Prime Minister Re-Sends Proposals For New Transports And Regional Development Minister
Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dancila announced on Thursday that she re-sent the proposals for new transports and regional development minister, despite the fact that President Klaus Iohannis announced earlier that he rejected them for reasons of legality.
In an official statement, the prime minister said that she proposed again Lia Olguta Vasilescu as regional development minister and Mircea Draghici as transport minister, adding that she told the president in the request that there are no reasons to doubt that the nominees fit the criteria required for a cabinet role.
She urged the president to issue the decrees appointing the two nominees to office.
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis announced on Thursday his reasons for rejecting the last four cabinet appointment proposals made by Prime Minister Viorica Dancila within the last couple of months.
In a statement, the president explained his reasons for rejecting the nominations of Ilan Laufer, Mircea Draghici and Lia Olguta Vasilescu – the latter twice – for the offices of transports or regional development minister.
The head of state cited legal issues as his reason for rejecting three of the four nominations. According to the statement, the proposals for Laufer and Vasilescu as regional development minister, as well as Draghici for the transports office violated the incompatibility criteria set for cabinet members in the Romanian Constitution.
The provision invoked by the president states that the office of Government member is incompatible with the exertion of any other public authority function – excepting that of MP or senator – or any other type of salaried job in commercial organizations. The statement did not specifically mention how the provision was violated.
For the proposal of Lia Olguta Vasilescu as transports minister, the president considered that the former labor minister “does not have the necessary expertize to handle the complex field of transports”. (puterea.ro)
Justice Minister Re-Sends President CNSAS Files For Chief Anticorruption Prosecutor Nominee
Romanian Justice Minister Tudorel Toader announced on Thursday that he re-sent President Klaus Iohannis the CNSAS certificates which show that his nominee for chief anticorruption prosecutor, Adina Florea, did not collaborate with the country’s former Communist political police.
In a post on his official Facebook page, the minister also requested the president to reconsider his refusal to appoint Florea as chief of the country’s National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA).
The minister stated that CNSAS, the agency in charge of studying the former political police’s archives, sent top judicial watchdog CSM several certificates which prove that the Constanta prosecutor did not work for or collaborate with the Securitate on December 28.
“Today I have sent the president the mentioned certificates which prove the meeting of legal requirements for the proposals, while also requesting him to reconsider his refusal based on non-existent reasons,” wrote Toader.
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis rejected again on Wednesday the nomination of Constanta prosecutor Adina Florea as chief of the country’s National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA), citing as reasons the same procedural issues which led to his initial refusal.
According to the president, the nomination documents re-sent by Justice Minister Tudorel Toader failed to contain the proof that Florea never collaborated by the country’s former Communist political police, the Securitate.
This was also the reason for his initial refusal to appoint the Constanta prosecutor for the role. According to legal conditions for DNA chief prosecutors, their nomination file must contain proof that they were not part of and did not collaborate with the Securitate before 1990, specifically a review given by Romania’s agency for studying the Securitate archives, CNSAS. (romanialibera.ro)
Seven Counties Under Code Yellow Warning Of Snowstorms
Romania’s National Meteorological Administration (ANM) issued on Thursday a code yellow warning of snowstorms and heavy snowfall for seven counties in the Moldova region, in effect from Thursday night until Friday afternoon.
According to ANM, Buzau, Vrancea, Galati, Vaslui, Bacau, Neamt and Iasi counties will be under the effect of constant snowfall from Thursday, 22.00 local time until Friday at noon.
A consistent layer of snow is expected to form in the affected areas, while winds will temporarily reach values of up to 60-65 km/h, causing snowstorms and low visibility.
Meteorologists also announced that southern, eastern and central parts of the country will see moderate snowfall starting with Thursday afternoon, with extreme southeastern part of the country to see mixed precipitations and sleet, allowing favorable conditions for the formation of black ice. (evz.ro)
Leu Hits New Record Low Of 4.6764 Vs Euro
The Romanian leu kept losing ground against the euro on Thursday, standing at a midday average rate of 4.6764 units/euro, a new record low and 0.09% lower compared with 4.6722 units per euro on Wednesday.
The level reached on Wednesday exceeds the previous record low of 4.6695 units per euro set on June 21, 2018.
The leu firmed against the US dollar Thursday, standing at 4.0573 units from 4.0803 units previously.
The price of gold grew to RON168.5728 from RON168.0226 per gram. (romanialibera.ro)