Parliamentary immunity lifting approved
Romanian Senate’s Permanent Bureau approved an amendement allowing the lifting of parliamentary immunity. “The change comes following recommendations of the European Commission”, acting Senate speaker Alina Gorghiu told reporters on Monday. “I believe the change was necessary”, Ms Gorghiu said. The European Commission has for years seen the delays in voting to strip MPs of their parliamentary immunity as a sign of Romania’s lack of seriousness in pursuing an anti-coruption drive. Under Romanian law, an MP could only be prosecuted with the approval of the legislature while investigations of senior public officials and former ministers had to be approved by the President.
Illegal migrants found in Romania
46 illegal migrants were found hiding in two trucks while trying to cross illegally into Hungary, Radio Romania reported on Monday. 38 illegal migrants were found at Romania’s western check point of Nădlac, hidden in a truck of a Turkish driver claiming he was about to transport iron bars to Poland. Another 8 foreign citizens were found at the Romanian check point of Vârșand in a truck allegedly transporting cleaning products. The migrants are from Syria, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Romania remains a transit country for most migrants, although many give up their plan to get to Western Europe and try to find work in Romania.
RON recovery reported
Romania’s national currency, the Leu (RON), recovered on Monday against both the European corrency and US dollar, according to a statement of Romania’s National Bank (BNR). The euro hit RON 4.88, down by 0.05 points from previous level while the US dollar went down at RON 4.89, which is 9.6 points lower from its level the previous day. The BNR closely monitors developments in the domestic and international environment and stands ready to use the tools at its disposal to achieve the fundamental objective of price stability in the medium term. However, uncertainties and risks are associated with the fiscal policy stance, given the coordinates of this year’s budget programme, aiming at the progress in fiscal consolidation in line with commitments under the excessive deficit procedure, yet in a challenging economic and social environment domestically and globally.
Alexandru Danga
