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10. 03. 10. - 10:00

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10. 03. 10. - 10:00

Number of vouchers in clunckers programme to be increased

Romanian Times

The clunkers programme will be supplemented with an increase in the number of vouchers to be issued from 40,000 to 50,000, Prime Minister Emil Boc said yesterday evening (Tues).

The news came after the Environmental Fund Administration (AFM) said yesterday that all the 50,000 vouchers assigned for this year's programme had already been issued during the three weeks since the launch of the junk-car scrapping programme for 2010 on 18 February.

The sums alloted to the programme would be supplemented, Boc noted. The government has budgeted a total of 55.6 million Euros (228 million lei) for it in 2010.

Initially, the government said some 60,000 cars might be scrapped this year through the clunkers programme. Last year, the total number of cars scrapped was 32,327.

Taking old cars off the roads in exchange of for vouchers doesn't mean also that new cars are being purchased, according to AFM. The number of new cars purchased using vouchers worth 900 Euros (3,800 lei) received for a junked car had been very small, only 456, AFM said a week ago.

The new approach of the programme is that a buyer can use a maximum of three vouchers to buy a new car instead of only one as was the case last year, which considerably reduces the price of a new car.

Government to introduce ‘Robin Hood’ tax on oil companies
Minister of Economy Daniel Chitoiu announced today (Weds) that the government is working on a piece of legislation on introducing a supplementary tax on the exceptional incomes of the oil companies that should be passed by the year end and implemented as of 2013.

Education Minister stepps down amid plagiarism accusations
Ioan Mang, the education minister appointed only two weeks ago together with the new cabinet of Social Liberal Union (USL) leader Victor Ponta, resigned Tuesday (yesterday) night.

Brancusi’s son doesn’t want his father remains to be moved to Romania
John Moore, the only child of sculpture Constantin Brancusi, reacted to Romania’s intention to repatriate the remains of his father, saying his last will was to be buried in Paris at Montparnasse, Libertatea newspaper informs today (Weds).

Romania back in recession, growth to resume in H2
Romania officially entered recession today, following the figures published by the National Statistics Institute (NSI) that show a decrease of the GDP for two consecutive quarters (Q).

Police head sacked over underground boss runaway row
The head of the Romanian Police Liviu Popa (picture) was sacked today (Tues) by Home Affairs Minister Ioan Rus, the ministry informs.

UK Ambassador Harris says new Cabinet took right decisions so far
The UK Ambassaodr in Romania, Martin Harris says Victor Ponta’s new government got off on the right foot by making clear that its economic policy will continue to be framed within the programme agreed between Romania and the EU, World Bank, and IMF.

Carmen Sylvas x-rayed hand to be auctioned
A x-ray of the left hand of Romanian Queen Elisabeta will be auctioned in Bucharest by Artmark auction house, Libertatea newspaper informs today (Tue).

Rising handbal player hangs herself because of family quarels
A rising star of the Romanian handball was found hanged on Sunday (yesterday) in her family apartment in Drobeta Turnu Severin (South West), Romania TV news channel informs today.

Triumphant welcome in Bucharest for the national gymnastic team
The national team of gymnasts returned home today at noon from the European Championship held on Saturday and Sunday in Brussels, and was welcomed by a numerous crowd at the Henri Coanda International Airport in Bucharest.

Sorin Oprescu to win in a landslide, poll suggests
An opinion poll released today (Mon) makes the current Mayor Sorin Oprescu favourite for the Bucharest municipal elections, Realitatea TV news channel informs.