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Justice Minister Announces Emergency Decree Amending Judicial Bills

19:10, 19 Feb. 2019
Romanian Justice Minister Tudorel Toader announced on Tuesday that the country’s Government passed an emergency decree with several amendments to judicial bills, mainly regarding the criteria for appointing top prosecutors.

Government Adopts Procedure To Designate Romania’s European Prosecutor

18:25, 19 Feb. 2019
Romania’s Government adopted in its Tuesday meeting an emergency decree which regulates the selection procedures of its prosecutor which will be part of the upcoming European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO).

Supreme Court To Hear Ruling Party Leader On March 18

16:13, 19 Feb. 2019
Romania’s Supreme Court decided on Tuesday to schedule a new hearing for Social Democrat Party (PSD) leader Liviu Dragnea, at his own request, in the case where he is appealing a prison sentence for his role in fictitious hiring at a state agency.

Flu Epidemic Death Toll Reaches 138

15:47, 19 Feb. 2019
Romania’s National Public Health Institute (INSP) announced on Tuesday that three more deaths were attributed to the country’s ongoing flu epidemic, with the number of deaths reaching 138.

Magistrate Investigation Section Chief Rejects Second Request To Recuse Kovesi Case Prosecutor

14:17, 19 Feb. 2019
The chief prosecutor of the Supreme Court’s Section for Investigating Judicial Offences (SIIJ) decided to reject a second request from EPPO chief prosecutor lead candidate Laura Codruta Kovesi to recuse her case prosecutor Adina Florea, judicial sources told MEDIAFAX on Tuesday.

Prime Minister: Government To Look Into Amending Greed Tax Decree

20:09, 18 Feb. 2019
Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dancila announced on Monday that the cabinet will hold talks regarding amendments for the emergency decree adopted in December 2018 which introduced several new fiscal measures, including a bank asset tax dubbed “the greed tax”.

Kovesi Files New Recusal Request For Case Prosecutor

16:54, 18 Feb. 2019
Romanian prosecutor Laura Codruta Kovesi filed a new request on Monday to recuse magistrate investigation section prosecutor Adina Florea from a case where she is suspected of several offences in the 2011 repatriation of a fugitive businessman, according to judicial sources.

General Prosecutor Rejects Request To Recuse Magistrate Investigation Section Chief From Kovesi Case

16:44, 18 Feb. 2019
Romanian General Prosecutor Augustin Lazar rejected on Monday a request made by prosecutor Laura Codruta Kovesi to recuse the chief of the Supreme Court’s Section for Investigating Judicial Offences (SIIJ), Gheorghe Stan, from procedures in a case involving her.

Ruling Party Leader Files Request To Make New Statements In Fictitious Hiring Case

16:05, 18 Feb. 2019
The chairman of Romania’s ruling Social Democrat Party (PSD), Liviu Dragnea, announced through his attorneys on Monday that he wants to make new statements in the appeal against the prison sentence he received in the fictitious hiring case in 2018, currently judged at the Supreme Court.

Prime Minister Notifies President Of Transports Candidacy Withdrawal

12:31, 18 Feb. 2019
Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dancila sent President Klaus Iohannis an official letter in which she announced the withdrawal of Social Democrat Party (PSD) treasurer Mircea Draghici’s candidacy for the office of transports minister, Government sources told MEDIAFAX.

Government Sets March 28 Deadline For European Election Candidacies

19:01, 15 Feb. 2019
Romania’s Government passed on Friday a general framework and timetable for this year’s European Parliament elections, setting a March 28 deadline for filing candidacies.

Kovesi Case: Inquiry Extended Over General Prosecutor’s Office

18:37, 15 Feb. 2019
The Supreme Court’s Section for Investigating Judicial Offences (SIIJ) decided on Friday afternoon to extend investigations in the case where prosecutor Laura Codruta Kovesi is investigated for the 2011 repatriation of a fugitive businessman over the country's General Prosecutor’s Office.

President Criticizes 2019 Budget: Ruling Coalition Shows Its Disdain For Romanians’ Expectations

17:55, 15 Feb. 2019
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis vehemently criticized the 2019 budget adopted by the Parliament on Friday, accusing the country’s ruling coalition of showing “total disdain” for the citizens’ expectations by increasing funds for political parties.

