Press Review - July 1, 2015

07.01.2015 By Gabriela Stan

Romania To Raise Gross Minimum Wage In July To RON1,050 From RON975

 Romania will raise the gross minimum wage from the current RON975 to RON1,050 (RON233) a month, or RON6.225 an hour, as of July 1.

The gross minimum wage also increased from RON900 to RON975 in January.

The measure will benefit around 1,5 million employees, of which 490,000 in the public sector.

In 2014, Romania raised the minimum wage in two stages, by RON50 each time, to RON850, and to RON900, based on a Government decision passed in November 2013.

Parliament Validates Mihai-Razvan Ungureanu As Head Of Foreign Intelligence Service

The Parliament validated Mihai-Razvan Ungureanu as head of the Foreign Intelligence Service (SIE), despite the objection of the members of the Social Democratic Party (PSD).

Thus, the proposal of president Klaus Iohannis for SIE head got 278 pros, 6 cons and 5 abstentions at the meeting of the Chambers of Parliament.

MPs in all parliamentary groups, except for PSD, PMP and ALDE, voted for the appointing of Mihai-Razvan Ungureanu as SIE head as the liberals managed to fulfill the quorum requirement, by gathering 289 MPs, 11 more than necessary, for the vote.  (Adevarul)

Medicine Price To Drop By Up To 20% As Of July 1

The price of medicines on the local market will drop by up to 20% as of July 1, and the Health Ministry will launch four new programs for the patients in serious health condition hospitalized in Romania.

Thus, Health Ministry will finance, as of Wednesday, the national program for upper gastrointestinal bleeding, the program for patients with esophageal neoplasm, as well as the program for peripheral endovascular surgery, for which the Health Ministry will finance the acquisition of materials for the endovascular, minimally-invasive treatment, to avoid surgery in such cases. (Romania Libera)

President Klaus Iohannis Says PM Victor Ponta Should Resign

Romanian president Klaus Iohannis told “Financial Times” in an interview that prime minister Victor Ponta should resign, as it’s unacceptable for a European country to have its prime minister accused of illegal acts.

 “The best way to deal with it is to resign,” he says. “If he’s not guilty as he claims, then there is no problem…but it’s unacceptable for a European country to have its prime minister accused by prosecutors of illegal acts,” Iohannis said.

The president also predicted a long war on corruption in Romania.  (Puterea)

PNL Co-chair Alina Gorghiu Says There Is Majority For No-Confidence Motion

PNL co-chair Alina Gorghiu stated, after the appointment of Mihai-Razvan Ungureanu as head of the Foreign Intelligence Service (SIE), that there is majority for a no-confidence vote in the Parliament and this will be seen in the future.

"I would like to thank all my colleagues who chose the democratic version for exercising their right to vote. Victor Ponta chose the boycott; he is a coward party leader. (…) This is enough and necessary for a censure motion. (…) I am confident it won’t be the last time we had such a majority," Gorghiu stated.

The Parliament validated Mihai-Razvan Ungureanu as head of the Foreign Intelligence Service (SIE), with 278 pros, 6 cons and 5 abstentions at the meeting of the Chambers of Parliament.  (Romania Libera)