Irinela Visan

President Klaus Iohannis on Friday stated after the meeting of the Supreme Council for National Defence (CSAT) that he signed a decree by which he prolonged the mandate of General Nicolae Ciuca as Chief of Defence Staff, specifying at the same time that the proposal made by the Minister of Defence, Gabriel Les, was rejected.

Social Democratic Party (PSD) Chairman Liviu Dragnea said on Thursday that President Klaus Iohannis would be a "puppet" and at a same time a "beneficiary" of the parallel state and that the Protection and Guard Service (SPP) head Lucian Pahontu would be leading a group of people belonging to various institutions, with the main goal of making money and controlling the state institutions.

Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) Liviu Dragnea stated that the modifications to the Criminal Codes must be presented within a reasonable amount of time to the Prime Minister by the Minister of Justice, while mentioning that there comes a time when appreciation for someone can no longer compensate for the same person's lack of decision.

Social Democratic Party (PSD) chairman Liviu Dragnea on Thursday said he didn't rule out the alternative of a candidacy of Alliance of Liberals and Democrats (ALDE) leader Calin Popescu-Tariceanu in the presidential elections, mentioning that it is important to have a common candidate of the two parties making up the ruling coalition.

Prime minister Viorica Dancila on Thursday said at an informal meeting with the media that she intends to talk to president Klaus Iohannis about the replacement of the transport and regional development ministers, even on Friday, on the sidelines of the CSAT (Superior Council for Country's Defence, ed. n.) meeting.

Theatre and film actress Eugenia Bosanceanu died at 93, the Theater Union of Romania (UNITER) informs.

"On Christmas Eve, great theatre and film actress Eugenia Bosanceanu left us, at the age of 93," reads a UNITER Facebook post.

Prime Minister Viorica Dancila on Thursday contradicted in the joint plenary session of Parliament a series of accusations in the censure motion text, underscoring that the pension payment was not postponed, but done earlier.

Chairman of the the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats (ALDE) Calin Popescu-Tariceanu, who attended on Sunday the meeting of the Social Democratic Party's (PSD) National Council (CN), voiced his belief that the main objective for the PD-ALDE coalition in view of exercising the Presidency of the EU Council, should be the promotion of one single-speed Union and a truly solidary one.

The photo exhibition "Romania: Evolution" mounted by the AGERPRES National News Agency trevalled to Lisbon, Portugal, on Thursday, where he was presented at an Amicus Romaniae (Romania's friend) award gala in partnership with the Romanian Cultural Institute (ICR) in Lisbon and the Romanian Embassy in Portugal.

President Klaus Iohannis said on Friday that he is awaiting a ruling from the Constitutional Court of Romania (CCR) on a complaint filed by the government over his delaying in appointing the new transport minister and the new regional development minister following a recent reshuffle, and then act constitutionally.