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1290 articole
Simion, after discussing with Vestea: We are not considering vote for Adrian Vestea now
AUR President George Simion declared on Monday, after discussions with the prime minister-designate, that, 'at this moment', AUR parliamentarians do not have a mandate to vote for the Vestea Government. 'We have some restrictions from the President of the Republic, which make us not consider a vote for Adrian Vestea at this moment', said Simion. The AUR leader emphasized that he did not ask for positions. 'We did not want deconcentration, nor ministries, we wanted the implementation of the solutions that AUR has been talking about for a long time', he added. George Simion also said that at the moment AUR parliamentarians have no other mandate than to leave the room at the time of the investiture vote. AGERPRES(RO - writing by: Cornelia Dumitru; EN - writing by: Bogdan Gabaroi) Display count: 522
PM-designate Vestea after meeting AUR says he is open to any request leading to good governance
Prime Minister-designate Adrian Ve¡tea said on Monday, after meeting Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) officials at the AUR headquarters, that he discussed a series of economic measures that the AUR representatives want and said that he is 'open to any request that can lead to a better governance.' 'We discussed a series of economic measures that the AUR representatives want. I assured them of my full availability for all aspects that are not in the government agenda and which, following the evaluations, will not create an economic impact and will be able to be supported by the Romanian budget moving forward, so that we can include them. In fact, I am open to any request that can lead to better governance, to the implementation of reforms or to finding solutions that Romanians have been waiting for a very long time,' Vestea said. He added that he expects the lawmakers to cast their vote for the installation of the proposed government tonight. 'Tonight we will go for an inauguration vote and we will ask the lawmakers, who these days have been informed about the governing agenda, about the team of ministers that will be part of the future government, to cast their vote,' Vestea said. Accompanying Vestea at the talks at the AUR headquarters were ministerial nominees Sorin Cimpeanu and Bogdan Ivan. AGERPRES (RO - editing by: Cornelia Dumitru; EN - writing by: Corneliu-Aurelian Colceriu) Display count: 550
FITS 2026/Silviu Purcarete on AI: Theatre without actors would no longer make sense
Stage director Silviu Purcarete believes that the theatre should keep its 'absolutely primitive, expressive' character, even if technology and artificial intelligence will continue to be used, stating that a theatre without actors 'would no longer make sense.'. At a special conference on Monday at the Sibiu International Theatre Festival (FITS), moderated by Octavian Saiu, Purcarete said that he would like a theatre that is as less dependent on technology as possible. 'Of course I would like to, if I could, but I cannot, unfortunately, not move towards an absolutely non-technological theatre. Let's try to do everything we can like 2000 years ago. I would like to be able to do it, but I don't know how to do it,' said Purcarete. Asked if he uses artificial intelligence, he said that he has not tried it so far, explaining that he is not good at it, but does not rule out the use of AI when it can bring good results. 'I haven't tried [artificial intelligence] because I'm not good at it. Of course, if someone manages to use this tool and get good results, why not? No doubt, but surely during this time something even more great is being invented. You have the feeling that you are at the top of a trend, in fact they are the crumbs. So, I don't realise what can be done [with AI in theatre].' In his opinion, artificial intelligence can be used more easily in cinema, but it cannot replace actors on theatre stages. 'In a film it's clear. You can see it clearly. I don't know how good it will be when the actors disappear completely, but it's clear that a film can be made. Theatre without actors... holograms somehow maybe, but what would be the meaning? The story would no longer make sense. So that's why I think, however, that if theatre is to survive, to survive through this absolutely primitive character, of expression.' The director compared the technological evolution with the use of the first tools, the hammer, appreciating that any invention can be used for both good and less good purposes. 'The first hammer was more useful for breaking a head than for hammering a nail. So, it's normal, the same thing happens with all things, all technological inventions, if we can use them, very well.' The series of special conferences at FITS continues on Tuesday in the Hall of Mirrors, at the headquarters of the Democratic Forum of Germans in Romania, with a conversation between Wim Vandekeybus and Octavian Saiu. Ionuț Sociu discusses with poet Miguel Gane. Admission to the conferences is free. 'From year to year we try to develop this section of conferences because the big names that come to Sibiu deserve to be discovered by the public and other than through the shows they play or stage. It is a unique opportunity to see a piece of the soul of each artist who honours us with his or her presence,' according to FITS Chairman Constantin Chiriac. FITS brings together throughout June 29, over 5,000 artists from 83 countries offering 848 events, eight more than in the previous edition, according to Chiriac. The AGERPRES National News Agency is a media partner of FITS. AGERPRES (RO - editing by: Isabela Paulescu; EN - writing by: Corneliu-Aurelian Colceriu) Display count: 227
Leo Delibes's 'Lakme' directed by Andrei Serban to premiere at ONB on July 2, 3
The opera performance 'Lakme' by Leo Delibes, directed by Andrei Serban and under the musical direction of maestro Tiberiu Soare, will be staged for the first time at the Bucharest National Opera House (ONB) on July 2 and 3. Director Serban expands the meaning of 'Lakme', placing it in the gallery of great impossible loves, alongside masterpieces such as 'Romeo and Juliet', 'Aida' or 'Madama Butterfly'. From this perspective, the story of colonial India becomes a universal parable of how political boundaries and fanaticism destroy human destinies. The keystone in deciphering this tragedy remains the music, especially the famous 'Flower Duet' and 'The Bell Song ' functioning as a territory of absolute reconciliation. 'I was nine years old, I guess, when I listened with my father to 'Lakme' on a record with the great Russian bass Chaliapin as Nilakantha before and after the October Revolution - I imagine that the subject had not created problems for either the Tsars or the Communists. It seems that the opera was also in the repertoire in Bucharest in the '50s, in a period of harsh Stalinist censorship, with the libretto translated into Romanian, 'to understand the people', although, when the rhythms are fast, the words are not understood in any language. According to the communist ideology, the Indians represented the oppressed proletariat, and the British colonialists - the bourgeois-landowner class as the enemy,' according to Serban. He said that 'Lakme' has been absent from the stage of the National Opera for more than half a century.' 'It is true that it is rarely performed in the world, first of all because it is not easy to find sopranos and tenors who meet the requirements of an extremely complex vocal score. Today, when the post-communist ideology is back in fashion in all the arts, the splendid music of the opera, the simple, beautiful story, with a tragic ending, conquers the hearts, and not the concepts, of whatever nature they may be. Our show focuses on the love affair between two beings from different cultures in times of war. It is absolutely natural to compare the context of the work with the moment we live in today's world, in which different religious beliefs intertwine with power struggles and in which love is annihilated. Lakme is not only a young woman who discovers life by falling in love, but also a being who believes in the power of hope and forgiveness in a world of violence. Her final sacrifice has a value that goes beyond the individual gesture of the lover who refuses life without her lover. He comes from a foreign civilisation shrouded in mystery, which reminds us of the universality of faith, hope and love,' added Serban. The cast consists of Lakme - Madalina Barbu, Monica Luca; Gerald - Bogdan Mihai, Alexandru Badea (guest); Nilakantha - Leonard Bernard; Frederic - Alexandru Constantin, Adrian Marcan; Mallika - Mihaela Ispan, Martiniana Antonie (guest); Miss Ellen - Daniela Carstea, Cristina Eremia; Hadji - Liviu Indricau, Andrei Lazar; Mistress Bentson - Sorana Negrea, Sidonia Nica; Miss Rose - Stanca Maria Manoleanu, Anna Stanescu (guest); Lakme's double - Maria Gogonea; Lakme's sisters - Andrada Corlat, Serin Jemaa, Alexandra Sarbei, Alexandra Stroe. Tickets can be purchased on the http://tickets.operanb.ro/ and at the Ticket Office of the Bucharest National Opera House. The AGERPRES National News Agency is a media partner of the event. AGERPRES (RO - editing by: Petronius Craiu; EN - writing by: Corneliu-Aurelian Colceriu) Display count: 492
