Press Review - February 13, 2018

02.13.2018 By Oana Gavrila

Ex-Lawmaker Accuses Prosecutors Of Misconduct, Judicial Inspection Notified Ex-Officio

Former lawmaker Vlad Cosma, who is currently on trial for influence peddling, accused Romanian anti-corruption prosecutors of official misconduct and asking him to falsify probes in a case revolving around former MEP and businessman Sebastian Ghita.

Vlad Cosma presented on Sunday evening several recordings in which prosecutors allegedly asked him to make up evidence and prosecutor Lucian Onea allegedly asked him to falsify documents which were later used in Sebastian Ghita’s case.

The anti-corruption prosecutors’ body said in a statement Monday that Cosma misstated the situation and that people close to Cosma had recently threatened the prosecutors to publish material that would compromise them if they fail to solve the case favorably.

The Judicial Inspection, a special unit that oversees magistrates’ conduct, was meanwhile notified ex-officio and Prime Minister Viorica Dancila asked justice minister Tudorel Toader to “urgently” return to Romania from a visit to Japan.

Toader said he would announce his decision regarding the management of the anti-graft body when he returns to capital Bucharest.

CFA Romania Analysts See Leu Topping 4.7 Units Vs Euro

The Chartered Financial Analysts Association – Romania (CFA Romania) expects the Romanian leu to exceed the threshold of 4.7 units per euro, the three-month ROBOR index to climb towards 3% and the inflation to rise to 3.7% in the next 12 months.

The three-month ROBOR index, used to calculate interests on loans in lei with variable interest, is expected to reach 2.95% in the next 12 months (compared with 3.21% in the previous year).

The inflation rate is seen at 3.71% in the next 12 months (February 2019 - February 2018), CFA Romania also said in its statement.

Dan Baciu Appointed Interim Director General of Bucharest Airports Company

Dan Baciu on Monday was appointed interim Director General of Bucharest Airports National Company (CNAB), the company managing the Otopeni and Baneasa airports in Romanian capital Bucharest, after Bogdan Mindrescu resigned on February 8.

He was appointed for a four-month term.

Baciu is a former financial director at the company.

Mindrescu resigned on Tuesday without stating the reasons behind this decision. His decision came a day after the publication of a report noting various issues discovered by the Government’s Control Body at Bucharest’s main airport.

ROBOR Index Keeps Growing Trend

The three-month ROBOR index, used to calculate interests on loans in lei with variable interest, grew to 2.06% Monday from 2.04% Friday.

At the end of December, the three-month ROBOR interest was 2.22%.

The six-month ROBOR index, used on most mortgage loans in lei, grew to 2.36% from 2.34%.