Press Review - April 12, 2016

04.12.2016 By Gabriela Stan

PNL Candidate For Bucharest Mayor, Ludovic Orban, Quits Electoral Race

The candidate of the National Liberal Party (PNL) for mayor of Bucharest, Ludovic Orban, on Monday said he would quit the electoral race after Romania’s anticorruption department DNA announced he would be investigated under judicial control.

DNA said in a statement that Ludovic Orban is investigated under judicial control for having used his influence to obtain benefits, as he allegedly asked for a EUR50,000 financial support from a businessman for his electoral campaign.

According to prosecutors, the investor should have given the money to certain persons with high positions in two TV stations, to promote Orban’s image.

 “I have not received any money. (…) The court decides whether a person is guilty or not. My career did not end here. I’m not playing with the political life and the public activity. As long as I am involved in a criminal suit, I can’t appear in front of the citizens, asking them for their vote,” Orban said.

Orban also added that PNL has always supported the anti-corruption fight, so that his case would not be an exception. (Puterea)

PNL Could Propose Catalin Predoiu Or Adriana Saftoiu As Candidates For Bucharest Mayor

The National Liberal Party (PNL) is counting on Catalin Predoiu or Adriana Saftoiu to replace Ludovic Orban in the race for mayor of Bucharest, as they obtained similar results in the opinion polls carried out in February, PNL sources told Mediafax.

Catalin Predoiu is the president of PNL Bucharest while Adriana Saftoiu is prime vice-president of PNL. The party has repeatedly proposed Catalin Predoiu to run for mayor of Bucharest but he refused it. According to PNL sources, Saftoiu could take the responsibility of running for Bucharest mayor if PNL asks for it.

PNL candidate for mayor of Bucharest, Ludovic Orban, said on Monday that he would quit the electoral race after Romania’s anticorruption department DNA announced he would be investigated under judicial control. (Romania Libera)

Telecom Operator RCS&RDS Sues Romanian Government

Telecom operator RCS&RDS has sued the Romanian government, the country’s energy regulator ANRE, the Energy Ministry and the Economy Ministry, as it was not granted the permission to set up its own power distribution network.

In March, ANRE rejected a request of companies DELALINA SRL and FOTO DISTRIBUTIE SRL, controlled by telecom operator RCS&RDS, to be granted the power distribution license.

RCS also sued Romanian electricity distribution and supply company Electrica (EL.RO), which holds the monopoly in Oradea area, as well as utility group Enel – which holds the monopoly in Timis county, as it could have only created a power distribution network with the approval of the companies which have the concessions in the area. (Adevarul)

Chamber Of Deputies Could Debate Law On Debt Discharge On Wednesday

The initiator of the law on debt discharge, deputy Daniel Zamfir, announced that the law could be included on the daily agenda of the Chamber of Deputies on Tuesday, so that it could be debated and even voted on Wednesday.

The legal committee of the Chamber of Deputies adopted the law on debt discharge last Tuesday.

Deputies in the legal committee decided that the government-backed mortgage lending First Home program will not remain subject to the provisions of the law, while the maximum ceiling which will be considered when enforcing the law will increase from EUR150,000 to EUR250,000. The law will also be applicable to properties subject to foreclosure procedures. (Puterea)

President To Discuss National Security Laws With PSD, PNL And UDMR On Tuesday

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis will discuss the national security laws with the leaders of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), the National Liberal Party (PNL) and the Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR) on Tuesday, while the amendments have not been made public for the moment.

The PSD delegation will include the president of the party, Liviu Dragnea, the head of the Committee for the control of the activity of Romanian Intelligence Service SRI, deputy Georgian Pop, as well as Valeriu Zgonea, chairman of the Chamber of Deputies, Mihai Tudose, and Sorin Grindeanu, former communication minister.

Dragnea said he did not receive any draft law on national security, but only an invitation.

"The investigative capacity of the Romanian state should be maintained or strengthened, given the unfortunate realities in our neighboring areas as well as in other areas of the world. At the same time, the citizen’s fundamental rights should not be affected in any way. We have a point of view related to the three laws which can be the topics of tomorrow’s talks (Tuesday - e.n.) that we will discuss with the President, which will be made public after the meeting," Dragnea said. (Adevarul)