UPDATE/Parliament okays Sorin Cimpeanu for defence minister
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I am a man of dialogue, I will have a meeting with AUR president (PM-designate Vestea)
Prime Minister-designate Adrian Vestea announces that he will have a meeting with AUR President George Simion, stressing that he is 'a man of dialogue' and understands the responsibility to put an end to 'political chaos'. 'I am a man of dialogue and consensus. Understanding the responsibility that falls onto me to put an end to political chaos, I will have a meeting with AUR President George Simion. When it comes to Romania and resolving an unprecedented crisis, I assume an open dialogue with any political party voted for by Romanians. I believe it is mandatory if we want to have, in the true sense of the word, a Government of Romania', Vestea wrote on Facebook on Monday. AUR President George Simion declared on Monday that the Vestea Government will not have the votes of his party at the investiture in the joint plenum and added that he is waiting for the prime minister-designate at the AUR headquarters until 8:00 p.m., noting that AUR is willing to contribute to an effort of consensus, of reconciliation. Simion stated in a press conference that, 'if there is a vote' for this government on Monday evening, the AUR parliamentarians will leave the hall. The joint permanent bureaus of the Parliament decided that the joint plenum in which the vote for the inauguration of the Government led by Adrian Vestea will be given will take place on Monday, starting at 9:30 p.m. AGERPRES(RO - writing by: Catalin Alexandru; EN - writing by: Bogdan Gabaroi) Display count: 433
Danube Delta inviting visitors with prestigious events
Sulina is waiting for tourists with QR codes linking to an audio guide that provides the history of some heritage buildings in the city and information about the birds of the Danube Delta, narrated by high school students, and many of the settlements of Tulcea County, including those located in the Muntii Macinului National Park, preparing prestigious events and guests for them. The audio guides were made under the 'Voice Your Place' project and present both buildings and facilities in the town of Sulina, as well as monuments of tourist interest in Curtea de Arges and Slatina, and people who cannot reach the area can access the website by the same name of the project to find out the history of the facilities documented by teenagers. 'I think it is very important to understand what architecture means, to discover how the town has evolved, why it is necessary to preserve heritage buildings and how we practically relate to our history. It was an educational program dedicated to teenagers from Sulina, who became narrators and storytellers of our town,' project coordinator Iarina Tava told AGERPRES. With the beginning of the school holiday, Navrom Delta SA has switched to the summer schedule for transport to the areas surrounded by waters in the reserve, so that on the Tulcea - Sulina route there are two ships running daily, leaving Tulcea at 10:00hrs and 13:30hrs. Visitors arriving on Saturday, June 27, in the easternmost town of the European Union, will be able to applaud the children who will participate in an eco parade, meant to mark the Danube Day and the day of the Romanian blouse ia. 'The parade will take place on Saturday, at 17:00hrs, on the Danube seafront, and we will mark the Day of Ia and the Day of the Danube, within the project 'Sulina - city in reserve'. We are preparing for August a summer school in Sulina and the Farul festival with films, the last one being mentioned to take place between August 20-24', said the founder of the Cu drag din Sulina association Roxana Saraev-Strede. Danube Delta communities present themselves to voistors with local traditions, as was at the end of last week Bibaniada, the only female team perch fishing competition in Romania, an event organized by the Ivan Patzaichin Association - Mila 23. Ten crews participated in the competition, each consisting of a local and a tourist. 'The competition was quite difficult, because we had to find the fish and it was very difficult. Our secret? When fishing, you must always be calm, not get angry and the fish will surely come to the hook', said the winners of this year's edition of the contest, Adina Mihai and Liliana Ifrim Ivanov, members of the Frogs team. In total, the ten teams captured almost eight kilos of perch, and, for some participants in the competition, the event was special due to the atmosphere created by the locals. 'It's the first time I'm participating. The songs of the ladies from the village of Mila 23 remained in my mind. All of them encouraged us, the non-locals, by singing Lipovan, and it was a very beautiful moment,' said Oana Ganea of Bucharest, a participant in the event. Although there were not many perch caught, each catch was applauded by the participants. 'If we had gone to another area, maybe it would have been more. In the end, the idea of this contest is not related to the amount of fish caught, but to the joy of being together, of socialising', pointed out the host of the contest, Lucica Buhaev, in whose courtyard the award ceremony was organised. The winners of Bibaniada were also awarded prize money. 'It is a contest that was started in 2019 by my father, and we want to keep it, because he always wanted the women of the Delta to be promoted somehow. At that time, we also had a contest with canoes for fishermen at the Rowmania festival and this idea, to make a contest for women, seemed fabulous to him. We are glad that we managed to keep the tradition and to mobilise with all our strength, together with 'You and Tulcea', to do this contest at least at last year's quotas,' said Chair of the Ivan Patzaichin - Mila 23 Association, Ivona Patzaichin-Rusu. The award ceremony was rounded up with recitals of the ensembles from the Delta, film screenings and a fair with various products specific to the area, and the tourists continued to open the door of the Ivan Patzaichin Centre, to see the medals won over time by the most successful canoeist in the world and to admire the Danube Delta from the top floor of the museum. 'I liked this small village in the Delta, we also have small villages in Greece and the United States, and I liked the culture of the place, because it is a combination of Russians, Ukrainians, Romanians and I just love them. I liked the food, the landscapes, the water, I liked everything,' said one of the spectators performing with the folkloric ensembles of the Delta within Bibaniade, Francine Papadimitrakis. In fact, the local tradition was in the foreground at the end of last week in the village of Greci, located in the dry area of Tulcea County, where the Pastasciutta Festival took place - a dish celebrated in the community of stone carvers of Italy, who arrived after 1878 in Dobrogea. According to the deputy mayor of Greci commune, Constantin Titi, the event was all the more special, as it was honoured by the Italian ambassador to Romania, Laura Aghilarre, who on Sunday participated in a religious service officiated in the church of Saint Lucia. At the Saturday evening show of this festival, both local ensembles and Monica Anghel participated, and on the same evening, at an accommodation unit in the small town of Enisala, located on the shore of the Razim-Sinoe lagoon complex, Nicu Alifantis performed. Among the events that have become traditional where tourists are expected this summer season are the Interethnic Week, the International Independent Film Festival The Anonymous and the Ivan Patzaichin Fest. At the end of July, Tulcea will also host the European Women's Basketball Championship - Under 18, Division B. For the development of this sports competition, the county councillors are to adopt, at the end of this week, a decision on the Institutional Cooperation Agreement between the Romanian Basketball Federation and Tulcea County, in order to organise the FIBA U18 Women's EuroBasket 2026 - Division B competition, Tulcea, Romania, July 31 - August 9, 2026, and cover the related expenses. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Luisiana Bigea; EN - writing by: Corneliu-Aurelian Colceriu) Display count: 241
Romania's small gender pay gap does not mean a smaller problem (Female Entrepreneurship Confederation)
