Health Minister Says 85 Patients In Serious Condition After Bucharest Nightclub Fire
Health Minister Nicolae Banicioiu on Thursday said some 85 patients currently are in serious and critical condition after a fire at the Colectiv nightclub in Bucharest’s 4th district last Friday.
“We are talking about 84-85 patients in serious and critical condition. It is true that their health condition changes quickly, either for the better or for the worse,” Banicioiu told a press conference.
The minister recently praised the entire medical staff, saying all doctors, including the ones who came from abroad, are doing an amazing job.
The fire at Colectiv last Friday broke out as some 400 people gathered for a free rock concert by the band Goodbye to Gravity. Survivors said the fireworks set off inside the club ignited foam decor. The club’s single exit was overwhelmed in the panic that followed. The three owners of the club were arrested for 30 days on charges of manslaughter and culpable bodily harm. Concerns that safety was compromised because of corruption, a long-standing issue in Romania, have fuelled public anger and triggered mass protests. (Jurnalul National)
Wage Raise For Education Staff To Benefit 359,810 People, With RON1.6B Impact On State Budget
The 15% raise for staff in the state education sector will benefit around 359,810 people and will have an impact of RON1.666 billion on the state budget, the Education Ministry said Thursday.
According to an emergency ordinance approved Wednesday by Romania’s outgoing government, the wages for staff in the education sector will raise by 15% as of December 1, 2015.
Thus, the entire salary increase provided by the agreement signed with the education trade unions would reach 25% in December. (Puterea)
Central Bank Report Confirms Inflation Will Stay Negative for Next Three Quarters
Romania’s central bank re-confirmed Thursday that the country’s annual inflation rate will remain negative during the next three quarters and will return to positive territory by the beginning of 2017, below the bank’s target of 2.5% plus/minus one percentage point.
Central bank Governor Mugur Isarescu said at a press briefing the bank’s quarterly inflation report, approved Thursday, confirms previous projections. The report will be presented in a press conference on Nov. 9.
Back in August, the central bank cut down its inflation forecast for the end of 2015 to -0.3%, expecting the rate to return to positive territory by the end of next year, when it is seen at 0.7%. (Puterea)
Romanian Central Bank Keeps Key Rate Unchanged at 1.75%
The Romanian central bank Thursday kept its main monetary policy lending rate unchanged at 1.75% a year, in line with analysts’ expectations.
It also maintained minimum reserve requirement ratios at 8% for deposits in Romanian lei and at 14% for foreign currency deposits.
Central bank governor Mugur Isarescu said mid-July the bank will not operate further rate cuts, amid a negative inflation rate and an expected economic growth of around 4% this year. In July, the Romanian central bank kept the key rate and minimum reserve requirements unchanged due to the Greek crisis and turmoil in the region.
The monetary policy lending rate was last cut in May 2015, from 2% to 1.75% a year. Also in May, reserve requirements were lowered from 10% to 8% for local currency deposits. (Adevarul)
Interim PM Sorin Cimpeanu Summoned Informal Meeting Of All Ministers
Education Minister Sorin Cimpeanu, whom President Klaus Iohannis appointed interim prime minister on Thursday, summoned an informal meeting of all ministers at the government’s headquarters.
Ponta, who stepped down as prime minister following massive demonstrations in the wake of a nightclub fire in the Romanian capital which left 32 people dead and scores of others badly injured, had proposed defense minister Mircea Dusa as interim prime minister, but Iohannis rejected his proposition.
Ponta said Wednesday that he is tendering his resignation and hopes the fall of his government satisfies the expectations of people who protested in the streets. He added rational solutions are required. (Adevarul)