Romania’s new prime minister expected on Tuesday
Talks resumed at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace in Bucharest where Romanian President Klaus Iohannis is expected to announce the new prime minister on Tuesday. President Iohannis is expected to meet leaders of the opposition Democratic Union of Ethic Humgarians in Romania (UDMR), governing National Union for Romania’s Progress (UNPR) and the Liberal and Democratic Alliance in Romania (ALDE) along with representatives of the Minority Group after the meeting on Monday with leaders of the governing Social Democratic Party (PSD) and opposition National Liberal Party (PNL). PSD leaders nominated Liviu Voinea as their proposal for the position. Mr. Voinea is Deputy Governor of Romania’s National Bank (BNR) and a former budget minister in the Ponta II Cabinet. However, PNL leaders indicated that President Iohannis would have another option.
Reactors #3 and #4 at Romania’s nuclear plant in Cernavodă… made in China
China is expected to build the reactors #3 and #4 at Romania’s nuclear plant in the south-eastern town of Cernavodă, according to an agreement signed on Tuesday. The provider China General Nuclear Power company is also expected to become the main shareholder, the document says. The project will enforce Romania’s position as regional energy provider, Romanian Energy Minister Andrei Gerea said in a statement. China’s Ambassador to Romania Xu Feihong pointed out that both reactors will comply with EU regulations in the field. Openining 35 years ago, the Cernavodă project was designed to include five reactors. The first reactor was completed in 1996 followed by a second reactor in 2007 with both reactors covering 18 percent of the country’s energy needs.
Another Romanian city hall under DNA probe
Prosecutors with Romania’s anti-corruption watchdog, the DNA, raided the offices of the city hall in the Transylvanian town of Cluj-Napoca on Tuesday. The case refers to documents concerning a project designed to improve the selling system for public transport ticktes. Bus stations came under scrutiny as DNA prosecutors were expected to check the new ticket vending machines across the city. A Ron 34 ml. contract provided the location of 61 ticket vending machines and upgrading of 87 public transport stations. The project also involved European funds. In another move, DNA prosecutors recently indicted two city council officials for wrongdoings related to a deratization contract.
Remembering the Crystal Night
Schools in the Romanian northern county of Sălaj are expected to commemorate the Crystal Night (Kristallnacht in German) on November 10, 1939 when a Nazi-coordinated pogrom was launched against the Jews in Germany and Austria. The name Kristallnacht comes from the shards of broken glass that littered the streets after Jewish-owned stores, buildings, and synagogues had their windows smashed.The event is sponsored by the Museum of the Holocaust in Northern Transylvania involving messages and prayers for peace in Israel, a country threatened by the growing instability in the Middle East.
Alexandru Danga