Romania has one of the smallest gender pay gaps in the European Union (EU), at 3.6% compared with the EU average of around 12%, but this does not mean there is no underlying problem related to the mechanisms behind workforce participation and the real cost of labour, according to the National Confederation for Female Entrepreneurship (CONAF). 'A small gap does not mean a small problem. It means a problem that is not yet visible. The figure of 3.6% does not tell us that women are paid fairly - it merely tells us that we have not looked closely enough. The directive gave us the magnifying glass. We missed the deadline to use it,' said CONAF head Cristina Chiriac in a press release sent to AGERPRES on Monday. According to the organisation, the European deadline expired on June 7 for transposing legislation that would make it possible to measure the adjusted gender pay gap in depth and conduct pay audits. 'A small number makes you believe there is no problem. That is why nobody discussed missing the deadline: 3.6% appears almost resolved. But 3.6% is a net, aggregated average. It tells us nothing about the underlying mechanism. 'Nobel Prize-winning research by Claudia Goldin shows that most of the pay gap does not emerge between poorly paid and highly paid occupations. It emerges within the same company, for the same work, and widens sharply 12 to 24 months after the birth of a first child. 'An average of 3.6% may conceal precisely this mechanism because it combines interrupted career paths with uninterrupted ones. Directive (EU) 2023/970 requires exactly the tool that makes this divergence visible: measurement of the adjusted pay gap and remuneration audits. 'This is not merely a matter of compliance with Brussels. It is a measuring instrument that reveals what a single aggregated percentage cannot show. Romania postponed precisely the diagnostic tool, reassured by a figure that appears comforting. 'This is the invisible infrastructure of an economy: the things you do not account for because you think you do not need to. You only see them once you measure them. If you refuse to measure them, they disappear - not from reality, but from decision-making,' the press release said. According to CONAF, the mechanisms behind workforce participation and the real cost of labour that the Romanian economy does not adequately account for are examined in the report 'The Economic Status of Romanian Women in 2026', which is currently being finalised. CONAF was established in response to the need to create a modern, sustainable and equitable entrepreneurial culture, not only for women entrepreneurs but for the entire business environment. The organisation comprises 33 branches, three federations, 16 employers' associations, 55 associations and 15,000 companies employing more than 245,000 people. Among CONAF's projects are Youth Pact, Marathon for Entrepreneurial Education, the Entrepreneur by Vocation Forum, the 24 Trends for 2024 Forum, SupraTAX, DigitalUP, the Labour Pact (in partnership with FPPG), the Entrepreneurial Education Pact, the Romanian Venture Forum series of open dialogues, and Romanian Tourism: Between Deadlock and Opportunity. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Daniel Badea; EN - writing by: Cristina Zaharia) Display count: 365
'A Blouse as Big as a Village - Archetypal Shirt of the Rural World' installation showcased in Targu Jiu on Sanziene
The art installation 'A Blouse as Big as a Village - Archetypal Shirt of the Rural World', a large-scale work dedicated to archaic femininity, memory and Romania's intangible cultural heritage, will be presented on June 24, the Sanziene holiday, by the Docuart Association in the Endless Column Park in Targu Jiu. According to a press release sent to AGERPRES by the organisers, the installation will be on display in the Endless Column Park between 12:00 and 20:00, offering a powerful image symbolically raised between heaven and earth: an ie with altita measuring approximately 20 square metres, hand-embroidered with Gorj motifs by ten artisans in the Acul & Ata folk art workshop, alongside a 220-centimetre braided plait created by artist George Soare and complemented by medicinal plants and decorative elements. ''A Blouse as Big as a Village' is built around two essential feminine adornments: the ie with altita and the braided plait. Two forms rooted in Romania's archaic culture, two identity markers speaking of ritual, order, protection, belonging and memory. The ie, bearing embroidered symbols, becomes here a symbolic body, a living memory of women and the community. The braided plait, in turn, is reclaimed as an extension of the body, beauty and feminine strength, as an adornment, gesture and sign of continuity. The work starts from the ie with altita, an element inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, and reinterprets it through a contemporary visual language. The hand-embroidered Gorj motifs, the unusually large dimensions of the shirt and the presence of the braided plait transform the installation into an archetypal image of woman as cosmos - woman as bearer of life, rhythm, care and memory, and guardian of symbolic order and community traditions. George Soare, the artist who created the braided plait, turns this adornment into an identity symbol and a form of contemporary expression. Within the installation, the plait becomes a symbolic object, an extension of the female body. The archaic act of braiding is reactivated through a contemporary visual language,' the press release states. The installation is part of the project 'Wood, Canvas and the Spoken Word', a Docuart initiative dedicated to researching, activating and promoting Gorj's tangible and intangible cultural heritage. Through this project, Docuart continues its focus on the living forms of community memory, craftsmanship, symbolism and traditional objects, and on the ways these can be brought into the present through art, documentary film and contemporary cultural interventions. The project is initiated by the Docuart Association with the support of Targu Jiu City Hall and the 'Constantin Brancusi' Research, Documentation and Promotion Centre. 'This installation was born out of the need to make visible two essential forms of traditional feminine identity: the ie with altita and the braided plait. We enlarged them not to turn them into spectacular objects, but to restore their symbolic power and allow the public to look more closely at details that often remain unnoticed. For us, 'A Blouse as Big as a Village' is a work about how heritage can be activated today through a contemporary visual language,' art director Daniela Apostol told AGERPRES on Monday. The installation will be curated by Andrei Fasie. ''A Blouse as Big as a Village' revisits Romanian identity elements specific to traditional women's attire while presenting the results of our research in a different form. The ie, embroidered by ten pairs of hands, is the largest such blouse ever created. Enlarging it allows the public to more easily identify its formal characteristics - the structure of the blouse, the altita, the symbols and other elements - while also understanding its importance and symbolic value in the cultural life of the traditional Romanian village. At the same time, the oversized braided plait, measuring more than two metres, highlights another feminine attribute that once conveyed information about a woman's status. Together, they bring back into focus the importance of women in village life and offer a different interpretation of these two seemingly simple yet profoundly complex languages - the ie and the braided plait,' Andrei Fasie said. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Daniel Badea; EN - writing by: Simona Iacob) Display count: 148
10 winning projects of 2026 CANTEMIR Programme to represent Romanian culture on two continents
The 10 winning cultural projects in the 2026 session of the CANTEMIR Programme, run by the Romanian Cultural Institute (ICR), will be presented in nine countries: France, Germany, Portugal, the United Kingdom of Great Britain, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Republic of Moldova, Sweden, the United States of America and Serbia. The total budget allocated by the ICR for funding the 10 projects is 1,000,000 lei, the ICR Press Office informs in a press release sent to AGERPRES on Monday. 'Through the CANTEMIR Programme, the Romanian Cultural Institute continues to support the international presence of contemporary Romanian creation and to facilitate cultural dialogue across borders. This year's ten winning projects demonstrate the diversity, relevance and capacity of Romanian culture to generate authentic connections in the international space. In a global context marked by profound transformations, the message 'Culture Matters' reaffirms the essential role of culture as a factor of knowledge, cohesion and openness,' ICR President Corina Incrosnatu is quoted in the release as saying. The CANTEMIR Programme - a non-reimbursable funding scheme dedicated to supporting Romanian cultural projects carried out abroad - contributes to the promotion of Romanian culture internationally and facilitates the development of partnerships between Romanian cultural operators and prestigious cultural institutions abroad. The 2026 edition brought an important change to the programme structure by removing the traditional separation between visual arts and performing arts. The selection process for the 2026 CANTEMIR Programme highlighted the growing interest of Romanian cultural operators in the international promotion of domestic artistic creation. In total, 52 cultural projects were submitted. Following administrative eligibility checks and qualitative evaluation, 10 projects were selected as winners and will receive non-reimbursable funding from the Romanian Cultural Institute. The selected projects, identified under the 'Culture Matters' message, call for recognition and appreciation of the essential role of culture in society. The results of the 2026 CANTEMIR Programme are published on the ICR website: https://www.icr.ro/pagini/programul-cantemir-2026-rezultate-finale AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Daniel Popescu; EN - writing by: Adina Panaitescu) Display count: 92
Romania can be a digitalisation model for Europe (official)
