President Basescu Pulls National Order Granted To Catalin Voicu, Sentenced For Corruption
Romanian President Traian Basescu signed a decree Thursday withdrawing a national order conferred upon former social democrat senator Catalin Voicu in 2002, by then president Ion Iliescu.
On April 22, Voicu was sentenced to seven years in prison for corruption. The decision is final. (Evenimentul Zilei)
Constitutional Court Clears Procedure For Nomination Of Romanian Judge To ECHR
Romania’s Constitutional Court on Thursday upheld the government decree setting the selection procedure for Romania’s judge at the European Court of Human Rights.
The Court rejected unconstitutionality claims by the head of the High Council of Magistrates and an exception raised by the ombudsman, and the country’s future judge will be appointed by the European Parliament following propositions made by the Romanian Government.
Prime Minister Victor Ponta said the government will propose three candidates for the position. (Curierul National)
Romania Received Ten Offers For Chemical Plant Oltchim
Economy Minister Varujan Vosganian said Romania has received letters of intent from ten prospective investors in insolvent state-run chemical plant Oltchim Ramnicu Valcea.
Vosganian said the Economy Ministry also received six offers for the privatization of state-run copper producer Cupru Min Abrud and six offers for state-owned pharmaceutical company Plafar. He also said that state-run pump manufacturer Aversa will no longer be sold piece by piece.
According to Vosganian, the offers for the privatization of Oltchim were submitted by large companies in India, Qatar, Great Britain, Germany, Israel and Azerbaijan. The minister declined to name the companies interested in acquiring Oltchim, arguing they signed confidentiality agreements. (Evenimentul Zilei)
All Papers For Prequalification Phase Of Romanian CFR Marfa Privatization Eligible
Romanian Transport Minister Relu Fenechiu said Thursday all papers filed for the prequalification phase of an auction to sell a majority stake in state-owned freight railway company CFR Marfa are eligible.
According to Fenechiu, had the starting price been lower, more investors would have been interested in the company.
The offers are eligible and will be further analyzed, said Fenechiu. On May 15 the ministry will decide if bidders qualify for the second phase of the auction, he added.
U.S. company OmniTRAX, Romanian private freight railway carrier Grup Feroviar Roman (GFR) and a consortium of two companies filed papers for the prequalification phase of the auction to privatize CFR Marfa. The consortium is made up of Transferoviar Grup (TFG) and Donau-Finanz GmbH & Co KG Austria. (Jurnalul National)
All Chief Prosecutor Candidates Endorsed By High Council Of Magistrates
All six candidates proposed for chief prosecutor positions received Thursday the endorsement of the High Council of Magistrates.
Magistrates endorsed candidates for chief prosecutor and deputy positions at the General prosecutors Office, the National Anticorruption Department, and the Department for Organized Crime and Terrorism.
The Council’s endorsement is consultative and the head of state makes the final appointments. (Evenimentul Zilei)
Romania Unemployment Rate Dips To 5.29% In April
Romania’s unemployment rate inched down to 5.29% in April, from 5.58% a month earlier, the country’s employment agency ANOFM said Thursday.
In April 2012, the unemployment rate was 4.82%, ANOFM data showed.
The total number of unemployed Romanians fell to 467,089 in April, from 492,427 people in the previous month.
Jobless claims reached 162,211, down from 183,048 in March. (Jurnalul National)
Poll: President-Prime Minister Relations Benefit Romania
Most Romanians believe Romania’s head of state and prime minister are respected abroad and their relationship is beneficial for the country, according to a poll by IRES.
The poll found 73% of respondents believe the relationship between the president and prime minister has influenced Romania’s relations with EU states, and 58% of these said the influence has been positive.
According to the poll, 51% of Romanians believe the head of state is respected abroad, while 45% consider he is not. As for the prime minister, 61% believe he is respected abroad and 32% believe he is not. (Puterea)