Press Review - October 23, 2017

10.23.2017 By Oana Gavrila

USR Pursues Cancellation of City Hall's Companies

Romania's opposition USR party will appeal a Bucharest court decision that rejected a claim for the annulment of 22 commercial companies set up by the city hall.

The court has rejected the party's claim to have the companies disbanded but the ruling is not final.

USR said the companies set up by Bucharest city hall represent “a parallel and illegal city hall”. It said the companies were set up with the votes of a simple majority but city council needed a two-thirds majority for the decision to be legal.

"These companies are robbing the city budget and are estimated to spend EUR300 million out of taxpayer money next year,” the USR said.

Campaign Kicks Off for Nov 5 By-Election

Romania holds by-elections on November 5 in 16 localities and the election campaign started Sunday and will end on November 4.

The government has allotted RON4.36 million for the by-elections.

Tourism Ministry Asks Tax Authority to Find Omnia Turism's Partners

Romania's tax authority will seek to identify the companies that have contracts with tour operator Omnia Turism, whose owner died last week, leaving tourists stranded abroad, tourism minister Mircea Dobre said.

The tour operator sold 8,500 vacation packages totaling EUR7.5 million for 2018 that will be canceled following the suicide of the company owner. The insurance policy only covers $50,000.

Omniasig Vienna Insurance Group confirmed last week it had insured Omnia Turism in case of insolvency or bankruptcy.

World Class Opens EUR1M Fitness Center in Bucharest Mall

World Class Romania, leader on the Romanian health & fitness market, owned by Polish investment fund Resource Partners, will invest EUR1 million in a center in the Bucharest Mall shopping center.

This will be the network's 23rd fitness center in Bucharest and 31st in the country.

The new center will open in the first quarter of 2018.

Meanwhile, World Class sold its center in Bacau to a local investor.

Romania Under Yellow Code for Heavy Wind, Rain

Romanian meteorologists issued several warnings for strong winds in eight counties until 10 am.

Counties under warning are Sibiu, Buzau, Prahova, Arges, Dambovita, Hunedoara, Timis, and Caras-Severin.

The weather agency also issued a yellow code warning for rain expected throughout most of the country from Monday noon until Tuesday evening.