Romania could become an example for Europe in the field of digitalisation, and establishing a Ministry for Digital Transformation would be an important step, as it is no longer appropriate in the era of Artificial Intelligence for digitalisation to remain a secondary responsibility within the Ministry of Economy, Entrepreneurship and Tourism, said Vasile-Ciprian Rus, chairman of the Senate Committee for Communications, Information Technology and Artificial Intelligence, on Monday at the conference 'Digitalisation and Cybersecurity - Cyber Threats in the Age of Artificial Intelligence'. 'Cluj may be an example in terms of digitalisation, but I believe Romania itself can become an example for Europe. Whether we are talking about the ECCC, various ministries, the Authority for the Digitalisation of Romania (ADR), or the Special Telecommunications Service (STS), the players are good. What is truly missing in this country is a coach - someone capable of coordinating them, training them and showing them how to work together to deliver results. 'It would be an important step to finally establish a Ministry for Digital Transformation. In the era of Artificial Intelligence, we cannot have all digitalisation matters managed by a Ministry of Economy, Entrepreneurship and Tourism where digitalisation is effectively an afterthought. 'If we want results, every team - whether ECCC, the National Directorate for Cyber Security (DNSC), or others - is already training well and has excellent resources. What we lack is a vision capable of bringing everyone together and teaching them how to operate as one team. We are living in the age of Artificial Intelligence. I do not believe anyone can seriously dispute that. Any attempt to ignore or fail to keep pace with technological developments in the AI era will only hinder our progress,' Rus said. He added that developments in new technologies are likely to accelerate even further over the next two years. 'If we do not want to be left behind, we must increase our pace and accelerate our efforts. As a country, we have become accustomed to talking about digitalisation. If a local authority uploads a form to its website that citizens can download and complete by hand, it considers the service digitalised. 'Yes, we have successfully transposed the NIS2 Directive and implemented it. We are very good at paperwork. Whether convenient or not, our priority is to ensure protection. When discussing cybersecurity in the age of Artificial Intelligence, we must not forget that this rapid pace of change also requires us to focus on resilience. 'We need to design and build systems that are secure by default and secure by design. The communication relationship between citizens and the state can be simplified. In Romania, we are working on a legislative initiative introducing the concept of a digital domicile, which would not be mandatory. Each Romanian citizen would be able to declare a digital domicile, meaning the online channels through which they can be contacted by any public institution. All notifications sent by the Romanian state would then be delivered through that channel,' the senator explained. Representatives of public authorities and professional associations took part on Monday in the 10th edition of the conference 'Digitalisation and Cybersecurity - Cyber Threats in the Age of Artificial Intelligence'. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Daniel Badea; EN - writing by: Cristina Zaharia) Display count: 201
Brancusi150/Gorj: Tens of thousands expected at Hobita events celebrating great sculptor
Tens of thousands of people are expected in Hobita between June 24 and 28 for a large-scale series of events marking the 150th anniversary of the birth of Constantin Brancusi, organised under the cultural project 'Pestisani: Home to Brancusi - 150 Years of Art and Genius', mayor of Pestisani commune Cosmin Pigui told AGERPRES on Monday. 'This is a special event taking place over five days and dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the birth of the great sculptor Constantin Brancusi. In fact, it is an umbrella event bringing together several events under the Brancusi 150 banner. We have the RomaniA Autentica Festival, which marks ten years since its launch, a flower festival, the Stradivarius concert, three days of authentic folk music and two days of symphonic performances, and we are expecting a large number of guests and participants. (...) This year we want the event to be truly exceptional because it marks 150 years since Brancusi's birth. Tens of thousands of people are expected over the course of these days. We expect 300 to 400 participants in the traditional costume parade alone, in addition to motorcyclists who will arrive dressed in folk costumes. The idea is to promote crafts, customs and traditions. After all, this is where Brancusi himself started from. He refined his talent in Craiova, Bucharest and later Paris, but his journey began with the traditional crafts of his native village, Hobita,' the mayor said. The programme includes the RomanIA Autentica (Authentic Romania, with the title playing on the words Romania and ie, the traditional Romanian blouse, Editor's note) Festival, featuring a traditional costume parade, a fair bringing together 100 folk craftsmen, including eight Living Human Treasures, demonstration workshops, music and authentic traditions; the Rhapsody of Flowers Festival, with floral installations inspired by Brancusi's work, ikebana workshops, exhibitions and artistic floral creations, as well as a flower and floral arrangement fair; the International Stradivarius Tour - 'The Muses', an extraordinary concert to be held in the courtyard of the Constantin Brancusi House Museum; the exhibition 'Brancusi 150: Towards Infinity', organised in partnership with the National Heritage Institute; and the photography exhibition 'Brancusi and the Muses', organised in partnership with the Gorj County Centre for the Conservation and Promotion of Traditional Culture. The 'Pestisani: Home to Brancusi - 150 Years of Art and Genius' project also includes a large open-air exhibition in Hobita Park, offering visitors a visual journey into the universe of the artist who forever changed modern sculpture. A conference entitled 'The Future of Traditional Crafts in Romania. Status, Rights and Support for Folk Craftsmen' will also take place, while the programme will be complemented by concerts and performances featuring folk and light music artists, authentic ensembles and symphonic recitals. The events will also include an immersive multimedia show inspired by Brancusi's artistic universe. The cultural project 'Pestisani: Home to Brancusi - 150 Years of Art and Genius' is financed by the Ministry of Culture. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Oana Popescu; EN - writing by: Simona Iacob) Display count: 264
Forta Dreptei leader no longer feels represented by Nicusor Dan, may back removal
Forta Dreptei (Force of the Right) Party leader Ludovic Orban said he no longer feels represented by President Nicusor Dan and is considering supporting the latter's removal from office. 'You no longer represent me. Do not be surprised if I soon come to regard you as the greatest threat to democracy in Romania and if I act accordingly. That means I will begin to support the need for your removal from the office you came to occupy by lying to us, the people of good faith in Romania,' Orban wrote on his Facebook page on Monday. He said he had supported Nicusor Dan in his 'fight' against Social Democratic Party (PSD) members, whom he accused of having 'tentacles suffocating state institutions and state-owned companies', describing them as 'corrupt to the core' and responsible for creating a system that is 'suffocating' Romania. Orban also said he had defended Nicusor Dan against members of the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) and SOS Romania, whom he described as 'crypto-communists, anti-democratic and anti-European', promoting a discourse based on 'lies, hatred and violence', with the aim of imposing an 'illiberal' regime and bringing Romania back under Russia's influence. He added that he had supported the president in the fight against former security service operatives whom he accused of seeking to control decision-making in the Romanian state without being held accountable for the 'disaster' they cause, as well as against what he described as networks of corrupt magistrates controlling the Superior Council of Magistracy (CSM). 'What have you done over the past year? Not only have you not lifted a finger against them, you have allied yourself with them and want to govern alongside them. That is called betrayal - a betrayal of the people who believed in you and voted for you to become President of Romania. You did nothing to stop Savonea from becoming president of the High Court of Cassation and Justice. You appointed chief prosecutors and their deputies in no time,' Orban wrote. He also reproached Nicusor Dan for keeping the same people at the helm of the intelligence services, although it was obvious 'to anyone with a minimum of common sense' that replacing them was 'vital' for reform. 'You remained complicitly silent in the face of all the disgraceful things that have happened since you became president. You secretly colluded with PSD to bring down the Bolojan Government and now want a government to be sworn in based on the votes of PSD members, SOS supporters, Georgescu supporters and AUR members,' Orban added. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Irinela Visan; EN - writing by: Simona Iacob) Display count: 781
