Greek farmers ready to protest again

Greek media report that the farmers are warming up their tractors and are ready to step out on the roads again, as the Achaea, Ilia, Aetolia-Acarnania and Heraklion units have stated their willingness to protest against raised taxes and social security contributions. The government promises to respond to some of their demands, but under the condition that no road and checkpoints will be blocked, including the border with Bulgaria.

Turkish parliament adopts draft bill on new Constitution

The Turkish parliament has approved a draft bill on a new Constitution which will boost the authority of the president and the project is most likely to be a subject of а referendum in April. In case of its adoption the president will fortify its role in the executive authority via the direct appointment of state servants, including all ministers. The pm position will be removed and the president will interfere directly into the system of justice by electing four members of the Supreme Council of Judges and Prosecutors together with the parliament, while the military courts won’t exist anymore. There will be parliamentary polls held each 5 years, alongside the presidential ones. Still, the new draft constitution states that the president won’t be able to influence via decrees issues, clearly regulated by the law.

Romanians rally due to governmental amnesty project

Thousands took part in the anti-governmental action in Bucharest, including President Klaus Iohannis, condemning the intentions of the cabinet to adopt rulings for amnesty and Criminal Code amendments, circumventing the parliament and the head of state. Some 3,500 people would be freed from prisons within such a scenario. Decriminalization of abuse of office with damages under EUR 44,500 and the reduction of the maximum sentence for this crime from 7 to 3 years in prison are envisaged. President Iohannis criticized these intentions by saying that a gang of politicians wants to change legislation and weaken the state of the law.

Thousands in Pristina demand freeing and justification of Ramush Haradinaj

Thousands protested in Pristina in support of the former commander of the Kosovo Liberation Army and head of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo Ramush Haradinaj. The crowd appealed for the immediate freeing and full justification of Haradinaj by a French court with its final decision forthcoming. The court in Colmar, eastern France ruled that Haradinaj should remain free till Serbia’s extradition request was being viewed. The passport of the former Kosovo pm has been taken and he is to report twice a week at the police. Haradinaj was arrested on January 4 in France on an international warrant issued in Serbia and demanding his extradition for a court trial due to alleged military crimes. However, Pristina states that the defendant has already been justified twice by the UN International Criminal Tribunal for Former Yugoslavia.

Belgrade office of Bank of China covers Balkans

An office of Bank of China was unveiled in Belgrade and it will also cover the territories of Bulgaria, Romania, Greece and Albania. The Chinese ambassador to Belgrade expressed his expectations that Serbia would be visited this year by at least 100,000 Chinese tourists and also that the investments of his country would increase and that a direct Beijing – Belgrade airline would be open as well.

Compiled by: Stoimen Pavlov

English version: Zhivko Stanchev