December 13, 2025
A roundup of domestic and world news
Newsroom, 13.12.2025, 13:55
Protests – Thousands of people protested in Bucharest for the third consecutive day on Friday evening following revelations in the Recorder documentary about problems in the judiciary. Protesters displayed banners with messages such as ‘Justice, not corruption’ and chanted ‘We want justice, not immunity’, ‘Independent magistrates, not obedient’. The demonstrators demanded the resignation of the president of the High Court of Cassation and Justice, Lia Savonea, the Minister of Internal Affairs, Cătălin Predoiu, the Minister of Justice, Radu Marinescu, and the chief prosecutor of the National Anti-Corruption Directorate, Marius Voineag. Protests also took place in other major cities across Romania. The judges’ section of the Superior Council of Magistracy announced that it had decided to notify the Judicial Inspection to carry out checks in relation to the issues reported in the press material broadcast by Recorder. The documentary features several prosecutors and judges, some with protected identities, who reveal how the leadership of the Bucharest Court of Appeal routinely changes judges from panels in order to obtain favorable decisions for individuals accused of corruption. Hundreds of magistrates have expressed solidarity with their colleagues featured in the documentary. Tens of thousands of people have signed a petition, addressed to the head of state and the prime minister, requesting urgent changes to the justice laws.
Agreement – European Union governments have reached an agreement to freeze Russian central bank assets in Europe indefinitely, the Danish presidency of the EU Council announced on Friday, removing a major obstacle to making funds available to Ukraine, DPA and Reuters reported. Until now, the 27 member states had to unanimously agree every six months to keep Russian funds frozen, in line with EU sanctions imposed on Moscow in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. To freeze the funds indefinitely, EU countries used an emergency economic mechanism that allows them to switch from unanimous voting to majority voting to adopt the decision. European countries argue that Russia’s war in Ukraine is causing serious economic challenges and that the transfer of funds to Russia must therefore be prevented to limit the damage to the EU economy. The EU’s decision to indefinitely freeze Russian funds worth around 210 billion Euros is intended to facilitate plans to provide Kyiv with some of the money as a long-term ‘reparations loan’.
Meeting – US special envoy Steve Witkoff will meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders this weekend in Berlin, a White House official told AFP on Friday. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is due to meet the Ukrainian president and several European, EU and NATO leaders, as the United States steps up pressure on Kyiv to reach a peace deal. Europeans and Ukrainians have asked the Americans for ‘security guarantees’ before any territorial negotiations in eastern Ukraine, the French presidency announced. The talks accelerated following the presentation by the US administration, almost three weeks ago, of a plan to end the war triggered by the Russian invasion in February 2022, a text that included significant demands from Moscow, AFP notes. While Kyiv presented a modified version of the plan, including counter-proposals, the Ukrainian president confirmed that the United States wants to reach an agreement ‘as soon as possible’.
Energy – The largest capacity of energy storage in batteries in Romania was put into operation on Friday, announced the Energy Minister, Bogdan Ivan. Storage is, at this moment, one of the most efficient solutions that can reduce imbalances in the system, better integrate the energy produced by prosumers and, most importantly, and keep costs under control for Romanians, the minister said on Facebook. Also on Friday, in Câmpia Turzii (center), works began on a combined cycle gas power plant, an investment that will ensure safe and constant energy, essential for balancing the system. (LS)
