Ionut Preda

Top Anticorruption Body Deputy Chief Resigns Over Disciplinary Warning

15:12, 19 Mart. 2019
The deputy chief of Romania’s National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA), Marius Iacob, told MEDIAFAX on Tuesday that he resigned the office, after Romania’s Supreme Court admitted a Judicial Inspectorate request to sanction him with a disciplinary warning.

Senate Rejects Bills Regulating Same-Sex Civil Partnership

18:45, 18 Mart. 2019
Romania’s Senate rejected on Monday two bills which regulate civil partnership, including for same-sex couples.

Ruling Party to Vote Against No-Confidence Motions on Finance and Justice Ministers

18:00, 18 Mart. 2019
Romania’s ruling Social Democrat Party (PSD) will vote against two no-confidence motions filed by opposition parties on Justice Minister Tudorel Toader and Finance Minister Eugen Teodorovici on Wednesday, according to PSD Lower Chamber group leader Alfred Simonis.

General Prosecutor to File Candidacy for New Term

17:30, 18 Mart. 2019
Romanian General Prosecutor Augustin Lazar announced on Monday that he will file his candidacy for a new term in office, after the country’s Justice Ministry announced that it started procedures to appoint a new general prosecutor once his current term expires on April 28.

Lower Chamber Chairman Delegates Powers to Deputy

16:33, 18 Mart. 2019
The chairman of the Romanian Parliament’s Lower Chamber, Liviu Dragnea, delegated his powers to deputy Florin Iordache on Monday for an unspecified amount of time.

Court Merges Sentences of Former Football Investor Cristian Borcea

15:46, 18 Mart. 2019
The Bucharest Court of Appeal decided on Monday to merge the two current sentences of businessman Cristian Borcea into a single, seven years and six months prison sentence, in a first decision.

Highway Protest Initiator Says Action Was a „Big Success”

18:59, 15 Mart. 2019
Suceava businessman Stefan Mandachi, who initiated a 15-minute protest observed nation-wide on Friday calling for the construction of highway infrastructure, deemed the action a “great success” in a press conference on Friday afternoon.

Liberal Party EU Election List Opener Maintains Past Critical Stances on EU Leaders

18:30, 15 Mart. 2019
TV host Rares Bogdan, who was nominated by Romania’s Liberal Party to open its European Parliament elections list, told MEDIAFAX he “maintains his beliefs” when asked about critical comments he made against EU leaders in 2016 on the subject of security.

Romanian President Condemns New Zealand Terrorist Attack

14:51, 15 Mart. 2019
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis condemned on Friday terrorist attacks at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, which left at least 49 dead.

Liberal Party Decides Its European Election Candidates List

20:24, 14 Mart. 2019
The Liberal Party’s (PNL) National Political Bureau validated on Thursday the group’s list of candidates for the upcoming European Parliament election, with twelve eligible candidates approved.

TV Host Rares Bogdan to Open Liberal Party’s European Election List

14:46, 14 Mart. 2019
Television host Rares Bogdan told MEDIAFAX on Thursday that he agreed to open the Liberal Party’s (PNL) list for the upcoming European Parliament election, stating that he made the decision to help the liberals become “Romania’s first party”.

Justice Ministry Launches Procedure to Appoint New General Prosecutor

13:54, 14 Mart. 2019
Romania’s Justice Ministry announced on Thursday that it launched the procedure to appoint a new general prosecutor, which will be finished before the term of Augustin Lazar will expire on April 28.

Bucharest Court of Appeal Rejects Internal Challenge against USR Chairman

19:50, 13 Mart. 2019
The Bucharest Court of Appeal rejected on Wednesday a challenge made by 11 members of opposition party USR who opposed the election of Dan Barna as party chairman and ruled that the latter should appear as the party’s leader in the Political Party’s Registry, according to USR MP Claudiu Nasui.

General Prosecutor: DNA To Handle Tel Drum EU Funds Embezzlement Case

18:26, 13 Mart. 2019
Romanian General Prosecutor Augustin Lazar announced on Wednesday that he decided that the country’s National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA) has competency over an EU funds embezzlement case involving Lower Chamber Chairman Liviu Dragnea.

