Liberals Maintain Proposition For Transport Minister Despite President’s Opposition
The Liberal Party said in a press release it maintains its proposition for the appointment of Ovidiu Silaghi for transport minister.
President Traian Basescu, who is the one who signs decrees appointing ministers, said Silaghi, who served as transport minister before, did nothing outstanding as minister.
Basescu, himself a former transport minister, said he doesn’t trust Silaghi is appropriate for the job because he did nothing notable as transport minister. (Evenimentul Zilei)
Eugen Tomac Is President Of People’s Movement Party
Eugen Tomac, 31, an MP who quit the Democratic Liberal Party Friday, is the president of the new People’s Movement Party.
Tomac was introduced to politics by Traian Basescu and was part of the entourage of former democrat liberal prime minister Emil Boc. (Adevarul)
CFR Marfa Privatization Winner Doesn’t Have The Money It Bid
Grup Feroviar Roman (GFR), which offered EUR202 million for a 51% stake in freight railway carrier CFR Marfa, doesn’t have the money and is currently seeking bank loans, President Traian Basescu said Monday.
“If the investor is currently borrowing money to pay for the company and has trouble getting it – not many banks are willing to grant loans right now – how will it get more money for investments and upgrades in the company?” said Basescu.
Besides its bid on the 51% stake, GFR also committed to invest 900 million lei (EUR202 million) in the company and another EUR1.5 million in environmental projects. (Adevarul)
Housing Prices In Romania On Upward Trend For Second Straight Quarter
Residential property prices in Romania rose for the second consecutive quarter, as in the April-June period their increase was similar with that in the first quarter of 2013, which could be due to a seasonal fluctuation, according to EFG Eurobank.
The EPS Residential Index of Romania repeated a small increase in the second quarter, in a similar manner with the first quarter of 2013, raising the possibility of a temporary positive trend in the national housing market, although these two sliding quarters could well be caused by a seasonal fluctuation. This appears to steadily continue the small fluctuations around a gently rising price level that has been suggested by the index starting from the middle of 2011, Eurobank Property Services (EPS), a subsidiary of Eurobank, said in a press release Monday.
In the one year period, from the second quarter of 2012, the national price index fell moderately, by 1.5% on average. During the five-year period, which starts from the peak of the market registered in mid-2008, residential prices have been declining at an average annual rate of 9.2%, totaling a decline 38.3% in housing prices, according to the press release. (Curentul)
Romanian Penitentiary Administration Amassed Debts Of Over EUR3M
Romania’s national penitentiary administration ANP has amassed debts of over EUR3 million, of which more than one million on utilities.
Officials of the penitentiary administration said the institution had debts of RON14.8 million (EUR3 million) at the beginning of June to utility companies and suppliers of food and medicine.
Part of the debt was paid in June from the state budget and the institution’s own revenues, ANP added. (Curentul)