The ruling party and the opposition have different views over the preliminary report published by the Venice Commission, concerning justice bills amendments
The ruling party and the opposition have different views over the preliminary report published by the Venice Commission, concerning justice bills amendments. Yesterday, Florin Iordache, president of the special parliamentary commission, said that the document praises the legislative amendments adopted by the Romanian Parliament and holds up as an exemple the separation between the judges’ and the prosecutors’ careers and the exclusion of the president from the process of appointing at the High Court of Cassation and Justice. Florin Iordache also said that creating the section to inspect on crimes committed by judges and prosecutors is not been criticized in itself, but rather it is recommended that this section included specialized prosecutors. President Klaus Iohannis asserted that the preliminary report submitted by the Venice Commission is a very concerning signal concerning the independence of justice and the opposition asked the Constitutional Court to bear in mind the recommendations. Minister of Justice, Tudorel Toader, mentioned that Romania will send an official view before the Venice Commission’s official assessment expected later this year.
Prime minister Viorica Dăncila’s counselor, Darius Vâlcov, says gas price will fall 20% next year
Prime minister Viorica Dăncila’s counselor, Darius Vâlcov, says gas price will decrease with more than 20% next year. In a televised interview, he said that the prime minister received an address from ANRE, that states that, between 2013 and 2018, the gas price has risen by 75% and that was caused by two companies, that he did not name, that aimed to obtain a 300% profit. August 1st will see another price rise, by 4 percent. Darius Valcov mentioned that the legislation allows the government to intervene in order to regulate the gas price for three years at most.
Constitutional Court talks PNL and PMP challenge on modifying the bill concerning the status of local officials
The Constitutional Court will discuss today the challenge PNL and PMP made about modifying the bill concerning the status of local officials, that the two parties consider abusive. On the agenda for today, the Court also has the challenges made by president Klaus Iohannis and PNL and USR deputies about modifying and adding to the bill concerning The Superior Council of the Judiciary. The chief of state warns, among others, about affecting the constitutional role of CSM, that of guarantor of justice independence, while PNL and PMP consider that the law has been adopted by breaking constitutional stipulations.
Climate change causes problems in honey production
In many counties with a tradition for apiculture this year has again been a problematic time for the production of honey. The beekeepers in Olt say that climate change is to blame for the production this year being two times smaller than the one in 2017. In March, temperatures dropped to -16 degrees Celsius, in April the thermometers showed over 30 degrees and that, they say, badly hit the apiculture. According to the Agriculture Direction in Olt, in the county there are 400 beekeepers that have 35.000 bee families.
Alexandra Ionita, RADOR
