Romania gov’t collapses as coalition partner quits

Romania’s coalition government collapsed Thursday after nine ministers from the Social Democrats quit to protest the firing of the interior minister for comments about possible election fraud.Social Democratic Party leader Mircea Geoana said the ministers resigned „in solidarity” with Dan Nica, a party member fired by Prime Minister Emil Boc on Monday over a statement he made about potential fraud in the upcoming Nov. 22 election.

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The Diplomat: Day of the discounters

Discount stores are spreading fast throughout Romania, while local supermarkets are struggling to compete. International discount stores are winning out from the current economic crisis in Romania, while local supermarkets are facing extinction, unless they can innovate fast. Romanians are less willing to buy expensive brands or high-priced products, opting instead for retailers’ own labels, which discounters pile up high and sell off cheap. Due to the purchasing power of international retailers, who can buy in bulk from suppliers on an international level, this is pricing out the local retail competition.

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