormalig president Ion Iliescu vanwege zijn betrokkenheid bij het neerslaan van studentenprotesten door mijnwerkers in juni 1990. Iliescu is in de afgelopen decennia al vaker vervolgd — afgelopen maand nog voor mensenrechtenschendingen en misdaden tegen de menselijkheid tijdens de december 1989 revolutie — echter zonder succes.
Lees verder in Donau.
With infections on a downward trend and the number of Romanians that daily succumb to the coronavirus also going down, discussions about a mandatory green certificate for employees are stalled in Parliament. The infighting among the Liberals has come to a climax with the PNL expelling its former president, Ludovic Orban. Meanwhile the PNL is exploring a merger with the PMP. And, more urgently, negotiating forming a government with the PSD and UDMR.
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 #46 (November 6—12, 2021)
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)
‘GypsyCoin zal Roma over de hele wereld met elkaar verbinden’, zegt Daniel Cioabă. De Roemeen uit de Transsylvanische stad Sibiu creëerde een nieuwe cryptomunt om Roma-gemeenschappen in Roemenië en elders te helpen. ‘We verwachten dat de munt zo snel mogelijk wordt genoteerd op beurzen, zoals Binance, Crypto.com en andere’, zegt de investeerder.
Lees verder in De Groene Amsterdammer.
This week the European Commission presented its second annual EU Rule of Law Report. Although Romania has made progress, there is still room for improvement. The ruling coalition remains divided over if and how to abolish the “Special Section”, which is one of the problems highlighted in the Commission’s report.
This and more in this week’s Romanian Dispatch’s coverage of the past seven days. If you like it, why not pass it on? New readers can subscribe here.
Romanian Dispatch #39 (July 17—23, 2021)
Not only the temperature rose in this past week — also tensions in the ruling coalition and the liberal PNL. Yet PM Cîţu reassured Romanians that none of this would affect his government in any way. A Giurgiu court ruled on Thursday that former PSD leader Liviu Dragnea should be released early. He left Rahova prison almost immediately after the ruling to be reunited with his girlfriend but not before insulting his former political home (PSD) and calling himself a political prisoner.
Romanian Dispatch #38 (July 10—16, 2021)
