Dragnea: “Iohannis Prosecuted In 17 Criminal Cases, A Clan Chief, The Puppet Of Parallel State“
Social democrat head Liviu Dragnea said on Monday that President Iohannis talks about the people with criminal files who have climbed to the top of the state, but, in fact, he is the one who “has climbed” while being prosecuted in several cases, but has not resigned.
“For a very long time, though there are journalists who make earth-shattering, well-documented disclosures about the possible criminal activity of President Iohannis, these pieces of news either are not presented or die out quickly, totally and entirely accidentally. Very strange. And I have thought of resuming them myself. (…) What we see in this president (…) is just a false image, he is a cardboard character put in a display case by the parallel state and still supported by the parallel state. Many prosecutors described him as a clan leader, as a mastermind of an organized group, with all the actions carried out during the time he was a mayor and not only then. And after all we can talk about 17 criminal cases. This gentleman who has spoken with so much pleasure about the people with criminal files who have climbed to the top of the state. The president of Romania stands at the top of the state, he is the one who has climbed at the top of the state. He says he has never been criminally prosecuted. That is a lie, he was prosecuted in several files and did not resign, the way he demanded that other people resign,” Dragnea said in Parliament.
Dragnea also said the president had lied to Romanians. “What is the worst is that he has lied to Romanian citizens. While playing the role of Snow White, he has pointed the finger at others, he was the possible criminal politician at the top of the state,” added the PSD leader. (evz.ro)
Firea: Talking About Capital Bucharest Without A General Mayor Is Abuse Of Power From Mr. Dragnea
Bucharest general mayor Gabriela Firea asked social democrat head Liviu Dragnea to publicly admit the fact that he had talked to district mayors on the issue of an emergency decree turning Bucharest’s six districts into independent administrative-territorial units.
“Talking about Bucharest citizens, about the capital city, without a general mayor, is an abuse of power from Mr. Dragnea”, Firea told a press conference.
Firea added that Bucharest citizens should be consulted through a referendum befire making such decisions.
At the end of last week, Firea said Dragnea plans to put forward an emergency decree aimed at turning Bucharest’s six districts independent administrative-territorial units. (romanialibera.ro)
President Iohannis Signs Offshore Bill Into Law
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis on Monday signed the offshore bill into law following a final vote in the Parliament.
On October 24, the Parliament’s lower chamber voted on the final form of the offshore bill, following a consensus reached by the country’s two main parties – ruling party PSD and main opposition party PNL.
The final form of the law freezes the royalties and taxes for the period of offshore gas production.
Earlier, Romania’s main ruling party, PSD, had voted on new controversial changes in parliamentary committees that hit energy groups owning oil & gas concessions in Black Sea exclusive economic area by reducing the possibility to deduct their investment when paying taxes.
“Tax stability is completely removed, which makes it impossible to make final investment decisions,” the Romanian Association of Offshore Concessionaires in the Black Sea (ARCOMN) said in a press statement.
The final form of the law maintains the limit of 30% of investment allowed to deduct when paying taxes, a change disapproved by investors and experts alike. The final form of the law is less favorable to large investors like ExxonMobil and OMV, which discovered large gas deposits in Romania’s exclusive economic area in the Black Sea. Oil companies have expressed concern about the new offshore law, saying that it may discourage new investments in the Black Sea. (puterea.ro)
Leu Firms Slightly Versus Euro
The Romanian leu strengthened marginally against the euro Monday, standing at 4.6586 lei/euro at midday, from 4.6588 per euro last Friday.
Against the US dollar, the leu depreciated to 4.1342 units last Thursday, from 4.1063 units previously.
The leu also lost ground versus the Swiss franc, standing at 4.0964 units, from 4.0799 units previously. (romanialibera.ro)