Liviu Dragnea Supports Victor Ponta For Party President
Deputy prime minister Liviu Dragnea said Sunday on Antena 3 he supports Prime Minister Victor Ponta for president of the Social Democratic Party.
Asked whether he would run for party president since Ponta lost the presidential election, in which he had set out as the favorite to win, Dragnea said he would not run and would support Ponta for the position.
Dragnea added talks with party branch leaders have shown the party wishes to maintain its current leaders. (Adevarul)
PNL Iasi Co-President Wants Tudor Chiuariu Ousted From The Party
The Liberal Party’s Iasi branch co-president Dragomir Tomaseschi has called for Tudor Chiuariu to be ousted from the party.
Chiuariu has been found guilty of corruption and a definitive and irrevocable court ruling has been issued in his name.
Tomaseschi also called on liberal lawmakers Varujan Vosganian and Grigore Craciunescu, elected in constituencies in Iasi, to take a step back, as they are under criminal investigation.
“Not to disregard the presumption of innocence, but we ask all party members under criminal investigation, regarding of their rank, to take a step back from public life,” Tomaseschi said in a press release. (Puterea)
Mihai Razvan Ungureanu Could Be Adviser To New President
According to sources of newspaper EVZ, former prime minister Mihai Razvan Ungureanu is the most recent name rumored to join the advising team of president-elect Klaus Iohannis.
Ungureanu is set to be appointed head of the presidential chancellery, according to the sources.
A considerable part of Iohannis’ team of advisers will not be party members but will come from the ranks of civil society. The president-elect has so far been evasive, even during internal party meetings, in saying who will advise him as president. (Evenimentul Zilei)
Prognosis Commission Sees GDP Growth At 2.6% In 2014, 2.5% In 2015
Romania’s prognosis commission estimates the country’s economic growth at 2.6% this year and at 2.5% in 2015, similar to its spring forecasts of 2.5% for this year, and 2.6% for 2015.
For 2016 and 2017, the commission sees a 3% and 3.3% GDP growth, respectively.
According to the country’s statistics institute INS, Romania’s gross domestic product grew by 1.9% in the third quarter compared with the previous three-month period, a significant U-turn after a 0.3% decline in the second quarter.
Compared with the third quarter of 2013, Romania’s GDP increased 3.3% in seasonally-adjusted data, and 3.2% in unadjusted data. (Puterea)
Magistrates Decide Monday Whether To Suspend Alina Bica
The prosecution department of Romania’s High Council of magistrates assembles Monday morning to decide whether to suspend from its ranks Alina Bica, the former head of the country’s Department fighting Organized Crime and Terrorism.
Bica was placed under preventive arrest Saturday, on charges of abuse of office involving the retrocession of land overvalued by EUR61 million. (Evenimentul Zilei)
Saturday’s 5.7-Degree Quake Caused Problems In Several Romanian Towns
A 5.7-degree earthquake that occurred Saturday evening in Vrancea, with an epicenter just 39-km deep, has caused several problems in various areas in the country, including the capital city.
While Bucharest only felt a jolt during the 20-second quake, other areas had power outages and mobile telephony networks were overcrowded and unusable for several minutes.
The quake was felt as far as the Republic of Moldova and Bulgaria. This is the biggest quake by magnitude to occur in Romania this year. (Puterea)