Liberals Renounce Justice Ministry As PM Nominates New Anticorruption Chief
Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta nominated a former prosecutor general to head the country’s anti-corruption department despite objections from the co-president of his ruling coalition.
Liberal Party leader Crin Antonescu said Ponta, who is acting as interim justice minister, nominated Laura Codruta Kovesi for the job without consulting coalition partners.
Antonescu called on Ponta to take back his chief prosecutor nominations, adding the Liberal Party no longer wishes to take responsibility for appointing a new justice minister. (Puterea)
Romanian MPs Statute Gets Thumb Down From Constitutional Court Again
Romania’s Constitutional Court on Wednesday upheld a second contest by the opposition Democratic Liberal Party concerning the statute of lawmakers filed.
The Court admitted the opposition’s objections and the bill will be sent back to Parliament for amendments. This is the second time the Constitutional Court has ruled the bill breaches constitutional principles. (Curentul)
Romania Should Pay Over EUR1.1B To IMF This Year
Romania must pay Thursday EUR38.5 million to the EU, representing interests and fees attached to the stand-by loan it took from the IMF, EU, and World Bank in 2009, the Government said in a statement.
The country will have to pay pack over EUR1.164 billion to the IMF and its other international lenders this year. It has already paid EUR188.6 million in the first quarter of the year.
Romania took a EUR19.95 billion loan in 2009. (Curentul)
Court Of Accounts Head Says 80% Of Romania’s Privatizations Have Failed
About 80% of privatizations in Romania have failed and the state is now forced to sell off strategic assets to navigate the crisis, the country’s Court of Accounts president Nicolae Vacaroiu said Wednesday.
“We might not want to admit it, but 80% of privatizations have ended in failure. Just as we don’t like to admit we are now forced to sell stakes in strategic companies at times of crisis because we don’t have local capital,” said Vacaroiu. (Gandul)
Romania Seeks To Raise Up To RON400M From Selling 15% In Transgaz
The Romanian Finance Ministry on Thursday will launch a public offering to sell 15% in natural gas transport company Transgaz (TGN.RO) at a price between 171 lei (EUR39) and RON230 (EUR52) per share.
Romania thus seeks to raise between RON300 million (EUR68 million) and RON400 million (EUR90 million) for the full stake in the state-owned company.
On the Bucharest Stock Exchange Tuesday, Transgaz closed at RON213.5 per share.
The public offering will end on April 16. (Curentul)
Romanian Health Ministry Considers New Payment System For Doctors
Romanian Health Minister Eugen Nicolaescu said he is considering a different payment system for physicians, considering competence and performance among its basic criteria.
He said a bill on a new wage system for doctors should be completed by June.
In turn, Labor Minister Mariana Campeanu called for prudence in the approach to physicians’ salary grid system. (Curentul)