Romania’s Ruling Coalition Splits As Liberals Pull Out
Romania’s ruling Social Liberal Union has broken up as leaders of the Liberal Party resolved to recall its ministers from the Cabinet in a meeting Tuesday evening.
Party leader Crin Antonescu said liberals will switch to the opposition but will not collaborate with the Democratic Liberal Party to give the Cabinet a no-confidence vote.
“The USL political alliance, which existed for three years and twenty days, made sense as long as liberals were able to hope the objectives, principles and projects that were promised to voters were pursued by all political actors. As we no longer have such hopes, it only seemed fair to stop throwing the blame amongst ourselves,” Antonescu said about the split-up. (Adevarul)
EP Adopts Directive On Confiscation Of Wealth
The European Parliament has adopted a directive that allows the extended confiscation of wealth achieved through criminal means.
The rapporteur on the directive was Romanian MEP Monica Macovei. The directive was adopted with 631 votes in favor.
All EU member states will have to transpose the new piece of legislation. (Evenimentul Zilei)
Astra Contests Special Administration Order In Court
Romanian insurer Astra, its shareholders and managing board have contested in court the decision whereby Romania’s Financial Supervision Authority placed it under the special administration of KPMG Advisory.
The file was registered Friday, February 21,a t the Bucharest Court of Appeals .
The financial watchdog’s decision was announced and published in the country’s Official Journal February 18.
The financial authority has ordered financial recovery procedures and has placed the country’s leading insurance company Astra under special administration. It suspended the prerogatives of the company’s shareholders and management and appointed KPMG as special administrator. (Adevarul)
Norway’s Kongsberg Gruppen Charged With Corruption On Romania Deliveries
Norwegian conglomerate Kongsberg Gruppen ASA (KOG.OS) said Tuesday it has been charged with corruption related to the delivery of communications equipment to Romania from 1999 up to 2008, The Wall Street Journal reported.
“Kongsberg was informed about the charge today, and the chairman has been briefed,” the company said in a brief statement, adding it would cooperate closely with police to uncover what had happened.
The company said the corruption charges related to the delivery of communications equipment to Romania in the 1999 to 2008 period, but didn’t specify which contracts.
In the early 2000s, Kongsberg Gruppen made several deals with Romanian ministries, including the delivery of communications systems for police and border controls as well as for encrypted communications between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bucharest and Romanian diplomatic missions. (Evenimentul Zilei)
Prosecutors Detain Head Of Financial Supervision Authority Dan Radu Rusanu
Dan Radu Rusanu, head of Romania’s Financial Supervision Authority, was detained by prosecutors Tuesday on charges of influencing testimonies in the case involving insurance company Carpatica.
Rusanu is accused of having favored Carpatica.
Also Tuesday, anticorruption prosecutors required the Parliament to lift the immunity pf former finance minister Daniel Chitoiu, suspected of abuse of office in the same case. (Puterea)