News review of the day – March 11th

Romanian PM Victor Ponta under questioning

The leader of the governing Social Democratic Party is expectd to appear before Romania’s highest court for questioning on Wednesday. Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta will answer questions concerning his alleged involvement in the so-called „Referendum Case”. Judges made the decision after lawyers of the defendants included Mr. Ponta on a list of witnesses expected to appear in court for hearings. Other PSD senior officials appeared in court last week with former Energy Minister Constantin Niţă and Bucharest District 3 Mayor Robert Negoiţă among others. The file on a referendum fraud opened on October 7, 2013 followed by a trial starting on November 15, 2014. Deputy Prime Minister Liviu Dragnea, also the country’s Minister for Regional Development and Public Administration, along with other 74 PSD members or supporters in the counties of Teleorman, Vrancea, Gorj and Olt are on trial for their involvement into the case. Mr. Dragnea is being investigated on suspicion of masterminding the fraud which allegedly included use of names of dead or fictious people.

Romania’s MAE spokesperson dismissed

The spokesperson of Romania’s Foreign Ministry has been dismissed from the job on Wednesday. The move comes after Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu gave his visiting German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier a booklet marking 135 years of Romanian – German diplomatic relations which showed a map of France with a German flag covering it at a press conference in the capital Bucharest on Monday. Mr. Aurescu decided the dismissal of spokeswoman Brânduşa Predescu following the incident for which MAE expressed its deepest regret. However, the incident was not expected to affect the positive impact of Mr. Steinmeier’s visit on relations between Romania and Germany, the ministry pointed out.

INS report on energy

The final energy consumption was down nearly 7 percent in January compared to the same time last year while people’s energy consumption was up 5 percent, according to a report issued by Romania’s National Institute of Statistics (INS) on Wednesday. Energy provided by wind farms, thermic centrals and the nuclear power plant in Cernavodă was down while consumption from  hydroelectric power stations and solar photovoltaic sources was up almost 36 percent. Energy exports raised by 175.2 percent, INS report says.

Romania’s „Croissant and Milk” programme under threat

Romania could lose European funding of its „Croissant and Milk” programme. But such move could be avoided unless country was to accelerate its national strategy according to European standards, the Romanian Centre for European Policies warned on Tuesday. However, its report shows that the controversial programme proved its efficiency as a substantial aid for children in rural areas. Romania’s Agriculture Ministry officials are currently considering a strategy ensuring milk deliveries in schools. The report on the matter should be submitted to the European Comission by July 1st.

Alexandru Danga