In support of a new Romanian government
Pro Romania said it would support a government led by Florin Cîţu, the current finance minister in the acting cabinet of Ludovic Orban. The announcement on Monday belongs to party leader Victor Ponta, a former prime minister, who pointed out the need of a powerful government in order to face the challenge of current COVID-19 crisis. However, the former governing Social-Democrats (PSD) said they wouldn’t support the move despite coronavirus concerns. Mr Orban said there shouldn’t be any change in the proposed cabinet as ministers put forward by Mr Cîţu were competitive, and they already made their duties in the former cabinet. The government of Mr. Orban collapsed after a no-confidence vote next month raising the chance of early elections – a plan rejected by the left wing-PSD. National elections are scheduled in late 2020, but polls could now be brought forward by several months. The snap election would be the first such poll since the fall of Communism 30 years ago.
Fighting coronavirus in Romania
•Romania confirmed a rise to 52 in people under coronavirus quarantine, according to the Strategic Communication Group in the country. However, the number of confirmed cases rermained at 17. More than 11,000 people remain under home isolation while 5 people infested are already cured.
•Radio Romania’s Gaudeamus Book Fair in the Romanian Transylvanian town of Cluj Napoca will be suspended due to measures against coronavirus. Scheduled between April 1 and 5, the fair was expected to become a space of intercultural dialogue. However, the fair opening may be scheduled for a later time, according to organisers.
•As the capital Bucharest announced its first alleged coronavirus cases recently, museums in the capital Bucharest could close for the rest of March, officials announced. The museums include among others the Şuţu Palace (The Museum of the City of Bucharest) and the National Museum of Romanian Literature. However, art exhibition remain open. Similar closures involve the Bucharest Comic Opera, the Youth City Center, ARCUB, Creart and PRODEUS.
Crisis cell for Romanian tourist operators
Romania’s Economy Ministry established a crisis cell in support of the country’s tourist operators affected by COVID-19 crisis. The programme involves a three month – payroll tax cut which could be extended to several months, and support of domestic tourism. Fall in visitor numbers follows hit from global coronavirus crisis. Bucharest hotels are some 30 percent down in terms of both occupancy and average room rates as compared to figures last year.
Alexandru Danga – RADOR
