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| THE WEEK IN REVIEW 30/11/2009-06/12/2009 |
| (2009-12-04) |
| Last updated: 2009-12-07 13:07 EET |
Campaigning during the second round of the presidential elections in Romania has come to an end. Harsh attacks have been repeatedly exchanged by the two opponents: incumbent president Traian Basescu, backed by the Liberal Democratic Party, and Mircea Geoana, supported by the Social Democratic Party, along with the Liberal Party and the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania. Separated by less than two per cent in the first round, the two candidates tried to win over voters, by presenting their views on the future of the country, and by pointing fingers and accusing each other of connections with controversial businessmen. On Sunday, over 18 million Romanians are invited to cast their votes. To avoid the problems reported two weeks ago, when many of those who wanted to vote in special polling stations were unable to do so because of the complex procedure and of the small number of ballot boxes, measures have been taken to improve the voting process.
On December 1st, Romanians everywhere celebrated the National Day and 91 years since the Union of Romanian Principalities of December 1st, 1918. Military and religious ceremonies were held, as well as the traditional military parade under the Triumphal Arch in Bucharest. The monument was built after Romania’s victory, alongside the Allied forces, in the First World War – the event that paved the way for the 1918 Union. Special events were also organized in theatres of military operation abroad, where Romania has deployed troops in order to help stabilize the situation in the respective regions. In an interview on Radio Romania, professor Alin Ciupala, head of the Romanian History Department of the University of Bucharest, spoke about the importance of December 1st:
“I believe that, first of all, we should talk about a moral lesson that we are taught, unfortunately, only once a year, on Romania’s National Day. If we are to learn from the past, we might say that for us, the Union was an example of how Romanian energies can be mobilized.”
Celebrations of the December 1st Union were also organized in Chisinau, in the Republic of Moldova, the ex-Soviet state which is home to over three million ethnic Romanians, and in other countries that host sizeable Romanian communities.
On December 1st, the Lisbon Treaty took effect, which is designed to reform European Union institutions and to enhance their efficiency. By virtue of the Treaty, the EU has elected a president, with a two and a half year term in office, the Belgian Herman Van Rompuy, as well a High Representative for foreign policy, the British politician Catherine Ashton. The Lisbon Treaty gives more decision-making power to the European Parliament, and strengthens the role of EU citizens. With details from Brussels, Radio Romania correspondent, Luminiţa Apostol:
“The European Parliament will have enhanced powers thanks to the new Treaty, which means that alongside the Council of EU member states, it will take part in the decision making on most European policies, including agriculture, justice, home affairs, and budget-related matters. Another novelty is the broadening of the area in which Council decisions can be adopted with a qualified majority instead of unanimity, which is hoped to make EU activity more efficient”. The Lisbon Treaty is the first that Romania, as a full member of the EU since January 1, 2007, has negotiated and signed.
Romanian Dacian Ciolos was nominated by the president of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barosso, for the European Commissioner for Agriculture seat. Ciolos, who has no political affiliation, was a minister of agriculture and rural development in the government of Liberal Calin Popescu Tariceanu in 2007-2008. In Bucharest, the nomination of Ciolos sparked much pride among officials, regardless of political orientation, who all viewed the nomination as a success for Romanian diplomacy. The would-be commissioners will be heard in the European Parliament committees in January 2010, with voting due to take place in a plenary meeting of the Parliament, on the membership of the new European Commission.
Romania witnesses a surge in the number of deaths, and infections, from the AH1N1 virus. Dozens of new cases are reported being every day. A vaccination campaign was launched in November 26th, primarily targeting pupils and students and those professional categories that are the most exposed to the virus. State secretary with the Public Health Ministry, Adrian Streinu Cercel, announced that the AH1N1 virus has not undergone mutations in Romania, and that the vaccine against the new flu produced by the Cantacuzino Institute in Bucharest ensures protection against mutations reported in several countries.
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