Press Review - May 9, 2016

05.09.2016 By Gabriela Stan

ALDE Co-Chair Calin Popescu Tariceanu Insists On Restoring USL Alliance

ALDE co-president Calin Popescu Tariceanu and former PM Victor Ponta on Saturday insisted on restoring USL alliance and on a vote similar to that in 2012, as the main topic of the campaign for local elections.

''My expectations and I suppose your expectations as well, refer to the restoring of the alliance between social-democrats and liberals, USL, which you all voted, and to winning the parliamentary elections at the end of this year, to resume the good governing direction of the last three years, interrupted unfortunately by Ciolos – Iohannis governing,” Tariceanu was cited by Mediafax as saying.

The idea was saluted by former social-democrat PM Victor Ponta.

“An initiative more than correct and welcomed – as it is May 7, the date when, in 2012, USL government started the efforts for the reconstruction of the country!'' Ponta posted on his Facebook page. (Puterea)

Romania Holds Off New Laws On Natural Resources Taxation

The Romanian state is delaying the publication of the new laws on the taxation of natural resources although the government promised the laws will be announced by the end of March.

Initially, the government negotiated with oil companies a pack of royalties plus a 35% tax on exploitation profit but it wants to extend several additional taxes until 2020 due to the high deficit.

Meanwhile, the parties started the electoral campaign for mayoral elections, that will take place on June 5, and the Parliament will be on vacation in the summer, then, a new electoral campaign will start in the autumn for parliamentary elections.

Finance Minister Anca Dragu has previously announced that the law on royalties is “in an advanced” stage and will be put up for public consultations in the first quarter of this year. (Adevarul)

Coal And Power Producer CET Govora Filed For Insolvency On April 29

Coal and power producer CET Govora, the largest energy producer in Valcea county, filed for insolvency on April 29.

CET Govora has debts worth nearly EUR200 million to energy holding CE Oltenia, among others.

In 2015, Romania's Energy Ministry transferred mines Aluni and Berbesti in Valcea county from energy holding CE Oltenia to coal and power producer CET Govora, in the account of the historical debts between the two state companies.

CET Govora is a thermal power producer and distributor for the towns of Ramnicu Valcea, Baile Olanesti and Calimanesti-Caciulata. (Puterea)

CEC Bank Raises Required Down Payment On Mortgage Loans To 30%

 CEC Bank said last week it will raise the down payment it requires on mortgage loans to 30% as of May 9, for loans in lei and in foreign currency of up to EUR250,000, due to the implementation of the law on debt discharge.

Given the high risk in the context of the law on debt discharge, the interest rate margin will also increase by 1 percentage point for loans in lei and by 2 percentage points for loans in foreign currency, for loans taken to buy or build homes, as well as for personal loans and loans for refinancing mortgage loans.

"Through these changes, CEC Bank is adapting its lending offer to the new legislative framework, aiming mainly at protecting the interests of the entire client portfolio," said Radu Gratian Ghetea, CEC Bank president general manager.

Early last week, another two lenders, BRD and Alpha Bank, announced they will raise the down payment on mortgage loans, joining Raiffeisen Bank, which was the first bank to make such a decision. (Romania Libera)

Adrian Severin Asks DNA To Step Back From Electoral Campaign

The candidate of the Social Justice Party (PDS) for Bucharest mayor, Adrian Severin, asked the National Anticorruption Department (DNA) to step back from the electoral campaign, after DNA carried out searches at the party headquarters, related to the lists of signatures.

Severin said he will notify the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the European Commission on the abuses and will send letters to the embassies of western states to Bucharest.

Severin added that PDS is currently unable to develop its electoral campaign as all the databases of the party have been seized by the prosecutors.

“It is clear that state’s specialized institutions have the right to carry out their investigations but the law says it clearly: in the electoral campaigns, this should be done without jeopardizing the party campaign activity,” Severin said. (Adevarul)