October 30, 2025
A roundup of local and world news
Newsroom, 30.10.2025, 13:55
MILITARY The United States resizes some of its troops deployed on NATO’s Eastern Flank, as part of a global process that includes the Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base in southeastern Romania. The US says this is not a signal of weakening commitment to the Alliance, and the Romanian authorities say that the country’s security will not be affected. The Pentagon’s decision was criticised, however, by the heads of the defence committees in the American Senate and the House of Representatives. NATO officials say such adjustments are not unusual, and the European Commission claims that the United States’ decision does not influence the Union’s plans regarding the defence of the Eastern Flank.
PROTESTS Thousands of Romanian employees in the administration, education and healthcare sectors took to the streets on Wednesday to demand higher salaries and pensions, fair taxation and an end to government’s austerity measures, which they view as unjustified. Trade unionists also voiced discontent with the government’s plans not to increase the minimum wage and to keep it at its current value of about EUR 800 euros in 2026. The guaranteed minimum wage was also discussed by members of the National Three-Party Council for Social Dialogue, which brings together members of the government, employees and employers.
GOVERNMENT Oana Gheorghiu, nominated by Romania’s Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan for the deputy Prime Minister seat, was sworn in today, after president Nicuşor Dan signed her appointment order the day before. Aged 56, Oana Gheorghiu is a graduate of the Academy of Economic Studies in Bucharest, and the co-founder and co-chair of the “Dăruieşte Viaţă” Association, which built a hospital for pediatric cancer exclusively from donations. In a social media post a few months ago, she criticised the current US president, Donald Trump, which has now prompted the interim leader of the Social Democratic Party, Sorin Grindeanu, to ask the Liberal PM to withdraw his nomination in order to avoid a diplomatic disaster in relation to Romania’s strategic partner. Every irresponsible public statement directly affects Romania’s strategic interests, Sorin Grindeanu posted on Facebook. Oana Gheorghiu replied that nothing she wrote on her personal page before taking over the deputy prime minister post commits the Romanian state or the Romanian government in any way. The deputy prime minister seat has been vacant since Dragoș Anastasiu resigned in July over bribery accusations.
COMMEMORATION Romania commemorates 10 years since the tragedy in Bucharest’s Colectiv night club, where a fire broke out because of fireworks during a concert and 64 people lost their lives. 140 people were hospitalised, and some of them were left with lifelong injuries. When the fire broke out, there were 500 people in the club, far beyond the capacity of the hall. The victims were commemorated this morning in Bucharest.
MOLDOVA The prime minister designate of the Republic of Moldova, the pro-Western technocrat Alexandru Munteanu, has concluded a round of consultations with parliamentary parties, amid preparations for the vote of confidence scheduled for Friday in Parliament, Moldovan media report. Munteanu described the talks as “constructive”, and added that new meetings will follow to finalise the government programme. Munteanu said the main topics concerned economic reforms, a draft budget bill and the structure of the new government. The programme, he said, will be “short and clear”, focused on goals such as the EU accession, economic growth, improving living standards and strengthening national security. The new Cabinet will keep eight ministers from the current government, led by Dorin Recean. Cristina Gherasimov stays on as deputy Prime Minister for European integration, and Mihai Popșoi keeps the foreign affairs ministry. (AMP)
