Monday, May 16th

Romanian Prime Minister on a visit to US

Romanian Prime Minister Dacian Cioloş is expected in the US for a working visit next weekened (May 22 – 25). The top of his agenda includes a meeting with US Vice President Joe Biden and meetings with American officials, business executives and members of the Romanian community in the Washington region. The Romanian delegation will also include Foreign Minister Lazăr Comănescu, Energy Minister Victor Grigorescu, Romanian cabinet’s chief of staff Dragoş Tudorache, and Manuel Costescu, State Secretary with the Public – Private Foreign Investement and Partnership Department. The visit is also promoting a concept such as „From Shared Security to Shared Prosperity”, accordig to a government statement issued last week.

Another Romanian MP under DNA investigation

Romania’s left-wing Social Democratic Party (PSD) is expected to discuss the current status of Titus Corlăţean, one of the party’s senators who is under investigation with country’s National Anti-Corruption Directorate (DNA). „The DNA decision took me by surprise as I couldn’t see any reason”, PSD leader Liviu Dragnea told reporters on Monday. However, a DNA request on the matter is still to be approved by the Senate while Mr. Dragnea stopped short from announcing a date. A former foreign minister, Mr.Corlăţean resigned two years ago after thousands of people rallied in support of compatriots abroad who were turned away as they tried to vote in the first round of a presidential election in Novemver 2014.

A new mandate for the head of Romania’s anti-corruption watchdog

The head of Romania’s National Anti-Corruption Directorate (DNA) starts a new mandate on Monday. Laura Codruța Kövesi is actually coming back to the DNA, a position she has held since 2013 after leaving the job of Prosecutor General of Romania, attached to the High Court of Cassation and Justice. Ms. Kövesi was the first woman and the youngest Prosecutor General in Romania’s history. She is also the only public servant to serve a whole mandate in the position. Romanian Justice Minister Raluca Prună is also expected to confirm Marius Iacob and Călin Nistor as DNA deputy chief prosecutors.

Final day of Mihail Jora National Competition

The Romanian Atheneum in Romania’s capital Bucharest hosts the gala concert of the Mihail Jora National Competition on Monday. The Mihail Jora Contest is the oldest competition of musical criticism and performance in Romania where participants include young critics, vocalists along with piano and cello performers.The competition ends with a concert where young Romanian, Romanian-born or Moldovan musicians will perform some of Jora’ famous works. Born in 1891, Mihail Jora was a Romanian composer, pianist ad conductor with music studies in Leipzig, Germany. His works include four ballets, one symphony, chamber music works etc. He died in 1971.

Alexandru Danga – RADOR