BrancusiYear/Alexandru Tomescu Stradivarius Tour concert dedicated to Constantin Brancusi
'Maestro, please join us for the concert!' - with these words, imagined as being spoken by violinist Alexandru Tomescu to Constantin Brancusi, a remarkable encounter between music and sculpture came to an end on Sunday evening in Oradea. At St Nicholas Greek Catholic Cathedral, a large audience experienced the emotion of a concert in which the sounds of the Stradivarius Elder-Voicu violin, guitar and bandoneon created a dialogue across time dedicated to the great Romanian sculptor. As part of the 2026 International Stradivarius Tour, violinist Alexandru Tomescu, accompanied by guitarist Dragos Ilie and Argentine artist Omar Massa on bandoneon, performed a concert in which music reflecting the tastes and spiritual universe of Constantin Brancusi was brought to life through highly refined performances. Organised in partnership with the Greek Catholic Diocese of Oradea through its Cultural Department, the event placed the celebrated Stradivarius Elder-Voicu violin at centre stage. The instrument, classified as a national heritage treasure, has been in Alexandru Tomescu's hands for almost two decades. Between performances, the artist offered the audience brief introductions and explanations, evoking the subtle connections between Brancusi's work, music and the great cultural landmarks of Europe. Music lovers listened to works that formed a genuine sonic journey through the Romanian sculptor's universe of inspiration: 'Gymnopedie No. 3' by Erik Satie, 'Ballad' by George Enescu, 'Six Romanian Folk Dances' by Bela Bartok, 'Rondo in D Major' by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, a work by Johann Sebastian Bach, 'Spanish Suite' by Manuel de Falla and 'Histoire du Tango' by Astor Piazzolla. Alexandru Tomescu said that, for him, the connection between Brancusi's work, the sound of the Stradivarius violin and his own artistic path is founded on the same aspiration. 'The pursuit of perfection is the common denominator. Each of us does it in our own way. From this meeting of excellence, a dialogue across time is born, in which music and sculpture speak the same language of emotion and refinement,' the violinist told AGERPRES. The artist admitted that, despite the thousands of concerts he has performed with the Elder-Voicu Stradivarius, the instrument continues to surprise him. 'It is like a living being, one you never tire of,' he said. Asked what piece he would have performed for Constantin Brancusi had the great sculptor been present in the audience, Alexandru Tomescu answered without hesitation: George Enescu's 'Ballad.' 'The relationship between them remains one of the great mysteries in the lives of both men. We know they met and we even have film footage of them at the Behague Palace in Paris. I am convinced that Brancusi, who found so many sources of inspiration in folklore, would not have remained indifferent to George Enescu's music. And what would I have said to him if he had been in the audience? 'Maestro, please join us for the concert!',' the violinist confessed. The host of the event, Greek Catholic Bishop Virgil Bercea, described the concert as 'a wonderful evening,' praising the ability of the three musicians' music to uplift souls and remind people that they were created 'for greater things.' 'These three messengers of music and of the Brancusian spirit offered the audience a precious and memorable gift,' Bishop Virgil Bercea told AGERPRES. In turn, Roman Catholic Bishop Bocskei Laszlo highlighted the importance of such cultural events, which give the community an opportunity to step away from the pace of daily life and rediscover the spiritual dimension of existence. 'These are special moments that help us discover God's closeness because He is the source of all goodness. I am pleased that our churches are present in the life of the community through such cultural initiatives and with partners who offer music of the highest quality,' Bishop Bocskei Laszlo told AGERPRES. Each year, violinist Alexandru Tomescu, the leader of the International Stradivarius Tour project, brings the sound of the finest music to all regions of the country, accompanied by the Stradivarius Elder-Voicu violin. Now in its nineteenth edition, this year's International Stradivarius Tour runs from 13 June to 18 July and is dedicated, under the title 'The Muses,' to the 150th anniversary of Constantin Brancusi's birth. Through the music presented on stages across the country, the project offers an exploration of the sonic universe that inspired the great Romanian sculptor, demonstrating that, beyond time, art continues to speak the same language of emotion and beauty. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Eugenia Pasca; EN - writing by:Adina Panaitescu) Photo: Eugenia Pașca/AGERPRES Display count: 596
Athletics: Romania claimed eight medals in the Balkan Athletics Championships
Romania won eight medals, four gold and four silver, at the Balkan Athletics Championships held on Saturday and Sunday in Volos, Greece, the Romanian Athletics Federation announced on its Facebook page. In the women's 400 metres, Andrea Miklos won gold in 52.26 seconds, while Stefania Balint took silver in 52.66 seconds. Romania also claimed gold and silver in the women's long jump through Ramona Elena Verman, who recorded a personal best of 6.78 metres, and Alina Rotaru-Kottmann, who jumped 6.64 metres. Alin Alexandru Firfirica won gold in the discus with a throw of 63.49 metres. Another gold medal came from the mixed 4x400m relay team of Andrea Miklos, Stefania Balint, Mihai Sorin Dringo and Sorin Alexandru Voinea, who clocked 3 min 18.58 sec. Mihai Sorin Dringo secured silver in the men's 400 metres (45.57 sec), while Andrei Rares Toader finished second in the shot put with 19.95 metres. Jennifer Dossey placed fourth in the triple jump with 13.63 metres. Fourth-place finishes were also achieved by Cristian Gabriel Voicu in the 800 metres (1:47.89) and Alin Ionut Anton in the 110m hurdles (16.86 sec). David Stefan Damian finished fifth in the 400m hurdles (51.03 sec). Anamaria Nesteriuc placed sixth in the 100m hurdles (13.57 sec), as did Mihaela Blaga in the 3,000m steeplechase (10:37.80) and Federica Gabriela Apostol in the high jump (1.84 metres). Sorin Alexandru Voinea finished seventh in the men's 400 metres (46.75 sec). AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Mihai Tenea; EN - writing by: Cristina Zaharia) Display count: 241
Irina Begu and Gabriela Ruse qualify for Bad Homburg WTA main draw
Romanian tennis players Irina Begu and Gabriela Ruse secured places in the main singles draw of the WTA 500 tournament in Bad Homburg, Germany, on Sunday. The tournament offers total prize money of 1,049,083 euros. Begu (35, world No. 213) defeated France's Diane Parry (23, world No. 60) 6-4, 7-6 (7/5) in the final round of qualifying after nearly two hours of play (1 hr 57 min). Begu, who struck six aces, now leads their head-to-head record 2-1 against Parry, who produced seven aces and seven double faults in Sunday's match. Having also defeated Germany's Tamara Korpatsch 6-1, 6-4 in the opening qualifying round, Begu has guaranteed herself a cheque for 11,309 euros and 26 WTA ranking points. In the first round of the main draw, she will face American Venus Williams (46, world No. 462), who received a wildcard entry. Gabriela Ruse (28, world No. 105) defeated American Taylor Townsend (30, world No. 81) 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 in the final qualifying round after two hours of play. Ruse, who overcame China's Zhang Shuai 6-4, 7-5 in the first qualifying round, now leads her head-to-head record against Townsend 2-0. She has also secured a cheque for 11,309 euros and 26 WTA ranking points. In the first round of the main draw, she will face Czech player Linda Noskova (21, world No. 13) for the first time. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Mihai Tenea; EN - writing by: Cristina Zaharia) Display count: 498
PSD decides to join Adrian Vestea Government (sources)
The Social Democratic Party (PSD) decided on Sunday, in a meeting of the National Political Council, to support in Parliament the investiture of the Government led by Adrian Vestea and to take part in governing, according to political sources. In order to support the future Cabinet, the Social Democrats have requested nine ministerial portfolios and the position of Secretary-General of the Government. The Social Democrats have also requested that a number of their proposals be included in Adrian Vestea's governing programme. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Dana Piciu; EN - writing by: Rodica State) Display count: 763
Vestea camp: PNL Congress exclusions have no legal effect; competent judicial bodies to be notified
