THE WEEK IN REVIEW 26.05-01.06.2025

Click here for the latest headline-grabbing events in Romania in the past week

Ştefan Stoica, 31.05.2025, 14:00

 A new president

Nicuşor Dan became, on Monday, May 26, the fifth president of post-communist Romania, after the swearing-in ceremony in Parliament and a military ceremony at Cotroceni Palace, the seat of the presidential administration. He is the second mayor of Bucharest to become head of state, but the first politically independent person to achieve this. In his speech in Parliament, Dan declared that the Romanian state needed a fundamental change and promised to be a president open to the voice of society and a partner with it. He drew attention to the fact that Romania has a problem, that of the deficit, given that the state spends too much compared to what it can afford and spoke about the need to reduce tax evasion, bureaucracy and grand corruption.

First consultations

Nicuşor Dan has had a busy first week, which included meetings with ministers, informal consultations with parliamentary parties and discussions with representatives of the business community. The marathon consultations with the parties focused on the economic and political situation. Under the auspices of the presidency, a technical working group was created, consisting of experts from the parties that, in Nicuşor Dan’s vision, are going to form a government majority, made up of the PSD, PNL, USR, UDMR, and presidential advisors. The mission of this group, which has already had its first meeting, is to identify responsible solutions to the major budgetary imbalance. They aim to reduce state spending, greatly improve tax collection and, if a budget recovery is not achieved, to eventually increase existing taxes. At the meeting with the president, businessmen disapproved of this last possible scenario, warning of the risk of an economic slowdown. After the first four months, the deficit decreased slightly to 2.95% of the Gross Domestic Product, compared to 3.25% in the same period of last year. Politically, PNL, USR and UDMR are determined to participate in the formation of the future government and would like the liberal leader Ilie Bolojan as prime minister, as would the head of state. In contrast, PSD says that a majority of the party is leaning towards the constructive opposition option, but that they will make a decision depending on the government program that will take shape.

Controversial decision of the Constitutional Court of Romania

A major institutional actor of the last half of the year, in light of the unprecedented decision to cancel last year’s presidential election, the Constitutional Court remains in the spotlight. The Court judges decided on Thursday that declarations of assets and interests would no longer be published on the websites of the National Integrity Agency (ANI) or other public institutions, because they would violate the right to privacy and that they should not include the income and assets of spouses and children, because they are made on their own responsibility and can only concern the persons who submit them. The Constitutional Court reached this decision following a complaint made six years ago by an advisor to the Ombudsman, who had received a fine from the ANI for not including her husband’s income in the declaration of assets, which she said was confidential. The Court’s decision to no longer oblige dignitaries to make their asset declarations public is in contradiction with an essential principle of democracy, namely transparency in exercising public functions, President Nicuşor Dan reacted. He underlined that it was up to Parliament to correct any legislative deficiencies. The CCR decision nullifies the transparency of those who hold public functions, may affect the process of accession to the OECD, the progress recorded by Romania in the European Union’s report on the rule of law or in those of the Group of States against Corruption – the Integrity Agency also said.

Relationships with key external partners

We need to strengthen our transatlantic relations, the strategic partnership with the United States of America, participation in NATO and the dialogue between the European Union and the Alliance, the new president declared in his inauguration speech. And the external messages he has received are encouraging. The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, congratulated Nicuşor Dan on his inauguration and said that together we must show everyone that a strong Europe, with a strong Romania at its center, offers solutions. A good friend of Romania, King Charles III, expressed, in turn, his belief that the relationship between Great Britain and Romania will prosper during President Dan’s term. Last but not least, president Dan had a phone conversation with his American counterpart, Donald Trump, in which he reaffirmed his firm commitment to deepening the Strategic Partnership. On the other hand, the United States Embassy welcomed, on Wednesday, the signing by the Romanian Ministry of Economy of two Letters of Request to explore ways in which the United States and Romania can strengthen defense production capabilities. ‘The successful implementation of these types of co-production projects develops capabilities throughout the region and strengthens our bilateral strategic partnership,’ said the US Chargé d’Affaires. The letters of request include the potential co-production of NATO-standard artillery ammunition and ammunition for the American Abrams tanks.

Excellence in theatre, awarded by UNITER

The award for Best Performance at the XXXIII edition of the UNITER Awards Gala was granted to the play ‘Richard III’ by William Shakespeare, directed by István Albu, produced by the North Theatre of Satu Mare. Istvan Albu also won the ‘Lucian Pintilie’ Award for Best Direction. Designated the Best Actor in a Leading Role was Vlad Udrescu for the title role in the play ‘Hamlet’ by Shakespeare, artistic direction and stage adaptation by Declan Donnellan, produced by the ‘Marin Sorescu’ National Theatre in Craiova. Oana Mogoş received the Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role, thanks to the role of Valeria in the play ‘Queen of the Night’, text and direction by Leta Popescu, produced by the ‘Fani Tardini’ Dramatic Theatre in Galaţi. (LS)