92 MPs Never Spoke In Plenary Once This Year
They voted to get special pensions and raise their stipends but more than a third of lawmakers never took the floor in plenary in 2015. Three year after swearing in, many of them only spoke when they took the oath.
Of 387 MPs left in the Chamber of Deputies, 92 never took the floor this year and 44 only took the podium to pledge allegiance to the country in a solemn ceremony held at the beginning of each legislative term.
Among the “invisibles” are well-known names such as Sebastian Ghita, the prime minster’s friend, Madalin Voicu, Marius Manolache, prime minster Ponta’s godson, and Andrei Dolineaschi, secretary general of the ruling Social Democratic Party. (Adevarul)
MPs Want To Raise Their Monthly Stipend To RON9,000 From RON5,000
Incensed that a group of 69 officials tripled their salaries, lawmakers seek to get a considerable raise with no regard for its affect on the state budget.
According to their public statements, lawmakers seek to raise their monthly stipends from the current RON5,000 to RON9,000.
A calculation by EVZ shows the move would have an impact of over RON25 million (EUR5.6 million) a year on the state budget and would benefit 528 lawmakers, as 26 other lawmakers, who are members of the Parliament’s standing offices, have had their wages raised 300-350% through government emergency ordinance as of August 1. (Evenimentul zilei)
PM Ponta Expected To Return From 10-Day Vacation
Prime Minister Victor Ponta is expected to return to Romania Monday, B1 TV reported.
Social Democratic Party secretary Codrin Stefanescu said Ponta might hold a press conference to comment on rumors that he is planning to leave the Cabinet.
The prime minster was on vacation for ten days, during which time coalition partner UNPR and the opposition Liberal Party initiated several talks regarding the Tax Code. (Curierul National)
Bucharest Apartment Prices Grew 5.3% In June
Prices of apartments in Bucharest grew 5.3% on the month in July and 2.8% compared to July 2014, according to homefinders.ro.
The increase in July is the highest recorded this year and was observed both for old and newly-built apartments.
On the middle and premium segments, the average asking price increased 3% more in July than in June, while asking prices in peripheral areas increased 8.5%. (Adevarul)
Doctors In Public Healthcare Banned From Accepting Gifts From Patients
A Supreme Court ruling that bans doctors from receiving any kind of gift from patients treated in the public healthcare system is endangering the functioning of the system.
Many doctors are expected to leave, indolence in the public system is seen soaring and patients may no longer be treated appropriately. Doctors are disgruntled with new legislation that categorizes them as public servants and bans them from receiving gifts from patients. (Adevarul)