Press Review - February 1, 2016

02.01.2016 By Gabriela Stan

 

Alina Gorghiu Meets With Members Of Romanian-American Business Club In Chicago

PNL co-chair Alina Gorghiu has paid a visit to the United States, where she met with the members of the Romanian-American Business Club in Chicago, telling them that Romania needs successful businesspeople to invest in the country.

"At the beginning of my visit to the USA, I met the members of the Romanian-American Business Club in Chicago, a place of warm-hearted, determined people, and honest friends of Romania.

I told them we need successful businesspeople to invest in Romania and that the country needs a better entrepreneurship culture," Alina Gorghiu posted on her Facebook page.

Gorghiu added that we should not forget that the idea of postal voting came from the Romanians in Chicago. (Puterea)

 

PM To Negotiate The Return To Two Rounds Of Mayoral Elections

Romanian Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos will negotiate on Monday with the political parties over the return to two rounds of mayoral elections.

According to political sources, PM Dacian Ciolos will propose the amending of the law in the Parliament so that the government should not be forced to issue an emergency ordinance or assume responsibility, two measures which would put him in a delicate position.

Nevertheless, a compromise in this respect is almost impossible, as there are two opposite groups and none of them seems to be willing to step back.

On one hand, the fear that mayors could be elected in two rounds has resuscitated the former governing coalition, formed of PSD-UNPR-ALDE, which wants the law to remain unchanged, so that mayors would be elected in one round of elections.

On the other hand, if the PM insists on changing the law, PSD will boycott the elections or submit a censure motion. (Adevarul)

 

Survey Of Bank Of America Managers Reveals Recession Is Near

According to a survey of Bank of America asset managers, recession is near. This conclusion is also confirmed by the US Bureau of Economic Research.

The immediate effects over the Romanian economy would be the decrease of foreign investments and more expensive loans.

The US entered the seventh year of economic growth, marking one of the longest growth cycles, but the situation in China, the world’s second largest economy, is overbalancing the global economy.

“Romania is relatively in a good position, as it continues to enjoy growth premises. Thus, the effects of the global events over the Romanian economy should be limited and the impact over the GDP should be a minor one. Nevertheless, we could witness a contracting of foreign direct investments, stricter lending conditions and a more prudent attitude from banks, higher costs for loans (…),”  said Daniela Vasile, deputy general manager of Certinvest, one of the largest independent assets managers on the Romanian market.  (Romania Libera)

 

Romanian Authorities Under Alert Over Flu Epidemic In Ukraine

Romanian authorities are also under alert due to the flu epidemic in Ukraine, which caused the death of over 120 people so far.

According to Euronews, an estimated 2.6 million people have been infected with the virus, which includes the swine flu strain, since October, while over 120 people have already died.

Romanian doctors are urging people to have the flu vaccination, especially those in the most vulnerable groups: children, the overweigh, people with diabetes, pregnant women, the elderly and those with chronic heart and lung disease.

There are 31 flu cases in Romania so far, but no death case. In Bucharest alone, 16 people are hospitalized, after being diagnosed with swine flu. (Puterea)

 

“Dracula On Ice“ World Premiere On April 6 In Bucharest

Romania will host the world premiere of one of the most spectacular ice shows, “Dracula on ice”, which will be performed on April 6 at the Palace Hall in Bucharest.

Ice theater of Sankt-Petersburg will also present the show on April 8 in Cluj-Napoca, with the leading roles played by champion skaters Tomáš Verner, Surya Bonaly and Phillippe Candeloro.

Based on a story of Bram Stoker, “Dracula on ice” show will have the world premiere in the country of Vlad the Impaler,  Voivode of Wallachia, the character who inspired the myth of Count Dracula.  (Romania Libera)