Bucharest Pulmonology Institute Faces Nosocomial Infection Crisis

16:12, 15 Feb. 2019
Two patients hospitalized at the “Marius Nasta” Pulmonology and Phtisiology Institute in Bucharest died this week due to nosocomial infection with an antibiotic-resistant bacteria, while three others were also diagnosed with the infection, two of which are in serious condition.

Government Could Pass Decree For Child Allowances Increase On Tuesday

15:38, 15 Feb. 2019
Romania’s Government could pass an emergency decree on Tuesday to modify the state child allowances law, in order to allow the increase included by amendment in the 2019 budget bill to be enacted, political sources told MEDIAFAX.

EPPO Lead Candidate Officially Suspected Of Several Offenses, Requests Case Prosecutor’s Recusal

14:51, 15 Feb. 2019
Romanian prosecutor Laura Codruta Kovesi, the candidate favored to lead the upcoming European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), said on Friday that she was informed she is a suspect in a case involving the repatriation of a fugitive businessman, and requested the recusal of the case prosecutor.

EPPO Chief Prosecutor Favorite Attends Court Following Subpoena

13:40, 15 Feb. 2019
Romanian prosecutor Laura Codruta Kovesi, who is favored to be appointed chief of the upcoming European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), arrived at the Supreme Court’s Section for Investigating Judicial Offences (SIIJ) for a hearing on Friday, after she received a controversial subpoena.

Kindergarten Investigated After Child With ASD Was Locked Inside Empty Classroom During Inspection

19:20, 14 Feb. 2019
The Bucharest Municipal School Inspectorate (ISMB) launched an inquiry into a Bucharest kindergarten on Thursday, after reports emerged that a little girl diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) was locked inside an empty classroom during an official inspection.

Parliament Plenary Approves 2019 Budget Amendment Increasing Child Allowances

18:51, 14 Feb. 2019
The combined chambers of the Romanian Parliament approved on Thursday a Liberal Party amendment to the 2019 budget bill which raises allowances for children aged 2-18 from RON84 to RON150 per month.

President Requests Magistrate Investigation Section To Clarify Kovesi Case

18:14, 14 Feb. 2019
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis requested the Supreme Court’s Judicial Offences Investigation Section (SIIJ) on Thursday to urgently clarify the situation surrounding a case opened against former anticorruption chief Laura Codruta Kovesi.

Court Maintains Decision To Annul Bucharest Municipal Companies

17:19, 14 Feb. 2019
The Bucharest Appeal Court rejected on Wednesday a revision request from the Bucharest City Hall against a decision which annuls the establishment of 22 municipal companies, in a final decision, according to opposition party USR, which initiated the lawsuit.

European Commission On Kovesi Case: All EPPO Candidates Must Be Treated Fairly

16:34, 14 Feb. 2019
The European Commission announced on Thursday that it is closely following the events surrounding the process of appointing a chief prosecutor for the upcoming European Public Prosecutor’s Office, and that all candidates for the role must be treated fairly throughout the process.

Parliament Adopts Individual Articles Of 2019 Budget

15:44, 14 Feb. 2019
The combined chambers of Romania’s Parliament adopted on Thursday morning the individual articles pertaining to the 2019 state budget, with debates continuing on the bill’s annexes, which include budgets for chief authorizing officers.

Hungarian Minority Leader: We Will Vote 2019 Budget In Form Approved By Committee

15:08, 14 Feb. 2019
The leader of Romania’s main Hungarian minority party UDMR, Kelemen Hunor, announced on Thursday that the party’s MPs and senators will vote the 2019 state budget if it submitted in accordance with the report issued by the Parliament’s budget-finances committee on the project.

Top European Prosecutor Candidate Subpoenaed By Magistrate Investigation Section

14:25, 14 Feb. 2019
Romanian prosecutor Laura Codruta Kovesi, considered favorite to be appointed chief of the upcoming European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), announced on Wednesday that she was subpoenaed by the country’s magistrate investigation section for a case in which she is suspected of abuse of office.

Finance Ministry Official Says Bank Tax on Assets is Quarterly

12:07, 14 Feb. 2019
Romania's tax on banks' financial assets is to be levied quarterly on the quarterly assets balance, an official at the Ministry of Finance said Thursday.

