November 23, 2025 UPDATE
A roundup of local and world news
Newsroom, 23.11.2025, 20:00
DEFENCE Romania’s new National Defence Strategy will be discussed by the Supreme Defence Council on Monday, before being presented to Parliament also next week. According to the Presidency, proposals from civil society have been incorporated in the document in recent days, so as to clarify certain provisions of the strategy. Other ideas, while not included in the new strategy, will contribute to the substantiation of its implementation plan. The National Defence Strategy was already presented by president Nicuşor Dan last week, when he said that it is based on the concept of solidary independence. The head of state explained that there is an increase in military tensions around the world, along with a decrease in the capacity of international bodies to maintain a rules-based order. Russia’s hostile actions are the main threat to national security, but the document also identifies other weaknesses, from demographic decline to the government’s administrative capacity. Under the new strategy, intelligence services will once again be assigned an important, yet clearly regulated role in the fight against corruption.
PARADE Over 2,900 troops and personnel from the defence ministry, interior ministry, the Romanian Intelligence Service, the Special Telecommunications Service and the National Penitentiary Administration, with 220 vehicles and 45 aircraft, will take part in the military parade organised on December 1 Romania’s National Day, in Bucharest. According to the defence ministry, 240 troops from Allied and partner states, including France, North Macedonia, the Republic of Moldova, Poland, Portugal, Spain, and the US, will also take part in the military parade. The military personnel in theaters of operations and on foreign missions will participate in ceremonies and related activities occasioned by the National Day.
BY-ELECTION The campaign for the December 7th by-election for the Bucharest City Hall continues, with 18 candidates competing. The mayor general seat has been vacant since Nicuşor Dan was elected president of Romania in May. Also on December 7, elections will be held for the Buzău County Council chief and the mayors of 12 localities. The interior ministry announced that it will ensure the smooth conduct of the campaign and the election, and added that measures have already been taken to ensure that they take place in safe conditions for candidates and citizens.
LEGISLATION The government of Romania intends to have the bill reforming the retirement of judges and prosecutors passed by the end of next week, if it receives the opinion of the Higher Council of Magistrates. Courts and prosecutors’ offices are scheduled to convene on Monday and Tuesday to express their view on the draft law. Subsequently, the Higher Council of Magistrates will issue its official opinion, which is consultative, but mandatory for the bill to pass. However, the magistrates did not announce the exact date on which the Council will issue the opinion. PM Ilie Bolojan will take responsibility for the bill before Parliament, and the procedure is expected to start on Thursday or Friday, so as to meet the deadline on which the payment of EUR 231 million under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan depends.
WEAPONS Two men were detained by police in Bistriţa (northwestern Romania) for smuggling and breaching of weapons legislation. They received from Spain via a courier company a parcel containing a silencer, a night vision device and 2 weapons, one for target shooting and one for hunting. When police officers equipped with scanners asked to inspect the parcel, one of the men tried to flee, but he was caught. The police carry on the investigations.
BELGIUM The Romanian foreign ministry warns citizens who are in, transiting or planning to travel to the Kingdom of Belgium that a nation-wide strike has been announced on 24-26 November, with significant transport disruptions expected throughout the country. No aircraft will take off from Brussels-Zaventem airport on 26 November 2025. So far no cancellations of incoming flights for this airport have been announced, but the schedule may be subject to changes. Brussels-Charleroi Airport has not announced any changes to the flight schedule so far. As of Sunday night railway transport will also be suspended for 72 hours, with the entire staff of the Belgian National Railway Company – SNCB (Societe Nationale des Chemins de fer Belges) and its subsidiaries taking part in the strike. In public transport, operators announce significant disruptions and estimate very limited traffic on the Brussels and Flemish networks between November 24 and 26. Romanian citizens can request consular assistance at the telephone numbers of the Romanian Embassy in Brussels. (AMP)
