2015 in Romania explained

The following lists events that happened during 2015 in Romania.

Incumbents

• President: Klaus Iohannis^[1]
• Prime Minister: Victor Ponta (until November); Dacian Cioloș (since November)

Events

January

• 1 January – Five people are found dead in a sheepfold in Stănilești, Vaslui County, intoxicated with the fumes from a faulty stove.^[2]
• 10 January – Three people die and 14 others are hospitalized, including seven in coma, after drinking smuggled alcohol in Dragalina, Călărași County.^{[3] [4]}
• 12 January – Six children and their father die intoxicated with carbon monoxide in a studio apartment from Rovinari.^{[5] [6] [7]}
• 27 January – George Maior resigns from the leadership of the Romanian Intelligence Service after months of institutional tensions between SRI and civil authorities.^{[8] [9]} General Florian Coldea takes over as interim.^[10]
  • • 29 January A woman and her six children are found dead in their home in Racovița, Vâlcea County, most likely intoxicated during sleep with carbon monoxide.^[11]
  • Elena Udrea suspends herself from the leadership of the People's Movement Party due to criminal investigation in the Microsoft licensing corruption scandal.^[12] Eugen Tomac becomes the interim president of the party.^[13]

February

• 6 February – The oldest stable human settlement in Europe (9,000 years ago) is discovered in Schela Cladovei, a neighborhood of Drobeta-Turnu Severin.^[14]
• 24 February – The Electoral Code Commission decides the return to vote on the list and the renunciation to uninominal voting system used in the 2008 and 2012 legislative elections.^{[15] [16]}

March

• 15 March – Minister of Finance, Darius Vâlcov, resigns as the National Anticorruption Directorate prompts his criminal investigation for influence peddling in his capacity as mayor of Slatina.^[17] His resignation was demanded by President Klaus Iohannis and members of the National Liberal Party.^{[18] [19]}

April

• 10 April – A fire kills six people in Satu Mare, including three children.^[20]

June

• 20 June – Romania becomes full member of the European Organization for Nuclear Research.^[21]

July

• Romania experiences the most severe drought in 50 years.^[22] Over 900,000 hectares of crops are compromised across the country.^[23]
• 24 July – Alexandru Vișinescu, a former Communist-era prison commander, is sentenced to 20 years in jail after being convicted of crimes against humanity in the first such trial in Romania.^{[24] [25]}

August

• 3 August – Romania charges units of Russian oil producer OAO Lukoil with complicity in money laundering in a case estimated at 1.77 billion euros.^{[26] [27]}
• 9 August – Two people are killed and 48 injured, including 21 children, after a coach with Ukrainian tourists overturns on the Sun Motorway.^[28]
• 19 August – A coach carrying tourists overturns on the Brăila–Galați road, killing three people and injuring 28.^[29]
• 27 August – One person dies and another 14 are injured, after a minibus carrying 19 passengers collides with a car in Bobicești, Olt County.^[30]

September

• 6 September – The mayor of Bucharest, Sorin Oprescu, is arrested at home in an investigation into allegations of taking bribes.^{[31] [32]}

October

• 21 October – Former President Ion Iliescu is accused of crimes against humanity in June 1990 Mineriad case.^{[33] [34]}
• 30 October – A fire at a nightclub in downtown Bucharest kills 60 people and injures 151 more.^{[35] [36]}

November

• 4 November – Prime Minister Victor Ponta resigns under the pressure of countrywide anti-corruption protests.^{[37] [38] [39]} The mayor of Sector 4 of Bucharest, Cristian Popescu Piedone, also submits his mandate.^[40] On the same day, Iohannis meets with the President of Poland Andrzej Duda and creates Bucharest Nine.^[41]
• 10 November – Former European Commissioner for Agriculture Dacian Cioloș is nominated by President Klaus Iohannis to form a new government.^{[42] [43]}
• 17 November – The Cioloș Cabinet is validated by the Parliament.^[44]

December

• 22 December – French retailer Carrefour signs an agreement with REWE Group for the acquisition of Billa Romania,^[45] with a network of 86 supermarkets nationwide. The transaction is estimated at 96–97 million euros.^[46]

Sports

• 20 December – Romania wins the bronze medal in the 22nd IHF World Women's Handball Championship.^[47] Cristina Neagu is named the best player of the competition.^[48]

