Press Review - August 28, 2018

08.28.2018 By Oana Gavrila

Leu Loses Ground vs Euro, Firms vs US Dollar

The Romanian leu lost ground to the euro on Monday, standing at 4.6416 vs the euro at midday, from 4.6377 on Friday.

On the other hand, the leu firmed against the US dollar, standing at 3.9959 to the dollar on Monday from 4.0089 on Friday, central bank data showed.

Central Bank Injects Over RON12B in Repo Operation

Romania's central bank injected RON12.17 billion into the Romanian market in a repo operation on Monday.

This was the largest repo operation in the past six years.

Romania's central bank resumed repo operations in August 2018 after eight months

Trump Lawyer Pens Letter To Romanian President Criticizing Secret Protocols

The lawyer of US President Donald Trump, Rudolph Giuliani, sent a letter on Monday to Romanian President Klaus Iohannis and to other Romanian officials, calling for an investigation into secret service-judicial protocols regarding collaboration on legal matters.

In the letter, Giuliani criticizes what he calls “excesses” made by Romania’s top anticorruption body, the National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA), which he accused of intimidating judges, witnesses and defense lawyers and of incorrect judicial processes.

He criticizes the recently declassified secret protocols regarding judicial collaboration, signed between the Romanian Intelligence Service (SRI) and DNA, the Supreme Court, the General Prosecutor’s Office and the Superior Court of the Magistracy.

Giuliani also called for an amnesty for “those condemned following DNA excesses”.

Giuliani is the current chief-lawyer of US President Donald Trump, after previously serving as Mayor of New York – including during the 9/11 terrorist attacks – and as a US federal prosecutor.

USR: Riot Police Chiefs Hide Truth On Who Gave Intervention Orders on Aug 10

Romania's opposition USR party said the Bucharest prefect's statements show riot police chiefs are hiding the truth about who ordered their violent intervention at the August 10 rally.

Bucharest prefect Speranta Cliseru told journalists on Monday that she remembers signing the order to forcefully disperse the anti-government rally on August 10 “after midnight”, contradicting previous information on the matter.

Romania’s riot police initially said that the dispersion order was given at 23:11 local time on August 10 but later said it had been signed as early as 20:00 local time.

Riot police, overseen by Interior Minister Carmen Dan, also said that Cliseru oversaw the events from its mobile command center. Cliseru said she was in a government building, not the command center.

More than 500 people required medical assistance following an anti-government rally in Bucharest, on August 10, during which riot police used tear gas and water cannons in clashes with groups of violent demonstrators.

Military prosecutors are currently investigating the intervention, which was considered by many protesters as being heavy-handed and harmful to peaceful demonstrators.