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10. 03. 10. - 10:00

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10. 03. 10. - 10:00

Mayor dismissed for corruption

Romanian Times

Democratic Liberal Antonie Solomon, the mayor of the southern town of Craiova, was dismissed by county prefect Eugen Georgescu, the national government's official in the county, today (Weds).

Solomon, suspected of bribe-taking and forgery, has been arrested by anti-corruption prosecutors.

He is under investigation for allegedly having accepted a 50,000-Euro bribe for issuance of a construction permit to Cornel Penescu, the owner of football club FC Arges, for construction of a store in Craiova.

The Craiova mayor has claimed all documents were issued legally.

Several high-ranked corruption cases have been on newspapers' front pages in the last few months in Romania, a country considered the European Union’s most-corrupt country, according to anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International in its 2009 Corruption Perceptions Index.

Democratic Liberal Mayor Mircia Gutau from Ramnicu Valcea was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison for bribe-taking in January this year.

Nicolae Dicu, a former deputy mayor, was also sentenced to prison as an accessory to bribe-taking.

Social Democratic Senator Catalin Voicu has been investigated by anti-corruption prosecutors for influence-peddling, falsification of documents and corruption, and the justice minister has been asked to approve his arrest.

Health minister considers taxing fast food and beer
The new Health Minister Vasile Cepoi said today (Thurs) that the next Health Care Law might include a new tax on fast food and beer, local press informs.

Romania wont ratify ACTA
Romania will not ratify the highly controversial (Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement)ACTA until the agreement won't be altered as to comply with demands recently formulated by the European Court of Justice, the minister of Communication Dan Nica told a press conference today (Thurs).

Romania wont ratify ACTA
Romania will not ratify the highly controversial (Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement)ACTA until the agreement won't be altered as to comply with demands recently formulated by the European Court of Justice, the minister of Communication Dan Nica told a press conference today (Thurs).

Government to introduce ‘Robin Hood’ tax on oil companies
Minister of Economy Daniel Chitoiu announced today (Weds) that the government is working on a piece of legislation on introducing a supplementary tax on the exceptional incomes of the oil companies that should be passed by the year end and implemented as of 2013.

Education Minister stepps down amid plagiarism accusations
Ioan Mang, the education minister appointed only two weeks ago together with the new cabinet of Social Liberal Union (USL) leader Victor Ponta, resigned Tuesday (yesterday) night.

Brancusi’s son doesn’t want his father remains to be moved to Romania
John Moore, the only child of sculpture Constantin Brancusi, reacted to Romania’s intention to repatriate the remains of his father, saying his last will was to be buried in Paris at Montparnasse, Libertatea newspaper informs today (Weds).

Romania back in recession, growth to resume in H2
Romania officially entered recession today, following the figures published by the National Statistics Institute (NSI) that show a decrease of the GDP for two consecutive quarters (Q).

Police head sacked over underground boss runaway row
The head of the Romanian Police Liviu Popa (picture) was sacked today (Tues) by Home Affairs Minister Ioan Rus, the ministry informs.

UK Ambassador Harris says new Cabinet took right decisions so far
The UK Ambassaodr in Romania, Martin Harris says Victor Ponta’s new government got off on the right foot by making clear that its economic policy will continue to be framed within the programme agreed between Romania and the EU, World Bank, and IMF.

Carmen Sylvas x-rayed hand to be auctioned
A x-ray of the left hand of Romanian Queen Elisabeta will be auctioned in Bucharest by Artmark auction house, Libertatea newspaper informs today (Tue).