Romania has its first female prime minister after deputies approved a new government led by Viorica Dancila, but she will face close EU scrutiny and strong opposition from a protest movement that condemns her party’s plans for reform.

The Bucharest parliament, which is dominated by the ruling Social Democrats (PSD), voted 282-136 to make Ms Dancila Romania’s third premier in less than 13 turbulent months.

The long-time member of the European Parliament is considered to have no power base of her own and to be absolutely loyal to Liviu Dragnea, the head of the PSD, who clashed with Ms Dancila’s two predecessors as he sought to run Romania from behind the scenes.

Mr Dragnea is the de facto leader of the governing coalition, but cannot hold high national office due to a conviction for vote-rigging. He is also under investigation for fraud and prosecutors froze some €27 million of his assets in November.

Since taking power last January, the PSD has tried to push through sweeping changes that critics say would dramatically weaken anti-corruption legislation and increase political influence over the Romanian judiciary.

The moves triggered Romania’s biggest street protests since its anti-communist revolution in 1989, and rallies rumble on as successive governments pursue the controversial reform plans and activists refuse to accept them.

Checks and balances

The perceived threat to the rule of law has alarmed the European Union, which fears Romania could be taking the same path as Poland and Hungary, where populist governments are accused of eroding democratic checks and balances.

“Romania is a sovereign state and it is our duty to defend that sovereignty . . . in a European spirit but for the benefit of the Romanian people,” Mr Dragnea said before Monday’s vote.

“Viorica Dancila has the advantage of having been far from Romanian politics for nine years. She has breathed the air of the West.”

Mr Dragnea and allies dismiss EU concerns over their reforms, and the new cabinet includes a deputy premier who is accused of abuse of office and a minister who was the target of an anti-corruption investigation until parliament blocked it.

In a joint statement last week, European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker and vice-president Frans Timmermans said they were “following the latest developments in Romania with concern”.

“The independence of Romania’s judicial system and its capacity to fight corruption effectively are essential cornerstones of a strong Romania in the European Union,” the officials said, while warning that they would “look thoroughly” at the final versions of the government reforms.

The measures have damaged Romania’s hopes of escaping a special monitoring programme by which Brussels keeps track of anti-corruption efforts in the Balkan state and neighbouring Bulgaria, which both joined the EU in 2007.</s>Romania’s first woman Prime Minister Viorica Dancila and her cabinet were sworn in before the head of state on Monday. Dancila, a 54-year-old Romanian deputy of the European Parliament from the part of Social Democrat Party, is the first female prime minister in the history of this eastern European country.”I hope that with the investiture of the third cabinet proposed by the parliamentary majority, the government hopping will also end, which last year led to the degradation of the social climate, to a mood that cannot be beneficial to the development of a society,” Xinhua quoted President Klaus Iohannis as saying.

Dancila’s cabinet, the third Social Democratic government in less than 13 months, won the vote of confidence in the parliament earlier, with 282 votes in favor, 136 against and one abstention, much more than the required 233 votes. Dancila announced to have the first meeting with her cabinet members this evening at the Victoria Palace, headquarters of the Romanian Government, with the first government meeting to be held on Wednesday.

 The Social Democrats won more than 45% of the votes in the general elections at the end of 2016. Together with the Alliance of Democrats and Liberals, it has an outright majority of 250 seats in the 465-member parliament.

“My term’s goal is that, in 2020, Romania will be in the top half of the ranking of the strongest economies in the European Union, so that the youth should no longer leave Romania, and those who already left wish to come back home,” Dancila told the parliament before the voting. She called on the political class to show maturity, while reminding that Romania is celebrating the Great Union Centenary this year and next year is going to take over the Presidency of the EU Council.”I’m totally open to dialogue with all political forces, with the Romanian president, to generate consensus in respect to such major topics for our country that are about our national interest,” said Dancila.

When talking about foreign policy, Dancila said she intended to expand the European dimension in terms of the governing act. “I will pay special attention to Romania’s strategic partnerships and, in particular, to our partnership with the US,” she said. She urged Romania to show “total openness” in international cooperation and in the diplomatic relations with other states.The ruling majority was also supported in the voting by the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania, whose leader Kelemen Hunor said earlier the union’s lawmakers had decided to give their vote to the Dancila’s cabinet, in order to “give the coalition another chance.”

