Social Democrat

Calin Georgescu, an independent candidate with a pro-Russian stance, has emerged as the frontrunner in the first round of Romania's presidential election, securing 22.16% of the votes, according to the Permanent Electoral Authority.

The Citu Government is fallen anyway, whether with an anti-government motion or not, but if the no-confidence motion makes it to the agenda of the joint plenary, the Social Democratic Party (PSD) will vote to oust the Citu Government, Social Democrat Chairman Marcel Ciolacu said on Thursday. "The government is led by the National Liberal Party, and Parliament is led by USR and PNL.

There are times when whatever one might say would appear commonplace.

One wishes only to remain silent, to remember, to lower one's head and close one's eyes, and to listen to a song.

Mikis Theodorakis cannot fit into a mould, nor can one separate his music from his political struggles.

The Committee of Permanent Representatives in the EU, COREPER, has voted in favour of Laura Codruta Kovesi as its preferred candidate for the new position of Chief EU Prosecutor, clearing the path for the European Parliament to confirm Romania's former chief anti-graft prosecutor in the post. The parliament has repeatedly expressed support for her.

Bucharest General Mayor Gabriela Firea said on Tuesday that Mercedes Benz has submitted a bid for the municipality's tender to purchase 130 hybrid buses. "Just today Mercedes-Benz submitted an, I'd say, significant bid for the 130 hybrid buses.

With a midnight deadline approaching, 57 people - some charged and others already convicted - had asked for amnesty from the Skopje Criminal Court, the court's chief judge, Ivan Dzolev, told reporters.

Romania's Social Democrat-led government on Wednesday said that it was considering suing the European Commission before the European Court of Justice over a highly critical report on the country's justice affairs and rule of law released by Brussels on Tuesday.

Romania's Social Democrat Prime Minister Viorica Dancila blamed "fake news" on Wednesday at a hearing in the European Parliament, after MEPs accused her Social Democrat-led government of pushing for changes to justice legislation deemed damaging to the rule of law.

"This government has brought economic growth," Dancila said. "Romanians love this government," she added.

Romania's President Klaus Iohannis bowed to government pressure and signed a decree on Monday, firing the country's chief anti-graft prosecutor Laura Codruta Kovesi.

She was axed after months of mounting political tensions between her, the President and the Social Democrat-led government .

Romania's Social Democrat-led parliament on Wednesday adopted changes to the Criminal Code in an emergency meeting that took place a day earlier than scheduled - and despite criticism from the opposition, anti-corruption activists and foreign diplomats.