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| THE WEEK IN REVIEW (19-25/10/2009) |
| (2009-10-23) |
| Last updated: 2009-10-26 13:03 EET |
The political crisis in Romania is very unlikely to end soon. Lucian Croitoru, the PM designated by the head of state to form a new government, following the dismissal, under a no-confidence motion, of the cabinet headed by the liberal democrat Emil Boc, has held consultations with the main parliamentary parties, but with no significant outcomes. On Monday, Croitoru, who is an economist by trade, with no political affiliations, got the support of the pro-presidential Liberal Democratic Party, but the opposition announced he would not benefit from their support. Also through a declaration adopted in parliament, representatives of the National Liberal Party, the Social Democratic Party, the Conservative Party, the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians and of the national minorities have reasserted their support for the mayor of Sibiu Klaus Johannis for the position of Prime Minister.
Romanian President Traian Basescu on Thursday announced that a referendum on reforming the Parliament will be held on November 22nd, which is also the date set for the presidential elections. The head of state wants a single-chamber legislative, with a maximum of 300 MPs, as against 471 today. The only party supporting this initiative is the Liberal Democratic Party. The Social Democratic Party, the National Liberal Party and the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania have contested the decision, saying it will distort the presidential election campaign. According to opinion polls, Basescu’s main opponents in the presidential race are the president of the Social Democratic Party, Mircea Geoana, the liberal head Crin Antonescu and the current mayor of Bucharest, independent Sorin Oprescu. Also competing will be the president of the hard-line Greater Romania Party, Corneliu Vadim Tudor, MEP George Becali representing the New Generation Party, Remus Cernea from the Green Party, Ovidiu Nane, from the Romanian Ecologist Party and independent Constantin Ninel Potarca, the president of the Rroma Employers’ Association.
The US vice-president Joseph Biden, the second most important figure in the new US administration, on Thursday paid a short visit to Romania, the second leg of a European tour that has also included Poland and the Czech Republic. He held talks with the head of state, Traian Basecu, the acting PM Emil Boc and the leaders of the most important opposition parties, social democrat Mircea Geoana and liberal Crin Antonescu. Biden stated that the US and Romania would remain close allies, especially within NATO. He appreciated Romania’s contribution and the professionalism of the Romanian military in Afghanistan, Iraq and the Western Balkans. In turn, President Basescu said the Romanian - American relations were getting stronger, just like the strategic partnership between the two countries. In another move, the US official gave assurances that the US policy towards the central and east - European countries had not changed. He explained that the new anti-missile shield can protect Europe better, because it’s more flexible and can be adjusted to changing threats.
Romanian MPs have endorsed the recommendation to start the prosecution of the former liberal democratic Minister of Youth and Sports Monica Iacob Ridzi for embezzlement, and also of her party colleague, the interim Tourism Minister Elena Udrea, suspected of abuse and misspending of public money. The Ridzi case is already being investigated by the National Anti-corruption Directorate. As for Elena Udrea, accused of abuse and violation of the Ministerial Accountability Law, the legal committee of the Chamber of Deputies is to make a decision with regard to the prosecution request endorsed by Parliament. Ridzi and Udrea, both close to Romania’s president Traian Basescu, have accused the Social Democratic - Liberal - Ethnic Hungarian coalition of political bias in their attempt to discredit members of the Liberal Democratic Party and thus improve their image own in the election campaign.
Romania and the Republic of Moldova, the former Soviet state with a predominantly Romanian speaking population, have concluded in Chisinau the agreement on small scale cross-border trade. Following its coming into force, the Moldovan citizens living within 50 kms from the border will no longer need a visa to enter Romania. Moreover, Moldovan authorities have given their approval for the opening of two more Romanian consulates in Cahul, in the south, and Balti in the north, respectively, which will take over part of the very large number of visa applications that have paralyzed the activity of the consulate in the capital. The Romanian Foreign Ministry has stated that these decisions are aimed at bringing the Romanian - Moldovan relations back to normal, as the result of the democratic openness of the current leadership in Chisinau. A month ago, the Moldovan authorities wavered the visa regime imposed on the Romanian citizens by the former pro-Russian, Communist regime, which had leveled ungrounded accusations against Romania regarding the latter’s involvement in the protests held in Chisinau in spring.
In the Champions League, Romania’s champions Unirea Urziceni thrashed 4-1 Scottish side Glasgow Rangers in an away game on Tuesday. In the third round of Europa League, vice-champions FC Timisoara ended in a nil-all draw their game against the Belgians from Anderlecht Brussels, while three other sides representing Romania in this competition have been defeated; Steaua Bucharest lost at home one-nil their match against Fenerbahce from Turkey; Dinamo Bucharest was thrashed by another Turkish eleven, Galatasaray in Istanbul 1-4, while CFR Cluj lost their game in the Czech Republic against Sparta Prague two-nil.
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