Victor Ponta Launches Presidential Campaign On Bucharest National Arena
Social Democratic Party leader, prime minister Victor Ponta, launched his presidential campaign Saturday on the National Arena in Bucharest.
The launch was attended by an estimated 70,000 people from all over the country.
Ponta, 42, who launched the campaign on his birthday, said he feels ready to become the president of Romania. (Romania Libera)
President Basescu Gives Signature Of Support For Udrea’s Presidential Candidacy
President Traian Basescu gave his signature of support for the presidential candidacy of Elena Udrea Sunday, during a signature raising campaign organized by Udrea’s Popular Movement Party (PMP).
The president was greeted Sunday in Herastrau Park in Bucharest by dozens of PMP activists, wearing “Udrea for president” T-shirts. Basescu said he gave his signature of support to the candidate he believes in.
Udrea herself was not present at the signature raising event Sunday. (Evenimentul Zilei)
Romania To Revise Public Procurement System
The Romanian government is looking to revise the public procurement system to allow state contracts to be awarded for other criteria than the lowest bid.
Besides price, the contract award system should consider other factors such as delivery terms, cost per project life-cycle, consultancy, materials, employees.
A first draft of new public procurement rules is expected by the end of the year and should include recent recommendations of the European Commission. (Puterea)
AXA Cancels Sale Of Romanian Operations To Local Insurer Astra
French insurance group AXA has terminated a contract under which it was to sell its Romanian business AXA Life Insurance Romania to local insurer Astra Asigurari and is looking at other strategic options for its Romanian branch.
“The contract for the sale of AXA Life Insurance Romania operations to Astra Asigurari, announced on November 29, 2013, has been terminated. AXA continues to assess strategic options considering the interests of its clients and employees in Romania,” the French-owned insurer said in a press release.
Astra Asigurari is indirectly controlled by businessman Dan Adamescu through The Nova Group Investments Romania SA (72.68%) and Epsilon Estate Provider SRL (27.02%).
ASF president Misu Negritoiu said early June Astra was in no position to take over another insurance company. “When undergoing financial recovery, one must sell, not buy,” Negritoiu said at the time. (Adevarul)
One Romanian Dead, Five Seriously Injured In Passenger Bus Accident In Bulgaria
One person died and five others were injured Sunday in Bulgaria, when a passenger bus carrying 25 Romanian tourists overturned in the Bulgarian Republika Pass, near Veliko Tarnovo.
The driver of the bus underwent an alcohol test, which turned negative. The lab tests on presence of chemicals in his organism are still underway, the Bulgarian Focus news agency reported.
The bus was traveling from Turkey to Romania. (Evenimentul Zilei)