The against votes came from the main opposition the National Liberal Party, as well as the Save Romania Union and the People’s Movement. Dancila has 27 members in her cabinet, including four deputy prime ministers and 25 ministers, with two of deputy prime ministers also serving as minister of the environment and minister of regional development and public administration, respectively. The voting was held after ministers who were nominated had been heard separately in the relevant parliamentary committees. The ministers will take the oath at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace late Monday.</s>Viorica Dancila became the first woman Prime Minister of Romania as she and her cabinet were sworn in before the head of state on Monday. 54-year-old had been the Romanian deputy of the European Parliament from the part of Social Democrat Party.

“I hope that with the investiture of the third cabinet proposed by the parliamentary majority, the government hopping will also end, which last year led to the degradation of the social climate, to a mood that can not be beneficial to the development of a society,” Xinhua quoted President Klaus Iohannis as saying.

Dancila’s cabinet, the third Social Democratic government in less than 13 months, won the vote of confidence in the parliament earlier, with 282 votes in favor, 136 against and one abstention, much more than the required 233 votes.

Dancila announced to have the first meeting with her cabinet members this evening at the Victoria Palace, headquarters of the Romanian Government, with the first government meeting to be held on Wednesday.

The Social Democrats won more than 45 per cent of the votes in the general elections at the end of 2016. Together with the Alliance of Democrats and Liberals, it has an outright majority of 250 seats in the 465-member parliament.

“My term’s goal is that, in 2020, Romania will be in the top half of the ranking of the strongest economies in the European Union, so that the youth should no longer leave Romania, and those who already left wish to come back home,” Dancila told the parliament before the voting.

Read:- IS suicide bombers attack headquarters of paramilitary camp, nine killed</s>BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) - The woman expected to become Romania's first female prime minister and the country's third head of government in a year promised Monday to raise wages and reduce bureaucracy ahead of a confirmation vote in parliament.

Viorica Dancila, 54, is expected to win enough votes to lead Romania's current left-wing government, which the European Union has criticized over legislation that critics say will make it hard to prosecute high-level corruption.

Dancila has voiced support for the proposals, which have prompted public protests. She is a member of the European Parliament and was a relative unknown in domestic politics until this month.

The legislation also would ban the use of audio and video recordings in prosecutions. Other aspects include holding judges personally responsible for erroneous rulings and a process for seeking financial damages from them.

The previous two prime ministers were ousted because they were perceived as not toeing the ruling Social Democrat party line, and in particular not giving their full support to the overhaul of the justice system.

Mihai Tudose resigned as prime minister earlier this month after the party withdrew its support for him. He replaced Sorin Grindeanu, who was forced out of office in a vote of no confidence brought by his own party in June.

Dancila will likely act in the role of an administrator, with government policy decided by powerful Social Democrat chairman Liviu Dragnea, who can't be prime minister because of a conviction for vote-rigging.

A court froze Dragnea's assets in November over a charge of embezzling EU funds. He denies wrongdoing.

Dancila was booed by a small group of protesters as she arrived at parliament before the vote.

"The goal of my mandate is for Romania in 2020 to be in the top half of the EU's strongest economies so that young people no longer leave from Romania, and those that have left want to return," Dancila told lawmakers.

Dancila vowed to reduce bureaucracy, to raise wages, and build hundreds of kilometers (miles) of new highways and railway lines by 2020.

Liviu Dragnea, the leader of Romania's ruling Social Democratic party sits during a speech by Romanian Prime Minister designate Viorica Dancila during a joint parliament session that will vote on her and her cabinet's nomination in Bucharest, Romania, Monday, Jan. 29, 2018.Dancila is expected to win parliamentary approval to become Romania's first female prime minister, and the third premier in a year as the left-wing government faces protests and criticism from the European Union over legislation it is passing that critics say will make it hard to prosecute high-level corruption. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)</s>BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — The woman expected to become Romania’s first female prime minister and the country’s third head of government in a year promised Monday to raise wages and reduce bureaucracy ahead of a confirmation vote in parliament.

Viorica Dancila, 54, is expected to win enough votes to lead Romania’s current left-wing government, which the European Union has criticized over legislation that critics say will make it hard to prosecute high-level corruption.

Dancila has voiced support for the proposals, which have prompted public protests. She is a member of the European Parliament and was a relative unknown in domestic politics until this month.