Representatives of Prime Minister-designate Adrian Vestea's team say they will ask the competent judicial bodies to review the legality of PNL's conduct after Sunday's Extraordinary Congress decisions to exclude several members, political sources said. The sources argue that 'today's announced exclusions can produce no legal effect', given that PNL's National Political Bureau Decisions 22 and 25 of June 15 were already suspended by an immediately enforceable court ruling: acting on suspended decisions, they say, 'means defying a judicial order'. They also contend that the mechanism used has no basis in the party Statute, since no body can mandate another to order exclusions and sanctions must follow gradual, individual procedures with defence rights and avenues of appeal. They add that 'a collective ultimatum of a few hours is not a statutory procedure'. According to the same sources, the new Statute does not correct the said illegality: it entered into force only today, upon ratification by the Congress, and cannot apply retroactively. They argue that the PNL Extraordinary Congress was conducted as if the new Statute were already in force, a flaw that could render the entire procedure - including the Congress itself - open to annulment in court. 'We will now seize the competent judicial bodies to verify the legality of the party's conduct,' the sources said. One of the resolutions adopted on Sunday calls for the resignation from PNL of Adrian Vestea, Lucian Bode, Rares Bogdan, Hubert Thuma and Alina Gorghiu. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Georgiana Tanasescu; EN - writing by: Simona Klodnischi) Display count: 693
PNL Congress/Dragos Pislaru: Invitation to join PNL leadership - a response to recent attack on the party
Dragos Pislaru said the invitation to join PNL's leadership team came in response to the recent 'attack' on the party and attempts to destabilize it, noting that he resigned from REPER on June 19. He emphasized that there had never been pressure from PNL to take a party card: 'At no point did the PNL Chair oblige me to become a member, nor was my role in government ever conditioned on party membership. My decision now, following the additional invitation to join the team supported by his motion, is very clearly linked to the recent attack on PNL and the attempt to destabilize it.' Asked about a possible merger with REPER, Pislaru expressed public appreciation for the party he had just left: 'REPER was not built around a person, but around values. I would welcome a joint political effort for 2028, but such decisions belong to the party leadership.' Ilie Bolojan won another term as party chair, running at the Congress with a team including Dan Motreanu for First Deputy Chairman, Robert Sighiartau as Secretary-General, and Deputy Chairs Mircea Abrudean, Ioan Popa, Siegfried Muresan, Oana Gheorghiu, Alexandru Muraru, Dragos Pislaru, Florin Roman and Gabriela Horga. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Alina Novăceanu; EN - writing by: Simona Klodnischi) Display count: 641
PNL Congress/ Oana Gheorghiu says she joined Gov't to do good, not for privileges
Deputy Prime Minister Oana Gheorghiu told the PNL Extraordinary Congress that she chose to join the party after years of activity in civil society, convinced she could work as part of Ilie Bolojan's team. Gheorghiu opened with pointed self-irony, introducing herself as someone from the 'NGO world, the Soros-ist, neo-Marxist system' who supposedly came to 'take over PNL' - a jab at public accusations directed at her. She then shifted to substance: 'I'm a fighter. I fight for values and principles and I don't run from hard decisions. I chose to stand with you now, when it's difficult, not when it was easy.' Gheorghiu said she long believed she could help Romania from outside politics, through civic projects and street protests 'for a blindfolded justice, not one delivering files on command'. She accepted government office - she said - to support Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan's reform agenda, describing him as 'an honest man who proves himself through results'. She argued that, once in office, she found state-owned companies turned into 'political piggy banks', and that attempts to close off patronage networks triggered backlash: 'You know what happens when you turn on the light - those who thrived in the dark wake up'. She said efforts to stop abuses were met with accusations, blacklists and smear campaigns, but insisted none of this intimidates her, as power must be exercised 'with decency, responsibility and respect'. Oana Gheorghiu urged PNL to remain a party that dares, not one that surrenders, framing the choice in civic rather than personal terms: 'This is not about positions or egos, but about a simple question: what kind of country do we leave our children? One they flee, or one they choose to stay in?' Gheorghiu is in the race for a PNL Deputy Chair position, as part of Ilie Bolojan's team. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Loredana Ciobanu; EN - writing by: Simona Klodnischi) Display count: 614
PNL Congress/ Ilie Bolojan re-elected as PNL President
Ilie Bolojan was re-elected on Sunday as President of the National Liberal Party (PNL) at the PNL Extraordinary Congress. Following the vote cast by the Liberal delegates, Bolojan received 1,769 votes in favour. A total of 1,886 delegates were present at the Congress, with 1,842 votes cast. Of these, 44 were annulled and 73 declared invalid. After the announcement of the result, Ilie Bolojan thanked the PNL delegates for their support and for attending in Bucharest. 'Thank you for your support, for your encouragement! Thank you for coming from across the country today to Bucharest! Have a safe journey back to your counties,' Bolojan conveyed. He announced that, after the Congress, the party leadership's activity will continue at the PNL headquarters, where a meeting of the National Permanent Bureau is scheduled take place. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Gina Stefan; EN - writing by: Rodica State) Display count: 943
PNL Congress/ Two resolutions adopted; Vestea, Bode, Bogdan, Thuma and Gorghiu asked to resign
The National Liberal Party (PNL) Extraordinary Congress adopted on Sunday two resolutions stipulating that the participation of party members in the formation of a Government with the Social Democratic Party (PSD) will lead to their exclusion and calling for the resignation from the PNL of Adrian Vestea, Lucian Bode, Rares Bogdan, Hubert Thuma and Alina Gorghiu. 'The Congress reconfirms the decisions taken by the extended National Political Bureau regarding the political situation of the past 60 days. The National Liberal Party maintains its consistent position of no longer forming a coalition with the Social Democratic Party. If the Social Democratic Party is in power, the National Liberal Party will be in opposition,' the first adopted resolution mentioned. It also provides that voting for, supporting or participating in the formation of a Government with the Social Democratic Party by a member of the National Liberal Party will place them outside the political line set by the PNL Congress, leading to their exclusion. The second resolution stipulates: 'The Congress of the National Liberal Party finds that Lucian Bode, Rares Bogdan, Adrian Vestea, Hubert Thuma and Alina Gorghiu have repeatedly breached the obligation to defend the political positions and decisions adopted by the National Liberal Party, by taking part in actions and initiatives contrary to the party's interests.' Furthermore, the Congress notes the political responsibility of Lucian Bode for the serious financial situation in which the National Liberal Party finds itself at the end of his mandate as secretary-general. 'In consequence, the Congress convened today calls on them to resign from their membership of the National Liberal Party. If the individuals mentioned do not submit their resignation by tomorrow, 22 June, at 12:00, the Congress mandates the National Permanent Bureau and the National Council to take the necessary statutory measures, namely the initiation of exclusion procedures, in accordance with the provisions of the Statute of the National Liberal Party,' the adopted resolution further said. The decisions were adopted unanimously, by a show of hands, on the proposal of PNL leader Ilie Bolojan. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Alina Novaceanu; EN - writing by: Rodica State) Display count: 729
PNL Congress/Bolojan, together with USR and UDMR partners, devised solution for Romania
