June 17, 2026 UPDATE

The latest news from RRI

Newsroom, 17.06.2026, 20:00

Governing program – In Romania, the Prime Minister designate, the liberal Adrian Veştea, is expected to submit his government program and cabinet list to parliament. Veştea stated on a private TV station that the cabinet would include people proposed by the PSD and its supporters from the PNL, as well as personalities who were on the list previously drawn up by the former Prime Minister designate, Eugen Tomac. Veştea risks being excluded from the PNL after ignoring the request of this party’s leadership to resign. Meanwhile, the PNL has decided to convene the Extraordinary National Council for Friday and proposes organizing the Extraordinary Congress on Sunday, at the request of the party’s president, Ilie Bolojan. Adrian Veştea does not enjoy the support of the USR and UDMR either. In fact, on Wednesday, UDMR decided that it would not participate in the vote in the plenary session of Parliament for a possible inauguration of the Veştea Government. To be validated, his cabinet must collect 233 favorable votes. According to parliamentary arithmetic, votes from the populist and ultranationalist groups are also needed. AUR, the main exponent of this trend, declared that it would not vote for the Veştea government. The minority PNL – USR – UDMR cabinet, led by liberal leader Ilie Bolojan, was dismissed on May 5 by a motion of no confidence initiated by the PSD, until recently part of the governing coalition, and AUR. President Nicusor Dan appointed Adrian Veştea to form the government without consulting the PNL, a gesture considered by the party leadership as a hostile act.

Protests – Several thousand Romanian trade unionists in education protested on Wednesday in front of the Government and Parliament buildings, dissatisfied with the provisions of the new salary bill. According to the trade unionists, this represents ‘a blatant violation of the legislation in force, a defiance of the commitments assumed towards trade union organizations and indisputable proof that the Government, the President of Romania and the political parties are burying education, instead of treating it as the foundation on which the future of a nation is built’. The trade union federations demand the urgent withdrawal of the bill from public debate and the start of real and serious negotiations. Customs employees also went on a two-hour warning strike on Wednesday, dissatisfied with working conditions and the failure to respect professional and salary rights. Customs employees are also contesting provisions regarding this professional category included in the new salary bill.

Strasbourg – The European Parliament will vote on Thursday in Strasbourg on a resolution condemning Russia’s provocative actions and drone incursions in Romania, the Baltic States and Finland, states with which MEPs reaffirm their full solidarity. The text of the resolution, already made public, condemns the incident of May 29, when a Russian drone crashed into a block of flats in Galati (eastern Romania), causing an explosion and injuring two people. According to the document, the repeated drone incursions and violations of the airspace of EU member states are part of a broader strategy of intimidation by Moscow against the Union and its allies. The European Parliament calls for measures at EU level, including financial support to strengthen the protection of communities and critical infrastructure in the border regions on the Union’s eastern flank. MEPs also call for the acceleration of the construction of a European Defense Union, the full implementation of the EU strategy for the Black Sea and the establishment of a European centre of excellence for drone warfare.

Agreement – The Romanian foreign ministry welcomes the diplomatic and mediation efforts that led to the agreement of the memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran. According to a statement from the ministry, the immediate resumption of toll-free maritime and commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is vital for regional stability and the global economy, including for the gradual stabilization of energy prices and timely access to fertilizers needed in agriculture. Romania has subscribed, along with 25 other states, to the leaders’ declaration adopted by France, Great Britain, Germany and Italy, regarding the peace agreement reached by the United States and Iran, as well as the joint mechanisms intended to ensure safe passage and coordinate diplomatic efforts, the statement also reads. US President Donald Trump announced on Monday that the US-Iran agreement was signed and the Strait of Hormuz would be fully open.

NATO – The United States is not withdrawing from NATO by announcing adjustments to its presence in Europe, while other member states have increased their contributions to the Alliance’s crisis forces to fill many of the gaps left by the reduction in American commitments, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said on Wednesday, AFP and Reuters reported. ‘The United States has made it clear that it remains committed to NATO’ he said. Last month, Washington informed the allies that it had decided to reduce the package of American military capabilities made available to NATO in the event of a crisis.

Investigation – Anti-mafia prosecutors in Bucharest on Wednesday ordered the expansion of the investigation of the British-American Andrew Tate for human trafficking and money laundering. These new charges are in addition to other crimes for which the influencer was previously prosecuted – setting up an organized criminal group, rape, illegal access to a computer system, assault or other violence, and incitement to hatred or discrimination. Both Andrew Tate and his brother, Tristan Tate, were indicted by the Directorate for Investigation Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) in 2023, but in 2024 the courts cancelled the prosecutors’ indictment, and the case returned to DIICOT for a new criminal investigation. Andrew Tate is a well-known influencer with millions of followers on the X network, where he promotes men’s rights. A former professional kick boxer born in the US, he has been based in Romania for several years. (LS)