Arts and entertainment

• 24 January – Ion Dacian Operetta and Musical Theatre is inaugurated in Bucharest.^[49] This is the first theatre opened in Romania after the revolution of 1989.^[50]
• 14 February – Radu Jude wins the Silver Bear for Best Director with Aferim! at the 65th Berlin International Film Festival.^{[51] [52]}
• 29 July–2 August – Untold Festival takes place in Cluj-Napoca, attracting over 240,000 participants. 170 international and national artists perform during the four days of festival, including Avicii, Armin van Buuren, David Guetta, ATB, Fedde le Grand and Tinie Tempah.^[53]
• 3 December – Feciorescul de Ticuș, a genre of men's folk dance, is inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.^{[54] [55] [56]}

Deaths

January

• 13 January – Valentin Nicolau, geophysicist, writer and President of the Romanian Television (2002–05) (b. 1960)
• 18 January – Christine Valmy, esthetician, consultant and entrepreneur (b. 1926)
• 19 January – Justin Capră, inventor, professor and engineer (b. 1933)
• 27 January – Viorica Lascu, philologist and historian (b. 1919)
• 29 January – Alexander Vraciu, United States Navy fighter ace (b. 1918)
• 30 January – Aureliu Leca, writer, professor and PSD senator (2000–04) (b. 1940)

February

• 3 February – Ion Nunweiller, football player and manager (b. 1936)
• 14 February – Octavian Naghiu, tenor (b. 1933)
• 16 February – Radu Simion, pan flute musician and orchestra leader (b. 1940)
• 21 February – Camil Mureșanu, historian and member of the Romanian Academy (b. 1927)

March

• 4 March – George Motoi, actor and theater director (b. 1936)
• 9 March – Marcel Dragomir, composer (b. 1944)
• 13 March – Maria Vicol, Olympic fencer (b. 1935)
• 15 March – Eusebiu Ștefănescu, actor (b. 1944)
• 20 March – Andrei Brezianu, essayist, writer and translator (b. 1934)

April

• 1 April – Nicolae Rainea, football referee (b. 1933)
• 3 April –
  • Petre Anghel, writer and professor (b. 1944)
  • Paul Grigoriu, journalist and writer (b. 1945)^[57]
• 4 April – Ioan Pușcaș, radiologist (b. 1932)
• 9 April – Constantin Drăghici, singer, composer and orchestrator (b. 1932)
• 11 April – Toma Dordea, electrical engineer (b. 1921)
• 14 April – Meir Rosenne, jurist and diplomat (b. 1931)

June

• 20 June – Angelo Niculescu, footballer and coach (b. 1921)
• 21 June – Bogdan Nicula, ballet dancer (b. 1979)
• 22 June – Constantin Cernăianu, football player and coach (b. 1933)
• 30 June – Ludovic Bács, musician, conductor, composer and violinist (b. 1930)

July

• 7 July – Angela Ciochină, singer, songwriter and singing teacher (b. 1955)
• 25 July – Valeriu Pantazi, poet, writer and painter (b. 1940)

August

• 3 August – Laurențiu Mircea Popescu, physician, professor and politician (b. 1944)
• 6 August
  • Malvina Urșianu, screenwriter and film director (b. 1927)
  • Mircea Dobrescu, boxer (b. 1930)
• 20 August – Alexandru Nicula, papal prelate (b. 1913)
• 27 August – Matei Boilă, senator, political prisoner and Greek Catholic priest (b. 1926)
• 30 August – Dan Iordăchescu, baritone (b. 1930)

September

• 9 September – Florin Ganea, footballer (b. 1976)
• 14 September – Corneliu Vadim Tudor, writer, politician and journalist (b. 1949)
  • • 29 September Sorin Avram, football player and coach (b. 1943)
  • Imre Fodor, politician (b. 1937)
• 30 September – Lucreția Ciobanu, singer of popular music (b. 1924)

October

• 6 October – Paula Iacob, lawyer (b. 1932)
• 14 October – Florența Mihai, tennis player (b. 1955)
• 16 October – Liviu Radu, writer, publicist and translator (b. 1948)
• 27 October – Mitzura Arghezi, actress and politician, daughter of Tudor Arghezi (b. 1924)
• 30 October
  • Vlad Țelea, guitarist of Goodbye to Gravity (b. 1978)
  • Mihai Alexandru, guitarist of Goodbye to Gravity (b. 1981)

