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Romania PM-Designate To Propose Rebuffed Ministers In New Cabinet

Romania’s Prime Minister-designate Liviu Negoita said Sunday his proposed Cabinet will include ministers previously proposed by Lucian Croitoru, who lost a confidence vote in Parliament.

Romanian Independent Presidential Candidate Says Prostitution Should Be Legal

Romania’s independent presidential candidate Sorin Oprescu said Sunday he is inclined to accept to decriminalize prostitution, but the country’s healthcare system isn’t ready for such a move, adding he is strongly against legalizing recreational drugs.

Romanian „4 Months, 3 Weeks And 2 Days” Among Times’ Best 100 Films Of The Decade

Romanian feature film "4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days" by director Cristian Mungiu ranks 14th in a ranking of the 100 best films of the decade compiled by UK Times magazine, overtaking more famous hits like Paul Thomas Anderson’s “There Will Be Blood” or Gus Van Sant’s “Milk”.

Romanian Govt Only Pays Bills To Cos Sponsoring Their Campaign – Leftist Presidential Candidate

Romanian social democrat presidential candidate Mircea Geoana Saturday accused the caretaker democrat liberal government of blackmailing companies by not paying off debts unless they give money to acting President Traian Basescu’s campaign.

Romania Can Pay Pensions, Wages Without IMF Loan – Liberal

Romanian liberal leader and former health minister Eugen Nicolaescu said Saturday Romania can afford to pay public sector wages and pensions even without the IMF’s bailout money and controversies on this issue are cynical and immoral.

Romanian PM-Designate Calls On Liberals, Social Democrats To Negotiate Future Govt

Romania’s Prime Minister-designate Liviu Negoita Friday evening called again on opposition liberals and social democrats to talks with him about a future government, adding he will have a proposed Cabinet list sent to Parliament Monday either way.

Romanian Liberal Presidential Candidate Wants Single Term, Then Quits Politics

Romania’s liberal presidential candidate Crin Antonescu said Saturday at an election rally in Satu Mare, northern Romania, he will settle for a single term if elected president, keep all his promises and then quit politics.

Romania’s Fmr Sea Captain President Vows To Take Country Safe Ashore

Romanian president Traian Basescu, a former sea captain, said Saturday at an election rally in Timisoara, western Romania, that Romania is a ship whose crew he trusts and promised to take it safe to shore once the crisis, which he deemed a storm, passes.

Romania To Resume Pork Exports To EU Next Year – Acting PM

Romania will resume next year exports of pork products processed in the country to EU member states and will later export pork produced locally in its entirety, acting Prime Minister Emil Boc said Friday.

IMF, EC Put Off Loan Disbursements To Romania On Political Uncertainty

The International Monetary Fund is prepared to disburse a new tranche of its EUR13 billion loan to Romania as soon as the political crisis ends, IMF mission’s head Jeffrey Franks said Friday.

Bucharest Subway Employees Hold Spontaneous Protest, Demand Labor Contract Negotiations

Over 100 employees of Bucharest subway company Metrorex gathered Friday within the Piata Unirii 1 subway station, to protest against the delayed approval of the company’s budget and, implicitly, delayed negotiations of their collective labor contract.

IMF Ups Forecast On Romania ‘09 GDP, Sees 7.5%-8% Contraction

The International Monetary Fund upgraded its forecast on Romania’s economic growth this year, expecting now a contraction of 7.5%-8%, from 8%-8.5% previously estimated, IMF mission’s head Jeffrey Franks said Friday.

Romanian Social Democrats Not To Endorse New PM-Designate

Romanian Social Democratic Party vice-president Dan Nica told a news conference Friday his party will not give a confidence vote to the Government to be proposed by new Prime Minister-designate Liviu Negoita, adding the latter should not come before Parliament.

Romania Key Rate Kept Unchanged So Inflation Doesn’t Sidetrack – Ctrl Bker

Romanian central bank’s decision to leave its key rate unchanged at 8% aimed to keep the annual inflation in check, as the market would have proven indifferent to a lower rate, central bank deputy governor Cristian Popa said Friday.

Romania To Seek Alternate Financing To Cover Budget Gap – Ctrl Bker

Romania’s Finance Ministry has to look for new sources to finance its budget gap this year, as the International Monetary Fund and the European Commission are likely to defer additional loan tranches for early 2010, central bank governor Mugur Isarescu said Friday.

IMF Mission To Return To Romania When Legitimate Govt Is Installed – President

Romanian President Traian Basescu said Friday the mission of the International Monetary Fund, World Bank and the European Commission will leave Romania Saturday and will come again to resume talks on the standby loan agreement when the country has a legitimate Government.

Romanian President Designates Bucharest District 3 Mayor Liviu Negoita For PM

Romanian President Traian Basescu Friday designated Bucharest district 3 mayor Liviu Negoita for prime minister, after the Cabinet proposed by economist Lucian Croitoru met with a no-confidence vote in Parliament.

Romania Ctrl Bk Revises Up ’09 Inflation Forecast At 4.5%

Romania’s central bank revised upward its estimate on the 2009 annual inflation rate to 4.5% from 4.3% previously forecast, central bank governor Mugur Isarescu said Friday.

IMF To Defer Loan Disbursement To Romania For Jan 2010 – Sources

The International Monetary Fund will most likely defer a third loan disbursement of EUR1.5 billion to Romania for January next year, people close to the matter told MEDIAFAX Friday.

