Olteanu: Romania To End Interest-Rate Cuts
Romania is finished slashing interest rates, with Tuesday’s cut likely the last for a while, Bogdan Olteanu, the vice governor of the country’s central bank told Wall Street Journal (WSJ) Thursday.
“We have closed the cycle of easing,” Mr. Olteanu said in an interview in New York. “Given the current fundamentals–local and international–we expect it to remain at this level for quite some time,” Olteanu told WSJ.
Romania’s central bank Tuesday lowered its main monetary policy rate by a quarter of a point to a fresh all-time low of 3.5% a year, in line with market expectations. It was the sixth consecutive cut since July 2013. (Curierul National)
Antonescu: I Agreed With PM On Iohannis’ Nomination, Government Changes
Liberal Party president Crin Antonescu stated Saturday that he had had talks and agreed with Prime Minister Victor Ponta before liberals announced the replacement of several ministers and the nomination of Klaus Iohannis as government member.
“I talked to the Prime Minister, I told him about our propositions, he told me he had no objection, he even saluted the propositions, mainly that concerning Klaus Iohannis. I did not talk about it yesterday because it was not normal for me to say it before the Prime Minister did. Meanwhile, the PM made his decision public, (…)” Antonescu told Digi 24. (Jurnalul National)
Emil Boc To Join People’s Movement Foundation
Cluj-Napoca Mayor Emil Boc announced Sunday that he accepted the invitation to join People’s Movement Foundation, adding he might have a contribution to the consolidation of the right-wing.
“People’s Movement Foundation aims to protect, support and promote the reform and the modernization projects of the Romanian state. I think I can bring my contribution in supporting those projects which I have always supported together with President Traian Basescu (…), ” Boc added.
In his turn, Vasile Blaga, president of the Democratic Liberal Party (PDL), said they would have talks in the party on the issue, without mentioning whether Cluj-Napoca mayor would be sanctioned. (Adevarul)
Health Ministry To Carry Out Simulations On Differentiated Clawback Tax Effects
Next week, Health Ministry experts and specialists in the pharmaceutical sector will carry out several simulations, based on the propositions of the Romanian Association of International Drug Manufacturers (ARPIM), on the effects of the claw back tax revising by introducing a differentiated calculation method.
Health minister Eugen Nicolaescu, state secretary Adrian Pana and the head of National Health Insurance House (CNAS), Cristian Busoi, met Saturday with ARPIM representatives for talks related to the differentiated clawback tax, given the introduction of the new compensated medical drugs list and the new calculation method for medicine price, according to a press release of the Health Ministry.
The specialists will carry out several simulations based on ARPIM propositions on the effects of the claw back tax revising by introducing a differentiated calculation method, so that the new list of compensated medical drugs would come into force as established, with no significant impact on the approved budget. (Puterea)
“One Week Mountain Holiday” Program, Between February 9 – March 28
The Federation of Employers’ Associations in Romanian Tourism (FPTR) and the National Association of Travel Agencies launched the program “One-week mountain holiday” developed between February 9 and March 28, with prices between RON161 and RON368 per person, for five nights.
The accommodation prices will be unchanged compared with the previous years and are up to 50% lower compared with the standard price in this period, according to a FPTR release. Prices for one person, five days, no meals, are as follows: two-star hotel, villa, chalet -RON161/person/5 nights (breakfast not included); three-star hotel, villa, chalet- RON259/ person/5 nights (breakfast not included); four-star hotel, villa – RON368/person/5 nights (breakfast not included). (Adevarul)