Health Minister: Inquiry Launched Concerning Possible Fake Medical Phyiscist

18:55, 13 Feb. 2019
A third scandal in the past two weeks regarding fake medical practitioners in Romania erupted on Wednesday, as Health Minister Sorina Pintea announced investigations into a possible fake medical physicist employed by the ministry.

Constitutional Court Postpones Ruling On Tax Evasion Bill Challenge

17:53, 13 Feb. 2019
Romania’s Constitutional Court postponed on Wednesday a ruling on a challenge filed by opposition parties against the tax evasion adopted by the Parliament in December 2018, which allows all culprits in a tax evasion case to escape prosecution if one of them pays the damages and a 20% fine.

Health Minister: Inquiry Launched Concerning Possible Fake Physician

17:06, 13 Feb. 2019
A third scandal in the past two weeks regarding fake medical practitioners in Romania erupted on Wednesday, as Health Minister Sorina Pintea announced investigations into a possible fake physician employed by the ministry.

Cab Drivers Protest Ridesharing Apps In Major Cities

15:09, 13 Feb. 2019
Hundreds of Romanian cab drivers held a protest against Uber and other ride-sharing apps in Bucharest, while other similar protests were staged in Timisoara and Iasi on Wednesday.

EC Allots EUR517M for Bucharest Airport Metro Line

14:29, 13 Feb. 2019
The European Commission on Wednesday approved EUR517 million financing for a new metro line in Bucharest that would eventually run to the Otopeni international airport.

Constitutional Court Rejects Lower Chamber Regulation Challenge

14:28, 13 Feb. 2019
Romania’s Constitutional Court rejected on Wednesday a challenge against the Lower Chamber’s Regulation, brought forth by a number of 63 MPs.

Flu Epidemic Death Toll Grows To 118

13:40, 13 Feb. 2019
An 82-year old man from Arges county became the latest victim of Romania’s influenza epidemic on Wednesday, raising the death toll to 118.

Romania’s Current Account Deficit Widens to EUR9.4B in 2018

13:30, 13 Feb. 2019
Romania's current account balance posted a deficit of EUR9.416 billion in 2018, nearly 60% higher than the EUR5.97 billion deficit recorded in 2017, central bank data showed Wednesday.

Romania Inflation Rate Flat at 3.3% in January

10:17, 13 Feb. 2019
Romania's annual inflation rate stood at 3.3% in January, the same as in December 2018, data from the country's statistics board showed Wednesday.

Vasilescu Withdraws Candidacy For Development Office Following President Refusals

20:36, 12 Feb. 2019
Former Labor Minister Lia Olguta Vasilescu announced on Tuesday evening that she withdrew her candidacies for the roles of regional development minister and deputy prime minister, after her bid was rejected several times by President Klaus Iohannis.

President Accuses Ruling Party Of Populism Regarding 2019 Budget

19:50, 12 Feb. 2019
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis accused the country’s ruling Social Democrat Party (PSD) resorted to populism after its MPs voted to pass an amendment in parliamentary committees which cuts the Romanian Intelligence Service’s share of the 2019 budget.

Parliament Committees Approve 2019 Education Ministry Budget On A 46.7% Yearly Increase

19:08, 12 Feb. 2019
The Romanian Parliament’s combined budget-finances committees gave a positive review on Tuesday for the Education Ministry’s proposed 2019 budget, worth RON30.6 billion, a 46.7% increase from 2018.

Rieker Closes Shoe Factory In Lugoj, About 700 Employees To Be Laid Off

18:26, 12 Feb. 2019
Approximately 700 employees of the Rieker footwear factory in Lugoj, Timis county will be laid off after the factory will close this spring, the Timis Territorial Labor Inspectorate (ITM) announced on Tuesday.

New Fake Doctor Case Discovered At Ilfov County Public Hospital

17:55, 12 Feb. 2019
A woman who worked 10 years for the Ilfov Emergency Hospital was found to have falsified her medical degree, Health Minister Sorina Pintea announced on Tuesday, after newspaper Libertatea published a report on the matter one week after it also broke the news on a fake Italian plastic surgeon.