Press Review - August 17, 2018

08.17.2018 By Oana Gavrila

Leu Firms Slightly Vs Euro

The Romanian leu firmed slightly on Thursday, gaining 0.01% against the euro, standing at 4.6586 units to the euro at midday Thursday from 4.6590 units on Tuesday, central bank data showed.

At the same time, the leu lost 0.3% to the US dollar, standing at 4.0972 units Thursday from 4.0854 units Tuesday.

Former Social Democrat PM Calls for Talk on Party Criticism

Former social democrat prime minister Mihai Tudose told MEDIAFAX on Thursday that the problems specified in two open letters pegged by social democrat senators require a “civilized” discussion within the party’s leadership, criticizing colleagues and organizations who reacted vehemently against them.

Tudose also described as “nonsensical” the action of Social Democratic Party (PSD) county branches who criticized former education minister Ecaterina Andronescu, after the latter published an open letter requesting the resignation of both party leader Liviu Dragnea and the Viorica Dancila Cabinet on Tuesday.

“I think a discussion within the party is needed, and not only on the issues brought to attention by Mrs. Andronescu. There was also the open letter of Mr. Badalau in January, right? And that one was never discussed somehow. Maybe he was wrong, but let’s discuss it within the party, in a civilized manner, with arguments for and against, no one owns the absolute truth,” Tudose said on Thursday, when asked by MEDIAFAX to comment the letter pegged by Andronescu.

The party's national executive committee is expected to meet at the end of August or early September.

USR Denounces Baia Mare Mayor's Hypocritical Gesture

Romanian opposition party USR said Thursday Baia Mare mayor Catalin Chereches's signing of the party's petition to ban people with criminal records form public office is a hypocritical gesture.

"Everyone has the right to sign on our initiative but we will not applaud Chereches' hypocritical gesture. He did all he could to stop the gathering of signatures in the city,” USR said in a statement.

Chereches announced that he signed and helped gather signatures for the “No Convicts in Public Offices Petition”. He is currently prosecuted for corruption charges and was elected while in protective custody.

In May of 2016, Chereches was put on trial by anticorruption prosecutors for receiving bribes. While in protective custody, he was elected for a new term as mayor of Baia Mare, spending his first months of the new term in house arrest.

The “No Convicts in Public Offices” petition is a citizen initiative for modifying the Constitution supported by opposition party USR, which would see convicted individuals not eligible to run for any public offices.

USR leader Dan Barna said the petition has raised the required half a million signatures.