Romania Boosts Fines For Traffic Rule Violations

The increase in the minimum gross wage directly affects fines for violation of traffic rules, which will be raised starting February.

The biggest fine will reach RON14,500, with one penalty point equalling 10% of the minimum gross wage, and most contraventions are punished with two penalty points.

A penalty point currently reaches 10% of the minimum gross wage. Thus, the value of one penalty point will increase to RON145 from RON125, which means the smallest fine will reach RON290, compared with the current RON250, and the biggest fine will increase to RON14,500 from RON12,500.  

The minimum gross wage might be raised to RON1,450 per month, for a full working program of 166 hours, starting February 1, 2017, according to a draft government decision posted on Romania’s Labor Ministry website. (Puterea)

Code Yellow Alert For Freezing Cold Over Next Three Days

The National Weather Administration (ANM) issued, on Saturday, a code yellow alert for freezing cold valid countrywide in the next three days.

According to meteorologists, on January 7, 8 and 9, the weather will be freezing cold in most parts of the country, both during the day and at night. Thus, the daytime highs will frequently measure between minus 16 and minus 10 degrees Celsius, and the nighttime lows will range between minus 25 and minus 15 degrees Celsius.

The frosty weather will persist in most regions next week, too, according to ANM. (Evenimentul Zilei)

Deputy PM: Flat Tax Rate To Be Kept, But Income-Based Tax Possible As Of 2018

The flat tax rate will be kept, but from 2018, it will be discussed a form of tax rate based on income, according to Daniel Constantin, Deputy PM and Environment Minister.

“There is a discussion to come from 2018 with that tax rate based on income. It’s a discussion we will have at that time. (…) The flat tax rate will remain, but there are other forms for other types of income that will be taken into account,” Constantin said.

He mentioned that no additional taxing of citizens will take place and the current Government does not favor the reintroduction of taxes and tariffs in the future.

On the other hand, Constantin stated that the intention of the authorities is to enlarge the tax base. (Adevarul)

Romanian Lottery Goes Under Authority Of Finance Ministry

The Romanian Lottery Company was transferred from the authority of the Economy Ministry to that of the Finance Ministry, based on emergency ordinance no. 1 of January 5, 2017.

In June 2015, the Romanian Lottery Company was transferred from the authority of then-prime minister Dacian Ciolos to that of then-Economy minister Costin Borc. (Puterea)

Social Democrat Head Dragnea Speaks About President Iohannis

The political bickering between social democrat head Liviu Dragnea and President Klaus Iohannis continues.

Dragnea said he noticed that Iohannis keeps talking about him, wherever he goes, which, he added, became way too boring.

Dragnea pointed out that people voted for social democrats so that the latter can do good things. (Puterea)

Subiecte #press review