Senator Proposes Preventive Arrest Only For Violent Crimes
Social democrat senator Serban Nicolae proposed a bill whereby preventive arrest should be ordered only for actions that involve violence, endangering life, health or national security, base on hard evidence the defendant is a threat to others.
Nicolae proposed a bill amending the Criminal Procedure Code, which is under public debate on the Senate’s website. The bill also sets that preventive arrest shall have two forms: house arrest and severe arrest. (Adevarul)
Tise Calls On Anticorruption Prosecutors To Investigate Dragnea
Liberal Party vice-president Alin Tise said he will notify the Anticorruption Department to place deputy prime minister Liviu Dragnea under criminal investigation for abuse of office.
Tise said Dragnea should be investigated for spending over EUR400 million from the government reserve fund in 2014, funds that were distributed to mayors ahead of presidential elections. (Puterea)
Several MP And Mayor Seats Remained Vacant In Past Six Months
Several positions of county council presidents, mayors and MPs have remained vacant in the past six months but the government s in no hurry to hold by-elections in these cases.
The decision is stalled as the Social Democratic Party has lost ground in opinion polls after Prime Minister Victor Ponta lost the presidential elections.
The Liberal Party called on the government Thursday to issue an emergency decree to hold local by-elections for vacant county council and mayor positions in counties Cluj, Braila, Valcea, Neamt and Dambovita. Under the law, by-elections should be held within 90 days of when the public office becomes vacant. (Romania Libera)
Ponta Says Romania Doesn’t Need New Preventive Agreement With IMF
Romania no longer needs a preventive agreement with the International Monetary Fund but a flexible agreement, such as the one Poland has, doesn’t cost anything and wouldn’t hurt, Prime Minister Victor Ponta said Thursday.
He added negotiations concerning a new agreement will be held when the current agreement is completed. (Adevarul)
Romania Retail Trade Posted Third Highest Growth In EU In November 2014
Romania registered the third highest annual growth in retail trade in the European Union in November 2014, of 8.2%, overtaken by Luxembourg and Estonia, Eurostat data showed Thursday.
EU-wide, retail trade rose 2.8% on the year in November, while growth stood at 1.5% in the eurozone. (Puterea)
Several Epilepsy Drugs Risk Disappearing From Romanian Market
Some of the drugs required by patients with epilepsy risk disappearing from the Romanian market, a local association supporting patients with epilepsy warned.
The decision came as a result of the high clawback tax but Health Minister Nicolae Banicioiu assured patients there will be talks with pharmaceutical companies in the upcoming period.
“Several pharmaceutical companies told us they can no longer support the sale of these drugs in Romania starting the first months of 2015, which means the drugs will no longer be avail;able here once current stocks are depleted,” said association president Adela Chirica. (Adevarul)
Underprivileged Families Could Lose Social Aid Unless Their Children Attend School
Several MPs have put forth a legislative initiative whereby underprivileged families would lose social aid unless their children attend school.
The bill requires school inspectorates to report attendance and families whose children miss more than 100 days of school during one semester may lose their social aid. (Puterea)