November

• 12 November – Lucian Bălan, footballer (b. 1959)
• 28 November – Mircea Anca, actor and film director (b. 1960)

December

• 9 December – Gheorghe Gruia, handball player (b. 1940)
• 11 December – Mihai Adam, footballer (b. 1940)
• 13 December – Florin Manolescu, critic, literary historian and writer (b. 1943)

See also

• • List of 2015 box office number-one films in Romania 2015 in the European Union
• 2015 in Europe
• Romania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2015

Notes and References

1. News: . Klaus Iohannis wins Romanian presidential election . November 16, 2014 . November 17, 2014 . November 17, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141117064758/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/nov/16/romania-klaus-iohannis-president . live .
2. Web site: Istrate. Theodor. 1 January 2015. Vaslui: Cinci persoane, găsite moarte la o stână. Principala ipoteză - intoxicația cu monoxid de carbon. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150107162647/https://www.mediafax.ro/social/vaslui-cinci-persoane-gasite-moarte-la-o-stana-principala-ipoteza-intoxicatia-cu-monoxid-de-carbon-13745032. 7 January 2015. 21 January 2021. Mediafax. ro.
3. Web site: 13 January 2015. Bilanțul dramatic al consumului de alcool de contrabandă. Trei oameni au MURIT, iar șapte sunt în comă după ce au băut alcool metilic. Antena 3. ro.
4. Web site: 11 January 2015. Bilanțul morților în cazul otrăvirii cu alcool metilic din Dragalina a ajuns la trei. Dosarul a fost preluat de Parchet. Știrile Pro TV. ro.
5. Web site: Hera. Mona. 12 January 2015. Șase copii și tatăl lor au fost găsiți morți în casă. Prima ipoteză a anchetatorilor. UPDATE. Gândul. ro.
6. Web site: Dumitrașcu. Anca. 12 January 2015. UPDATE Gorj: Șase copii și tatăl lor au fost găsiți morți, în Rovinari. Gazeta de Sud. ro.
7. Web site: 12 January 2015. Tragedie în Rovinari: Șase copii cu vârste de până la 7 ani și tatăl acestora au murit intoxicați cu monoxid de carbon. 21 January 2021. B1 TV. ro.
8. Web site: Popescu. Andrei Luca. 27 January 2015. FURTUNA care a dus la demisia lui George Maior de la conducerea SRI. live. https://archive.today/20150127183749/http://www.gandul.info/stiri/furtuna-care-a-dus-la-demisia-lui-george-maior-de-la-conducerea-sri-13789145. 27 January 2015. Gândul. ro.
9. Web site: 27 January 2015. George Maior și-a dat demisia din funcția de șef al SRI. Mesajul transmis de premierul Victor Ponta pe Twitter. Știrile Pro TV. ro.
10. Web site: 27 January 2015. George Maior și-a dat demisia de la șefia SRI, Iohannis i-a acceptat-o. Florian Coldea va conduce interimar instituția - surse. HotNews.ro. ro.
11. Web site: Hera. Mona. 29 January 2015. Tragedie în Vâlcea: O femeie și cei șase copii ai săi au murit intoxicați cu monoxid de carbon. Mediafax. ro.
12. Web site: Toader. Emma. 29 January 2015. Udrea s-a autosuspendat din funcția de președinte PMP. Interimatul, asigurat de Tomac. Mediafax. ro.
13. Web site: 29 January 2015. Elena Udrea s-a autosuspendat de la șefia PMP: "O decizie a unui om politic matur și cu onoare". Ziare.com. ro.
14. Web site: Macavei. Corina. 6 February 2015. Cea mai veche așezare umană din Europa a fost descoperită în România. Locuitorii erau adevărați uriași care se hrăneau cu carne crudă. Adevărul. ro.
15. Web site: Andrei. Cristian. 24 February 2015. NOUA LEGE ELECTORALĂ. Parlamentari aleși pe liste şi campanii electorale finanțate de stat. Gândul. ro.
16. Web site: R.. I.. 24 February 2015. Comisia de cod electoral: Alegeri parlamentare pe liste, ca în 2004. Un partid se poate înființa cu trei membri. HotNews.ro. ro.
17. Web site: Victor Ponta: Darius Vâlcov și-a dat demisia din funcția de ministru . Digi24 . 15 March 2015 . Romanian.
