Schools And Kindergartens Remain Closed Friday Due To Bad Weather
Schools and kindergartens in Romania’s capital city Bucharest and 14 counties remain closed Friday following heavy snowfall and blizzards over the past days, the Education Ministry said.
The counties in question are Arges, Braila, Buzau, Calarasi, Constanta, Galati, Giurgiu, Ialomita, Ilfov, Prahova, Tulcea, Teleorman, Valcea and Vrancea.
Heavy snowfall and blizzards over the past days paralyzed many regions in the country, leaving people snowed-in, trapped in cars on impassable roads or waiting for hours for ambulances. Railway traffic was also affected and the rail company cancelled dozens of trains, while others registered huge delays. (Jurnalul National)
Anticorruption Prosecutors Look Into ASF Ordinance
Anticorruption prosecutors are investigating the way in which it was endorsed and adopted the emergency ordinance through which the government reduced the number of the Board members of Romania’s Financial Supervisory Authority (ASF) and imposed a series of professional competence criteria.
Prime Minister Victor Ponta said the ordinance was “discussed and expressly required” by the European Commission.
According to prosecutors, the government adopted an emergency ordinance in order to introduce a criteria of incompatibility meant to oust an ASF vice-president, following the intervention of another member of ASF’s management structure, Marian Mirzac, who allegedly attempted to protect insurance company Carpatica. Finance Minister Daniel Chitoiu is supposed to be the sponsor of the ordinance. (Evenimentul Zilei)
Former Transport Minster Relu Fenechiu Sentenced To Five Years In Prison, Ruling Is Final
Romania’s former transport minister Relu Fenechiu has been sentenced definitively to five years in prison for accessory to abuse of office.
The former minister’s brother, Lucian Fenechiu, was also sentenced to five years in prison.
The court ruling is final and cannot be appealed.
Prosecutors indicted Fenechiu in June 2012 for selling old and used transformers to SISEE Moldova, with the help of the firm’s former management. (Romania Libera)
President Basescu Meets MI6 Chief John Sawers
Romanian President Traian Basescu met Thursday, at the presidential Cotroceni Palace, with Sir John Sawers, the Chief of the British Secret Intelligence Service (SIS), commonly known as MI6 (Military Intelligence, Section 6).
Basescu and Sir John Sawers discussed the cooperation between the Romanian and British intelligence services in the fight against terrorism, cyberterrorism and other forms of illegal activities directed against the citizens and the NATO member states.
Sir John Sawers thanked for the excellent cooperation between the Romanian security structures and the MI6. (Romania Libera)
Elena Udrea Quits Democratic Liberal Party
Lawmaker Elena Udrea informed Gheorghe Flutur, the general secretary of the opposition Democratic Liberal Party (PDL) that she decided to leave PDL and join the People’s Movement Party (PMP), people close to the talks told MEDIAFAX.
Udrea’s joining the People’s Movement Party was officially announced Thursday.
PMP leader Eugen Tomac said he is very glad that Udrea, “one of today’s most powerful politicians,” has joined the new political project endorsed by President Traian Basescu. (Evenimentul Zilei)