Ciolos Appoints Sorin Chelmu As Government Secretary General
Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos has decided to replace Ion Moraru, the government’s secretary general since 2012, with Sorin Sergiu Chelmu, former secretary general with the Ministry of Agriculture.
Moraru remains in the government as adviser to the prime minister. (Adevarul)
Constitutional Court Upholds Correspondence Voting Law
Romania’s Constitutional Court has rejected contests submitted by ALDE and UDMR and ruled the correspondence voting law, adopted in parliament on October 28, is constitutional.
The correspondence voting system should be applicable at the next parliamentary election, which is due at the end of 2016. (Puterea)
Terrorist Attacks In France Could Affect Banking Activity, Including In Romania
Last week’s terrorist attacks in France could affect the activity of commercial banks, including in Romania.
Central banks could impose stricter regulations to check transactions that could mask the financing of terrorist groups.
As such norms would raise costs for commercial banks, clients can expect higher fees and interest rates, CEC Bank president Radu Gratian Ghetea said, cited by Digi24. (Adevarul)
Romania’s Former Government Drafted 2016 Budget On 2.8% Deficit
Romania’s state budget for 2016, drafted by the country’s former government, projects budget deficit at 2.8% of gross domestic product.
The forecast is based on an estimate of 4.1% gross domestic product next year to RON746.6 billion, with growth driven by consumption and investments.
The budget, drafted by the country’s former government, “is based on forecast macroeconomic indicators and considers all recently adopted legislation impacting revenues and expenditure,” former finance minister Eugen Teodorovici said at a news conference Wednesday.
Recent public sector wage hikes adopted by the government and parliament will raise budget expenditure by around RON12.6 billion.
Romania’s new finance minister, Anca Dragu, said earlier this week the new Cabinet will keep all the measures in the tax code and recent wage hikes in the 2016 budget, while maintaining a deficit of less than 3% of GDP. (Romania Libera)
Most Romanians Who Smoke Would Like To Quit
The vast majority of Romanians who smoke would like to quit, according to studies by the national drug enforcement agency ahead of a Parliament vote that aims to ban smoking in all enclosed public spaces.
Around 89% of Romania’s 4.8 million smokers would like to quit the habit, according to the agency’s studies.
“There are all sorts of myths surrounding nicotine addiction and a lot of people see it as a whim instead of a real addiction. There’s also a strong social component, as smoking is largely seen as an opportunity to socialize,” said psychologist Mihai Copaceanu. (Adevarul)