Romania Asks IMF To Allow Higher Budget Deficit At 7.8% Of GDP – Sources

Romania has asked the International Monetary Fund to allow it run a higher budget deficit at 7.8% of the gross domestic product this year, due to delays in applying spending cuts aimed at keeping the deficit in leash, people familiar with the matter told MEDIAFAX Thursday.

Four Romanian Football Teams Defeated In Europa League Groups

Four Romanian football teams lost Thursday evening the games disputed in the fourth stage of the Europa League groups.

Romania’s President Unwilling To Postpone PM Designation

Romania's President Traian Basescu said Thursday evening, at the beginning of talks with democrat liberals regarding a new prime minister, he doesn't want to put off the forming of a new Government until after presidential elections due on November 22.

Romanian Liberals Continue To Back Independent Johannis For PM

Romanian liberal head Crin Antonescu said Thursday the liberals continue to back Klaus Johannis for prime minister at least until September 2010, but a PDL-PNL government is out of the question.

Economic Crisis Cuts Down Working Hours In European Union – Study

A full time employee in Romania worked around 20 minutes less in the second quarter of 2009, compared to the same period in 2008, because of the economic crisis, while European Union employees overall work an average 40 minutes less, according to research published Thursday by Eurostat.

Romania Acting Econ Min: Creating Just One Energy Holding Is A Mistake

Establishing just a single national power holding, as sustained by some political leaders, would be "an incredible error," Romania’s acting Economy Minister Adriean Videanu said Thursday.

Romania To Have 100,000 More Jobless People In Next Two Mos

The number of unemployed people will rise by about 100,000 in the next two months and their total number will exceed 725,000, the leader of the Romanian industry union - UGIR 1903, Cezar Corici, told a news conference Thursday.

Romanian Interim Health Min Keeps Streinu-Cercel As State Secretary

Romania's interim Health Minister Adriean Videanu told MEDIAFAX Thursday that secretary of state Adrian Streinu-Cercel will remain in his position at the Ministry of Health.

Romanian President Calls Parties For Talks On New Government

Romanian President Traian Basescu invited the political parties for consultations Thursday, at 05.00 p.m., according to ths president's spokesman, Valeriu Turcan.

Romanian Cattle Breeders Only Half Satisfied With Loan Access Procedure – Union Leader

Romanian cattle breeders said that although they are only half satisfied with the state’s handling of their loan purchase problems, they will put off protesting and leave the government with one less issue to worry about.

Romania Should Stop Financing Housing, Start Public-Private Partnerships – Govt Official

Romania should stop allotting funds for building construction and the Development Ministry is working on a draft law regarding a public-private partnership between builders, town halls and banks, said Gheorghe Popescu, a director within the Ministry.

Romanian President Says Will Name Supreme Court Chief To Romanians’ Best Interest

Romanian President Traian Basescu said Thursday on radio Realitatea FM he hasn’t received the file on Lidia Barbulescu, proposed to head of the country’s Supreme Court, but he will make a decision that will serve Romanians’ interests.

Romanian President To Promulgate Public Body Reorganization, Unitary Wage Laws

Romanian President Traian Basescu Wednesday said he would promulgate the unitary wage law and the law on the reorganization of public institutions on Thursday.

Three Romanian Banks Signed Financing Agreements For Animal Breeders – President

Romanian President Traian Basescu on Wednesday said local lenders CEC, BRD and BCR signed financing agreements with the country’s paying agency in agriculture APIA and the Farm Loan Guarantee Fund to ensure funding for animal breeders.

Romania’s Unirea Urziceni Draws 1-1 With Glasgow Rangers In Champions League

Romania’s champion team Unirea Urziceni held Scotland’s Glasgow Rangers to a 1-1 draw Wednesday evening in Bucharest, in the fourth leg of the Champions League Group G.

Romania Meets IMF’s Loan Terms, With ‘Maybe’ One Exception – Official

Romania has met almost all targets set for September of its EUR13 billion standby arrangement with the International Monetary Fund, with maybe one exception, IMF mission’s head Jeffrey Franks said Wednesday.

Romanian Pres To Appoint New, “Responsible”, Prime Minister

Romanian President Traian Basescu said Wednesday in Romanian town Alexandria, at an electoral rally, that he will appoint a responsible prime minister, who would not cover the underhanded privatization dealings attempted by businesspeople and politicians.

Romanian Public Body Reorganization, Unitary Wage Laws Dubbed Constitutional

The Romanian Constitutional Court Wednesday ruled that the Law on the reorganizing of certain public authorities and the public sector unitary wage law are constitutional.

Romanian Parliament Allows Caretaker Govt To Submit 2010 State Budget

The Parliament Wednesday voted 259 to 4 and 120 abstentions to adopt a resolution requiring the country’s caretaker Government to submit the draft state budget for 2010.

Romanian Opposition Parties To Ask President To Designate Sibiu Mayor For PM

Romanian social democrat leader Mircea Geoana said Wednesday, after Prime Minister-designate Lucian Croitoru lost a confidence vote in Parliament, President Traian Basescu will be asked to designate Sibiu mayor Klaus Johannis as prime minister.

Romanian Proprietatea Fund Sells 17.36% Stake In Centrofarm For RON6.8M

Romanian investment fund Fondul Proprietatea Wednesday said it sold on the Bucharest Stock Exchange its 17.36% stake in pharmacy chain Centrofarm (CEOF.RO) for 6.83 million lei (EUR1=EUR4.3005).