Press Review - September 30, 2015

09.30.2015 By Gabriela Stan

Romanian Cabinet Stays In Office As Parliament Rejects No-Confidence Motion

Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta's Cabinet has survived a no-confidence vote in Parliament Tuesday, a motion put forth by the opposition following the prime minister's indictment on charges of corruption.

The motion was rejected even though it received 207 votes in favor and just eight against. To topple the government, the motion required the votes of half plus one of the number of lawmakers, meaning 276 votees.

In September, Romania's anticorruption department indicted Ponta on charges of accessory to tax evasion and money laundering and 17 counts of forgery. The prime minister denies any wrongdoing and has refused to step down from office. (Adevarul)

Romgaz Won’t Cease ELCEN Gas Supplies, Debts To Be Paid In Two Years

Romania’s largest natural gas producer Romgaz (SNG.RO) agreed not to cease natural gas supplies to state-run electricity and thermal power producer Electrocentrale Bucuresti (ELCEN) on October 15, as ELCEN debts to Romgaz, worth RON362 million, will be rescheduled for a two-year period.

ELCEN Bucharest general manager Marcel Nicolaescu estimates that the company will sign a protocol with Romgaz in this respect by October 10.

Romgaza announced Monday that it will cease natural gas supplies to ELCEN unless the latter presents a concrete debt payment program until October 15. (Romania Libera)

Romania To Formally Ask IMF For New Agreement This Year - Finance Minister

Romania will formally ask the International Monetary Fund for a new precautionary agreement this year and the negotiations will focus on implementing structural reforms, not the country's budget deficit, Finance Minister Eugen Teodorovici said on Tuesday.

Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta also supports a new precautionary aid deal but PSD interim president Liviu Dragnea says the government should come up with a “serious“ motivation for a new agreement in front of the coalition.

"Certainly we will officially ask the IMF this year to start negotiations on a new deal. An IMF deal can exist without participation from the European Commission, they are different deals," Finance Minister Eugen Teodorovici told Reuters on Tuesday.

Teodorovici added the 2016 budget deficit is projected at 2.1% of GDP for now, if planned increases in public sector wages are not taken into account. If they are taken into account, the deficit would still be under 3%, the minister said. (Adevarul)

Liviu Dragnea, Daniel Savu And Serban Nicolae To Run For PSD Presidency

Liviu Dragnea, Daniel Savu and Serban Nicolae on Tuesday submitted their candidacies for the position of PSD president. According to party sources, the files of Daniel Savu and Serban Nicolae are incomplete, Mediafax reports.

The National Executive Committee will validate the candidates for the position of PSD president on Wednesday.

PSD interim president Liviu Dragnea stated Tuesday that he only has two contestants at the elections to be held on October 11, namely Serban Nicolae and Daniel Savu, and he hopes their files would be complete so that they would run for PSD presidency, as competition is very good.  (Romania Libera)

Parents Refusing To Vaccinate Their Children Could Be Sentenced To 3-7 Years In Prison - Draft Law

Parents who refuse to vaccinate their children could be accused of ill-treatment and could spend between 3 and 7 years behind bars if found guilty; this could also trigger the termination of parental rights, according to a draft law of the Health Ministry.

Moreover, children who are not vaccinated against diseases which can lead to serious complications or death would not be allowed to go to kindergarten or school.

According to the draft law, there will be nine compulsory vaccines: against tuberculosis, hepatitis B, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, poliomyelitis, measles, mumps and rubella, for which the vaccination rate is currently much lower than the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO). (Adevarul)