Former MP Sebastian Ghita May Have Fled Romania
Police and prosecutors are searching for former MP Sebastian Ghita, who failed to show up when subpoenaed and may have fled the country.
Ghita was being investigated at large and was court-ordered not to leave the country.
A warrant has been issued for his arrest.
Romania In Talks With US To Buy Second F16 Fighter Jet Squadron
Romania’s defense ministry wants to acquire the country’s second squadron of F16 Fighting Falcon jets from the United States after allied countries said they cannot make a full squadron available to Romania for security reasons.
Romania paid approximately EUR628 million for its first squadron of 12 F16 fighter jets. Romania received the first six jets from Portugal in October 2016. Three more jets were received last week and the remaining three will arrive in 2017.
Social Democrats Nominate First Female Prime Minster
Romania’s Social Democratic Party, which won 45% of the 11 Dec parliamentary vote and is set to form a majority in both houses of Parliament, has nominated Sevil Shhaideh for the job of prime minister.
If approved by the head of state and by Parliament, Shhaideh would be the first woman and the first Muslim to serve in that capacity.
Party leader Liviu Dragnea, convicted for electoral fraud and given a two-year suspended jail sentence, was prevented by law to claim the prime minister position for himself.
“If appointed, [Shhaideh] would be prime minister, but the political responsibility stays with me first of all,” Dragnea said Wednesday.
A relatively unknown figure on the Romanian political scene, Shhaideh served briefly as regional development minister in the Cabinet of Victor Ponta.