National Liberal Party (PNL) leader Ilie Bolojan said that together with the Save Romania Union (USR) and the Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania (UDMR) partners, the Liberals have devised a 'honest, transparent, straightforward formula' for a solution for Romania, adding that he is proposing a pact for the country over the next six months to continue the policy lines adopted by the Government he led. 'The issue is Romania's solutions for forming a Government, because we need one in this crisis. I worked with the coalition parties and together with our partners the USR and the UDMR we devised an honest, transparent, straightforward formula to come up with a solution for Romania. I thank them for coming, even though I informed them very late last night, to greet us, and this proposal is transparent, it is correct and honest. We can do it, if indeed the national interest is not an empty phrase used only to gain power, a pact for Romania over the next six months, in which we clearly establish that we must keep deficits at a reasonable level,' Bolojan said at the PNL Congress on Sunday. He said that any rational party understands that it must assume responsibility in government for all the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) projects that have not yet been approved, so that Romania does not lose billions of euros, that it must act in the energy sector to bring prices down so that the economy becomes competitive, and that salaries can no longer be increased if productivity is not taken into account. According to him, 'the terrible battle of these days is not necessarily about people, ideologies or economic visions' and is not about election campaigns, but a battle against 'lies,' 'between taking responsibility and running away from it, between respect and contempt for citizens.' AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Alina Novaceanu; EN - writing by: Rodica State) Display count: 810
PNL Congress/Bolojan: Congress convened in crisis situation; we did not want it, but situation required it
The National Liberal Party (PNL) Extraordinary Congress was convened in a crisis situation, Liberal leader Ilie Bolojan said on Sunday while presenting his candidacy for a new mandate at the helm of the party, mentioning that he did not want the Congress, but that the situation made it necessary. 'The Extraordinary Congress was convened in a crisis situation, we did not want it, but the crisis situation required it,' Bolojan said. 'Why have we gathered, dear colleagues, at this Extraordinary Congress? We must answer this question. We have gathered because our party must decide today who it is and what it wants to be, we must clarify the direction we want to take in the coming years and decide what our vision is for Romania,' Bolojan said. He added that the National Liberal Party has 'every reason' not to be ashamed of what it has achieved in this Government. 'We took on Romania's recovery at a critical moment and those who know how large deficits are resolved know that nowhere in the world, where such situations have occurred, is recovery achieved without inevitable social costs, which also implies political costs for those who are in the forefront and implement those measures, but we assumed this responsibility, we did not run away from it, we also had a moral obligation because we also bore a small part of the blame for the situation Romania reached. We should not run away from this. If I were to compare Romania's budget situation with a patient, last summer we took over a budget in a coma and we left a patient in a state of recovery, in a recovery process. It is true, the treatment was not easy, it was sometimes painful, I understand the anger of many people and I am grateful for their patience,' Bolojan also said. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Alina Novaceanu; EN - writing by: Rodica State) Display count: 700
PNL Congress/ UDMR's Antal: Solution for stability:willingness to compromise, search for healthy political partnerships
Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania (UDMR) Senator Antal Lorand delivered on Sunday, at the National Liberal Party (PNL) Extraordinary Congress, the message of UDMR leader Kelemen Hunor, stressing in his speech the importance of cooperation between democratic political parties in strengthening Romania's stability and development. The UDMR representative said that the presence of the Union at the Liberal Congress represents 'normality', pointing out that the relationship between the UDMR and the PNL has historically been based on mutual respect and cooperation. The senator also spoke about the history of relations between the two formations, which have gone through both periods of cooperation and moments of political distance, highlighting the results achieved when the PNL and UDMR have been partners. According to him, there have been periods in which the two parties built together, contributed to Romania's development and to the consolidation of democracy, saying 'no' to those promoting extremism and a 'toxic sovereigntism.' In his speech, the UDMR representative referred to the difficult context Romania is confronted with, mentioning rising inflation, geopolitical crises in the region and the internal political crisis. 'The solution for stability is a willingness to compromise, the search for healthy, constructive political partnerships and, perhaps, the redefinition of a new national project. But this time, perhaps for real, a country project with clear objectives, commitments and the pursuit of their implementation, so that it does not remain only on paper, as Romania has experienced before, step by step. For a national project we need a stable pro-European majority in Parliament and support for the Government from this majority. We, the representatives of the UDMR, led by President Kelemen Hunor, have never shied away from responsibility, we have never avoided work and whenever it was needed we have given full support to build a stronger and more solid Romania,' the UDMR senator added. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Gina Stefan; EN - writing by: Rodica State) Display count: 591
PNL Congress/USR's Radu Mihaiu says Romania needs a reformist pole and to regain citizens' trust
Save Romania Union (USR) Vice-President Radu Mihaiu said on Sunday, at the National Liberal Party (PNL) Extraordinary Congress, that Romania is going through a crisis of trust in political parties, institutions and the state, adding that the PNL and the USR have been 'on the right side of history' by embracing reforms and an honest path. 'The crisis Romania is going through now is a crisis of trust. It is a crisis of trust in political parties, in institutions and in the state. And based on this crisis, on this crisis, extremism and populism feed themselves. I personally believe that USR and the PNL have been on the right side of history over the past year. They have been on the side that has taken on reforms, has taken on the honest path, has taken on the correct path. And I believe this is the path that increases public trust, that increases Romanians' trust in Romania and in the political class,' Radu Mihaiu said. He added that the two parties must continue reforms and promote a discourse based on realism. 'I still believe we need to take these reforms further. I believe we need to stop misleading people with what some say can be done when we know very well it cannot be done. I believe we can build this reformist pole and that this reformist pole will take Romania where it deserves to be in Europe,' the USR leader said. According to him, political competition in Romania is no longer defined by classical ideological differences, but by the way political actors contribute to strengthening or eroding public trust. The USR leader rejected the idea that all parties are similar and stressed that there is a clear difference between those who pursue the public interest and those who use politics for personal gain. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Dana Lepadatu; EN - writing by: Rodica State) Display count: 500
PSD National Council/ Social Democrats to decide whether they join Vestea Government
The Social Democrats will decide on Sunday, within the National Political Council scheduled for 16:00, whether they will join the Government proposed by Adrian Vestea. The Social Democratic Party (PSD) requested a series of measures to support parliamentary backing for the future Executive, to be included in the governing programme. 'We have nothing against Adrian Vestea, but we informed him that the PSD decision to enter or not will not be delayed, because in the coming days we must convene the party's statutory bodies. We need to discuss the governing programme extensively. Today, I informed my colleagues that, in principle, I would like to conclude all these internal debates on Sunday afternoon, hold a National Political Council and take the decision on whether we enter the Government led by Adrian Vestea or not. For us it is very important to discuss a Government quickly. It is important for Romanians, beyond the personal egos of one or another. Romania needs a Government,' PSD leader Sorin Grindeanu said on Thursday, at the end of a meeting of the PSD parliamentary groups. Grindeanu explained that the PSD is analysing 'everything related to the governing programme.' In order to secure parliamentary support from the PSD, the future Cabinet must include in its governing programme a series of key measures aimed at protecting the population and boosting economic recovery: * ending austerity measures, namely halting the increase of the tax burden on low and middle income households and small entrepreneurs. Fiscal and budgetary balancing measures must focus primarily on stimulating investment and the development of economic activity that generates higher revenues for the state budget; * an anti-inflation package, namely protecting the purchasing power of vulnerable social groups through an increase in the minimum wage and pension indexation, support for mothers, veterans and people with disabilities, as well as the extension of the scheme limiting commercial mark-ups on essential food and non-food products that make up the minimum consumption basket; * reducing school dropout rates through the expansion of the Hot Meal in Schools programme; * genuine administrative reform aimed at more efficient services for citizens and reducing public spending by encouraging the administrative merger of small localities; * debureaucratisation and administrative efficiency, through reducing by at least 25% the administrative burden on citizens and companies and by cutting authorisation deadlines by a minimum of 30%; * unblocking the economy through the payment of the state's debts to companies; * resuming economic stimulus in strategic sectors. We produce in Romania, we Invest in Romania: state guarantees for investment and working capital, subsidising interest rates in strategic sectors, supporting the domestic automotive industry by expanding the Rabla programme; * support for Romanian agriculture and farmers through a credit programme with 80% of the interest subsidised. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Georgiana Tanasescu; EN - writing by: Rodica State) Display count: 584
