Opposition Senators Challenge Militaries Statute At Constitutional Court
Senators of the opposition Democratic Liberal Party will be challenging at the Constitutional Court the parliament’s recently reexamined and adopted bill on the statute of militaries.
Contesting senators say the adopted form of the bill, which allows militaries to remain in service until they turn 60, with the approval of the leaders of their respective institutions, namely the Ministry of Defense or the Ministry of Interior, goes beyond the scope of the head of state’s reexamination request (Puterea)
Daniel Funeriu To Coordinate Basescu’s Center-Right Organization’s Program
Presidential adviser Daniel Funeriu, a former education minister, will be coordinating the program of the center-right organization set up by allies of President Traian Basescu.
Funeriu said in a blog post the People’s Movement Foundation will be taking contributions and suggestions from supporters, who are invited to fill in a form on the organization’s website.
The People’s Movement Foundation was set up by Basescu’s presidential advisers with the stated purpose of promoting center-right values and rebuilding the country’s right-winged politics. (Romania Libera)
Romania’s Tax Revenue Up 6.5% On Year To RON27B In First Quarter
Romania’s tax authority ANAF collected total taxes of 27 billion lei (EUR6.15 billion) in the first three months of 2013, up 6.5% compared with the similar interval a year ago, thanks to higher VAT and income tax collections.
Also, the special account set up for taxpayers owing back taxes and who are exempt from penalties if they pay up reached RON36.68 million (around EUR8.4 million) at the end of February, from EUR6.58 million in December 2012, according to the Financial Guard. (Jurnalul National)
Economy Minister Says Large Companies Interested In Oltchim Takeover
A few major companies in the chemical industry have expressed interest in taking over state-owned chemical plant Oltchim Ramnicu Valcea, Economy minister Varujan Vosganian said Wednesday.
He said negotiations with interested parties will begin next week but talks will not be made public before binding deals are reached.
Oltchim entered insolvency at the end of January this year, after a failed privatization attempt in 2012. Oltchim is controlled by the Economy Ministry with a 54.8% stake. (Puterea)
UNICEF Ranks Romania Last For Child Well-Being Among Developed Countries
Romania is ranked last among 29 countries with developed economies in a UNICEF child well-being report released Wednesday, which finds child poverty issues are tightly related to public spending cuts and other austerity measures prompted by the economic crisis.
“Although governments often say they was want to reduce debt now so as not to burden future generations, cuts in education and child welfare spending are already having a real impact on the children of today,” said Chris de Neuburg, who heads UNICEF’s Centre for Social Policy Research.
The report finds that the Netherlands and three Nordic countries – Finland, Iceland and Norway – again sit at the top of a child well-being table, while four southern European countries – Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain – are placed in the bottom half.
The report looks at changes in child well-being throughout 2000-2010 in 29 states, considering factors like school achievements, birthrate among teenagers, child obesity, prevalence of aggression, and consumption of tobacco, alcohol and drugs. (Puterea)
Former MP Dan Pasat Gets Three-Year Prison Sentence For Blackmail
Romania’s High Court of Justice on Wednesday sentenced former democrat liberal MP Dan Pasat to three years in prison for blackmail.
Pasat was also sentenced to eleven months in prison for corruption but will be serving the higher sentence if he is convicted irrevocably. The sentence passed Wednesday may be appealed.
Anticorruption prosecutors indicted Pasat in April 2011. (Puterea)