Constitutional Court To Debate Cabinet Appointments Conflict On December 19
Romania’s Constitutional Court set a December 19 term for a debate on the judicial conflict between the Government and President Klaus Iohannis on the subject of delayed cabinet appointments, court sources told MEDIAFAX.
The December 19 meeting will see the parties defend their points of view on the matter. The deadline for sending opinions was set for Friday, December 13.
Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dancila announced on December 7 that she notified Romania’s Constitutional Court regarding her dispute on cabinet appointments with President Klaus Iohannis, who is delaying the appointment of new transport and development ministers.
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis rejected proposals for the two ministries when the cabinet proposed a government reshuffle in November. After the ruling Social Democrat Party (PSD) forwarded two other proposals for the offices, Iohannis said that this amounted to “a second reshuffle within a week” and that he will not make a decision until after National Day celebrations on December 1.
On December 5, the head of state said that he was still “analyzing” the new proposals, for Mircea Draghici as transport minister and Lia Olguta Vasilescu as regional development minister.
In the meantime, the two ministers currently in office – Lucian Sova and Paul Stanescu – have both decided to resign at their party’s request, despite the fact that President Iohannis did not sign their dismissal decrees.
Romania Declares December 24, 31 Days Off
Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dancila announced on Thursday that state employees will have Christmas and New Year’s Eve days counted as public holidays, thus ensuring a five-day period of time off for both feasts.
“I hope that as many Romanians as possible will have a peaceful and quiet atmosphere around the winter holidays,” the Romanian chief of cabinet said at the beginning of Thursday’s cabinet meeting.
State employees will therefore have holidays between December 22 and 26, and December 29 and January 2, respectively, with the only workdays in the winter holiday period to be December 27 and 28.
Government spokesman Nelu Barbu later announced that the days off will be recovered by “extending work hours throughout January”. (evz.ro)
Bucharest, Ilfov County Under Code Yellow Alert For Fog
Meteorologists issued a code yellow alert forecasting fog in capital Bucharest and Ilfov County, until 11 p.m..
In Bucharest, fog will reduce visibility to below 200 meters, and even below 50 meters in some areas.
In Ilfov County, fog will reduce visibility to below 200 meters and even below 50 meters in some areas. (evz.ro)