Monica Macovei Quits Democratic Liberal Party
Independent presidential candidate Monica Macovei, elected MEP on the list of the Democratic Liberal Party, announced Tuesday she is leaving the party.
The party, which is part of the Christian Liberal Alliance (ACL), will back Klaus Iohannis for president. Macovei will run for president independently. (Evenimentul Zilei)
Emergency Decree Allowing Mayors To Switch Parties Published In Official Journal
Local officials may switch political affiliations only once within 45 days, according to a government emergency decree published in Romania’s Official Journal.
Under the decree, mayors may switch to a different party, a national minority organization or become independent within the legal terms, without losing their official position. (Gandul)
Romania’s Deference Council Assembles Ahead Of NATO Summit
Romania’s High Defense Council assembles Wednesday to discuss Romania’s position for the NATO summit of September 4-5, in Wales, and the country’s participation in the NATO mission in Afghanistan in 2015.
The president’s office said in a press release the defense council meeting agenda includes the upcoming NATO summit in Newport, Wales, UK. Romania’s position within the NATO summit has mainly to do with the NATO mission in Afghanistan in 2015 and NATO measures regarding the current situation in the region. (Romania Libera)
Senate Extends Tax Amnesty Bill From Teachers To All Public Sector Workers
The Romanian Senate has extended a tax amnesty bill to cover not just staff in education but all public sector workers who received higher pay by the fault of the state.
Under the bill, the workers will be exempt from returning the extra pay. (Adevarul)
Romania And China Look Into Building Bucharest-Iasi-Chisinau High Speed Rail
Romania and China are looking into building a high-speed railway to connect Bucharest to Iasi and further to Chisinau, in the Republic of Moldova, Prime Minister Victor Ponta said Tuesday.
Ponta said costs for such a project are estimated at $20 million per kilometer of high-speed rail. (Evenimentul Zilei)
Romania Retail Sales Rise In July
Romanian adjusted retail sales rose 0.4% in July from the earlier month, on higher sales of food products, the statistics institute INS said Tuesday.
Sales of food, beverages and tobacco products went up 0.3% on the month, in data adjusted for the number of working days and seasonal factors.
Fuel sales declined 3.2% compared with June, while sales of non-food items were down 1%.
In annual terms, adjusted retail sales rose 7.6% in July, helped by higher demand in most sectors, INS data showed. (Curierul National)
Romania Mulls Introducing Mandatory Education Starting Age Three As Of 2018-2019
Romanian Education Minister Remus Pricopie said Romania might introduce mandatory kindergarten education for children as of age three starting 2018-2019.
He said the government plans to introduce mandatory kindergarten education for children aged five as of next year. (Adevarul)