The legislation also would ban the use of audio and video recordings in prosecutions. Other aspects include holding judges personally responsible for erroneous rulings and a process for seeking financial damages from them.

The previous two prime ministers were ousted because they were perceived as not toeing the ruling Social Democrat party line, and in particular not giving their full support to the overhaul of the justice system.

Mihai Tudose resigned as prime minister earlier this month after the party withdrew its support for him. He replaced Sorin Grindeanu, who was forced out of office in a vote of no confidence brought by his own party in June.

Dancila will likely act in the role of an administrator, with government policy decided by powerful Social Democrat chairman Liviu Dragnea, who can’t be prime minister because of a conviction for vote-rigging.

A court froze Dragnea’s assets in November over a charge of embezzling EU funds. He denies wrongdoing.

Dancila was booed by a small group of protesters as she arrived at parliament before the vote.

“The goal of my mandate is for Romania in 2020 to be in the top half of the EU’s strongest economies so that young people no longer leave from Romania, and those that have left want to return,” Dancila told lawmakers.

Dancila vowed to reduce bureaucracy, to raise wages, and build hundreds of kilometers (miles) of new highways and railway lines by 2020.</s>Romania’s parliament has confirmed Viorica Dancila as its first female prime minister and the country’s third head of government in a year.

Romania’s parliament has confirmed Viorica Dancila as its first female prime minister and the country’s third head of government in a year.

Ms Dancila won by 282 votes to 136, far more than the 233 votes she needed to lead Romania’s current left-wing government, which the European Union has criticised over legislation that critics say will make it hard to prosecute high-level corruption.

The 54-year-old has voiced her support for the proposals, which have prompted public protests. The legislation would ban the use of audio and video recordings in prosecutions. Other aspects include holding judges personally responsible for erroneous rulings, and making it possible to seek financial damages from them.

Ms Dancila experienced some protests as she made her way into parliament (AP) The previous two prime ministers were ousted because they were perceived as not toeing the ruling Social Democrat party line, and in particular not giving their full support to the overhaul of the justice system. Ms Dancila, who will head a cabinet of 27 ministers, will likely act in the role of an administrator, with government policy decided by powerful Social Democrat chairman Liviu Dragnea, who cannot be prime minister because of a conviction for vote-rigging.

A court froze Mr Dragnea’s assets in November over a charge of embezzling EU funds. He denies any wrongdoing. Ms Dancila is a member of the European Parliament and was a relative unknown in domestic politics until this month. Speaking ahead of the parliament vote, she promised to raise wages, reduce bureaucracy and build hundreds of miles of new motorways and railway lines by 2020.

She was booed by a small group of protesters as she arrived at parliament on Monday, but party members handed her a bouquet of red roses and greeted her with applause as she walked through the palace built by late Communist leader Nicolae Ceausescu, which now houses Parliament. The new PM told MPs: “The goal of my mandate is for Romania in 2020 to be in the top half of the EU’s strongest economies so that young people no longer leave from Romania, and those that have left want to return.”

Mihai Tudose resigned as prime minister earlier this month after the party withdrew its support for him. He replaced Sorin Grindeanu, who was forced out of office in a vote of no confidence brought by his own party in June.</s>BUCHAREST, Romania -- Romania's first female prime minister was sworn in Wednesday as the country's third head of government in a year amid ongoing anti-corruption protests.

Viorica Dancila, 54, a European Parliament lawmaker before being elected premier, and her Cabinet took their oaths of office, which were administered by President Klaus Iohannis.

Dancila won 282-136 votes in Parliament, far more than the 233 votes she needed to lead Romania's current left-wing government, which the European Union has criticized over legislation that critics say will make it hard to prosecute high-level corruption.

Dancila has voiced support for the proposals, which have prompted public protests.

The legislation would ban the use of audio and video recordings in prosecutions. Other aspects include holding judges personally responsible for erroneous rulings, and making it possible to seek financial damages from them.

The previous two prime ministers were ousted because they were perceived as not toeing the ruling Social Democrat party line, and in particular not giving their full support to overhauling the justice system.

Iohannis had harsh words for the new government about the justice system and the economy, saying that there was a "red line" the government shouldn't cross.

"Affecting the independence of the justice system is inacceptable," he told ministers. "The ruling coalition shouldn't ignore the signal sent by hundreds of thousands of Romanians who continue to go on the streets to support the rule of law."

