Central Bank Chief Economist Says Ministries Should Get Funds For Priority Projects
The priorities on the websites of the Romanian ministries only represent wish lists as their transposing into reality would require approximately 300% of the country’s GDP, according to central bank chief economist Valentin Lazea.
Lazea referred to the “Competitive Romania” strategy project, officially launched on July 5.
The central bank’s chief economist added that Romania is facing an absurd situation, as all the projects are priorities on paper but none of them is really a priority.
“The incapacity of the public administration to select certain projects and give up others derives from a culture of not taking responsibility, of political interference,” Lazea said. (Adevarul)
Chamber Of Deputies Adopts CHF Conversion Bill
Romania’s Chamber of Deputies on Tuesday gave its final vote on the bill regarding the conversion of Swiss franc loans into Romanian lei, with 248 ”pros,” no cons and no abstentions.
The bill was amended on Monday in the specialty committees to remove the CHF250,000 cap on loans it addresses, while a new amendment was passed that offers clients who have already converted their loans after January 2015 the chance to revert from this agreement and apply for the solution offered by this law (back then, the CHF loan stock was twice as large as it is currently).
The Chamber of Deputies is decider on the matter. The bill will be sent to President Klaus Iohannis for promulgation.
Iohannis said he will carefully analyze the law, while central bank governor, Mugur Isarescu, considers it is a “populist measure”. (Puterea)
Alina Gorghiu Says Parliamentary Lists Create Tension In PNL
PNL president, Alina Gorghiu, told B1 TV station that there is “tension” inside the party regarding the forming of the lists for the parliamentary elections taking place on December 11.
“It is obviously difficult (…) as we are talking about a Parliament with a lower number of MPs. (…) Some of the MPs will not be included on the eligible lists for the Parliament. Of course there is tension, there are people who think they deserve a seat and there are people who decide to step out of the Romanian Parliament, thinking that <<the National Liberal Party may need my expertise for an executive position sometime>>,” Alina Gorghiu stated.
PNL president added that the final decision on the issue will be made by the National Political Bureau. (Puterea)
Approximately 38,000 People Signed Petition For Support Of “Romania 100“ Platform
Approximately 38,000 people signed the petition for the support of “Romania 100“ platform in the first 24 hours after it was launched by PM Dacian Cioloș.
Dacian Ciolos has decided to join the electoral race by keeping the promise he made before being named PM and, at the same time, by meeting the hopes of people who believed in him in the last 12 months.
Thus, the PM chose the middle ground, by launching a governing platform accessible on www. ro100.ro and inviting people who share his visions to sign the petition for its support.
“I promised I would not run for the upcoming elections and I would not get politically involved during this mandate. I say committed to my decision and the government I lead will remain an independent one,“ Dacian Ciolos said. (Adevarul)
Study: High Arsenic Levels Found In Fish Sauce
A study conducted by Vietnam Standards and Consumers Association found that most fish sauce contains arsenic, which is a poison and carcinogen, above the permitted levels.
According to the survey, the tests on 150 samples of 88 fish sauce brands tested showed that the arsenic content in 101 samples was higher than the permitted 1 mg/liter.
Vietnam consumes 200 million liters of fish sauce annually, including 150 million liters of mixed fish sauce, called industrial fish sauce, and 50 million liters of traditional fish sauce. (Evenimentul Zilei)