Antonescu Tells Party Youth Organization He Wants To Be President
Liberal Party leader Crin Antonescu told Social Liberal Union youth he is not launching his candidacy for presidential elections, saying he doesn’t want to be a candidate but the president of Romania.
“Some think I want to confirm my candidacy. No, because no one has denied it. I don’t want to be a candidate, I want to be the president of Romania and I will be,” said Antonescu. (Adevarul)
Prime Minister Victor Ponta Urges Lawmakers To Adopt Referendum Law
Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta said lawmakers of the ruling Social Liberal Union have a very important mission at the beginning of the fall parliamentary session.
Ponta urged lawmakers to adopt the referendum law again so it can be sent to the head of state for promulgation.
President Traian Basescu, who rejected the law once and sent it back to Parliament for reexamination, will be forced to promulgate it this second time. (Evenimentul Zilei)
September Brings Changes In Taxes, Prices
The first day of September brings changes in taxes and prices of different services in Romania.
A 9% sales tax will be applied on bread, lowered from 24%, a move that is expected to counter tax evasion in the sector and lower the price of bread by as much as 15%. On the other hand, excise duties on luxury products will rise 33% starting September 1, triggering price increases of up to 30%. The measure targets luxury cars and watches, jewels and yachts.
Excises on alcohol increase starting September, from EUR750 per hectoliter to EUR1,000/hectoliter. Train tickets will be more expensive by 10% as of September 1. (Adevarul)
Ion Traistaru Appointed Chief-Commissioner Of The Financial Guard
Ion Traistaru has been appointed chief commissioner of the Financial Guard, by decision of Prime Minister Victor Ponta.
The decision has been published in Romania’s Official Journal.
Traistaru will be replacing Felicia Pop, who resigned the position mid-August. (Evenimentul Zilei)
Economic Sentiment In Romania Steady On The Month In August
Economic sentiment in Romania was roughly stable on the month in August, held back by weakening consumer confidence and declining expectations in the retail sector, a survey from the European Commission showed.
Business sentiment inched down 0.1 points to 95.6 in August, from 95.7 a month earlier, the Commission said in its latest business and consumer survey.
In the EU, the economic sentiment indicator increased for the fourth straight month to 98.1 points in August, the highest level in two years. (Gandul)
One Romanian Killed, Two Injured In Road Accident On Hungarian Highway
One Romanian had died and two others were inured in a new road accident on the M7 highway in Hungary, on the way from Budapest to Slovenia, after the Romania’s car crashed into a truck Sunday.
Also Sunday, the Romanian Foreign Ministry said four Romanians had been involved in a severe road accident on the M43 highway in Hungary Saturday night, when the driver apparently fell asleep behind the wheel. Three of them were in hospital with severe injuries.
Three Romanians were killed and 18 were injured Friday morning in Hungary after the microbus transporting them was involved in an accident on the M5 highway, on the way to Budapest. (Adevarul)
Thousands Protest Over Rosia Montana Gold Mining Project In Bucharest And Other Cities
Thousands of people countrywide protested Sunday over the gold mining project in Rosia Montana and the exploitation of shale gas reserves.
Thousands protested in Bucharest Sunday evening over the government’s decision to approve a bill allowing the start of mining works in Rosia Montana, western Romania, and similar protest took place in Cluj-Napoca, Alba Iulia, Barlad, Timisoara, Brasov, Targu-Mures, Iasi, and even Brussels and Vienna.
The Rosia Montana gold mining project, which has been on halt for several years because of environmental concerns entailed by cyanide mining, has been given green light by the government last week and is pending debates in parliament. (Curentul)