July 20, 2025 UPDATE
A roundup of local and world news
Newsroom, 20.07.2025, 20:00
PROTEST The Romanian Gendarme Corps reports that a group of people are instigating citizens on social media to block access roads around Bucharest. The Romanian authorities believe that following such a call this afternoon 2 drivers blocked the A1 motorway, which connects the Romanian capital city to the city of Pitesti, until the police managed to clear the motorway and have traffic resumed. The 2 drivers now face prison sentences of 3 months to 2 years or a criminal fine. The incident may be related to the protests taking place in front of the Romanian government headquarters and attended by several hundred supporters of the former presidential candidate Călin Georgescu, whose participation in this spring’s presidential elections was banned by the Constitutional Court. The protesters claim that last year’s presidential elections, suspended by the Constitutional Court over manipulation suspicions, were valid, and challenge the results of the 2025 election. A spokesperson for the Romanian Gendarme Corps reported that violence occurred at the protest, as a result of which 4 law enforcement officers were injured.
VISIT The Romanian foreign minister Oana Ţoiu said on Saturday that she will make a visit to the US in September, devoted among other things to preparations for a bilateral meeting between presidents Donald Trump and Nicuşor Dan. In an interview on a television channel, the Romanian diplomacy chief said she had had talks on strengthening relations between Romania and the US with the US secretary of state Marco Rubio at the NATO summit in The Hague. On that occasion Nicuşor Dan and Donald Trump met and exchanged a few words. This spring, Romania was removed from the US Visa Waiver Program after Washington had initially lifted visa requirements for Romanians. The Trump administration then reversed its decision over border security and immigration concerns.
ELIJAH Over 140,000 Romanian Orthodox Christians celebrated their name day on Sunday, on the feast of Saint Elijah, one of the most important prophets of the Old Testament. Among other things, he is viewed as a defender of the faith and a fighter against idolatry, and is the patron saint of aviators. Therefore the Day of Romanian Aviation and Air Force is also marked in Romania on July 20. On this occasion, an air show took place in the capital Bucharest, featuring over 40 aircraft from the defence ministry, the interior ministry, the Romanian Intelligence Service, the Romanian Aeroclub, as well as the Italian Air Force. Military and religious ceremonies were also organised elsewhere in the country. In 2025, Romania celebrates 112 years of aviation and 90 years since the unveiling of the Air Heroes Monument in Bucharest.
AVIATION The Air Force remains an essential pillar of the Romanian Army and is modernising and adapting to new security challenges, Romania’s president Nicuşor Dan said in his message on Aviation Day. He congratulated airmen for their courage and determination in carrying out their missions, which are also appreciated by Romania’s allies. In the current security context marked by the Russian Federation’s continued war against Ukraine, the Air Force, alongside the other components of the army and together with the allies, contributes decisively to maintaining a credible deterrence and defense posture on the entire eastern flank of NATO, the president emphasised. Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan also said that the Air Force is essential for the country’s security and response capacity, which supports Romania’s credible presence within the North Atlantic Alliance.
LEGISLATION The Constitutional Court of Romania will analyse on Tuesday a complaint filed by opposition MPs regarding the first set of fiscal and budgetary measures. Senators and Deputies of the Alliance for the Unity of Romanians, SOS and the Young People’s Party resorted to this move after a no-confidence motion tabled after the Government took responsibility for the legislation was dismissed by Parliament. The three parties claim, among other things, that the government abusively rushed through Parliament a set of measures that severely affect millions of Romanians, without a real debate in Parliament.
BUDGET The Romanian minister of investments and EU projects Dragoş Pîslaru says the EUR 60 billion earmarked for Romania under the new 2028-2035Multiannual Financial Framework, as recently proposed by the European Commission, is good at first glance, but that it comes with strict conditions. Romania must be well prepared, with very clear its priorities and capable of delivering results, the minister posted on his Facebook page. Pîslaru wrote that important months are ahead because in the fall the European Parliament and the Council are to make public their official views on the new budget, and Romania must in turn present its own stand. Negotiations are expected in 2026, and as of the second half of 2027 the member states may submit their national plans for approval, so that in 2028 we could already have the financing after the approved plans, Dragoş Pîslaru explained.
POLO Romania’s men’s water polo team will play for 9th place at the World Championships in Singapore, after defeating Canada 18-12 on Sunday. Francesco Iudean was the top scorer for the Romanian team, with 5 goals. For the North Americans, the top scorer was Reuel Mark D’Souza, with 4 goals. Meanwhile, Japan beat Brazil 22-11. The match pitting Romania against Japan will take place on July 22. At the 2024 edition, Romania ranked 10th. (AMP)
