Press Review - March 14, 2016

03.14.2016 By Gabriela Stan

PM Dacian Ciolos On Emergency Ordinance Regulating Wiretapping

Romanian Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos talked about the emergency ordinance on wiretapping, saying that Romanian Intelligence Service (SRI) can only be a criminal prosecution body in the cases related to national security and terrorism, and only in the presence of a prosecutor.

”SRI can only be a criminal prosecution body in the cases related to national security and terrorism (in accordance with the law on SRI operation) and exclusively under judicial control, in the presence of a prosecutor,” Ciolos posted on his Facebook page, replying to a person who accused him of having re-established the Direction VI – criminal investigation – of the former communist secret police Securitate.

On Friday, the Romanian government adopted the emergency ordinance establishing that wiretapping actions related to criminal and national security issues will be carried out through the National Wiretapping Center. (Adevarul)

Mircea Diaconu Says He Won’t Be PSD Candidate For Bucharest Mayor

The name of MEP and former Culture Minister Mircea Diaconu is mentioned in an opinion poll of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), related to the race for the position of Bucharest mayor.

Although there are only three months left until local elections, the largest party in Romania has not launched yet the candidate for Bucharest mayor.

Nevertheless, Diaconu told Antena 3 TV station that he won’t be PSD candidate for Bucharest mayor.

”Anybody can list me, ask anything about me, I’m a public person. It’s not the first time when this happens. But nobody asked me about that. (...) I won’t run for Bucharest mayor. Nobody called me, nobody asked me, I think this is a fabrication,” Diaconu stated.

Moreover, Diaconu said he would run as independent if he decided to run for Bucharest mayor. (Romania Libera)

Volkswagen Global Sales Down 4.7% In February

The global sales of carmaker Volkswagen fell 4.7% in February, to 394,000 units, on the backdrop of lower sales in USA, China, Russia and Brazil.

The sales in China, the world’s largest market, fell 3% in February, while in the USA, the fall reached 13.2%, the company said in a statement on Friday.

Sales in Europe rose 3.7% in February, to 126,400 units. Despite the difficult situation on the Russian auto market, Volkswagen sales in Central and Eastern Europe rose 3% last month to 15,900 units. In the first two months of the year, Volkswagen sold 915,800 vehicles, down 0.5% compared with January - February 2015. (Adevarul)

Law On Debt Discharge To Restrict Access To Mortgage Loans

The law on debt discharge will restrict access to mortgage loans and will trigger a mortgage financial leasing through which the financer will remain the owner of the real estate asset until the end of the lending contract.

Real estate analyst Radu Zilisteanu said that one of the consequences of the law on giving in payment could be the increase of the appetite for cash transactions, offsetting the recent efforts to stimulate electronic payments.

In his turn, financial analyst Mircea Cosea said that the law is based on a correct idea but it is “poorly” drawn up.

Steven van Groningen, head of the Romanian banking industry association CPBR, considers that lawmakers should clearly define social cases before adopting the law on debt discharge. (Puterea)

67 People Died From Flu Since The Beginning Of Flu Season

A number of 67 people died from flu since the beginning of the flu season, between October 15 and March 14, most of them from capital Bucharest (18) and Arges county (10).

Of the people who died from flu, 55 did not get the vaccine, for 11 persons, the existence of the flu shot could not be determined, and only one had the flu vaccine. At the same time, 58 of the deceased persons already had pre-existing health problems.

According to authorities, the flu activity evolves with medium intensity this season, focusing mainly on the southern Romania area (Bucharest, Constanta, Olt, Dambovita and Arges).

For a total of 754 persons who got the flu, doctors confirmed the presence of the flu virus A(H1N1). Nevertheless, the majority of deceased people already had other chronic diseases, which contributed to their death. (Evenimentul Zilei)