The Week in Review, September 28 – October 3

A look back at the headline-making events this past week

Ştefan Stoica, 03.10.2026, 14:00

Third PM Nomination, Third Failure

The Liberal MEP Siegfried Mureşan failed in his attempt to convince a majority of 233 Romanian MPs that his governing programme and proposed cabinet ministers deserved their vote.

This was the third nomination made by president Nicuşor Dan in the 5 months since Ilie Bolojan’s minority government was dismissed following a no-confidence vote initiated by the Social Democrats in opposition and the populist, ultra-nationalist AUR party. At Wednesday’s vote, the PSD voted against, while AUR lawmakers were absent.

While the first nominee, Eugen Tomac, withdrew his candidacy, the next two, Adrian Veştea (a Liberal disowned by his own party) and now Siegfried Mureşan failed to secure a vote of confidence.

Under his constitutional powers, the president could dissolve Parliament and call early elections, but he has stated he does not wish to do so, deeming it detrimental to the country. Dan has promised to make a new nomination on Monday, exactly 5 months after the fall of the cabinet backed by the National Liberal Party (PNL), Save Romania Union (USR) and the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania (UDMR).

Nicusor Dan has made no secret of the fact that he does not want AUR in a future government, essentially attempting to establish a “cordon sanitaire” against the self-styled “sovereigntists.” The chances for this to happen are uncertain: the PSD, the largest party in Parliament, no longer rules out cooperation with AUR, the runner-up in the latest elections, yet it fears making such an alliance official.

Controversial statements spark outrage in Bucharest

Statements by the US Ambassador to Greece, Kimberly Guilfoyle, made public by the Wall Street Journal and confirmed by the Financial Times, have stirred up a storm in the already troubled waters of Bucharest politics.

In a conversation with the Greek energy minister, Guilfoyle reportedly said, “We can do that to any country we want. We can do that here,” referring to the anticipated fall of the Bolojan cabinet in Romania.

The statement was allegedly made on March 18 at an official dinner hosted by the US Embassy in Athens. Following the dinner in Athens, Guilfoyle travelled to Bucharest and met with members of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) in late March, including the party chairman Sorin Grindeanu and the then energy minister Bogdan Ivan. She reportedly came to promote a gas corridor originating in Greece and passing through Bulgaria and Romania, the so-called Vertical Corridor, extending to Ukraine, the Financial Times reports. According to the publication, she pressured Romania to purchase US liquefied natural gas.

Ilie Bolojan says no official discussions took place and that Romania will not buy expensive US gas, as it has significant domestic resources. The Bolojan cabinet fell in May. The PSD and AUR, the parties that initiated the no-confidence vote, rejected accusations from the political right regarding a deal with the US to oust the Bolojan government.

Călin Georgescu Detained

The former presidential candidate and pro-Russian extremist Călin Georgescu was placed under pre-trial detention this week under accusations of aggravated fraud and of forming an organised crime group.

A businessman filed a complaint against him and others, claiming he had handed over more than EUR 1 million as a guarantee for a future bank loan. He never got the loan nor saw his own money back.

Georgescu is already investigated in three separate cases. In the first two, he is being tried for actions against the constitutional order and for fascist propaganda, respectively.

He was the surprise winner of the first round of the 2024 presidential election, subsequently cancelled by the Constitutional Court over irregularities in the electoral process. According to intelligence services, the success of this independent candidate, a (genuine or fake) mystic heavily promoted on TikTok, an advocate of a Ceaușescu-style self-sufficient economy, a critic of NATO and the EU, and an admirer of Putin and interwar anti-Semitic fascists, was driven by serious interference in the election process and a hybrid war waged by Russia against Romania. An official report on the cancellation of the presidential election is yet to be released.

EU Defence Projects

Romania will take part in all 5 defence projects of common interest approved this week by the EU Council. They concern defensive measures in space, the air, and at sea, including counter-drone capabilities.

According to the EU Council, defence projects of common interest enable European nations to work together on major defence initiatives that would be too large and complex for any single member state to develop alone. One of these projects is the “Eastern Flank Watch,” which will combine air and anti-drone defence with surveillance systems, military mobility, and ground capabilities.

In a related development, Washington and Bucharest marked the delivery of the first 9 amphibious assault vehicles to Romania. These are military vehicles designed to carry troops and equipment directly from naval vessels during amphibious combat operations. They provide essential mobility and adaptability, which makes them ideal for operations in the Danube Delta and along the Black Sea coast.

Romanian Football Mediocrity Confirmed

Romania’s national football team was brought to its knees in the first 2 matches of the new Nations League season by two squads that had participated in the North American World Cup. Romania lost 2–1 to Sweden and were outclassed 4–2 at home by Bosnia.

For the first time, harsh criticism was voiced regarding the tactics and decisions of the new head coach, Gheorghe Hagi, generally spared so far by the national media due to his role as a player in the national team’s achievements during the 1990s. (AMP)