Culture Ministry’s budget cut
The Ministry of Culture, Religious Denominations and National Patrimony (MCCPN) was granted a budget of RON 892.363 million for 2009 after an approximately RON 28 million cut by budget rectification, Culture Minister Theodor Paleologu announced. The initial budget of MCCPN for 2009 totalized approximately RON 1.2 billion, respectively RON 920.898 without interests, reimbursements, loans and expenses generated by programs granted reimbursable financing. Therefore, the budget for cultural projects, that initially totalized RON 22 million, was reduced by RON 4.7 million, the Minister mentioned.
Priests’ wages, increased
During the Holy Week, MPs decided to show generosity to the representatives of the Church. The Chamber of Deputies adopted the ordinance that stipulated a wage increase for priests on Wednesday. With 201 votes for, one against and one abstention, the Deputies approved the ordinance that granted the priests wages that reached 65 per cent of the salaries of pre-University staff. Moreover, Deputies adopted another law that stipulated granting financial support for building and restoration of the administrative residences of the eparchies, of the residences and of the theological schools for the acknowledged religious denominations.
Cristi Minculescu, invited to a pizza in town by his band colleagues
The vocalist of the band Iris, Cristi Minculescu, was invited by his band colleagues to have a pizza in town, band drummer Nelu Dumitrescu declared on Wednesday for Agerpres. “He was really happy to see us. He was waiting for us. In the first day, we went out to a bar located near the hospital and we chatted for three or four hours and laughed. On the following day, at lunch, we went out for a pizza,” Nelu Dumitrescu said. He mentioned that his colleague’s condition was “fabulous, he was reborn, he gained weight, almost four kilograms.” “He told us that he will be much more careful in the future and that he will take care of his life. He cannot wait that we would start to sing again. He hopes that he could be able to perform by the end of July, but it also depends on the doctors’ approval and on his ability to recover, and regain the strength to be on stage for over an hour,” the bass player said, adding that he would have wanted to be home for the Easter, but unfortunately, he may only return to Romania next week.