Social Democrat MP Proposes Suspending President Iohannis For Seven Days
Social democrat lawmaker Catalin Radulescu said he will propose in the Executive Committee of the ruling Social Democratic Party (PSD) the suspension of Klaus Iohannis from the position of President of Romania, for a seven-day period, Mediafax informed Sunday.
Radulescu proposed Iohannis’ suspension so that the person to be filling in as interim, during the seven-day period, can sign the appointment of some ministers to the vacant positions within Dancila Cabinet.
Radulescu added that President Iohannis would be mocked at in any civilized European country for the letter sent to Prime Minister Viorica Dancila motivating his renewed rejection of the latter’s proposed Cabinet ministers saying the proposals lacked complete documentation. This is the third time in the past two months that President Iohannis has rejected the proposals of Lia Olguta Vasilescu for development minister and Mircea Draghici for transport minister. The dispute is likely to be taken up with the Constitutional Court. (romanialibera.ro)
Flu Season Death Toll Reaches Nineteen
A 45-year old woman from Ialomita became the nineteenth victim of influenza in the disease’s current season in Romania, according to the National Public Health Institute.
The woman did not receive flu shots.
Nineteen people have died from the disease this flu season.
Last Friday (Jan 18), Health Minister Sorana Pintea told MEDIAFAX that we are nearing a flu epidemic, as the cases registered last week were higher than the initial estimate. This comes despite the fact that the minister initially said throughout the first two weeks of 2019 that there is no basis to declare an epidemic, with the rise in cases attributed to a faster circulation of the virus due to weather conditions.
Last week, the number of acute respiratory infections registered was 20% higher than expected, with specialists officially declaring the start of the flu season. (puterea.ro)
Weather Stays Cold Across Romania
Meteorologists said the weather remains cold, with pretty low temperatures and dangerous phenomena on extended areas.
There will be snowfall in the mountains, in the regions of Maramures and northern Moldova, in Transylvania, mixed precipitation in the regions of Banat, Crisana and Oltenia and mainly rainfall in other regions.
There will be glazed frost in some areas and the wind will blow feebly and moderately, being stronger on mountain ridges. Maximum temperatures will range between -3 and -2 degrees in north-eastern Romania and 7 and 8 degrees in south-eastern Romania, with minimum temperatures ranging from -6 and 3 degrees. (evz.ro)
ALDE MP: Central Bank Should Set ROBOR Calculation Based On Deals Carried Out
ALDE senator Daniel Zamfir has called on the central bank to establish the calculation of money market rates ROBOR based on the deals carried out, arguing the ROBOR rate used to calculate Romanians’ instalments at loans in lei is “manipulated” through collusion between commercial banks.
Zamfir pointed out the central bank is directly “involved” in this situation.
Zamfir also said there will be hearings in the Senate’s economic committee on January 29, which will be attended by central bank governor Mugur Isarescu, Competition Council president Bogdan Chiritoiu, and other factors involved in the matter.
The senator added he got hold of some documents which make the object of an investigation started in 2008 by the Competition Council. (romanialibera.ro)