Press Review - December 17, 2018

12.17.2018 By Oana Gavrila

Dragnea Calls for High Treason Charges against Iohannis

Social Democrat Party chairman Liviu Dragnea called for charges to be pressed against the head of state, alleging high treason for saying the country was not prepared to take over the EU Council presidency.

In a 90-minute speech at his party's meeting Sunday, Dragnea, convicted for vote rigging and pending an appeal on a separate conviction, also called on the government to pass an emergency decree giving amnesty to “thousands” he claimed were wrongly imprisoned on charges of corruption.

Dragnea again attacked multinationals and claimed his critics were paid by George Soros in bitcoin.

Opposition leaders commented Dragnea's speech showed he was paranoid and desperate for power.

Healthcare Unions Threaten Strike If Wages Frozen

A union federation in healthcare has threatened to protest, culminating in a full-blown strike, if the government passes an emergency decree freezing wages at the level of December 2018.

Wages are supposed to grow starting January 2019.

The government has not yet drafted next year's state budget and there are concerns it may resort to a wage freeze. The finance minister and prime minister have denied any plans to freeze wages in the public sector.