December 1, 2025
A roundup of local and world news
Newsroom, 01.12.2025, 13:55
NATIONAL DAY Nearly 3,000 troops and experts from the ministries of defence and the interior, the Romanian Intelligence Service, the Special Telecommunications Service and the National Penitentiary Administration, with over 220 vehicles took part in the military parade organised in Bucharest on Romania’s National Day. According to the defence ministry, 240 foreign troops also took part in the parade, including units from France, North Macedonia, the Republic of Moldova, Poland, Portugal, Spain, the US, as well as military from the Allied countries contributing to NATO structures on Romanian territory. A military parade with almost 1,000 participants and a folklore show also took place in Alba Iulia, the place where, 107 years ago, the Great Union of the Romanian Principalities was completed. To celebrate this historic moment, the national flag was hoisted in all military institutions in the country and on board sea and river vessels. December 1, 1918 saw the establishment of the Romanian unified nation state. At the end of World War I, the provinces of Transylvania, Banat, Bukovina and Bessarabia, inhabited mainly by Romanians and previously under the authority of the Austro-Hungarian and Tsarist empires, became part of the Kingdom of Romania.
CELEBRATION The US secretary of state Marco Rubio highlighted on Romania’s National Day on Monday, the strong and growing partnership between the two countries, based on shared strategic interests. “On behalf of the United States of America, I congratulate the people of Romania on your National Day. The United States and Romania share a strong and growing partnership built on shared strategic interests in security, energy cooperation, and trade,” Rubio said in a statement posted by the US Embassy in Bucharest. The US commends Romania’s regional leadership and encourages its continued role in promoting stability in the Black Sea region, the US official said. Romania’s commitment to allocate 5% of its GDP to defence by 2035 will strengthen NATO and lay the foundation for growing prosperity in the years to come. Rubio also said the US is committed to continued defence cooperation and developing trade and investment that benefit both nations.
CONCERT The “George Enescu” Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Gabriel Bebeşelea gives a concert today at the Warsaw Philharmonic Hall, to mark Romania’s National Day and the closing of the Romania – Poland Cultural Season 2024-2025. The ensemble will perform “Romanian Rhapsody” Opus 11 number 1 and the Symphony Concertante Opus 8 for cello and orchestra, both by George Enescu, as well as the 6th Symphony by Antonín Dvořák.
PARLIAMENT The Senate and the Chamber of Deputies convene in a joint session on Tuesday, December 2, so that the government led by Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan can take responsibility for the draft law on the retirement of magistrates, after the amended text of the document was passed on Friday in a special government meeting. Until then, MPs can still submit amendments to this bill. The document provides, among other things, for at least 35 years of work as a prerequisite for retirement, the gradual increase of the retirement age to 65, and pension benefits that should not exceed 70% of the last net salary. Accessing European funding, addressing some imbalances and a sustainable pension system are 3 of the reasons for the passing of the document by the government. The document can be obstructed by a no-confidence motion against the Cabinet, submitted within 3 days of taking responsibility.
POPULATION Romania’s population is expected to shrink by 18% by 2080, accounting for a decrease by almost 3.4 million people compared to the current level, the National Institute of Statistics says. The INS research paper, called “Projected active population of Romania by the year 2080”, looks at 3 scenarios. The most pessimistic one is based on fertility and mortality rates similar to those of last year, and indicates a drastic decrease in population by almost 4.7 million people. The most optimistic scenario sees the population drop by only 1.9 million people. The average case, which speaks of a decline of 3.4 million people, is seen as the most likely hypothesis in the current social-economic conditions. A regional analysis indicates substantial differences, with the regions of Oltenia (southwest) and Muntenia (southeast) expected to see the most significant decreases, and more balanced dynamics in Bucharest-Ilfov, the northeast and the centre of the country. On January 1, 2025, the population of Romania residing in the country was slightly more than 19 million people. (AMP)
