Press Review - June 29, 2015

06.29.2015 By Gabriela Stan

MPs Radically Amend Electoral Legislation

The members of parliament (MPs) have radically amended the electoral legislation, by a series of draft laws voted in the current parliamentary session.

The new legislation is working to the advantage of large parties while Romanians abroad will be underrepresented and have no postal voting law yet.

Thus, the new parliamentary elections law stipulates the abandoning of the uninominal voting system and the return to the voting on party lists, which offers more power to the party presidents, who will appoint the candidates on the list.

The new Parliament will have about 466 senators and deputies, less than in 2012, when there were 588, but more than 300, as the Romanians voted in a referendum back in 2009. (Romania Libera)

 

Alina Gorghiu: Education Ministry Seems Unable To Develop High-School Graduation Exam

PNL co-chair Alina Gorghiu on Sunday posted on her Facebook page that the Education Ministry seems to be unable to provide appropriate conditions for developing the high-school graduation exam or equality of treatment for students.

"Besides the latest decision that the papers would be corrected in other counties (it’s a mystery why they were not able to introduce this provision earlier), the education minister considers that the audio surveillance of the exam is not necessary, although the methodology stipulates both audio and video surveillance," Gorghiu said. (Jurnalul National)

 

Personal Insolvency Law Published In Official Gazette

The personal insolvency law was published Friday in the Official Gazette, and will come into force six months after its publishing, namely on December 26.

Thus, the law will be available starting with 2016. According to the law, an individual is any person except for those who manage an enterprise, namely any individual neutral from the point of view of the business undertaken, although he/she can collaterally carry out independent activities or liberal professions, according to Benta Consult. (Adevarul)

 

House Arrest Measure Blocked By Over Two Weeks

The house arrest measure has been blocked for over two weeks as the Parliament is delaying the amending of the criminal procedure.

The Constitutional Court of Romania decided that, under the current form, this measure is breaking the constitution. Until the Parliament makes a decision in this respect, the courts don’t rule on house arrest or annul this measure if it was already taken. While pending a decision of the Parliament, the house arrest measure is suspended and inapplicable.  (Puterea)

 

World Health Organization Approves Rapid Test For Ebola

World Health Organization (WHO) has authorized a rapid test for Ebola infected patients, which proves to be as useful as the standard method.

The test, named ReEBOV, is produced by an US company, and was tested in February on 105 patients suspected of having been infected in two medical centers in Sierra Leone. The test was also tested on 284 blood samples in the lab.

The rapid test detected all Ebola infection cases identified through the traditional method and 92% of the negative results. (Adevarul)