Constitutional Court: Debt Discharge Law Partially Unconstitutional
The Constitutional Court ruled Tuesday that the debt discharge law, allowing retail mortgage borrowers to return real estate collateral to banks in exchange for writing off their loans, is partially unconstitutional.
The judges admitted certain exceptions to the law and rejected others, according to Valer Dorneanu, head of the Constitutional Court. Judges will further analyze aspects related to the devaluation of immovable assets, imprevision and retroactivity.
The law came into force on May 13, after the bill was signed into law by Romanian President Klaus Iohannis and published in the Official Gazette. (Evenimentul Zilei)
PSD National Executive Committee Validates Lists For Parliamentary Election
Former Prime Minister Victor Ponta has managed to obtain eligible positions on the parliamentary election lists for his former ministers Eugen Teodorovici, Nicolae Banicioiu, Ionut Vulpescu, Titus Corlatean, Robert Cazanciuc and Rovana Plumb.
The PSD National Executive Committee validated all the candidacy lists for parliamentary election and PSD president Liviu Dragnea agreed with the candidacies of the former ministers in Ponta government although most of them had been previously marginalized by the PSD president.
According to PSD sources, Victor Ponta conditioned his involvement in the electoral campaign by the presence of people close to him, as well as his presence on the PSD parliamentary lists. (Adevarul)
Natural Gas To Account For 45% Of Romanian Energy Production In 2030
Natural gas will account for 45% of the national energy production in 2013, versus 32% at the moment, according to the National Energy Strategy for 2016 – 2030, which is currently drafted by the Energy Ministry.
Thus, nearly half of the energy production will come from natural gas. At the same time, nuclear power should cost EUR82/ MWh to ensure the profitability of the third and fourth reactors of nuclear power plant in Cernavoda, which is over double compared with the current market price. If the project continues, the difference will be paid from the state budget.
According to the draft of the National Energy Strategy, the investments necessary in the energy sector will reach EUR1.5 – 2 billion a year. (Puterea)
Elimination Of Environmental Stamp Tax Leaves “Clunkers“ And “Green House” Programs Unfinanced
The elimination of environmental stamp tax by the Parliament leaves certain programs, such as “Clunkers“ or “Green House” unfinanced, PM Dacian Ciolos stated.
The Chamber of Deputies on Tuesday approved the bill initiated by PSD party on cancelling more than 100 taxes, including the environmental stamp tax for vehicles. The Chamber of Deputies was decider on the matter.
Ciolos added that the government supported the elimination of certain taxes but they will have to find funds for the “Clunkers“ or “Green House” programs, which were left without funds.
The PM said he is not against the idea of removing taxes, using as argument the start of the strategy for cutting red tape in Romania. (Adevarul)
EUR750,000 SMURD Airplane To Be Repaired For EUR500,000
The airplane bought by emergency rescue service SMURD four years ago for EUR750,000 will undergo repair works which will cost EUR500,000, close to the acquisition price.
Thus, the Piper PA-42 Cheyenne III airplane, which was acquired at the decision of state secretary Raed Arafat from donations of individuals and legal entities, could not be used too much in the four years from its acquisition due to numerous defects. The Piper PA-42 Cheyenne III airplane was manufactured in the USA 35 years ago. (Evenimentul Zilei)