October 24, 2025

A roundup of domestic and international news

Newsroom, 24.10.2025, 13:55

Army Day. Romanian Armed Forces Day will be celebrated on Saturday, October 25, with a series of events organized by the main garrisons in the country, at bases where Romanian military personnel are stationed, and in theaters of operations. According to the Ministry of National Defense, similar events will also take place in countries where Romania has accredited defense attachés and in the capitals of states where it has permanent representations. In Bucharest, at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Carol I Park, a military and religious ceremony will be held, followed by the laying of wreaths and bouquets of flowers, and then the changing of the guard. Romanian Air Force military aircraft will also fly over the monument. Other events will also be organized in the capital on Saturday, including an exhibition of military technology and equipment. October 25 became Army Day in 1944, when, during World War II, Romanian soldiers liberated the city of Carei (northwest), the last Romanian town under Hungarian and German occupation.

Consecration. The painting of the National Cathedral in Bucharest will be consecrated on Sunday by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople and Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church (the majority denomination), accompanied by a council of 65 hierarchs, 70 priests, and 12 deacons. The event, which is expected to draw over 100,000 people, marks the centenary of the Romanian Patriarchate. The year 2025 will also mark 140 years since the Romanian Orthodox Church was recognized as an autocephalous church and 100 years since it was elevated to the rank of Patriarchate. During the Holy Liturgy and the consecration service of the National Cathedral’s painting, only 2,500 official guests will have access to the interior of the building, and only organized groups of pilgrims from dioceses across the country, numbering around 8,000 people, will attend the service on the esplanade in front of the Cathedral, watching the service on screens specially installed near the access steps. The other believers present will be able to watch the ceremonies in the adjacent space, outside the National Cathedral complex, on other screens set up for viewing the service.

OECD. Romania has received its 16th Formal Opinion in the process of joining the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), namely that of the Committee for Statistics and Statistical Policies, which means that the National Statistical System is considered to be aligned with the organization’s standards in this field, announced on Friday Luca Niculescu, Secretary of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and national coordinator for Romania’s accession process. In his opinion, the OECD plays an essential role in the development of international statistical standards and works closely with the UN, the IMF, the World Bank, and Eurostat to ensure global data consistency. He mentioned that the areas covered by OECD statistics are many: economy, education, health, environment, energy, labor, innovation, governance, being, in fact, all the major themes that define life. Romania still needs nine opinions and aims to complete the committee evaluations during 2025, with a view to joining in 2026. Romania became a candidate country for OECD membership in 2022.

Ukraine. European Union leaders meeting in Brussels have asked the Commission to examine, by the next summit in December, ways of financing Ukraine over the next two years, leaving open the possibility of establishing a loan based on frozen Russian assets. The deliberately vague wording takes into account the reservations of several member states, but especially Belgium, where most of these funds are located. However, Council President Alberto Costa gave assurances that Ukraine would have the financial resources it needs to defend itself against Russian aggression. A new package of sanctions has been adopted against Russia, targeting the energy and financial sectors, and European leaders have also moved forward with discussions on the four joint defense projects, in which Romania is a party.

Moldova. The President of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu, has signed the decree appointing Alexandru Munteanu as candidate for the position of Prime Minister, following consultations with parliamentary groups, according to the Moldpres news agency. The head of state wished Munteanu success in forming a government that would gain the confidence of parliament and meet citizen’s expectations. The candidate for prime minister now has 15 days to form a government team and present his program of activity and list of ministers to Parliament. The legislature will then debate the program and list and will make a decision by vote of confidence, which has to be adopted by a majority of the elected deputies. If the government gets the vote of confidence, its members take the oath before the president and then take office. However, if Parliament rejects the proposed candidates twice within 45 days, the president may dissolve the legislature and call early elections. We recall that the leader of the Action and Solidarity Party (PAS), Igor Grosu, whose party won the legislative elections on September 28, was re-elected president of Parliament with the support of the pro-European majority. Previously, PAS had announced that it supported Munteanu’s candidacy for the position of prime minister.

Football. Romanian soccer champions FCSB were defeated by the Italian team Bologna 2-1 on Thursday evening at home in the third round of the Europa League. FCSB remains with the victory from the first round against Go Ahead Eagles from the Netherlands (1-0, away), losing the next two matches, 0-2 against Young Boys Bern from Switzerland and 1-2 against Bologna, both in Bucharest. Next, FCSB will take on FC Basel (November 6, away), Red Star (November 27, in Belgrade), Feyenoord (December 11, in Bucharest), Dinamo Zagreb (January 22, away), and Fenerbahce (January 29, in Bucharest). In the Conference League, Universitatea Craiova (south) drew 1-1 at home with the Armenian team FC Noah. After losing 2-0 in Poland to Rakow Cszestochowa and drawing 1-1 at home with FC Noah, Universitatea will continue to play in the Conference League against Rapid Vienna (November 6, away), Mainz (November 27, home), Sparta Prague (December 11, home), and AEK Athens (December 18, away). (MI)