US Ambassador: Russia Could Profit from Failure of Romania’s Fight Against Corruption

13:42, 13 Mart. 2019
The United States' ambassador to Bucharest, Hans Klemm, said on Wednesday that a failure of Romania’s fight against corruption would pose a risk of Russia profiting to further divide Romanian society, in an interview for Radio Free Europe.

Magurele Institute Laser Reaches World Record Power of 10 Petawatts

12:38, 13 Mart. 2019
The laser installed at the Physics and Nuclear Engineering Institute in Magurele, Ilfov county reached its projected peak power of 10 petawatts (PW), or 10,000 trillion watts on Wednesday, achieving the highest power registered in the world.

Senate Judicial Committee Rejects Civil Partnership Bills

19:08, 12 Mart. 2019
Two draft bills meant to regulate civil partnership in Romania were rejected on Tuesday by the Senate’s judicial committee, with ruling coalition senators voting against the initiative as unjustified.

Bucharest Crime Boss Nutu Camataru Released on Parole

16:15, 12 Mart. 2019
Romanian infamous crime boss Ion Balint, known under the moniker Nutu Camataru, was released on parole from the Gaesti Penitentiary on Tuesday after serving only 16 months of a nearly six-year prison sentence he received for extortion.

Dozens of Magistrates Stage New Protest Against Judicial Decree

19:49, 11 Mart. 2019
Several dozen magistrates in Bucharest organized an impromptu protest in front of the Palace of Justice in Bucharest on Monday evening, contesting the partially-repealed judicial decree issued three weeks ago by Justice Minister Tudorel Toader.

European Commission First Vice-President: We Have Seen No Progress Since CVM Report

19:00, 11 Mart. 2019
The European Commission’s first vice-president, Frans Timmermans, said on Monday that the institution has seen no progress from Romanian authorities on recommendations made in the latest Cooperation and Verification Mechanism (CVM) report, ahead of a meeting in Bucharest with the Romanian PM.

Bucharest City Hall To Build New Multi-Purpose Hall with Capacity of 20,000

18:53, 11 Mart. 2019
The General Council of the Municipality of Bucharest approved on Monday the funds necessary to construct a new multi-purpose hall in the capital, with the City Hall project stating that it will have a capacity of 20,000 seats.

Romanian PM Denies Receiving Draft Judicial Decrees Announced by Justice Minister

14:48, 11 Mart. 2019
Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dancila said on Monday that she did not see the text of either of two emergency decrees amending judicial bills announced by Justice Minister Tudorel Toader, despite the fact that the minister stating that he forwarded the drafts.

Romanian Government Postpones Cabinet Meeting

13:46, 11 Mart. 2019
Romania’s Government decided on Monday to postpone its cabinet meeting set for the day, during which it was supposed to adopt an emergency decree setting budget caps for the 2019 state budget, and rescheduled it for Tuesday, 14.00 local time, government sources told MEDIAFAX.

Kovesi Responds to New Charges: Section Prosecutor Wants Media Case

19:40, 08 Mart. 2019
Former Romanian anticorruption chief Laura Kovesi said in a statement on Friday that the accusations made against her by the Section for Investigating Judicial Offences (SIIJ) are used to denigrate her, and accused case prosecutor of trying to direct a “media case” instead of a judicial affair.

PMP Chairman: Former President Traian Basescu Undecided on MEP Bid

18:55, 08 Mart. 2019
The chairman of Romanian opposition party PMP, Eugen Tomac, said on Thursday that former head if state and party founder Traian Basescu has yet to decide whether he will run in the upcoming European Parliament elections.

Kovesi Accused of Determining Local Chief Prosecutor to Green-light Illegal Indictment

17:20, 08 Mart. 2019
Romania’s Section for Investigating Judicial Offences (SIIJ) published on Friday new accusations brought against former anticorruption chief Laura Codruta Kovesi, including one charge of determining a local chief prosecutor to green-light an illegal indictment.

Presidential Counselor: 2019 Budget Might Not Ensure the Sums Required to Pay All Pensions

16:51, 08 Mart. 2019
Romanian presidential counselor Cosmin Marinescu said on Friday that the 2019 budget bill passed by the Parliament poses the danger of lacking the necessary budget to pay all expenses generated by the country’s pensions, due the underestimation of total costs.

