Undersized Institutions To Offer Unpaid Leave As A Cost-Cutting Measure
Romania’s public administration institutions with few employees will resort to unpaid leave as a measure to cut staff costs by 15%.
The Labor Ministry concluded that all institutions under its authority are “undersized and overloaded with tasks” and decided to take cost-cutting measures other than sacking employees, namely to offer unpaid leave.
The unpaid leave method was introduced four years ago by then-ruling coalition made of the Democratic Liberal Party (PDL) and the Social Democratic Party (PSD), in the context of the financial crisis. (Jurnalul National)
Baia Mare Mayor Catalin Chereches Probed For Corruption
The mayor of Romania’s northwestern city of Baia Mare, Catalin Chereches, has been placed under criminal investigation by anticorruption prosecutors on charges on bribe taking and influence peddling.
Chereches allegedly received money from representatives of five companies to help them win various contracts within public procurement auctions organized by the city hall, according to the National Anticorruption Department (DNA). (Evenimentul Zilei)
Financing For 2013 First Home Program To Be Depleted In Three Months
Financing through this year’s state-guaranteed First Home mortgage lending program has reached EUR490 million and 13,000 beneficiaries, and the remaining EUR300 million will be depleted in three months at the current pace.
Since the launch of the program in 2009, the national guarantee fund granted nearly EUR3.5 million in guarantees to 94,000 beneficiaries.
The average financing value throughout the duration of the program was EUR39,000 and 28% of guarantees were granted for the acquisition of homes built between 2008 and 2013. The default rate on these loans has remained low, at just 0.1%.
At the end of March, the guarantee fund announced the value of financing through the First Home Program had reached EUR3.18 billion and 87,000 beneficiaries.
Beneficiaries of the program are people who do not own a home or own one smaller than 50 sqm, acquired through other means than the government-backed program. (Puterea)
Romania Plans To Set Up First Agriculture Mutual Fund
Romania plans to set up its first mutual fund in agriculture, which will help farmers receive compensations when faced with income reduction or natural calamities, said Agriculture Minister Daniel Constantin.
Constantin said the government might adopt in its June 26 meeting an emergency decree on the setting up of a mutual fund. (Jurnalul National)
Parliament Endorses Financial Supervisory Authority’s Board Members
Romania’s Parliament endorsed Tuesday the members of the board of the country’s Financial Supervisory Authority (ASF).
Lawmakers endorsed Dan Radu Rusanu as ASF president with 364 to six votes and Daniel Daianu as first vice-president.
The authority will have three vice-presidents: Tudor Daniel George, Mircea Ursache and Ion Giurescu.
The non-executive members of the ASF board include: Marian Sarbu, Biro Albin Marian Marzac, Corneliu Moldoveanu, Gheorghe Marcu and Dorina Teodora Mihailescu.
The 11 ASF members are appointed to a five-year term. (Puterea)
Parliament Rejects President’s Call For Referendum
Romania’s Parliament rejected Tuesday the head of state’s request to organize a national referendum on switching to a single-chamber Parliament and capping the number of lawmakers at 300.
The Senate and Chamber of Deputies rejected President Traian Basescu’s request with 191 votes in favor, 123 against, and 69 abstentions.
The Parliament’s decision is only consultative and a national referendum may be held regardless.
Basescu has called for a new referendum on the organization of the country’s Parliament after the parliamentary committee working on a Constitution revision draft refused to observe the results of a previous referendum, held in 2009, where Romanians voted to cap the number of lawmakers to 300 and make the parliament single-chamber. Romania’s current legislature has nearly 600 lawmakers. (Puterea)
CIA Head Praises Romania’s Intelligence Services
The director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), John O. Brennan, told President Traian Basescu that Romania’s intelligence services SIE and SRI are “truly remarkable” and highly appreciated in the United States.
Brennan said Tuesday, at the beginning of his official meeting with President Basescu, that the Foreign Intelligence Service (SIE) and the Romanian Intelligence Service (SRI) are truly remarkable and commended foreign intelligence officers for their determination, resolution, professionalism and integrity.
Basescu, in turn, said Romania’s main political goal is to consolidate its relations with the United States. (Evenimentul Zilei)