Wednesday, June 17th

Portuguese President on a visit to Romania

Portuguese President Anibal Cavaco Silva and wife Maria Cavaco Silva are currently in Romania for an official visit. Mr. Cavaco Silva was expected to meet Romanian counterpart Klaus Iohannis at the Presidential Palace at Cotroceni in the capital Bucharest on Wednesday. Talks between the two presidents were scheduled at noon followed by a joint press briefing. Some 500 Portuguese companies are currently operating in Romania as Portugal ranks 21 among the foreign investors in the country, according to official figures.

Nephew of a former Romanian President under investigation

A nephew of former Romanian President Traian Băsescu is under investigation for his alleged involvement in a corruption-related case. Prosecutors of Romania’s National Anti-Corruption Directorate (DNA) charged Dragoş Băsescu of influence peddling after he allegedly claimed 1 million euro from a businessman in exchange for his help with a criminal case. Prosecutors brought Mr. Băsescu for questioning at the DNA headquarters in the capital Bucharest on Wednesday. Dragoş Băsescu is the son Mircea Băsescu, former Romanian President’s brother, arrested a year ago on similar charges.

A mayor and his deputy under DNA investigation

The mayor and his deputy in the Romanian Transylvanian town of Miercurea Ciuc were sent to court for alleged corruption. Romania’s anti-corruption watchdog, the DNA, alleges that Miercurea Ciuc Mayor Raduly Robert and his deputy Domokos Szöke were involved in a corruption case including abuse of office, forgery ad conflict of interests.
Mr. Raduly and Mr. Domokos first came to DNA attention in May. The case will go on trial at a court in Harghita county.

7th edition of SRS’s International Conference in Bucharest

The Society for Romanian Studies is opening its annual international conference in Rmania’s capital Bucharest on Tuesday. The theme of the conference is “Linking Past, Present and Future: The 25th Anniversary of Regime Change in Romania and Moldova (1989/1991)” with the Faculty of Political Science at the University of Bucharest as special host. Participants include more than 300 scientist in 22 countries. The Society for Romanian Studies is an international interdisciplinary academic organisation based in the United States of America and dedicated to promoting the professional study, criticism, and research of all aspects of Romanian culture and civilization, particularly concerning the countries of Romania and Moldova. Established in 1973 by a group of enthusiasts, the Society was established as the first Romanian Studies organisation in the world, gathering scholars, students and government officials from different countries.