Renewed negotiations between trade unionists and employers at ROMATSA
Negotiations are expected to resume between trade unionists and employers at ROMATSA (Romania’s Air Traffic Services and Administration) on Thursday. The trade union wants employees to be able to retire at 55, higher pay and a new agreement allowing controllers to be able to move into different, less stressful jobs at a certain age. The trade union is threatening strike actions unless Romanian Transport Minister Iulian Matache will remove from office the current administration. However, an international law requires ROMATSA to warn its international counterparts 48 hours before the strike is supposed to happen.
Former Romanian interior minister under investigation
A former Romanian interior minister appeared before prosecutors with the National Anti-Corruption Directorate (DNA) in the Romanian eastern county of Bacău on Thursday. Former Interior Minister Gabriel Berca, also a presidential adviser to former Romanian President Traian Băsescu, is under investigation for his alleged involvement in a corruption-related file related to wrongdoings in 2012. Mr. Berca allegedly received more that 180,000 euros in exchange of his influence among government officials allowing authorities of a local city hall to receive public funds. The former minister allegedly pledged the city hall of Ardeoani would receive some RON 5.6 million for construction works in the village. A former Romanian MP, Mihai Banu, is also involved in the case as he is accused of playing the go-between in the affair. Mr. Banu is also under DNA investigation in a bribery case. He is accused of receiving a 270,000 euro bribe in exchange of services. Also involved in the case is his son, Lucian Banu, a lawyer.
DNA raids in Bucharest and other Romanian counties
Prosecutors with Romania’s National Anti-Corruption Directorate (DNA) conducted raids on 11 locations in the capital Bucharest and the southern counties of Teleorman and Prahova on Thursday. The searches focused on homes and companies owed by people suspected of corruption, tax evasion and money laundring crimes occured between 2008 and 2009, acording to a DNA statement. The home of Ioan Niculae, a well-known businessman, and his InterAgro company were also under DNA investigation. According to Forbes magazine, Mr. Niculae was the richest Romanian, with an estimated fortune of $1.2 billion as of March 2014.
PROTV’s „La Măruţă” under scrutiny
The Committee for Cultural and Media Affairs in the Romanian Senate called on the country’s National Audio-Visual Council (CNA) to open an „emergency” investigation into the case of „La Măruţă”, a TV reality show produced by PROTV channel. The committee expressed its outrage about the case of a teen girl repeatedly raped by 7 young men in the Romanian eastern county of Vaslui last November. The case was subject to debates during the Tuesday edition of „La Măruţă” show where the identity of the victim was disclosed. The Senate committee calls on the CNA to impose harshest sanctions against the channel and the people involved. The sensation and audience seeking at any price is a dishonour to the journalistic profession, pointed out a committee statement issued on Thursday.
Alexandru Danga
