April 21, 2026 UPDATE
A roundup of local and world news
Newsroom, 21.04.2026, 20:06
GOVERNMENT The Liberal Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan announced that he will stay in office and ensure the stability of the government, although he no longer has the support of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), the main partner in the pro-European ruling coalition along with the National Liberal Party (PNL), Save Romania Union (USR), and the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania (UDMR). The National Liberal Party (PNL) on Tuesday endorsed a resolution in which they express their firm support for the continuation of ruling under the incumbent Prime Minister until the completion of the reformed assumed. In the meantime, the PNL kicked off talks with the political groups supporting the incumbent Executive – the USR, UDMR and national minorities – to make clear a formula for a minority government. A first round of talks has already taken place between the Liberals and USR and a new series has been scheduled with the other two groups on Wednesday. Following an in-house voting on Monday, the PSD withdrew their support for the Liberal Prime Minister. PSD leader, Sorin Grindeanu, has accused the Prime Minister of destroying the economy and lowering the people’s purchasing power. The USR has criticized the PSD voting while the UDMR has pleaded for finding a solution aimed at maintaining the political stability. The opposition AUR has stood for snap elections. In turn, the country’s President, Nicusor Dan, has invited the political leaders of the ruling coalition for a new round of talks on Wednesday. More on this after the news
TREASURE The Dacian golden helmet and two bracelets recovered after the heist at the Drents Museum in the Netherlands have arrived in Romania. They will be on view at Romania’s National Art Museum starting on Wednesday. The helmet of Cotofenesti, dating back to the fourth or fifth century b.c, as well as the Dacian bracelets of Sarmizegetusa Regia are some of the most important artefacts in Romania’s national heritage.
DEFENCE Nearly 10 billion Euros would be invested in the national defence industry and in strengthening the Romanian Army’s capabilities under the EU’s SAFE mechanism, and the balance to approx. 16 billion Euros will be used for the development of road and transport infrastructure and the equipment of the interior ministry and intelligence services. However, the European Commission made the financing of the 21 programmes submitted by the defence ministry conditional on their being signed by May 31, the defence minister Radu Miruţă said on Tuesday, in an interview for Radio Romania. On the other hand, on Monday at NATO’s headquarters in Brussels, 20 Romanian companies presented for the first time defence solutions that could be purchased and used across the Alliance. The Foreign Minister Oana Ţoiu said Romania wants to take advantage of the increase in NATO spending to create business opportunities and jobs in the country.
LITERATURE The 16th Munich Literature Festival began on Tuesday, with a significant Romanian participation. The German translation of the book ‘Voices at a Distance’, recently published by Wallstein Verlag, will be launched on Friday, in the presence of the author Gabriela Adameșteanu. The artist Dan Perjovschi will be present throughout the festival, which ends on April 30, and will respond with on the spot drawings to the themes addressed. Last but not least, two Romanian films will be screened during the Munich festival: the documentary ‘Colectiv’, directed by Alexander Nanau, and Radu Jude’s feature film ‘Aferim!’.
AWARDS The Romanian former gymnast Nadia Comăneci was presented with the Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award at the Laureus Awards gala, the Oscars of sports, held in Madrid on Monday night. The award comes 50 years after the athlete got the first perfect score in the history of world gymnastics at the Montreal Summer Olympics. Nadia Comăneci became a founding member of the Laureus Sports Academy in 2000 and played a vital role in the development of the movement, promoting programmes worldwide to improve results and opportunities for at-risk youth. Nadia Comăneci is the 20th Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award winner and the first gymnast to receive it. In Romania, 2026 is the Year of Nadia Comăneci, to mark the 50th anniversary of the gymnast’s legendary performance in Montreal. Events coordinated by the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee are organized as part of this celebration.
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