Fiscal Council President On Budget Execution: Increases Risk Of Recession
Fiscal Council president Ionut Dumitru said Tuesday that Romania is getting closer to the threshold after which the public debt increase is making it more vulnerable, increasing the risk of recession. Thus, this period of economic boom should be used to keep the public debt under control.
“Although revenues stood a little better in February, I would say that in the first two months, the evolution of revenues is way below expectations and below the budget projection. Romania has a growth of over 14% in terms of revenues, and the results in the first two months is more than disappointing in terms of budget projection,” Dumitru said.
Romania’s general consolidated budget posted a surplus of RON397.1 million in January-February, or 0.05% of gross domestic product, finance ministry data showed Monday. In January-February 2016, Romania posted a budget surplus of RON788.1 million, or 0.1% of GDP. Revenues to the consolidated budget amounted to RON34.9 billion, or 4.3% of GDP, and were 1.4% lower than in January-February 2016 in nominal terms.(mediafax.ro)
Legal Committee Approves Bill On Immunity For Constitutional Court Judges
The Legal Committee of the Chamber of Deputies approved Tuesday the bill on increased immunity for the judges of the Constitutional Court, who cannot be prosecuted, detained, arrested, searched or indicted without the consent of two thirds of Constitutional Court judges.
“The judges of the Constitutional Court cannot be prosecuted, detained, arrested, searched or criminally indicted without the consent of the plenum of the Constitutional Court, at the request of Justice Minister, notified by the Prosecutor General of the Prosecutor’s Office within the Supreme Court. The approval will be given with the vote of two thirds of the judges of the Constitutional Court, after hearing the judge in question,” according to the bill on amending Law no. 47/1992 for the organization and function of the Constitutional Court, submitted by deputy Adnagi Slavoliub (Union of Serbs of Romania). (mediafax.ro)
Romania Had 5.25M Pensioners In 2016, Average Pension At RON948
The average number of pensioners stood at 5.25 million people in 2016, down by 49,000 people compared with 2015, data from the country’s statistics board INS showed.
The average monthly pension reached RON948 last year, up by 6.3% versus 2015.
The difference between the minimum value and the maximum value of the pension exceeded RON400 (RON711 in Giurgiu county, RON1,122 in Bucharest).
Of the 5.25 million pensioners, 99.9% benefit from social security pensions. (mediafax.ro)
Traian Basescu, On Elena Udrea’s Sentence: An Unfair Decision
Romania’s ex-president Traian Basescu said Tuesday that the decision of the Supreme Court magistrates to sentence Elena Udrea to six years in prison was ”unfair”.
”An unfair decision, which is not based on real facts! How can a minister who did not sign any document of acquisition be charged with abuse of office?” Traian Basescu stated.
Former Tourism Minister Elena Udrea was sentenced to six years in prison for taking bribe and abuse of office in “Gala Bute” file. The decision of the Supreme Court is not definitive.
For abuse of office, Udrea was sentenced to 6 years in prison, while for three charges of taking bribe, she was sentenced to 5, 4 and 6 years in prison. (mediafax.ro)
Romanian Health Minister: Lung Transplant To Be Resumed At AKH Hospital In Vienna
Romanian Health Minister Florian Bodog said Tuesday that lung transplant for Romanian patients was resumed at AKH hospital in Vienna, after last week’s announcement that Romanian patients would no longer undergo lung transplant in Vienna due to the lack of space.
As for the lung transplant center at Sf. Maria hospital, it will be included in the national transplant program, according to the health minister.
“We have the official reply from AKH hospital, and I am happy to announce you that the situation was unblocked, the hospital will resume lung transplants for Romanian patients. AKH hospital also offered the possibility to participate in a program of monitoring our activity when starting the transplant procedures in Romania. They will also provide a training program,” Bodog stated. (mediafax.ro)