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07. 05. 12. - 21:00

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07. 05. 12. - 21:00

Social Liberal Cabinet gets Parliament approval

Michael Leidig

Ahead of the vote, the co-president of the Social Democrat Union and president of the Social Democrat Party Victor Ponta said his government will run the country in a different way, bringing a change of attitude and direction. The government will be accountable to the Parliament and will come before legislators to present a report every week, the premier said. "I wish for a real dialogue with the government of Romania. We will have more openness and we will listen to the voice of the public and of the mass media', Ponta said. The new cabinet's top priority is to bring back the rule of law. 'Romania needs to respect its laws and its rules'' the new PM said, adding that his cabinet will take measures in order to mend the social injustices created by the previous right-wing governments. The Premier promised to deliver a clear economic and financial vision, to protect the country's natural resources and to look into the shabby deals sealed by the previous administration with corrupt energy traders. Among the top priorities listed by Ponta is the organisation of free and correct municipal and legislative elections, due mid-June and in late November respectively. The new cabinet was sworn in later in the evening at Cotroceni Palace during a ceremony headed by president Traian Basescu. A day ahead of the vote of investiture, the new cabinet convinced the IMF to raise public wages by 8 percent as of 1 June and to repay the 5.5 health tax to pensioners. The decision was included in the new letter of intent that the IMF negotiators will present to the board in Washington.

Tragic Ski Girl Dies
A 10-year-old British schoolgirl has died after skiing into a tree at high speed during a family holiday tragedy in the Austrian Alps.

Peak Performance
Police chiefs in Hamburg, Germany, are celebrating after new crime figures showed there wasn't a single bank robbery in the city last year.

Chinese Fakeaway
Chinese property developers who've been thwarted in a bid to buy up an entire Austrian village have settled on the next best thing - an entire life-sized replica.

Austrian children help Romanian kids
A charity project run by the middle school in Hippach has been recognised with an award for its social work by officials in Tyrol.

Mother kills disabled daughter because she couldnt take care of her any longer
A Romanian woman killed her 8 year-old disabled daughter on Wednesday (yesterday)because she couldn't pay for her care, Libertatea newspaper reports.

Policeman accused of sex with the son of his girlfriend
A Policeman from Vulcan, Western Romania is currently being investigated for having sex with a minor, the son of his girlfriend, Cancan newspaper informs today (Thurs).

Serial killer survivor walks away alive after fall
An 85 year-old woman who survived the most cruel and notorious serial killer in Romania some 40 years ago, recently fell from the first floor of her apartment building and she walked away safe and sound, Cancan newspaper reports today (Thurs).

The son of Qatar Airlines BA beaten up in Romania
The son of the Board of Administration of Qatar Airlines Akbar Al Baker, was beaten up over the weekend at the launching party of a posh club in Mamaia, at the Romanian Black Sea shore, Cancan newspaper reports.

Majority starts president’s suspension procedures
A day after the Social Liberal Union (USL) legislators dismissed with a large majority of votes the two Speakers of the Parliament, the Union started today the procedures for the suspension and possible impeachment of President Traian Basescu. This is the second time when the Parliament asks for Basescu’s suspension.

Some 177 Roma repatriated by French authorities to Romania
Some 177 Romanian citizens of Roma origin were repatriated on Tuesday night from Lille, France, Romania TV news channel informs today (Weds).