"People want prosperity in a country where politicians respect the citizens," adding recent government fiscal policy had "rattled the population and the business community."

He added: "Instead of simplifying things ... we are faced with uncertainty which risks degenerating into financial instability and major economic imbalances."

Dancila, a European Parliament lawmaker, was a relative unknown in domestic politics until this month. Speaking before the parliamentary vote, she promised to raise wages, reduce bureaucracy and build hundreds of kilometres (miles) of new highways and railway lines by 2020.

Dancila, who will head a Cabinet of 27 ministers, will likely act in the role of an administrator, with government policy decided by powerful Social Democrat chairman Liviu Dragnea, who can't be prime minister because of a conviction for vote-rigging.

A court froze Dragnea's assets in November over a charge of embezzling EU funds. He denies wrongdoing.

She was booed by a small group of protesters as she arrived at parliament Monday. But party members handed her a bouquet of red roses and greeted her with applause as she walked through the palace built by late Communist leader Nicolae Ceausescu, which now houses Parliament.

"The goal of my mandate is for Romania in 2020 to be in the top half of the EU's strongest economies so that young people no longer leave from Romania, and those that have left want to return," Dancila told lawmakers.

Mihai Tudose resigned as prime minister earlier this month after the party withdrew its support for him. He replaced Sorin Grindeanu, who was forced out of office in a no-confidence vote brought by his own party in June.</s>BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Viorica Dancila is expected to win parliamentary approval Monday to become Romania's first female prime minister and the third premier in a year.

The left-wing government faces protests and criticism from the European Union over legislation it is passing that critics say will make it hard to prosecute high-level corruption.

Dancila, a supporter of the proposals that include banning the use of audio and video recordings in prosecutions, is a member of the European Parliament and was a relative unknown in domestic politics until this month.

Another proposal is to hold judges personally responsible for erroneous rulings and seek to recover financial damages from them, and to limit the president from nominating or rejecting key prosecutors.

Dancila, 54, will likely act as an administrator, with government policy decided by powerful Social Democrat chairman Liviu Dragnea, who can't be premier because of a conviction for vote-rigging.

She was booed by a small group of protesters as she arrived by car at Parliament before the vote.

A court froze Dragnea's assets in November over a charge of embezzling EU funds. He denies wrongdoing, and like other key politicians in the ruling alliance, calls the anti-corruption agency and supporters of the drive, which include President Klaus Iohannis, "the parallel state."

The 27 ministers, some themselves subjects of corruption probes, appeared before a parliamentary committee before the vote.

One of the four deputy prime ministers, Paul Stanescu, is facing a probe for illegally financing a soccer club while the former minister for European Funds, Rovana Plumb, saw an investigation into the illegal transfer of land halted after parliament refused to lift her immunity. She denies wrongdoing.</s>BUCHAREST, Romania — Viorica Dancila is expected to win parliamentary approval to become Romania’s first female prime minister, and the third premier in a year.

The left-wing government faces protests and criticism from the European Union over legislation it is passing that critics say will make it hard to prosecute high-level corruption.

Dancila, a supporter of the proposals that include banning the use of audio and video recordings in prosecutions, is a member of the European Parliament and a relative unknown in domestic politics until this month.

She will likely act as an administrator, with government policy decided by powerful Social Democrat chairman Liviu Dragnea, who can’t be premier due to a conviction for vote-rigging.

The 27 ministers, some themselves subjects of corruption probes, appeared before a parliament committee Monday, ahead of the vote.</s>Two bears were filmed near one of the busiest ski slopes in Romania, namely the Clabucet ski slope in Predeal.

The mountain rescue team in Predeal (Salvamont Predeal) recommended tourists to be more careful while in the area.

A video of the bears was posted on the Facebook page of Romania Mountain Rescue Department (Salvamont Romania), with the message: “Warning! Salvamont Predeal notes that the presence of two bears was signaled in the forests near the Clabucet ski slope, as well as on the slope. We recommend tourists to pay more attention when in this area.”

Predeal is one of the biggest ski resorts in the area, and among the most popular in the country. It’s located at about 150 km from Bucharest and only 24 km from Sinaia, offering tourists ski slopes with a total length of 8 km.

Find a list of the biggest ski resorts in Romania here.

Man killed by bear during hunt in Romania
Viorica Dăncilă (PSD) is confirmed as Romania's first female Prime Minister. She is Romania’s third premier in less than 13 months.