Salmonella Found in Over 1.5 Tons of Meat in Mures County

15:54, 08 Mart. 2019
More than 1,500 kg of meat used for grilled minced meat rolls was found to be infected with salmonella in Mures county, following lab analyses made on samples sent from the processing unit.

Aviation Academy Helicopter Crashes in Prahova County, No Victims

14:50, 08 Mart. 2019
A Robinson 22-type small helicopter belonging to the Romanian Aviation Academy was involved in an incident on the Strejnic Airdrome in Prahova county, resulting in the destruction of the aircraft but with no victims, according to Romania’s Transport Ministry.

Former USR Chairman Temporarily Rejoins Party to Sign Alliance with PLUS

14:06, 08 Mart. 2019
The former chairman of Romanian opposition party USR, Nicusor Dan, announced on Friday that he temporarily rejoined the party in order to sign the protocol for the group’s alliance with PLUS, which was rejected by the Central Electoral Bureau because the two party’s chairmen were not registered in t

Top Anticorruption Agency Accuses Justice Minister of Quoting False Data in FT Letter

19:57, 07 Mart. 2019
Romania’s National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA) accused Justice Minister Tudorel Toader that he presented false data in a letter he sent to Financial Times on Thursday, in which he argued against Laura Codruta Kovesi’s bid for the leadership of the upcoming European Public Prosecutor’s Office.

Judicial Offences Section Launches Second Case Against Kovesi

19:14, 07 Mart. 2019
Romanian prosecutor Laura Codruta Kovesi said on Thursday that she was announced by the Section for Investigating Judicial Offences (SIIJ) of being prosecuted in a new case, and also accused that her right of defense was infrigned in several procedures during a five-hour hearing.

European Elections Central Electoral Bureau Challenged at Constitutional Court

17:56, 07 Mart. 2019
The chairman of Romanian opposition party PMP, Eugen Tomac, announced on Thursday that the country’s Supreme Court forwarded a challenge made by the group against the establishment of the Central Electoral Bureau (BEC) for the upcoming European Elections to the Constitutional Court.

Ploiesti Court of Appeal Revokes Protective Custody Warrant for Fugitive Businessman Sebastian Ghita

17:35, 07 Mart. 2019
The Ploiesti Court of Appeal admitted on Tuesday a challenge made by fugitive businessman and former Romanian MP Sebastian Ghita, against a warrant for protective custody issued in a case where he is accused of corruption offences regarding several IT contracts.

Reuters: Romania not Using Huawei Equipment for Essential Communications Infrastructure

16:40, 07 Mart. 2019
Romania is not using any equipment made by Chinese tech giant Huawei in the essential infrastructure managed by its Special Telecommunications Service (STS), the agency announced in a statement sent to Reuters.

ECHR President Meets With Romanian General Prosecutor

15:41, 07 Mart. 2019
The President of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), Guido Raimondi, attended a work meeting in Bucharest on Thursday with multiple Romanian prosecutors, including General Prosecutor Augustin Lazar.

Central Electoral Bureau Rejects Registration of USR-PLUS Alliance

14:37, 07 Mart. 2019
Romania’s Central Electoral Bureau (BEC) rejected on Thursday the request register an alliance between current opposition party USR and the group recently formed by former PM Dacian Ciolos, PLUS, for the upcoming elections, according a statement issued by the latter.

European Commission First Vice-President: Concerns about Romania are Growing

19:15, 06 Mart. 2019
The European Commission’s first vice-president, Frans Timmermans, told Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dancila that concerns throughout the EU are growing in regards to the state of the rule of law in Romania, in a meeting the two had on Wednesday.

Businessmen Rally to March 15 Protest Demanding Highways in the Moldova Region

18:21, 06 Mart. 2019
Several businessmen announced on Wednesday that they will support the protest requested by Suceava entrepreneur Stefan Mandachi, who called for businesses to stop working for 15 minutes on March 15 in order to attract attention on the lack of highways in the Moldova region.

President Sends 2019 Budget Bill Back to Parliament

17:15, 06 Mart. 2019
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis announced on Wednesday that he will resend the 2019 state budget to the Parliament, after the Constitutional Court rejected his challenge on the bill earlier in the day.