December 22, 2025 UPDATE

A roundup of local and world news

Newsroom, 22.12.2025, 20:00

Justice: President Dan meets judges on systemic woes

Romanian President Nicușor Dan on Monday held talks with a group of former and current judges about entrenched problems in the justice system. Judges highlighted the urgent need to amend the Justice Laws passed in 2022, an “oligarchic system” at the top, especially in the High Court of Cassation and Justice and the Superior Council of Magistracy (CSM), as well as certain judges’ ties to political players. Other red flags included abuses by the Judicial Inspectorate against outspoken judges, mishandled detachments and delegations and pressure from the National Anti-Corruption Directorate (DNA) leadership on certain prosecutors.

President Dan said talks would continue, with many issues needing lengthy checks. By January, the president will launch a consultation among judges, framed as a referendum, to gauge if the Council serves the public interest or an insider clique. If judges say the CSM works for the community, talks will move to lawmakers; if it’s for internal interests instead, the CSM will have to go immediately, Dan stressed. In response, the CSM insisted it exercises its constitutional role as guardian of judicial independence autonomously and won’t tolerate any direct or indirect interference in the judiciary’s work.

No-confidence motions: opposition loses battle in Parliament

The simple no-confidence motion from AUR (nationalist opposition) against Justice Minister Radu Marinescu (backed by PSD) was shot down Monday in Bucharest’s Chamber of Deputies plenary. AUR demanded his honorable resignation, citing his failure to restore public trust in the judiciary. They slammed his managerial flops in delivering efficient, predictable, equitable justice, endless trial delays and zero firm response to systemic ills.

During the debate, Marinescu fired back that Romania’s judiciary is independent and self-governing, not under the Justice Ministry.

Also Monday, the Senate rejected AUR’s motion against Interior Minister Cătălin Predoiu (PNL). Signatories blasted his ministry as politicized, with overlapping duties and failure to honor international commitments – plus direct meddling in leadership contests, they claimed. Predoiu dismissed the attacks, invoking key Interior Ministry measures he’s rolled out.

Romania-Moldova ties: the “world’s strongest diplomatic partnership”

The bilateral bond between Romania and the Republic of Moldova is the world’s strongest diplomatic partnership between two nations, Romanian Foreign Minister Oana Țoiu said on Monday during a working visit to Chișinău. Meeting her counterpart Mihai Popșoi, Țoiu noted trade exchanges topping €3 billion and Bucharest’s rock-solid support for Moldova’s EU integration. She touted advances in strategic infrastructure projects and robust cooperation in education and culture.

On the regional front, Țoiu highlighted ongoing trilateral Romania-Moldova-Ukraine collaboration, with Romania set to host foreign ministers’ meeting in the first quarter of 2026 under the “Odesa Triangle” format, focusing on Ukraine’s reconstruction and regional investments. Popșoi, in turn, called Romania “by far the closest state” to Moldova and its top ally for EU integration, security and economic growth.

The Romanian Foreign Minister also met with Moldova’s President, Maia Sandu, and with Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu.

Commemoration: 36 years since the 1989 anti-communist revolution

Bucharest continued its public commemorations Monday for the 36th anniversary of the 1989 anti-communist revolution. Senators observed a moment of silence for the victims and voiced gratitude “to those who took to the streets in December 1989 with empty hands but full hearts, making Romania a free and democratic nation”. They spotlighted the sacrifice and courage of those who paid with their lives so Romanians today can speak, vote and protest freely.

Scheduled events included military and religious ceremonies at the Monument to the Heroes of the Revolution in Revolution Square, the Romanian Radio Broadcasting Corporation and the Paratroopers’ Cross at the Romanian Television.

(VP)