October 24, 2025 UPDATE (2)

A roundup of local and world news

Newsroom, 24.10.2025, 20:00

ARMY – Romanian Army Day will be celebrated on Saturday, October 25, through a series of events organized in the main garrisons in the country, in military bases where Romanian military personnel are stationed, as well as in theaters of operations. According to the Defense Ministry, similar events will also take place in countries where Romania has accredited defense attachés and in state capitals 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 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 was designated Romanian 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 paintings 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, 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. 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 Holy Mass and the consecration service of the National Cathedral’s paintings, 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, totaling 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.

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. The head of state wished Munteanu success in forming a government that would gain the confidence of Parliament and meet citizens’ expectations. Alexandru Munteanu now has 15 days to form a cabinet and present his program and list of ministers before 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 passes the vote, its members will swear an oath before the president and then take office. However, if Parliament rejects the proposed candidates twice within 45 days, the president may dissolve Parliament and call for an early election. We recall that the leader of the Action and Solidarity Party (PAS), Igor Grosu, whose party won the legislative election on September 28, was re-elected president of Parliament with the support of the pro-European majority. Previously, PAS had announced it supported Munteanu’s candidacy for the position of Prime Minister.

SUMMIT – EU leaders convened in Brussels, asking the Commission to analyze, 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. The president of the Council, Antonio Costa, however, gave assurances that Ukraine will have the financial resources it needs to defend itself from Russian aggression. A new package of sanctions was adopted against Russia, targeting its energy and financial sectors, and EU leaders also reported progress on deciding on the four joint defense projects, to which Romania will also contribute.

VISIT – EU Commissioner for Energy and Housing, Dan Jorgensen, will pay a visit to Romania on Monday, to participate in the ministerial meeting of the High-Level Group on Energy Connectivity in Central and South-Eastern Europe, organized by the European Commission and the Romanian Energy Ministry, Romanian authorities have announced. During this event, talks will focus on achieving the REPowerEU objectives in the context of advancing negotiations at EU level on the gradual elimination of fossile fuel imports from Russia. Talks will also tackle ways of accelerating energy infrastructure and connectivity projects, as well as of reducing energy prices. During his visit to Romania, the EU official will meet with Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan, Energy Minister Bogdan-Gruia Ivan, the president of the National Energy Regulatory Authority George Niculescu, and the General Manager of the national gas transmission system operator Transgaz Ion Sterian. (MI & VP)