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19. 06. 12. - 16:00

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19. 06. 12. - 16:00

Culture minister to step down following High Court ruling

Michael Leidig

Mircea Diaconu will have to resign following a decision of the High Court of Cassation and Justice that banned him of holding a public office.

According to the ruling announced in the morning (Tues), Mircea Diaconu cannot hold a public office because he previously held the Senator seat and the position of director of Nottara Threatre simultaneously. The Court also decided that three years from now on, Diaconu cannot hold any public office in Romania. The verdict is final and cannot be appealed against.

Diaconu was accused of incompatibility whilst in a public office by the National Integrity Agency (ANI), a body set up to check the wealth of the dignitaries in 2007.

ANI also accused the Culture Minister of having distributed four performance contracts to his wife, actress Diana Lupescu, whilst he was theatre director.

Most likely, Prime Minister Victor Ponta will appoint Liberal Adrian Iorgulescu as the next Culture Minister. Iorgulescu previously held the position, during the Liberal government of PM Calin Popescu Tariceanu (2004-2008).

Tragic Ski Girl Dies
A 10-year-old British schoolgirl has died after skiing into a tree at high speed during a family holiday tragedy in the Austrian Alps.

Peak Performance
Police chiefs in Hamburg, Germany, are celebrating after new crime figures showed there wasn't a single bank robbery in the city last year.

Chinese Fakeaway
Chinese property developers who've been thwarted in a bid to buy up an entire Austrian village have settled on the next best thing - an entire life-sized replica.

Austrian children help Romanian kids
A charity project run by the middle school in Hippach has been recognised with an award for its social work by officials in Tyrol.

Mother kills disabled daughter because she couldnt take care of her any longer
A Romanian woman killed her 8 year-old disabled daughter on Wednesday (yesterday)because she couldn't pay for her care, Libertatea newspaper reports.

Policeman accused of sex with the son of his girlfriend
A Policeman from Vulcan, Western Romania is currently being investigated for having sex with a minor, the son of his girlfriend, Cancan newspaper informs today (Thurs).

Serial killer survivor walks away alive after fall
An 85 year-old woman who survived the most cruel and notorious serial killer in Romania some 40 years ago, recently fell from the first floor of her apartment building and she walked away safe and sound, Cancan newspaper reports today (Thurs).

The son of Qatar Airlines BA beaten up in Romania
The son of the Board of Administration of Qatar Airlines Akbar Al Baker, was beaten up over the weekend at the launching party of a posh club in Mamaia, at the Romanian Black Sea shore, Cancan newspaper reports.

Majority starts president’s suspension procedures
A day after the Social Liberal Union (USL) legislators dismissed with a large majority of votes the two Speakers of the Parliament, the Union started today the procedures for the suspension and possible impeachment of President Traian Basescu. This is the second time when the Parliament asks for Basescu’s suspension.

Some 177 Roma repatriated by French authorities to Romania
Some 177 Romanian citizens of Roma origin were repatriated on Tuesday night from Lille, France, Romania TV news channel informs today (Weds).