G4Media

The Romanian internal intelligence service, SRI, could see its powers extended under a draft law being debated by the governing coalition, which has drawn opposition from NGOs.

The new law may oblige civilians or companies, as well as public authorities and institutions, to assist SRI inquiries about their operations, according to the news portal G4Media, which has seen the document.

The right-wing nationalist Alliance for the Union of Romanians, AUR, has been criticised for started a public campaign on Facebook against Romanian media outlets it deems hostile to its message.

A week after the previous government was ousted, President Klaus Iohannis said on Monday that he has put forward Dacian Ciolos of the Save Romania Union, USR, as his choice for the next premier.

Romania's centre-right-dominated parliament on Wednesday voted to dismantle the so-called Special Court for the Investigation of Magistrates. The law will now go to the Senate, where the ruling coalition also has a majority.

Romanian writer and anti-Communist dissident Paul Goma has died in Paris aged 84 after being diagnosed with coronavirus, his biographer Mariana Sipos told the Romanian news portal G4Media on Wednesday.

"After receiving a message from France, I announce with sorrow and great pain the departure from among us of the great writer and dissident Paul Goma," the statement read.