Press Review - February 28, 2019

02.28.2019 By Oana Gavrila

Leu Firms Vs Euro

The Romanian leu gained 0.04% on the euro Wednesday, standing at 4.7408 units to the euro at midday, from a rate of 4.7617 lei/euro on Tuesday.

Against the US dollar, quoted indirectly on the Romanian market, the leu firmed to 4.1591 units Wednesday from 4.1885 units Tuesday.

Romanian Prosecutor Wins LIBE Committee Vote For EPPO Leadership

Romanian prosecutor Laura Codruta Kovesi received the highest number of votes in the European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) for the role of chief prosecutor of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) on Wednesday.

According to the committee, the Romanian prosecutor received 26 votes, ahead of French prosecutor Francois Bohnert (22) and German candidate Andre Ritter (one vote). One vote in the committee was blank.

Based on this result, the committee chair will start negotiations with the EU Council to agree on a common nominee for EPPO chief prosecutor. EU Council ambassadors voted last week in favor of appointing French prosecutor Francois Bohnert to the role.

Following the negotiations, one candidate will be proposed for a vote in the European Parliament and must be approved with an absolute majority.

Parliament Appoints New Permanent Electoral Authority Chairman

Romania’s Parliament voted on Tuesday to appoint the secretary-general of the Permanent Electoral Authority (AEP), Constantin Mituletu-Buica, as the agency’s new chairman for the next eight years.

Mituletu-Buica, the candidate supported by the ruling Social Democrat Party, received 252 votes for and 127 against his nomination.

AEP deputy chairman Marian Muhulet, favored by Romanian opposition parties, gained only 127 votes in favor and 252 against.

The new chairman will serve an eight-year term, which may be renewed once.

Among other responsibilities, AEP sets and grants state subsidies for parliamentary parties and also verifies campaign spending.

Former AEP Chairman Daniel Barbu resigned last week in order to run in the upcoming European Parliament elections.

Constitutional Court Postpones Challenge to Pension Bill for March 13

Romania's Constitutional Court on Wednesday postponed for March 13 the challenge by PNL and USR to the law on the public pensions system.

The challenge argues an employee's right to a pension is conditioned by his employer's payment of social security contributions, which leaves room for breaches on an employee's constitutional right to a pension.

It also argues the bill discriminates among people with disabilities, allowing just one category to benefit from a shorter contribution period and not all people with special needs, setting a double standard.