Press Review - February 1, 2018

02.01.2018 By Oana Gavrila

General Prosecutor’s Office To Investigate After Dragnea's Statements

The General Prosecutor’s Office will conduct checks as of Wednesday after Romania’s ruling party leader Liviu Dragnea said that the head of Romanian Security and Guard Service (SPP) claimed he would be executed.

Dragnea said on Monday that a friend of deputy prime minister Paul Stanescu was informed by the head of SPP Lucian Pahontu that the ruling party leader would be executed sometime in March and that Paul Stanescu will be protected, so as to become chairman of the party.

The social democrat leader also said that it might be possible that Pahontu had similar discussions with former social democrat prime ministers Sorin Grindeanu and Mihai Tudose, “which might explain their tensed relations with the Social Democratic Party and the ruling coalition.”

Prime minister Viorica Dancila and all Cabinet ministers have renounced the SPP's services immediately after the Cabinet was sworn in and would be protected by the riot police.

OMV Petrom Invests EUR18M In Largest Fuel Depot In Western Romania

Romania's oil and gas company OMV Petrom (SNP.RO), controlled by Austria's OMV, has started the construction of the biggest fuel depot in western Romania, in Arad, within an investment of over EUR18 million.

Arad mayor Gheorghe Falca said Arad will become a very attractive city for the industries using much fuel.

Government Postpones Tax Form 600 Until Apr 15

The Cabinet decided in its first meeting to postpone the deadline for submissions of tax form 600 until April 15.

People with income from independent activities are supposed to fill in and submit this form to be charged social security contributions. They were initially required to submit the form by January 31.

Before the government decided to postpone it, both the prime minister and the finance minister said it would be repealed.

Derailed Freight Train Blocks Rail Traffic in Southern Romania

Railway traffic was blocked Thursday morning between Valea Alba and Drobeta Turnu Severin, southern Romania, after a freight train derailed. No one was injured.

Local emergency services said one train car tipped over and three others derailed. The train had 20 cars.