December 5, 2025 UPDATE
A roundup of local and world news
Newsroom, 05.12.2025, 20:15
PENSIONS On December 10, Romania’s Constitutional Court is expected to analyze the Higher Court of Cassation and Justice’s referring on a bill reforming the magistrates’ retirement system. On Friday Romania’s Higher Court of Cassation and Justice decided to again refer to the Constitutional Court the aforementioned bill, on which the Higher Council of Magistrates issued a negative opinion. The Higher Court judges have unanimously voted in favour of this decision. The Court’s spokesman, Victor Alistar, has explained that the judges believe, the law has been built ‘on a counterfactual reality’ and all data that can show the economic impact of enforcing this law is missing. The Romanian government has assumed responsibility in Parliament on the draft law that sets a ceiling to the pensions of judges and prosecutors at 70% of the net salary received in their last month of work, and gradually increases their retirement age up to 65. The bill was previously challenged at the Constitutional Court, which invalidated it for procedural reasons, as the government had not waited for the opinion of the Higher Council of Magistrates. The reform of magistrates’ special pensions is a milestone in the National Recovery and Resilience Plan.
MOTION Opposition parties in Romania’s Parliament on Friday tabled a no-confidence motion against the four-party coalition Cabinet led by the Liberal Ilie Bolojan. The initiators are MPs in a new group called “Peace, Romania First”, elected a year ago on the lists of the populist formations POT and SOS Romania. They are accusing the government of not being able to manage the country’s vital fields, from finances to social protection. The motion’s text will be presented in a plenary sitting on December 8 and the vote and debates have been scheduled for December 15. The pro-European coalition, PSD-PNL-USR-UDMR enjoys a comfortable majority in Parliament and the censure motion stands only slim chances to pass.
BY-ELECTION In Romania, Friday was the last of the 15 days of the campaign for the local by-elections of December 7. In addition to the mayor general of Bucharest, a position left vacant after the former mayor, Nicușor Dan, won the presidential election, voting is underway for the chair of the Buzău County Council and for the mayor seats in 12 localities.
BOOK FAIR The Gaudeamus Radio Romania Book Fair continued in Bucharest, with over 90 events scheduled on Friday. Over 180 publishing houses, Romanian and foreign book agencies, university publishing houses and higher education institutions present their products during the 5 days of the Fair. The honorary president of this year’s edition is the journalist, writer and foreign policy analyst Sabina Fati.
HANDBALL Romania’s national women’s handball side has clinched a 37-17 win against the selection of Senegal in its second match of the first main group of the World Women’s Championships in Germany and the Netherlands. In their first match the Romanians were outperformed by Hungary and have thus lost the chance of qualifying for the competition’s quarterfinals. On Sunday Romania will be playing the last match in the group against Switzerland in an attempt to occupy a position among the first 10 sides in the championships. Romania has so far attended all the World Women’s Handball Championships.
ECONOMY Romania’s economy grew by 0.8% in the first 9 months of the year compared to the corresponding period in 2024, according to data made public on Friday by the National Statistics Institute (INS). Constructions, with an 8.5% increase rate, agriculture with 6.8%, and communications and taxes with almost 3%, had positive contributions to this growth. The INS mentioned that the economic growth rate in the first 9 months was also due to household spending, which rose by 0.3%. In contrast, professional and scientific activities and administrative services, with a negative 3.7% rate, as well as industry, which decreased by 0.4%, had negative contributions to the growth of the Gross Domestic Product. Exports were also slightly weaker, while imports increased considerably.
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