Romanian Parliament

Where next?

by Our Special Correspondent June 28, 2010 Romania

 It’s hard to see where Emil Boc’s government goes from here. It managed a stay of execution by whacking up VAT, so it should get another handout from the IMF and EU, but it comes at the cost of whatever credibility it still had. Boc’s fragile and patched together coalition only just survived a no-confidence [...]

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Some good ideas simply don’t work in Romania

by Craig Turp April 5, 2010 Bucharest

 The PDL senator Iulian Urban came up with – on paper – a sound idea last week: Fines for driving offences should vary according to the income of the offender. A sound idea indeed, although not entirely original: Finland has had a similar system in place for years. Other countries probably do too. But think [...]

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The Worlds Biggest Mall?

by Craig Turp January 15, 2010 Bucharest

 (Or, You Couldn’t Make It Up: Part 67) It appears that there is a growing consensus amongst Romania’s MPs (who yesterday generously voted for a whopping zero per cent increase in the basic state pension) to move out of their current home: Casa Poporului, allegedly the second largest building in the world. The MPs appear [...]

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