October 2026 UPDATE
A roundup of local and world news
Newsroom, 12.10.2026, 20:00
GOVERNMENT Prime minister-designate Luca Niculescu resumed negotiations on a new cabinet on Monday, so as to submit the government lineup and the governing programme to Parliament on Thursday. Speaking for Radio România, he said the country urgently needs a government with full powers, not merely to fill positions, but to address issues affecting the daily lives of Romanians. Niculescu called for more willingness among political parties to engage in dialogue when making decisions. The PM-designate met with USR leader Dominic Fritz, who reaffirmed that his party would not vote for a government including ministers from the PSD, the party they hold responsible for the current political crisis. The Liberals hold a similar position, but the party indicated it could support the government’s endorsement to ensure the country functions properly. Meanwhile, UDMR once again advocated for resuming cooperation between the Social Democrats and the Liberals as a solution to secure a parliamentary majority. For their part, the Social Democrats say they want to shift the direction of the Romanian economy and establish a committed majority in Parliament. The PSD leader Sorin Grindeanu said the party is considering early elections if parties fail to reach an agreement on a new government. Following a meeting with the MPs representing national minorities, Luca Niculescu said the group would join an agreement between political parties, should the need arise.
ECONOMY Romania’s trade deficit for January 1 – August 31 stood at EUR 22 billion, up over EUR 300 million compared to the corresponding period last year, according to data released on Monday by the National Statistics Institute. Romanian exports totaled nearly EUR 66 billion, up 4%, while imports rose by 3.4% to reach EUR 88 billion.
FOREIGN AFFAIRS Romania’s interim foreign minister Oana Țoiu attends the Warsaw Security Forum on October 12–13. According to a statement from the foreign ministry, Oana Țoiu is a keynote speaker in a panel focusing on the future of Europe, where she will argue that EU enlargement is not merely a bureaucratic process but a geostrategic investment aimed at strengthening democracy and prosperity in the region. Regarding Black Sea security, the foreign ministry says freedom of navigation is a goal Romania firmly defends in all diplomatic forums. Oana Țoiu will also attend the “European Defence TownHall,” where talks will focus on the future of Europe’s defence architecture. On Monday, the Romanian official attended the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg, where the agenda included Black Sea security, hybrid threats, and the conflict in the Middle East.
DEMOGRAPHY Romania’s population continues to decline at a worrying rate, according to data released on Monday by the National Statistics Institute. Natural population growth remained negative in August, with the number of deaths almost 1.4 times higher than the number of births. More than 13,000 children were born during the month, while the number of deaths exceeded 18,000. More than 40% of deaths were recorded among people aged over 80. The statistics also show that approximately 15,000 marriages took place in Romania in August.
NOBEL The US professors Robert Hall and Michael Woodford have been awarded the 2026 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences. They were recognised for their studies on the ‘microeconomic foundations of macroeconomic stability’, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in Stockholm announced on Monday. Last year, the prize was shared by 3 researchers for their work on sustained growth in national economies. The Nobel prizes in medicine, physics, chemistry, literature and peace were announced last week. Unlike the other Nobel prizes, the award in economic sciences was not provided for in the will of Swedish chemist and philanthropist Alfred Nobel (1833–1896), best known for inventing dynamite. The Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences was established in 1968 by Sweden’s central bank and was first awarded in 1969.
NATURAL GAS Romania has sufficient natural gas reserves to meet winter consumption demand, although global prices are much higher than last year, the state secretary with the energy ministry Cristian Bușoi announced. Speaking at an industry forum, he said Romania’s gas storage levels exceed the European average and the 80% target; supplies are secured for both household consumers and district heating systems in terms of both price and volume. However, he pointed out that there are no budget resources available for the government to provide support to major electricity and gas consumers. (AMP)