PNL Extraordinary Congress begins
The National Liberal Party (PNL) Extraordinary Congress, at which the party's new leadership structure will be decided, began on Sunday at Romexpo. PNL leader Ilie Bolojan, who is running for a new mandate at the head of the party, was greeted with applause by those in attendance, who chanted his name. Only the current party leader, Ilie Bolojan, has submitted a candidacy for the party presidency. He is presenting the following team: first vice-president - Dan Motreanu; secretary-general - Robert Sighiartau; vice-presidents - Mircea Abrudean, Ioan Popa, Siegfried Muresan, Oana Gheorghiu, Alexandru Muraru, Dragos Pislaru, Florin Roman and Gabriela Horga. The Congress will also decide on the party's new Statute, which aims to change the current leadership structure. Proceedings are taking place against a backdrop of internal division, with two camps emerging within the party, one centred around the current PNL leader Ilie Bolojan and the other around First Vice-President Adrian Vestea, the prime minister-designate. Adrian Vestea is not present at the Congress. He sent a message on Saturday in which he said the history and identity of the National Liberal Party are 'being thrown away.' He believes that, through the Congress convened by Ilie Bolojan, the 'real' Liberals are being removed from the party's leadership. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Georgiana Tanasescu; EN - writing by: Rodica State) Display count: 488
PNL Extraordinary Congress/Party leadership to be elected; Bolojan sole candidate for PNL presidency
The Extraordinary Congress of the National Liberal Party (PNL) convenes on Sunday to decide the party's new leadership structure and elect its president and leadership team, with the current head of the party, Ilie Bolojan, the only candidate to have formally registered. The Congress, convened on Friday by the Extraordinary National Council, is expected to be attended by 2,500 delegates. Proceedings are taking place against a backdrop of internal divisions, with two camps emerging within the party: one centred around the current PNL president, Ilie Bolojan, and another around First-Deputy President Adrian Vestea, who was appointed by President Nicusor Dan as Prime Minister-delegate. *** Adrian Vestea conveyed that the Congress is an 'unconstitutional and unlawful demarche,' announcing that he will not run for the party leadership, although he had initially expressed his intention to stand on Thursday, arguing that he did not wish to endorse 'this democratic charade through which dictatorship is being installed within the party.' He argued that the aim is not to clarify matters within the PNL, but to block the Government's investiture, adding that he is considering all statutory and legal avenues to challenge the meeting. On the other hand, those close to Ilie Bolojan argue that the Congress was organised properly, with the observance of the procedures followed to the letter. PNL MP Robert Sighiartau said that Adrian Vestea had not formally requested in writing that the meeting be postponed. *** Critics of Ilie Bolojan are also challenging the proposed amendments to the party's Statute, which would alter the current leadership structure. At present, the party's first deputy presidents are Adrian Vestea, Nicoleta Pauliuc and Ciprian Ciucu, while Catalin Predoiu resigned from the position on Thursday. Adrian Vestea argued that the proposed amendments to the party's Statute are aimed at 'concentrating power' in the hands of Ilie Bolojan and excluding him from the party because he accepted President Nicusor Dan's nomination for the Prime Minister office and thus chose 'to be part of a solution to bring an end to a crisis that is profoundly affecting Romanians.' Under these circumstances, when the deadline for submitting motions for the PNL leadership race expired, Ilie Bolojan was the only registered candidate. He is standing on the motion called 'Modernisation with Roots' and has proposed the following leadership team: first deputy president - Dan Motreanu; secretary-general - Robert Sighiartau; vice-presidents - Mircea Abrudean, Ioan Popa, Siegfried Muresan, Oana Gheorghiu, Alexandru Muraru, Dragos Pislaru, Florin Roman and Gabriela Horga. *** The PNL's Permanent Bureau, the body due to be elected at Sunday's Congress following the amendment of the party's Statute, will take decisions on the exclusion of PM-designate Adrian Vestea and others who fail to observe party decisions. On Thursday, the 16 MPs who oppose Bolojan requested the Ilfov Tribunal to suspend decisions adopted by the PNL National Political Bureau on 15 June concerning sanctions against party parliamentarians who would vote in favour of the investiture of the Vestea Government and the court ruled in their favour the same day and ordered the suspension of those National Political Bureau decisions. In response, the PNL announced that it would challenge the Ilfov Tribunal's ruling within the legal deadline and that the party would continue its political activities without impediment, on the basis of its own decisions. Adrian Vestea was nominated Prime Minister-designate by President Nicusor Dan last Sunday, after Eugen Tomac stepped down. Vestea has not yet submitted the governing programme or the list of ministers to Parliament. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Alina Novaceanu; EN - writing by: Rodica State) Display count: 534
Adrian Vestea: This congress pushes true liberals out of PNL leadership
Prime Minister-designate Adrian Vestea said on Saturday that the National Liberal Party's history and identity are being 'trashed', arguing that through the congress convened by party Chairman Ilie Bolojan, the 'true' liberals are being pushed out of the party leadership. 'Sadly and predictably, the Congress convened for Sunday, June 21, by PNL Chairman Ilie Bolojan, in fact means the elimination of all true liberals from the leadership of our political formation. Practically, the entire history and identity of the party are being trashed,' Vestea wrote on Facebook. He also noted that in the new leadership being shaped, only one locally elected official - Resita mayor Ioan Popa - would remain, calling it 'unacceptable that almost all the people in the party leadership who were validated at the ballot box, who brought votes for PNL, are being sidelined in favour of outsiders and opportunists.' On the other hand, Vestea remarked, 'two persons who literally joined the party yesterday (...) become part of the smallest leadership structure in the party's recent history,' referring here to the new PNL entrants Oana Gheorghiu and Dragos Pislaru. 'No wonder that, most likely very soon, if nothing changes, PNL will become USR's keychain, both literally and figuratively,' Vestea predicted. In his view, long-standing liberals 'no longer find a place' and are 'treated with contempt'. He warned that 'out of Mr Bolojan's desire to become president of the country in 2030, if the PNL remains under this ill-fated star, the party will be turned into a mace meant to shatter trust in Romania's state institutions. This process is already visible through the unleashed and unjustified attacks against the President, against the judiciary, against Parliament and, in general, against anyone who dares to disagree with Mr Bolojan.' Vestea also told his liberal colleagues who feel disappointed that 'the PNL has gone through tougher battles and emerged victorious', adding that he hopes a government he is prepared to lead 'responsibly, in the spirit of the values this party has defended for more than 150 years' will be formed as soon as possible. This Cabinet - he wrote - would include more liberals than the Bolojan government or 'the new leadership now taking shape' within PNL. 'I am optimistic that once the new Government is installed, many of the wrongs of recent times will be corrected. As I said, the priority now is governing Romania, and after achieving this objective, we can discuss at length what is happening inside the PNL,' Vestea concluded. PNL Chairman Ilie Bolojan submitted on Saturday his candidacy for a new term as party leader, to be validated at Sunday's Extraordinary Congress. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Marinela Brumar; EN - writing by: Simona Klodnischi) Display count: 405