18. Web site: Președintele Klaus Iohannis a cerut revocarea din funcție a ministrului de Finanțe Darius Vâlcov. Premierul Victor Ponta: Vâlcov și-a dat DEMISIA . Evenimentul Zilei . Vintilă . Carmen . Adamoae . Ana-Maria . 15 March 2015 . Romanian.
19. Web site: Halunga. Otilia. 14 March 2015. Purcărea. Vicențiu. Copreședintele PNL Alina Gorghiu a cerut demisia ministrului Finanțelor Publice, Darius Vâlcov. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150315012447/http://www.agerpres.ro/politica/2015/03/14/copresedintele-pnl-alina-gorghiu-a-cerut-demisia-ministrului-finantelor-publice-darius-valcov-17-59-31. 15 March 2015. 16 March 2015. AGERPRES. ro. dmy-all.
20. Web site: 10 April 2015. Incendiu cu șase morți la Satu Mare (FOTO & VIDEO). 21 January 2021. PortalSM.ro. ro.
21. Web site: Ștefănescu. Florentina. 20 June 2015. Simionescu. Mihai. România a devenit membru al Organizației Europene pentru Cercetare Nucleară. 21 January 2021. AGERPRES. ro. 8 February 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210208210737/https://www.agerpres.ro/sci-tech/2015/06/20/romania-a-devenit-membru-al-organizatiei-europene-pentru-cercetare-nucleara-11-30-15. dead.
22. Web site: Ofițeru. Andreea. 15 August 2015. România, lovită de cea mai severă SECETĂ din ultimii 50 de ani. Efectele temperaturilor-record din acest an. Gândul. ro.
23. Web site: 10 August 2015. Sute de mii de hectare au fost distruse de seceta prelungită. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150811133631/http://stiri.tvr.ro/sute-de-mii-de-hectare-au-fost-distruse-de-seceta-prelungita_63857.html. 11 August 2015. Știrile TVR. ro.
24. Web site: Romania jails Communist-era prison chief in landmark case . BBC News . 24 July 2015.
25. Web site: Mutler. Alison. 24 July 2015. Communist-era prison commander handed 20-year year sentence. 21 January 2021. Associated Press.
26. Web site: Marinas. Radu. Astakhova. Olesya. 3 August 2015. Williams. Matthias. Hardy. William. UPDATE 1-Romania indicts Lukoil's Petrotel refinery for money-laundering. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150806051832/https://www.reuters.com/article/2015/08/03/romania-lukoil-idUSL5N10E38020150803. 6 August 2015. 21 January 2021. Reuters.
27. Web site: Romania Charges Lukoil, Managers in $1.9 Billion Fraud Case . Bloomberg . Timu . Andra . 3 August 2015.
28. Web site: Unturică. Andreea. 9 August 2015. Un autocar plin cu ucraineni s-a răsturnat pe Autostrada Soarelui: doi oameni au murit și 48 au fost răniți. Gândul. Romanian.
29. Web site: Coman. Florentin. 19 August 2015. Un autocar cu 38 de turiști s-a răsturnat în apropiere de Brăila. Doi copii și un adult au murit, 28 de persoane sunt rănite. Adevărul. Romanian.
30. Web site: Bănilă. Silviu. 27 August 2015. Un microbuz cu pasageri, implicat într-un accident în judeţul Olt. Ultimul bilanț: Un mort și 14 răniți. Gândul. Romanian.
31. Web site: Romania corruption: Bucharest mayor arrested . BBC News . 6 September 2015.
32. Web site: Ilie. Luiza. 6 September 2015. Kasolowsky. Raissa. Romanian prosecutors probe Bucharest mayor on suspicion of taking bribes. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150910011918/https://www.reuters.com/article/2015/09/06/romania-corruption-mayor-idUSL5N11C0CY20150906. 10 September 2015. 21 January 2021. Reuters.
33. Web site: Romania's Ion Iliescu facing crimes against humanity charges . BBC News . 21 October 2015.
34. Web site: 21 October 2015. Romanian Ex-President Ion Iliescu Prosecuted for Crimes Against Humanity. The Wall Street Journal. Associated Press.
35. Web site: Marinas. Radu-Sorin. Ilie. Luiza. 31 October 2015. Shumaker. Lisa. Thomas. Susan. Romanian nightclub fire leaves 27 dead, 155 injured. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20151101020745/https://www.reuters.com/article/2015/10/31/us-romania-blast-idUSKCN0SO2UG20151031. 1 November 2015. Reuters.
