Press Review - October 12, 2015

10.12.2015 By Gabriela Stan

Romanian State Prepares Bill To Support Bank Clients Converting Loans Into RON

The banks that granted loans in Swiss francs are already providing facilities for their clients mainly for mortgage loans, but the state is preparing to support the other clients as well.

According to the bill, the state will guarantee half of the loan in RON, obtained by conversion. In exchange, the bank will have to cut 15% of the client’s loan in order to benefit from the guarantee.

The draft bill has been recently discussed by the Budget-Finance Committee in the Chamber of Deputies.

According to the central bank data, over 75,000 of Romanians had loans in Swiss francs in January, which appreciated sharply in January. Lenders with the most loans in Swiss francs are Pireus Bank, Banca Romaneasca, Bancpost, OTP, Volksbank (taken over by Banca Transilvania), Raiffeisen. (Evenimentul Zilei)

 

Rompetrol Rafinare To Shut Down Petromidia Refinery Between October 11 – November 20

Rompetrol Rafinare, member of KMG International, will shut down the Petromidia refinery and the petrochemistry division between October 11 and November 20, 2015 in order to perform maintenance works for the scheduled general overhaul, the company said in a statement.

During this period, the company will ensure deliveries to customers from the current inventories and the regional market. The general overhaul takes place once every 5 years, according to the current legislation.

“The scheduled technical overhaul is aimed at ensuring a high level of operational safety for reduced maintenance costs, and to improve operational efficiency by providing high mechanical availability,“ said Yedil Utekov, Rompetrol Rafinare general manager. (Puterea)

 

Gabriel Oprea Presents Conclusions Of Official Visit To US

Deputy Prime Minister for national security Gabriel Oprea presented on Sunday the conclusions of the official visit paid to the United States of America.

 “This week, I paid an official visit to the US, at the invitation of FBI, where I had several meetings with US Attorney General, the representatives of the Department of Justice, the main federal law-enforcement agencies, with the head of the US Intelligence Community, who is senior intelligence advisor of the US President, as well as with members of the US Senate,” Oprea stated.

The deputy PM added that the meetings with the US high officials focused on two important aspects for Romania: the visa regime and the increasing of security guarantees for Romania given the current geopolitical context. (Romania Libera)

 

Traian Basescu Mulls Change Of PMP Name Into People’s Movement

Former President of Romania, Traian Basescu, who has recently joined People’s Movement Party (PMP), stated Saturday that he does not like the current name of the party, recommending its change into "People’s Movement".

“We are preparing the congress, it is very important for it to be a congress of party relaunching and have its meaning in the change of the name (…) I don’t like the PMP name, I am consulting with you, I think it should be People’s Movement, without adding the first P,” Traian Basesu explained.

“We will not only focus on elections, which are important, but also on generating ideas for Romania,” Basescu stated. (Puterea)

 

Liviu Dragnea Elected PSD President With Over 90% Of Votes

Liviu Dragnea, the only candidate to the position of president of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), and also the interim president of the party, was voted by over 90% of the PSD members on Sunday.

 “I think Liviu Dragnea will be a legitimate president. Nevertheless, much more legitimate than the young lady appointed by Mr. Iohannis as head of the opposition party. PSD does not appoint (presidents e.n.) like this,“ said former PSD president Victor Ponta. (Adevarul)