Iohannis Signs Decree Appointing Iulian Matache Transport Minister
Romanian president Klaus Iohannis signed a decree Thursday appointing Iulian Matache to the position of transport minister.
Matache was state secretary with the Ministry of Transport.
This is the second nomination for transport minister made by Prime Minister Victor Ponta, after the president rejected his first choice, Mihai-Viorel Fifor, saying he lacked the required expertise and management skills for the job. (Adevarul)
Social Democratic Party Has Debts Of More Than EUR6M
The Social Democratic Party has debts of more than EUR6 million from Victor Ponta’s presidential campaign and older debts, Hotnews reported.
Several companies with debts to recover have sued the party and won suits but still have not recovered their money, so they proceeded to impound party accounts. Party treasurer Mihai Draghici was not available for comment and party secretary general Andrei Dolineaschi declined to comment.
In its report to the Finance Ministry at the end of 2013, the Social Democratic Party reported debts of over EUR7 million and revenues of EUR3.4 million. (Romania Libera)
Iohannis Likely To Send Tax Code Back To Parliament
As the 20-day term during which President Klaus Iohannis must either sign the new Tax Code into law or send it back to Parliament draws to an end, odds are the bill will not be signed into law.
Central bank governor Mugur Isarescu and the European Commission have expressed concern and warned of the deficits the planned tax cuts would entail. Iohannis himself has criticized the bill, which is estimated to lead to a gap of RON12 billion in state budget revenues. (Adevarul)
Romanians Have Longest Work Week In EU
Full-time employees in Romania worked the longest weekly hours in the EU – 41 hours last year, the same as in the previous two years, followed closely by Luxembourg, Great Britain, Portugal, Germany and Poland.
At the opposite pole, there are Finland and France, with 37.3 hours a week, according to a report by the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Eurofound).
Romanians are followed by employees in Luxembourg and Great Britain (40.9 hours/week), Portugal (40.4 hours), Germany (40.3 hours) and Poland (40.2 hours). (Adevarul)
Organ Donation Acceptance Rate Among Families Reaches 70%
The acceptance rate for organ donation among families of eligible patients is at over 70%, said Dr Ioanel Sinescu, head of urology, nephrology and renal transplant at Fundeni hospital in Bucharest.
“The first kidney transplant in Romania was performed in this very hospital, in February 1980. Since 1997, we have performed 1,626 kidney transplants. In 2014 we had 148 kidney transplants,” said Sinescu. (Romania Libera)