36. Web site: Bucharest nightclub fire leaves Romania stunned . BBC News . 31 October 2015.
37. Web site: Romania PM Ponta resigns over Bucharest nightclub fire - BBC News. BBC News. 2015-12-12. en-GB.
38. News: Gillet. Kit. Karasz. Palko. 2015-11-04. Victor Ponta, Romania's Premier, Steps Down After Outcry Over Corruption. The New York Times. 2015-12-12. 0362-4331. dmy-all.
39. Web site: Tran. Mark. 4 November 2015. Bucharest nightclub fire: PM and government resign after protests. 21 January 2021. The Guardian.
40. Web site: Hera. Mona. 4 November 2015. Primarul Cristian Popescu Piedone A DEMISIONAT și el: Îmi asum vina morală, las justiția să se pronunțe despre cea legală. 21 January 2021. Mediafax. ro.
41. Web site: Bilateral visit of President of Romania, Mr. Klaus Iohannis, in the Republic of Poland and his participation in the High Level Meeting of the Bucharest Format (B9), on 7-8 June 2018. President of Romania. 5 June 2018.
42. Web site: Mutler. Alison. 10 November 2015. Romania's president nominates Dacian Cioloș as new premier. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20151117033026/http://bigstory.ap.org/article/e2009ba44f074323b5eadfbe39b7f7ae/romanias-president-nominates-dacian-ciolos-new-premier. 17 November 2015. 12 December 2015. Associated Press.
43. News: Gillet. Kit. 2015-11-10. Romania's President Picks Dacian Ciolos as New Prime Minister. The New York Times. 2015-12-12. 0362-4331. dmy-all.
44. News: Marinas. Radu-Sorin. Ilie. Luiza. 2015-11-17. Romanian government meant to tackle corruption wins parliament's backing. Reuters. Pitchford. Ruth. 2015-12-12. dmy-all.
45. Web site: Oncu. Marius. 22 December 2015. TRANZACȚIE importantă în retail: Carrefour preia Billa România. Mediafax. ro.
46. Web site: Manu. Florel. 22 December 2015. Carrefour a cumpărat Billa. Adevărul. ro.
47. Web site: 20 December 2015. România a câștigat medalia de bronz la Campionatul Mondial de handbal feminin. Digi24. ro.
48. Web site: 20 December 2015. ROMÂNIA, medalia de BRONZ la Campionatul Mondial de handbal feminin. Cristina Neagu, cea mai bună jucătoare a competiției. Știrile Pro TV. ro.
49. Web site: T.. S.. 21 January 2015. Noua sală de spectacole a Teatrului de Operetă și Musical "Ion Dacian", prima clădire destinată artelor spectacolului muzical construită în România după anul 1989. Antena 3. ro.
50. Web site: S.. D.. 21 January 2015. Noua sală de spectacole a Teatrului de Operetă și Musical "Ion Dacian", inaugurată pe 24 ianuarie cu "Fantoma de la Operă". HotNews.ro. ro.
51. Web site: Dinu. Clarice. 14 February 2015. Filmul "Aferim!" al lui Radu Jude a câștigat Ursul de argint pentru regie la Berlin. Gândul. ro.
52. Web site: Prizes of the international jury. 14 February 2015. Berlinale. 13 February 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180213193955/https://www.berlinale.de/en/das_festival/preise_und_juries/preise_internationale_jury/index.html. dead.
53. Web site: Pop. Florina. 5 August 2015. Ce-a câștigat Clujul, în 4 zile, din Untold Festival. Finalul unui eveniment cu 170 de artiști, peste 240.000 de participanți și 88 de ore de atmosferă magică. Adevărul. Romanian.
54. Web site: Lad's dances in Romania . UNESCO.
55. Web site: Marinescu. Patricia. 3 December 2015. Dansul românesc "Feciorescul de Ticuș", în lista patrimoniului cultural imaterial UNESCO - VIDEO. 21 January 2021. Mediafax. ro.
56. Web site: Grigoras. Alina. 4 December 2015. Romanian 'Lad's dances' included on UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritage. 21 January 2021. The Romania Journal.
57. News: Realizatorul de emisiuni radiofonice Paul Grigoriu va fi înmormântat duminică, în județul Dâmbovița. Mediafax. April 4, 2015. October 7, 2023. Diana. Pârvulescu.