Press Review - November 11, 2015

11.11.2015 By Gabriela Stan

Romanian President Nominates Ex-EU Commissioner Dacian Ciolos for Prime Minister

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis on Tuesday nominated former EU Commissioner Dacian Ciolos for prime minister, after Victor Ponta stepped down last week amid ample street protests.

Ciolos will have to seek a confidence vote in Parliament for his Cabinet and governing program within ten days of nomination.

Ciolos, 46, was EU Commissioner for Agriculture in 2010-2014 and was appointed special adviser to the European Commission president after his term.

PSD Mulls 10% Public Sector Wage Hike As Of December 1

Romania's outgoing PSD government is taking its last populist steps without even taking into consideration the condition of the country’s finances.

Thus, labor and health committees in the Chamber of Deputies passed on Tuesday a PSD amendment to Emergency Ordinance 35/2015 on rising salaries of medical staff, regarding the increase of the salaries of all public sector employees by 10% as of December 1, 2015. The amendment will be debated Wednesday by the Chamber of Deputies, which is the decisional chamber.  

PSD deputy Adrian Solomon explained that, due to the "socio-political" situation, they don’t have enough time to adopt the unitary wage law which stipulates such a wage hike, adding that the Finance Ministry representatives agree with the amendment. (Puterea)

Budget Committee Passes Law Allowing Debtors To Repay Loans With Mortgaged Properties

The deputies in the Budget Committee approved Tuesday a draft law allowing debtors to repay the loans that they are no longer able to pay, with mortgaged properties, excluding other assets or incomes of the debtor.

“The draft law offers the possibility of a person who took a loan from the bank and is no longer able to repay it, to pay it with the mortgaged property, and nothing more. Thus, the bank will only be allowed to direct to the mortgaged property, instead of all properties and current and future incomes,” PNL deputy Daniel Zamfir stated.

Zamfir added that both the lender and the client should take the risk of depreciation. (Adevarul)

Health Committee In Chamber Of Deputies OKs Draft Law On Banning Smoking In Indoor Public Places

The Health Committee in the Chamber of Deputies approved Tuesday a draft law on banning smoking in all indoor public places, which will be voted by the Parliament next week.

Smoking could be banned in all indoor public places except for transit zones in international airports, if the Parliament adopts the draft law initiated last year.

The draft law stipulates that smoking cigarettes and e-cigarettes will be banned in indoor and outdoor playgrounds and spaces for children, in medical institutions, education institutions, and child care and protection institutions. (Adevarul)

Segment Of Lugoj-Deva Highway Could Be Demolished Before Inauguration

A segment of Lugoj-Deva highway could be demolished before inauguration, as experts established that 17 kilometers of segment 2 were constructed with low quality materials.

After demolishing the segment of highway between Orastie and Sibiu, Romania’s roads authority CNADNR asked for the checkup of 17 km of segment 2 of Lugoj-Deva highway, constructed also by Salini Impregilo company, which were to be completed at the end of the year. CNADNR sources said that the Lugoj - Deva highway segment could also be demolished as the company in charge with the construction used low quality materials again. (Evenimentul Zilei)