AGERPRES

The Custodian of the Romanian Crown Margareta stated on Saturday that, before coming to Romania 30 years ago, she felt like "a person without a shadow," for she didn't feel complete far from her country.

The Government approved the draft on the election of mayors in two rounds, will assume responsibility for this legislative initiative, and will send Parliament a letter on this matter on Monday, Prime Minister's Chancellery head Ionel Danca announced.

USR (Save Romania Union) leader Dan Barna on Monday reiterated his support for the organisation of snap polls, and also for the election of mayors in two rounds. "The USR-PLUS (Liberty, Unity, Solidarity Party) Alliance remains consistent in the message that it has kept sending for the past two years: that Romania needs to elect its mayors in two rounds.

Journalist Cristina Ţopescu has passed away. The information was confirmed, on Sunday evening, for AGERPRES, by the manager of the Bucharest-Ilfov Ambulance Service, Alis Grasu. "She was found dead in her house. The call was made at 21:39 hrs by the Police, in a cooperation operation with us.

Bucharest, Jan 12 /Agerpres/ - Party of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats (ALDE) President Calin Popescu-Tariceanu urges Prime Minister Ludovic Orban "not to sacrifice Romania's stability and economic growth for a relatively petty political purpose" - the early elections.

Bucharest, Jan 12 /Agerpres/ - Romania "closely monitors" the situation, after Iran acknowledged that it had downed the Ukrainian plane, reads a message on the official Twitter account of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE).

Cluj-Napoca, Jan 12 /Agerpres/ - Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Adrian Oros, told a Sunday's press conference that young farmers will benefit this year, for the first time, from land leased by the State Domains Agency (ADS).

Calarasi, Jan 12 /Agerpres/ - The acting chairman of Social Democratic Party (PSD) Marcel Ciolacu said that a big mistake made by the social democrats was the lack, at central level, of analyses after the elections, assuring that this will not happen this year. "After many discussions with the secretary general, we have decided that we will not intervene in the county organizations.

Prime Minister Ludovic Orban stated on Thursday evening, in the context of his visit to Brussels, that the decisions at the European Union level create consequences and Romania should become more influential, more involved in the decision making process. "What happens in Brussels has direct consequences in the life of any citizen.

AGERPRES special correspondent Dana Piciu reports: Prime Minister Ludovic Orban has stated on Thursday that it is important that Romania benefit from an allocation of the EU budget which takes into account the existing realities. "At the meeting with the European Commission President we approached several topics, firstly the EU budget. I reiterated our views regarding the budget.