Is The Romanian Army Moving Air Defense Systems To The Borders With Moldova?

The #Romanian army is moving air defense systems to the borders with #Moldova pic.twitter.com/qkJsskUeIg

— Stepan Gronk (@StepanGronk) February 27, 2023

WNU Editor: This is an ominous development. For the past week there have been numerous reports from the Russian Ministry of Defense that Ukraine was positioning forces to seize Transnistria .... Russia Says Ukraine Preparing To Invade The Breakaway Region Of Transnistria In The Coming Days (February 23, 2023). And according to today's Military Summary Channel report (link here), the Russian Ministry of Defense believes Ukraine has already completed its deployment of forces to invade the territory. 

If this Ukraine offensive operation does occur, and my gut is now telling me that it will, this Romanian deployment of air defenses will be seen by Russia as an attempt to provide air cover for Ukraine and its forces from any Russia retaliation or marine helicopter operation. 

I hope that I am wrong. But we may be on the verge of other countries (Moldova and NATO member Romania) becoming actively involved in this war. Or more to the point. Romanian air defense shooting at Russian aircraft and helicopters.

Romanian Dictator Nicolae Ceausescu Was Executed On Christmas Day 30 Years Ago

France 24: Romania marks 30 years since revolt against Communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu

Romanians are remembering those who died during the nine-day revolt against Communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu some 30 years after the uprising and asking questions about the legacy of the revolution.

Born in 1918, Ceausescu become president of Romania in 1974 and built up an intense cult of personality, which ended with his overthrow in the anti-communist revolution of December 1989.

On December 21, 1989, Ceausescu gave a televised speech in Bucharest that ended when some in the crowd repeatedly interrupted him. The dictator fled the stage and people flooded the streets, confronted by soldiers and tanks.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: This is what will happen to Kim Jong-un one day.

More News On The 30th anniversary Of Romanian Dictator Nicolae Ceausescu Execution

Romania marks 30 years since 1989 Revolution -- Euronews/AP
Romania comes to terms with monument to communism 30 years after Ceaușescu's death -- The Guardian
Romania 1989: Ceaucescu goes down in blood - archive, 1989 -- The Guardian

Romania's President Klaus Iohannis Wins A Second Term By A Landslide

Incumbent candidate Klaus Iohannis reacts after receiving the first exit poll results following the second round of a presidential election in Bucharest, Romania, November 24, 2019. Inquam Photos, Octav Ganea, Reuters

France 24: Pro-European incumbent wins Romania presidential elections

Romania's centrist President Klaus Iohannis won a presidential election runoff on Sunday as expected, crushing his socialist challenger with a pledge to resume judicial reforms slowed down by successive Social Democrat (PSD) governments.

Two separate exit polls showed Iohannis garnered 64%-67% of the vote, with former prime minister Viorica Dancila of the left-leaning PSD taking 33-36%.

"The winner today is modern Romania, European Romania, the normal Romania," Iohannis told reporters in his victory speech.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: It was not even close.

More News On Romania's Presidential Election

Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis wins 2nd term in runoff -- AP
Romania's President Iohannis wins re-election -- Reuters
Romanian centrist president re-elected by a landslide -- The Guardian/AFP
Romania reelects President Klaus Iohannis -- DW
Romania President Wins New Term Vowing End to Years of Chaos -- Bloomberg
Exit polls: Romania's President Iohannis wins re-election -- Al Jazeera
Voters in Romania Reject Years of Scandals and Chaos -- The New York Times
After election win, Romania's Klaus Iohannis must deliver -- Robert Schwartz, DW

Romania Presidential Election Heading To Nov. 24 Runoff

Romania Insider: Romania presidential elections 2019: Partial results confirm that incumbent president and former PM move to second round

The partial results of the first round of the presidential elections in Romania confirm the exit polls that showed president Klaus Iohannis and former prime minister Viorica Dancila have qualified for the second round.

