June 6, 2025
A roundup of local and world news
Newsroom, 06.06.2025, 13:55
DEFICIT – Negotiations regarding measures to be included in the future government’s program, aimed at curbing the budget deficit, continue at the Romanian Presidency today. Experts from PSD, PNL, USR and UDMR are looking at a long list of proposals, but the final decision is expected to be announced on Monday evening, at the end of negotiations between president Nicuşor Dan and the leaders of the four pro-European parties in Parliament. In order to reduce the deficit to 7.5% of GDP, the state needs to come up with some €6 million.
INVESTIGATION – The Prosecutor’s Office has expanded the investigation into the suspicious deaths at the Intensive Care Unit of the Sfântul Pantelimon Emergency Clinical Hospital in Bucharest. According to judicial sources, prosecutors have obtained evidence that confirms the involvement of two other doctors in the suspicious death of patients between March 2022 and April 2024. The two were charged on Thursday with attempted murder, taking the list of suspects to four, after another two doctors were charged in August last year. Prosecutors claim the doctors ended the lives of some patients in serious condition by reducing the dose of noradrenaline administered through an injection machine, taking advantage of the victims’ obvious vulnerability. According to the Prosecutor’s Office, the suspects could have intervened at any time to save the lives of the victims, but refused to take action.
FESTIVAL – The interim Prime Minister of Romania, Cătălin Predoiu, conveyed wishes of peace and health to the members of the Muslim community in Romania, marking the Festival of Sacrifice. The Muslim community in Romania is diverse comprising, Tatars, Arabs and other ethnicities. This celebration, the Prime Minister’s message states, is an opportunity to reflect on values such as generosity, respect for one’s peers and solidarity. The Romanian state maintains open relations with all 19 recognized religious denominations, in the spirit of cooperation for the common good, community cohesion and social peace. The Muslim community in Romania represents an integral part of society, with an active and responsible presence in cultural, economic and social life, the Romanian official pointed out.
GDP – Romania’s GDP stagnated in the first quarter of 2025, compared to the previous quarter, and compared to the same quarter of 2024. The GDP increase was 0.3%, according to provisional data from the National Statistics Institute, published on Friday. Construction, information and communications, real estate transactions contributed particularly to the GDP growth in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the first quarter of 2024. A negative contribution to GDP growth was recorded by industry.
IMF – A team of experts from the International Monetary Fund on Friday published a set of recommendations for reforming Romania’s tax system and shifting the tax burden from taxing labor to taxing consumption and, to a lesser extent, capital. The institution estimates that, if fully implemented, these proposals could generate additional revenues of at least 1.2% of GDP in 2025. With regard to labor taxation, the IMF’s main recommendation is to move from a flat tax rate of 10% on labor income to a system with two tax rates, 15% and 25%, the latter applied to those with high incomes. Regarding the taxation of capital and property income, the IMF believes that the tax on dividends distributed to individuals should be increased from 8% to 10%, which would lead to an increase in revenues. When it comes to consumption taxes, IMF experts believe that the reduced VAT rates should be increased to the standard rate, except for basic food.
PRAID – Romanian authorities are taking emergency measures to save the Praid Salt Mine, where the situation is still dramatic following the flash floods. The effort continues to divert the Corund stream, which flooded the underground salt mine, and a team of international experts visited the site yesterday, after the Romanian authorities activated the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. The authorities said the use of drones in the mining area of Praid is prohibited, except for those used by authorized institutions, and road traffic around the mine remains restricted until June 9, to prevent a large influx of tourists in the area during the Pentecost mini-holiday.
FOOTBALL – Romania will play Austria in Vienna on Saturday in the third round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, Group H. On Tuesday, in Bucharest, Romanian squad will play Cyprus. The qualifying campaign started in March, with the 0-1 loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina at home. Then Romania defeated San Marino 5-1 away from home. Bosnia leads the group standings. Austria, the favorite to win the group, will debut in the match against Romania. (VP)
