Social Liberal Union Leaders Met To Discuss Rosia Montana
Social Liberal Union leaders Crin Antonescu and Victor Ponta had an emergency meeting Thursday to discuss the Rosia Montana mining project, official sources told MEDIAFAX.
They said the two parties failed to reach a consensus on the issue.
The parliamentary commission analyzing the project resumed works Thursday. (Evenimentul Zilei)
Secret Service Generals To Be Kept Active After Retirement Age
The Senate adopted a bill Wednesday on the statute of military staff which allows generals and admirals with secret and special services to remain active after meeting the standard retirement age of 60.
Generals and admirals with the Romanian Intelligence Service, the Foreign Intelligence Service, Special Protection Service, and Special Telecommunication Service may choose not to retire when they reach retirement age. (Adevarul)
Isarescu Denies Plans To Run For President
Central bank governor Mugur Isarescu said Thursday rumors that he is planning to run for president in 2014 are false and he never had any talks in that direction.
However, asked about running for a new term as central bank governor, Isarescu did not give a clear-cut answer.
Isarescu has been the governor of the Romanian central bank since 1990, with a one-year break in December 1999 – November 2000 when he served as prime minister. (Puterea)
Central Bank Revises 2013 Inflation Down 1.8%
Romania’s central bank revised downwards its 2013 inflation forecast to 1.8% from 3.1%, citing lower prices of volatile products, central bank governor Mugur Isarescu said Thursday.
Romania’s inflation decelerated to 1.88% in September from 3.67% in August as food prices continued a four-month decline.
The central bank Tuesday lowered its main lending rate by a quarter of a point to a record low of 4% a year, the fourth consecutive cut in 2013. (Adevarul)
Nita Says Has Nothing To Do With Hidroelectrica Bribery Case
Minister-delegate for Energy Constantin Nita was heard as a witness Thursday morning in the Hidroelectrica bribery case, in which one of his advisers was arrested.
Nita told anticorruption prosecutors he has no involvement in the case and he doesn’t chat with his advisers on such matters.
Two former officials of state-owned hydropower plant Hidropelectrica are under preventive arrest for trying to bribe board members in exchange for favorable votes on a contract that would have the company selling underpriced electricity. (Jurnalul National)
Victor Ponta Invited To Have Lunch With King Michael I
Prime Minister Victor Ponta was invited Thursday to have lunch with King Michael I of Romania at the latter’s residence, political sources told MEDIAFAX.
This year the Romanian Royal House holds a series of events marking the former king’s 92nd birthday. (Jurnalul National)