SIE chief nomination under PSD debate
Romania’s governing Social Democratic Party (PSD) is expected to debate the nomination of Mihai Răzvan Ungureanu as new head of the country’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SIE). PSD leaders will discuss the issue at a meeting of the party’s Permanent Bureau on Monday as they oppose the proposal seen as „hasty”. PSD political co-ordinator Liviu Dragnea said party lawmakers were unable to vote in favour of Mr. Ungureanu as they saw no reason to do so. Acting PM Gabriel Oprea of the governing National Union for the Progress of Romania (UNPR) is also expected to attend the meeting.
Alro Slatina at 50
The largest aluminium smelter in Central and Eastern Europe, Romania’s Alro Slatina celebrates its 50th anniversary on Monday. People wishing to visit the Alro facilities are welcomed between 10 AM – 2 PM. It was in 1963 when the Romanian government decided to build the country’s first aluminium smelter, Alro, in Slatina, the capital of the Romanian southern county of Olt, with the first batch of Romanian aluminium produced two year later in 1965. The company is currently part of the international industrial and investment group Vimetco NV, which operates in the aluminium industry.
DNA investigation in Braşov county
Prosecutors with Romania’s National Anti-Corruption Directorate (DNA) are conducting searches in homes, institutions and private companies in the Romanian central county of Braşov. Investigations also involve Braşov Mayor George Scripcaru as prosecutors already raided his home and Mr. Scripcaru’s office at the Braşov City Hall early on Monday. Sources say the Braşov mayor is investigated in a corruption-related case for abuse of office. Scripcaru, 45, allegedly helped Bepco SRL, a private energy company, to take over assets of CET (Braşov’s thermal power plant). George Scripcaru has been mayor of Braşov since 2004 and he is currently serving his third term in office. He is a member of the opposition National Liberal Party (PNL).
Romania’s Orthodox and Roman-Catholic Christians celebrate Sts. Peter and Paul’s feast
Romanian Orthodox- and Roman-Christians celebrate the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul on Monday – a liturgical feast in honour of the martyrdom in Rome of the apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paul, which is observed on June 29. For Eastern Orthodox and some Eastern Catholic Christians the feast also marks the end of the Apostles’ Fast. Saints Peter and Paul fought mightily in their lifetime but eventually their stories converged and their paths crossed in the most decisive way. Both these apostles were among the Christian leaders in Rome to be swept away following the persecution of the Emperor Nero. Both suffered a martyr’s death: Paul was beheaded, Peter was crucified. Radio Romania reported live from the Cathedral in the Romanian Black Sea port of Constanza where Saints Peter and Paul were worshipped as patrons.
Alexandru Danga
