April 23, 2026 UPDATE

The latest from domestic and world news

Newsroom, 23.04.2026, 16:23

Crisis. The Social Democratic ministers have submitted their resignations from the Bucharest cabinet, led by Liberal Ilie Bolojan. This involves six portfolios: Labor, Justice, Agriculture, Energy, Transportation, and Health, as well as the position of deputy prime minister. With these departures, the cabinet retains only the support of the PNL, USR, and UDMR. Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan has announced that he will personally take over as interim head of the Ministry of Energy, while Deputy Prime Minister Cătălin Predoiu (PNL) will lead the Ministry of Justice. The vacant position of Deputy Prime Minister went to Oana Gheorghiu (Deputy Prime Minister), and the other portfolios without holders were taken over by those remaining in the cabinet. Thus, the Ministry of Labor will be led by Dragoș Pîslaru (USR), Minister of European Projects; the Ministry of Health by Cseke Attila (UDMR), Minister of Development; the Ministry of Agriculture by Tanczos Barna (UDMR), Deputy Prime Minister; and the Ministry of Transportation by Deputy Prime Minister Radu Miruță (USR), Minister of Defense. According to the law, the interim period may last 45 days. The PSD has announced that it wishes to participate in the formation of a new government, with either a political or a technocratic prime minister. President Nicuşor Dan, acting as mediator, held talks on Wednesday with the leaders of all parties in the current ruling coalition in an attempt to find a formula for the country’s stability and the continuation of a pro-European government. The consultations ended, however, without a clear solution to break the current political deadlock, as the political leaders’ positions remained unchanged: the PSD is demanding the resignation of Ilie Bolojan. Meanwhile, the PNL, USR, and UDMR have continued to express their support for him.

Government. The government has today adopted an emergency order providing for clearer authorisation conditions for companies bringing in foreign workers, as well as a tighter control of these companies, the reduction of bureaucracy and the digitalisation of procedures. Also, the order provides for clearer obligations for employers with respect to the salary granted to workers, accommodation and working conditions, and, for penalties in case of failure to comply.

Corruption. Six people have been detained for 24 hours by DNA prosecutors, who are investigating three criminal cases involving suspicions that, between 2022 and the present, crimes of corruption and acts analogous to corruption, as well as money laundering, were committed, in connection with the procurement of public works projects by the Bistriţa-Năsăud and Sălaj County Councils in northwestern Romania. Among those detained are the public administrator and the executive director of the Bistriţa-Năsăud County Council, who were questioned following searches conducted at the County Council headquarters as well as at the residence of the institution’s president. He has resigned from his position as head of the county branch of the PSD. Raids were also conducted at the headquarters of the Sălaj County Council and at the home of its president, who has decided to suspend himself from his position as president of the county branch of the PNL for the duration of the ongoing legal proceedings.

Deficit. Romania’s budget deficit has decreased from 9.3% of GDP in 2024 to 7.9% in 2025, according to Eurostat data. In a Facebook post, Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan said this is the result of measures to cut expenses and boost revenues taken in the second half of last year, but also of the use of European funds from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. Romania still has the highest deficit level in the European Union, but also the largest correction, Ilie Bolojan added. The faster the correction is, the sooner healthy economic growth can begin, and this will be reflected in people’s living standards, the prime minister also posted.

Anniversary. Today and tomorrow, the National Bank of Romania is holding the sixth edition of an Open Days event to mark the 146th anniversary of its establishment. Guided tours provide the public with access to the most spectacular rooms in the old headquarters of the National Bank in the centre of Bucharest, information about the history of the Bank and entry to the Bank’s Museum. Visitors are also able to discover the fascinating history of the national currency in an exhibition entitled  “Money talks to us: the history of the Leu from metal to polymer”, which showcases some of the gold bars that are part of Romania’s international reserve.

Feast day. Christians, including those from Romania, today celebrate the Holy Great Martyr George, a 4th-century martyr and patron saint of the Romanian Land Forces. Almost one million Romanians are named after the saint. A general in the Roman army during the reign of Emperor Diocletian, Saint George fell victim to the persecution against Christians. He was imprisoned and tortured in order to give up his faith, but he refused and was executed. The relic of the head of Saint George was brought on Wednesday from Mount Athos, in a pilgrimage to the Pantocrator Monastery in southern Romania. For the first time in Romania, the relics will be on display until April 28. Last year, the Pantocrator Monastery hosted the complete relics of Saint Empress Helena, which very rarely leave the Venetian church where they are kept.

Tennis. Romanian tennis player Jaqueline Cristian (WTA No. 33) defeated Ukrainian tennis player Yulia Starodubtseva (WTA No. 53) on Thursday, 3-6, 7-6, 6-4, in the second round of the WTA 1,000 tournament in Madrid, which offers total prize money of over $8.2 million. Jaqueline thus advanced to the third round of the competition in the Spanish capital, where she will face the winner of the match between world No. 1 Arina Sabalenka and American Peyton Stearns (WTA No. 43). Meanwhile, also in Madrid, Romanian Sorana Cîrstea (WTA No. 24) will face Italian Tyra Grant (WTA No. 262) on Friday in the second round. (MI)