September 22, 2026
A roundup of local and international news.
Newsroom, 22.09.2026, 13:55
Government. Negotiations to form a stable majority to support a cabinet led by Siegfried Mureșan, the prime minister designate, appear to have reached a deadlock. The Social Democrats and the Alliance for the Union of Romanians, in the nationalist opposition, have said they will not support him, while the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania is prepared to withdraw its support if Mureșan were to rely on votes from extremist parties. The latter says he will go before Parliament with his governing programme and list of ministers, even if he fails to secure the 233 votes needed for investiture by then. The three parties supporting him, the National Liberal Party, the Save Romania Union and the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania together have 169 seats in Parliament, with a further 17 votes coming in from the group of national minorities.
UN. While in New York to attend the UN General Assembly alongside some 130 other heads of state, Romanian president Nicușor Dan met Romanians living in New York as well as representatives of American companies, banks and funds that invest in Romanian bonds. The president expressed his wish for the Romanians who have excelled in a highly competitive society to put their experience to use in their native country. He invited them to view Romania objectively and spoke of the country’s present potential. On Monday evening, the president inaugurated the Queen Marie of Romania Corner near the headquarters of Romania’s Permanent Mission to the UN. An anniversary plaque was also unveiled on that spot to mark the centenary of the queen’s historic tour of the United States. In the address he is due to deliver on Wednesday before the General Assembly, he is expected to highlight Bucharest’s efforts regarding UN reform and the country’s contribution to ensuring peace, security and an international rules-based order.
Investigation. Călin Georgescu, the former Romanian presidential candidate viewed as pro-Russian is today brought before the Bucharest Tribunal, with a request to be held in temporary custody for 30 days. He was detained for 24 hours yesterday by the anti-terrorism and anti-organised crime unit in connection with a case involving fraud and membership of an organised criminal group. Businessman Ionel Rusen, who was involved in raising funds for Georgescu’s 2024 presidential campaign, was also detained in the same case. According to judicial sources cited by the media, DIICOT prosecutors have requested information from Latvia, Italy, the UK and Switzerland regarding the investigation. The loss is estimated at 1.1 million euros: 1 million accounting for investment in precious metals and 100,000 euros going into the election campaign.
Moldova. The government of the Republic of Moldova (a former Soviet state with a predominantly Romanian-speaking population) will seek parliamentary approval to declare a state of emergency in the energy and water sectors. This measure is necessary as the flow of the country’s most important waterway, the Dniester River, has dropped significantly due to drought, and there are also risks regarding energy supplies. President Maia Sandu said measures are being considered to establish compensation mechanisms for the colder season, energy conservation and protecting strategic energy infrastructure against hostile actions, including drone strikes, and cyberattacks. Moldova’s airspace has been repeatedly violated by both Russian drones and missiles since the outbreak of the war in neighbouring Ukraine.
Sports. The Romanian men’s volleyball team are facing Olympic champions France today in Sofia, Bulgaria, in the European Championship quarterfinals. The two teams also met during the group stage last week, with Romania winning 3 sets to 2, after trailing 2-0. In football, the manager of the Romanian national side Gheorghe Hagi has capped 33 players for the Nations League opening matches, according to the football federation’s official website. The Romanian side will play four matches at the start of the new League season: away against Sweden on September 25; against Bosnia in Bucharest on the 28th, with no spectators; against Poland in Warsaw on October 2; and a return match against Sweden at home on the 5th. (CM)
