Page 9 - ARUBA TODAY

A9
WORLD NEWS Tuesday 30 January 2018

Romania approves first female premier amid protests

By ALISON MUTLER politicians respect the citi-
Associated Press zens,” adding recent gov-
BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) ernment fiscal policy had
— Romania’s first female “rattled the population and
prime minister was sworn in the business community.”
Wednesday as the coun- He added: “Instead of sim-
try’s third head of govern- plifying things ... we are
ment in a year amid ongo- faced with uncertainty
ing anti-corruption protests. which risks degenerating
Viorica Dancila, 54, a Euro- into financial instability and
pean Parliament lawmaker major economic imbal-
before being elected pre- ances.” Dancila, a Europe-
mier, and her Cabinet took an Parliament lawmaker,
their oaths of office, which was a relative unknown in
were administered by Presi- domestic politics until this
dent Klaus Iohannis. month. Speaking before
Dancila won 282-136 votes the parliamentary vote, she
in Parliament, far more than promised to raise wages,
the 233 votes she needed reduce bureaucracy and
to lead Romania’s cur- build hundreds of kilome-
rent left-wing government, ters (miles) of new highways
which the European Union and railway lines by 2020.
has criticized over legis- Dancila, who will head a
lation that critics say will Cabinet of 27 ministers, will
make it hard to prosecute likely act in the role of an
high-level corruption.Dan- Romanian Prime Minister designate Viorica Dancila waves before a joint parliament session that administrator, with govern-
cila has voiced support for will vote on her and her cabinet’s nomination in Bucharest, Romania, Monday, Jan. 29, 2018. ment policy decided by
the proposals, which have Associated Press powerful Social Democrat
prompted public protests. ages from them. Iohannis had harsh words is inacceptable,” he told chairman Liviu Dragnea,
The legislation would ban The previous two prime min- for the new government ministers. “The ruling coali- who can’t be prime min-
the use of audio and video isters were ousted because about the justice system tion shouldn’t ignore the ister because of a convic-
recordings in prosecutions. they were perceived as and the economy, saying signal sent by hundreds of tion for vote-rigging.
Other aspects include not toeing the ruling Social that there was a “red line” thousands of Romanians A court froze Dragnea’s
holding judges personally Democrat party line, and the government shouldn’t who continue to go on the assets in November over
responsible for erroneous in particular not giving their cross. streets to support the rule of a charge of embez-
rulings, and making it pos- full support to overhauling “Affecting the indepen- law.” “People want pros- zling EU funds. He denies
sible to seek financial dam- the justice system. dence of the justice system perity in a country where wrongdoing.q
Iranian women protest obligatory headscarf

DUBAI, United Arab Emir- confirmed the authenticity She was detained for a few ing any figure-hugging should not be imposed by
ates (AP) — Social media of a video shot on Tehran’s weeks and then released. dress. In late December, the law, though they con-
postings Monday showed Enghelab Street. The others Women showing their hair police said they would no sider it a religious task for
at least five women in Iran appeared to be authentic, in public can be jailed for longer arrest women for every Muslim woman.
protesting the obligatory but The Associated Press up to two months or fined failing to observe the code. Both Rouhani and Su-
Muslim headscarf by taking could not independently $25. The Islamic dress code, The announcement sig- preme Leader Ayatollah
theirs off and waving them verify them. The women in place since the 1979 rev- naled an easing, as called Ali Khamenei support softer
on sticks. The videos and appear to be following olution, considers Islamic for by the young and re- attitude toward women
photos showed individual the lead of a 31-year-old veiling or hijab, obligatory form-minded Iranians who with improper hijab, though
women in separate loca- protester identified as Vida for any female above 13 in helped re-elect President hard-liners opposed to eas-
tions in Tehran and Isfahan. Movahed, who took off Iran and says they should Hassan Rouhani, a relative ing such rules still dominate
Masoud Sarabi, who wit- her headscarf on the same cover themselves from moderate, earlier this year. Iran’s security forces and
nessed one of the protests, street in late December. head to toe while disavow- Many Islamists believe hijab judiciary.q