May 28, 2025 UPDATE
A roundup of local and international news.
Newsroom, 28.05.2025, 20:04
Consultations. Informal talks were held on Wednesday between Romania’s new president Nicuşor Dan and the parliamentary parties. The president said the talks are aimed at finding ways to balance the state budget and the formation of the new government. He reiterated that he wished the four pro-European parties to enter government in order to secure a stable majority in Parliament. Nicuşor Dan had talks with the leaders of the Social Democratic Party, the National Liberal Party, the Save Romania Union, the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania, the Party of Young People, the representatives of ethnic minorities and unaffiliated MPs. The Social Democrats’ interim leader, Sorin Grindeanu, said talks focused on the country’s economic situation and did not cover names and positions. The National Liberal Party maintained the nomination of Ilie Bolojan as prime minister. After the meeting, the latter said his party is in favour of cutting budget spending. The interim president of the Save Romania Union, Dominic Fritz, said his party does not for the time being support the introduction of new taxes and fees. After consultations with president Nicuşor Dan, the leader of the ethnic Hungarians, Kelemen Hunor, said the issue of the budget deficit must be treated seriously and that balanced solutions must be found in order to show society that any sacrifice for the sake of cutting the budget deficit will bring about prosperity in the medium and long term. From the opposition, the representatives of the Alliance for the Union of Romanians and of SOS Romania said they are not taking part in the talks.
Floods. The storms and torrential rains of the last few days have created problems in several areas of Romania: courtyards were flooded, trees fell, a railway line was affected, a field and a bridge collapsed, and some villages remained isolated. In some localities in Botoşani County (northeast) the population could be evacuated. And the Praid Salt Mine (center), one of the most important tourist attractions in Romania, is temporarily closed due to massive water infiltration. This situation led to the immediate cessation of all activities, both production and tourism. The Praid Salt Mine is visited annually by hundreds of thousands of tourists. In the halls located 120 meters in the underground, playgrounds, recreation areas, an ecumenical chapel and a cinema hall have been set up. Due to its beneficial microclimate, it is recommended for both healthy and sick people, for the regeneration of the body. The Environment Minister, Mircea Fechet, has stated that the situation is worrying and that it is possible that May will be among the rainiest periods in history.
Diaspora. The consolidation of the links between Romania and its diaspora by means of economic development and collaboration between communities is one of goals of the Festival of Romanians Abroad, which is taking place in Bucharest from Wednesday until Sunday. ROUNIT Association, which organises the event, aims to connect business people in Romania and those wishing to return to their home country from abroad. Talks are also aimed at strategies to attract Romanian capital from abroad and the certification of the competencies acquired by Romanians who have lived abroad and who are returning to Romania.
Bookfest. The 18th edition of the Bookfest International Book Fair, organised by the Romanian Publishers Association, got under way in Bucharest on Wednesday. 155 exhibitors and 150 publishing houses from Romania and Portugal – this year’s guest of honour – await reading enthusiasts at approximately 450 events until Sunday. The five days of the book fair do not only bring events, but also promotions, discounts, attractive personalized offers for a series of titles and many surprises. The Casa Radio Publishing House, of the Romanian Radio Broadcasting Corporation, is also present at Bookfest, participating with over 150 titles, especially audiobooks and music albums.
Tennis. The Romanian-Belgian pair Irina Begu and Yanina Wickmayer on Wednesday reached the second round at Roland Garros in the women’s double. They defeated the Australian-British pair Kimberly Birrell and Harriet Dart in three sets, 7-6, 3-6, 6-2. Two other Romanian players on the main draw, Monica Niculescu, who plays together with Poland’s Katarzyna Piter, and Jaqueline Cristian, who plays together with Russia’s Alexandra Panova.