Data centralized by the Permanent Electoral Authority - AEP after the counting of almost 8.57 million votes counted from a total of 9.36 million votes cast in the country and abroad (91.5%), show Klaus Iohannis in the lead, with 3.09 million votes (36.6% of the valid votes), followed by Viorica Dancila – 2.016 million votes (23.9%). Dan Barna, the leader of Save Romania Union (USR), is third, with 1.168 million votes (13.9%). The difference between Dancila and Barna is of 848,000 votes with 790,000 ballots left to count.

Actor Mircea Diaconu, who ran as an independent, managed to get 781,000 votes (9.26%) and Theodor Paleologu, representing the Popular Movement Party (PMP), got 475,000 votes (5.64%).

Read more ....

More News On Romania's Presidential Election

The Latest: Exit polls see runoff in Romania president vote -- AP
Romania presidential vote seen heading to Nov. 24 runoff -- AP
Incumbent Iohannis wins Romania's presidential vote, will face runoff -- Reuters
Pro-EU incumbent Iohannis tops Romania's presidential vote, will face runoff -- France 24
Romania's President Iohannis headed for runoff: Exit polls -- DW
Romania's Iohannis wins presidential ballot, will face runoff -- Al Jazeera

Voting Has Started In Romania's Presidential Election

DW: Romania: Iohannis tipped for runoff before second term as president

The polls have opened in Romania with incumbent Klaus Iohannis the favorite to win, but the vote may need to go to a second round. Thirteen others are vying for the presidency; the two main challengers are way behind.

Romanians began voting in their presidential election on Sunday with incumbent Klaus Iohannis likely to need a runoff to secure a second term.

Polls suggest the 60-year-old centrist liberal will receive some 40% support but will lack the absolute majority needed in the first round to guarantee his continued tenure.

That would mean a runoff on November 24 with either of the two other main candidates, the Social Democrats' (PSD) leader, Viorica Dancila, or center-right Dan Barna from the Save Romanian Union party.

Read more ....

More News On Romania's Presidential Election

Romania votes in first round of presidential election -- France 24
Romania holds presidential vote, pro-EU candidate favored -- AP
Hot Battle For Second In Romania As Incumbent Holds Big Lead In Presidential Election -- RFE
Klaus Iohannis poised for victory in Romanian presidential vote -- The Guardian/Reuters
Romania Votes For President -- VOA
Voting under way in Romania's presidential election -- Al Jazeera

Massive Protests Continue In Romania

New York Times: Anger and Mistrust Fuel Unabated Protests in Romania

BUCHAREST, Romania — Exactly one week after the largest protests in a quarter of a century rocked Romania, an estimated 70,000 demonstrators filled the square outside the main government building in Bucharest on Sunday evening, determined to show those in power that the crisis was far from over.

While significantly less than the half a million who took to the streets across the country the previous Sunday, the Bucharest demonstration was still a potent sign of the resilient unrest in the country and the loss of trust between the new government, only in office since the beginning of January, and a large sector of the population.

Sunday was the 13th night in a row that protesters occupied Piata Victoriei — Victory Square — in Bucharest, after the government passed an emergency ordinance on Jan. 31 that effectively decriminalized some low-level corruption offenses, including cases of official misconduct in which the financial damage was less than 200,000 lei, or about $47,000. Protests have also taken place in more than 50 towns and cities across the country.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: The crowds were smaller today, but the people in Romania are fed-up .... and I for one do not blame them.

