June 28, 2025 UPDATE
A roundup of local and world news
Newsroom, 28.06.2025, 20:00
ECONOMY The new measures to reduce the budget deficit will have social costs, but they are inevitable if we are to have an efficient government that does not waste its resources, Romania’s PM Ilie Bolojan said. He called for solidarity between all parties in the governing coalition to implement quick reforms and regain citizens’ respect. The government is to announce next week a set of measures to reduce the budget deficit and improve access to EU funding. Government spending will be reduced by downsizing the boards of directors in state-owned companies and cutting down remuneration, by making pay bonuses conditional on performance, and by reconfiguring the school scholarship system, PM Ilie Bolojan announced. On the other hand, revenues will be increased by improving collection, curbing tax evasion and through a set of fiscal measures, he said. Bolojan explained that the measures to be presented next week concern the regulation of VAT rates and raising excise duties. Last but not least, the government will also focus on improving the absorption of EU funds, especially under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan.
LIBERALS The National Council of the National Liberal Party convened at the Parliament Palace on Saturday, to announce the party’s convention and to approve the draft regulations of this political party, which is part of the ruling coalition in Bucharest. The interim president of the National Liberal Party, Romania’s PM Ilie Bolojan, launched a reform project aimed at modernising the party and preparing for the difficult period ahead in government. New people with documented performances will be welcomed into all leadership structures, clear performance criteria and personal responsibility in spending the party’s money are being introduced, while the leaders of the local branches that ranked in the bottom 10 places in the local and parliamentary elections will have the option to resign for honour. “Good rules generate good behavior,” said Bolojan, who is running for party president in next month’s convention. He explained that the Liberal leaders will be given a two-year term in office, to ensure leadership positions for personalities from outside the party as well.
DIPLOMACY The Romanian foreign minister Oana Ţoiu and her French counterpart Jean-Noël Barrot during a phone call on Friday reconfirmed the bilateral strategic partnership and discussed areas of mutual interest as well as recent international developments. According to a post on the foreign ministry’s Facebook profile, the talks also covered the field of defence and the implementation of the decisions made at the NATO summit in The Hague, as well as trade, investment and cultural cooperation. Both sides also reaffirmed their commitment to common values and a stronger and more united Europe.
BRANCUSI Romania’s Chamber of Deputies this week endorsed a bill officially declaring 2026 the Constantin Brâncuşi Year. On the 150th anniversary of the birth of the greatest Romanian sculptor, public institutions will be able to organise cultural events dedicated to the artist whose works had a major impact on 20th century art, and in particular on sculpture. The Deputy Lucian Bogdănel, one of the authors of the bill, says this also creates the legal framework for local public administration units to carry out the restoration of Brâncuşi’s works in Târgu Jiu, including the Table of Silence, the Gate of Kiss and The Endless Column.
IRAN The goal of the US air strikes on Iran at the end of last week was “to destroy Iran’s nuclear enrichment capacity and stop the threat that this rogue regime obtains and uses a nuclear weapon,” Washington said in a letter sent on Friday to the United Nations Security Council. The US representative to the UN, Dorothy Shea, defended the strikes as collective self-defense measures under Article 51 of the UN Charter. The US, however, says that it remains committed to pursuing a deal with the Iranian government. On the other hand, Iran held public funerals on Saturday for about 60 senior military officers and nuclear scientists killed during the 12-day war with Israel. President Donald Trump warned that the US will certainly carry out new attacks on Iran if it resumes weapon-grade uranium enrichment. Iran’s foreign minister said his country was willing to resume nuclear talks with the United States and urged the US president to moderate the tone of his statements. The diplomat said Iran could transfer its stockpile of enriched uranium to another country if a deal is reached with the US. (AMP)
