News review of the day – December 18th

The opposition PNL party has a new leader

Alina Gorghiu, a former spokeswoman of the opposition National Liberal Party (PNL), is the party’s new leader. Ms. Gorghiu received 47 votes against the 27 votes of her rival Ludovic Orban at a meeting of PNL’s National Political Bureau on Thursday. Alina Gorghiu is replacing Klaus Iohannis, the former party leader who defeated Prime Minister Victor Ponta in the presidental elections last month. „Before my colleagues today I announce my resignation as PNL leader as I am expected to take over the country’s presidency on Sunday. I am also taking the opportunity to publicly congratulate Ms. Alina Gorghiu on her winning the party’s leadership”, Mr. Iohannis said in a speech at the meeting.

Romanian outgoing president met Romania’s President-Elect

Romania’s President-Elect Klaus Iohannis met outgoing President Traian Băsescu at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace on Wednesday. The meeting was focused on issues concerning the role I am expected to play as president of Romania after the swearing-in ceremony on Sunday, December 21st, Mr. Iohannis wrote in a Facebook message. The inauguration of the president of Romania is an event marking the commencement of a five-year presidential mandate. Mr. Iohannis and Mr. Băsescu are expected to meet again on the occasion.

Romanians among the most optimistic Europeans about their continent’s future

Almost 60 percent of Romanians believe the EU image is rather positive while more than 45 percent believe their voice counts within the EU, according to a Eurobarometer survey issued by the European Commission on Wednesday. Romanians are also optimistic about their continent’s future with 74 percent just under the 78 percent revealed in the Irish Republic. Romanians are most concerned about unemployment, growth and life costs. The Autumn 2014 Standard Eurobarometer shows that confidence in the EU is increasing. The survey was conducted through face-to-face interviews between 8 and 17 November 2014 with a total of 32,598 people interviewed in EU Member States and candidate countries.

New album of Leontina Văduva

Acclaimed opera soprano Leonida Văduva is expected to release her new album „Verdi – Wagner: Corespondenţe” at the Humanitas Bookshop at Cişmigiu in the capital Bucharest on December 22, 2014. The event is sponsored by the Music, Art and Culture Association and the Humanitas Bookshop in partnership with Radio Romania, Domeniile Sâmbureşti, Aqua Carpatica, Raw Coco and Floria.ro under the auspices of the Italian Embassy in the Romanian capital. Participants include musical producer Oana Drăgulinescu, journalist and TV producer Marius Constantinescu and Mihai Stan, president of the Music, Art and Culture Association along with actress Medeea Marinescu, pianist Masaku Nakano and show host Marius Constantinescu.