More News On The Continuing Mass Protests In Romania

Thousands of Romanian protesters return to streets -- AFP
Romania: 13th day of govt protests draw tens of thousands -- AP
Thousands continue protests against government in Romania -- Reuters
Romanians Step Up Protests Again to Urge Government to Quit -- Bloomberg
Romanians Brave The Cold To Keep Up Pressure Against Government -- RFE
Nearly two weeks in, protesters continue calls for Romania's government to resign -- DW
Thousands take to the streets of Bucharest in the biggest anti-government protests in Romania since communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu was executed -- Daily Mail

After Days Of Mass Protests, Romania's Government Backs-Down On A New Law That Would Shield Politicians From Prosecution For Corruption

Reuters: Mass protests force Romania to scrap decree decriminalizing graft

Romania's prime minister said on Saturday he was scrapping a decree that would have shielded dozens of politicians from prosecution for corruption, bowing to one of the biggest protests since the fall of dictator Nicolae Ceausescu in 1989.

Sorin Grindeanu said the decree - which decriminalized several graft offences in what the government said was a bid to relive pressure on the prison system - would be repealed on Sunday, just five days after is was approved by the cabinet.

It would have come into force at the end of next week.

Read more ....

More News On Romania Scrapping Its Decree That Decriminalised Corruption

Romania to withdraw corruption decree after mass protests -- BBC
Romania Reverses Decision to Weaken Corruption Law -- NYT
Romania's prime minister says to scrap graft decree on Sunday -- Reuters
Romania PM announces graft law repeal after mass demos -- France 24
In face of mass protests, Romania backs off corruption decree -- UPI
Romania to scrap corruption decree that sparked mass protests -- CNN
Romanian government scraps controversial corruption decree after thousands join days of mass protest -- The Independent
Romania: government retracts controversial decree after protests -- The Guardian
Romanian Government Backs Down on Graft Decree Amid Protests -- Bloomberg
Romania's government to withdraw corruption decree -- Al Jazeera
Romania: renewed optimism with familiar doubts -- DW

Romania's Government Collapses After Austerity Protests

Romanian Prime Minister Resigns And Ends Government After Weeks Of Protests Against Austerity Measures -- Daily Mail

* Emil Boc steps down immediately as opposition MPs call for early elections
* Justice minister Catalin Predoiu in temporary charge
* Romania signed up for €20billion IMF loan in 2009 which required austerity measures to be brought in
* Weeks of protests accused prime minister and government of cronyism and ignoring normal Romanians
The Romanian prime minister today announced his immediate resignation at that of his government, claiming he wanted to protect the stability of the country.

Emil Boc said he was resigning 'to ease the social situation' after weeks of mass protests in Romania over austerity measures he introduced in 2010.

Opposition politicians have now called for early parliamentary elections, which are currently scheduled for November.

Read more ....

More News On The Collapse Of Romania's Government

Romania's government collapses after protests -- USA Today/AP
Romanian prime minister and cabinet resign en masse -- The Guardian
Anti-cuts protests push Romania PM out -- Reuters
Romania's PM Resigns Following Protests -- Voice of America
Romanian Prime Minister Resigns Amid Protests -- New York Times
Romanian Government Resigns -- Wall Street Journal
Romania PM Emil Boc resigns after austerity protests -- BBC
Romanian President asks Intelligence head to form new government -- Reuters
Spy chief nominated as Romania's new premier -- AP

Mass Protests In Romania Over Austerity Measures Continues Into The Eighth Day

Romanians Rally Against Austerity Measures -- Voice of America

Thousands of Romanians rallied Thursday to demand the resignation of their government for imposing spending cuts and other austerity measures.

Police say about 7,000 people attended the rally in Bucharest, which was organized by opposition parties to call for the resignation of the government and President Traian Basescu.

Demonstrators voiced their displeasure with losses in jobs and what they perceive as lower pensions.

Read more ....

More News On The Unrest In Romania

Romania opposition supporters stage mass protest -- AFP
Police fire tear gas at Romanian protesters -- Reuters
Thousands Protest in Romania Against Austerity for Eighth Day -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Romania rages against the regime -- RT
Another anti-government protest in Romania -- AP
Thousands march through Bucharest to demand that Romania’s government step down -- Washington Post/AP
Protests over austerity cuts, corruption continue across Romania -- MSNBC
Opposition: More Romanian protests being planned -- CNN