President Sends PhD Law Back To Parliament
President Klaus Iohannis has sent the bill regulating the withdrawal of PhD titles in case of plagiarism back to Parliament for reexamination.
“I have sent the bill amending the Education Law back to Parliament for reexamination, because it does not clarify the situation of PhD titles. The bill, as sent for promulgation, does not guarantee the observance of integrity standards. I want us to end plagiarism. The Parliament will have to resume debates and draft a law that stops this practice,” said Iohannis. (Adevarul)
Liviu Dragnea Proposes Elections Every Five Years
Social Democratic Party leader Liviu Dragnea reiterated his proposition to hold elections every five years instead of four.
He said a serious analysis of the election system should be undertaken after the parliamentary elections later this year and the system should be overhauled.
“I want to start a debate in 2017 and a serious analysis on the entire election system in Romania, because the president is elected in two rounds, the Parliament is elected on lists, mayors are elected in single-round elections, county council presidents elected from among councilors,” said Dragnea. (Puterea)
Banca Romaneasca Challenges Constitutionality of Debt Discharge Law
Banca Romaneasca, a unit of the National Bank of Greece, has challenged the constitutionality of the debt discharge law, which allows mortgage borrowers to walk away from their loans.
The lender motivated its claim saying the law breaches the separation of state powers, property rights, non-retroactive applicability and freedom of trade. (Puterea)
Romanians With No Income May Pay Health Contributions When Needing Medical Services
Persons without income, those who are not exempt by law from paying social contributions for health services and persons who are not co-insured by other persons may choose to pay contributions only when they need medical services.
These persons may choose to pay the healthcare contribution of 5.5% of income monthly or only when they require medical services. In the second instance, they will pay the equivalent of 5.5% of 7 minimum wages, calculated at the time they require medical services. (Evenimentul Zilei)
Unemployment Rate Remains Unchanged at 6.4% in April
Romania’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate stood at 6.4% in April, the same as in March, the country’s statistics board said Tuesday.
Compared with April 2015, the jobless rate was 0.4 percentage points lower.
An estimated 573,000 people were unemployed in Romania in April, nearly unchanged compared with March, but lower compared with 633,000 in April last year, the data showed.
The jobless rate among women stood at 5.3% in April, while among men the rate was 7.2%. (Adevarul)