Eurovision 2014 Winner Sparks Controversy Over Minority Rights
Austria won the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest with 290 points, a winning margin of 52 over second placed Netherlands with 238 and third place Sweden. Russian singers Anastasiya and Maria Tolmacheva took seventh place.
Austrian singer Thomas Neuwirth, better known as Conchita Wurst, performed as a bearded drag queen, an act that has startled many in Russia and prompted Russian lawmaker Vitaly Milonov to send a letter to Russia’s Eurovision organizing committee asking that no further Russian performers be sent to Eurovision, as in his opinion the competition propagandizes homosexuality.
Russia Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin also criticized the choice of Neuwirth as the Eurovision winner, writing on Twitter that “Eurovision showed the eurointegrators their europerspective — a bearded girl.” (Adevarul)
Survey: Nearly 30% Of Romanians Live In Poverty
Nearly 30% of Romanians live in poverty and half of the country’s population lives at subsistence levels, according to a survey by the National Trade Union Bloc, or BNS.
One in three Romanians cannot afford to pay their bills on time or to eat meat, not even every other day, and has no washing machine or TV set, according to the survey. (Curentul)
Romania Attracts All EU Funds For Rural Development
Romania’s Agriculture Ministry has attracted all European Union funds for rural development, namely EUR10.2 billion, Agriculture Minister Daniel Constantin said recently.
“Romania has contracted EUR10 billion in EU funds which will be invested in the agricultural sector,” said Constantin. (Evenimentul Zilei)
Housing Agency Sold 748 Homes For Youths During Crisis
Romania’s National Housing Agency (ANL) has managed to sell 748 homes for youths during the crisis, at below-market prices.
The authorities have taken significant measures to get tenants to buy the respective homes. The first step was to reduce the price from EUR411/sqm (set in 2012) to EUR326/sqm. Thus, the price of a 50-sqm ANL apartment reaches around EUR16,000. (Puterea)
PM: Energy, Natural Gas Price For Industrial Consumers Seen Going Down
Prime Minister Victor Ponta said recently, during a visit at Romanian steelmaker ArcelorMittal Galati, that the electric power price, as well as natural gas price for industrial consumers, might continue to decrease.
Ponta said that the government plans to support the entire heavy industry through egislative measures, because, at a European level, the energy price is seen as the biggest challenge.
“Energy prices are already lower, but they can and must continue to decrease, especially after the implementation of the scheme reducing green certificates by up to 85% as of July 1, the cut in the cogeneration tax, and there are other means by which we can continue to decrease electric power prices,” Ponta said. (Curierul National)
Russian Deputy PM Accuses Romania Of Banning His Flight At U.S.’s Request
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin, reacting to being barred from Romania’s airspace, tweeted he would return in a TU-160 strategic bomber.
Rogozin said in a message posted on Twitter that Romania closed its airspace to his plane upon request from the United States, adding next time he would fly with a TU-160.
The Romanian Foreign Ministry asked Moscow to clarify whether Rogozin’s comments represented “the Russian Federation’s official position towards Romania as an EU and NATO member.” The ministry said the threat of using a Russian strategic bomber plane by a Russian deputy prime minister is a very grave statement under the current regional context. (Puterea)