May 8, 2026 UPDATE
The latest news from RRI
Newsroom, 08.05.2026, 20:00
Government – The Romanian government held its first meeting on Friday after the motion of no-confidence was passed in Parliament, and the Liberal Ilie Bolojan became interim prime minister. The main item on the agenda was the release of funds to continue social and investment programs. It was the executive’s third meeting this week. The first two were held on an emergency basis before the motion, to approve key ordinances for the advancement of projects under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) and the SAFE armament program. Now, the interim government can no longer adopt any ordinances, initiate bills, or introduce new reform policies. According to the Constitution, an interim prime minister may serve in this capacity for no more than 45 days. This is the deadline by which the president should appoint a new prime minister and Parliament should vote on a new government.
Unified pay – In Romania, the draft of the new unified pay scale—a key milestone in the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) that is a prerequisite for securing significant funds—is currently under public debate. The new law is set to take effect on January 1, 2027, and the acting Minister of European Funds and Labor, Dragoş Pîslaru, says the bill needs as much political support as possible, because it cannot be enacted by an interim government via ordinance, but can only be adopted by Parliament as a bill.
Statistical data – Consumption in Romania moderated its decline in March compared to the performance of the first two months of this year, but remains negative for the eighth month in a row, according to data provided by the National Statistics Institute. Trade fell in March by 3.2% compared to the same period in 2025, but grew by 2.6% compared to February. Eurostat reports that Romania and Germany are the only European Union member states where the volume of retail trade decreased in March.
Survey – Three-quarters of the EU citizens have a negative opinion of the United States, a proportion that has risen in recent months, according to a major survey published on Friday, AFP reports. An equal number of Europeans view the EU as a “force for stability in an uncertain world,” according to this Eurobarometer survey, conducted in the bloc’s 27 member states. Compared to last fall, the proportion of Europeans with an unfavorable view of the United States (74%) has risen by 14%. By comparison, 83% of the EU citizens have a negative view of Russia, 61% of China, and 41% of India. Only 24% of Europeans now have a positive view of the United States. Furthermore, a large majority of Europeans (81%) support the idea of a common defense and security policy within the EU, the highest level in the past 20 years. On the other hand, the Eurobarometer shows that nearly three-quarters (72%) of Europeans believe their country has benefited from EU membership. The survey was conducted from mid-March to early April. Over 26,000 EU citizens were interviewed.
Romania at the Thessaloniki Book Fair – Over May 7-10, Romania is taking part in the 22nd edition of the Thessaloniki International Book Fair, one of the most important publishing events in Southeast Europe. According to a press release from the Ministry of Culture, this participation aims to promote contemporary Romanian literature, strengthen Romanian-Greek cultural dialogue, and develop editorial relations between the two cultural spheres. Another major goal of Romania’s presence at such international events is to increase the visibility of Romanian literature ahead of 2028, when Romania will be the Guest of Honor at the Frankfurt Book Fair. A significant part of the Thessaloniki program is organized under the title “Literary Bridges Bucharest – Athens”, a series of events highlighting editorial collaborations and mutual translations between Romania and Greece.
