Central Electoral Bureau Rejects Registration Of USR-PLUS Alliance
Romania’s Central Electoral Bureau (BEC) rejected on Thursday the request register an alliance between current opposition party USR and the group recently formed by former PM Dacian Ciolos, PLUS, for the upcoming elections, according a statement issued by the latter.BEC rejected to register the alliance because the two parties did not have their respective chairmen figured in the country’s Political Parties’ Registry, according to the document.
PLUS accused that the decision was “political” and was made following pressures from ruling Social Democrat Party. It added that both parties filed the registration of chairmen Dan Barna (USR) and Dacian Ciolos (PLUS) with the Bucharest Court, but had yet to receive a final decision on their requests.
“They rejected our request because Liviu Dragnea fears the 2020 USR PLUS Alliance, (…), fears everything this Alliance stands for and all the hope put into it. The Central Electoral Bureau’s decisions means only one thing: they want, by any means necessary, to impede us from taking part in elections,” reads the PLUS statement.
The party announced that it will challenge the decision at the country’s Supreme Court, adding that USR and PLUS will support each other in the upcoming electoral campaigns even if they are not allowed to run as an alliance.
The USR-PLUS Alliance was announced at the beginning of February, with the two parties deciding to run on common lists for the European elections in 2019 and parliamentary elections in 2020. (romanialibera.ro)
Romanian Halep To Compete Against Czech Strycova In Indian Wells Premier Mandatory Tournament
Simona Halep, 2nd WTA, will play against Czech Barbora Strycova in the second round of the Premier Mandatory tournament in Indian Wells, while Mihaela Buzarnescu, 29th seeded, will play against Australian Daria Gavrilova.
Barbora Strycova, 50th in global ranking, defeated Swiss Viktorija Golubici (82nd in global ranking) in the first round, 6-2, 7-6 (4).
Halep and Strycova have competed against other five times so far, with Halep in the lead in four games.
Daria Gavrilova, 53rd in global ranking, defeated Ukrainian Daiana Iastremska (37th), 6-2, 5-7, 6-2, and will play against Mihaela Buzarnescu (31st WTA) in the second round. (romanialibera.ro)
Romania Central Bank Governor Meets Chinese Counterpart
Romania’s central bank governor Mugur Isarescu paid an official visit to the Republic of China, between February 28 and March 5, at the invitation of the governor of China’s central bank, Gang Yi, the Romanian central bank said in a statement.
During the visit, the Romanian central bank delegation held meetings with the leaders of the Chinese central bank, of the Bank of China and of the Asian International Infrastructure Bank.
Talks touched on promoting the bilateral financial cooperation, but they also targeted the global economic and financial trends and other related issues. (puterea.ro)
European Commission First Vice-President: Concerns About Romania Are Growing
The European Commission’s first vice-president, Frans Timmermans, told Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dancila that concerns throughout the EU are growing in regards to the state of the rule of law in Romania, in a meeting the two had on Wednesday.
According to a statement issued by the institution, the two officials had an “honest and open discussion”, during which the Commission official expressed concern with how recent judicial amendments might affect the rule of law.
The two officials also agreed to a meeting between Romanian and European Commission experts to discuss the subject.
This was the first meeting between Dancila and Timmermans following the Party of European Socialists (PES) Congress in February, where images appeared to show the EU official avoiding the Romanian PM. During the event, Timmermans also criticized judicial amendments made by Romania’s ruling coalition and warned Social Democrat Party (PSD) leader Liviu Dragnea that he must respect the values of European socialists if he wants to continue being part of the group.
Previously, the Commission first vice-president sent Dancila a letter in which expressed concern with judicial reform in Romania, and requested the prime minister to abstain from any measures which would imperil progresses made by the country concerning the rule of law since its accession. (evz.ro)