April 23, 2026 UPDATE (I)
The latest from domestic and world news
Newsroom, 23.04.2026, 19:55
Crisis. On Thursday, the Social Democratic ministers submitted their resignations from the Bucharest cabinet, led by the Liberal Ilie Bolojan. This involves six portfolios: Labour, Justice, Agriculture, Energy, Transportation, and Health, as well as the position of deputy prime minister. Now the Government is left with the support of the PNL, USR, and UDMR. Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan has announced that he will personally take over as interim head of the Ministry of Energy, while Deputy Prime Minister Cătălin Predoiu (PNL) will lead the Ministry of Justice. The vacant position of Deputy Prime Minister went to Oana Gheorghiu (Deputy Prime Minister), and the other portfolios without holders were taken over by those remaining in the cabinet. Thus, the Ministry of Labour will be led by Dragoș Pîslaru (USR), Minister of European Projects; the Ministry of Health by Cseke Attila (UDMR), Minister of Development; the Ministry of Agriculture by Tanczos Barna (UDMR), Deputy Prime Minister; and the Ministry of Transportation by Deputy Prime Minister Radu Miruță (USR), Minister of Defence. According to the law, the interim period may last 45 days. The PSD has announced that it wishes to participate in the formation of a new government, with either a political or a technocratic prime minister. President Nicuşor Dan, acting as mediator, held talks on Wednesday with the leaders of all parties in the current ruling coalition in an attempt to find a formula for the country’s stability and the continuation of a pro-European government. The consultations ended, however, without a clear solution to break the current political deadlock, as the political leaders’ positions remained unchanged: the PSD is still demanding the resignation of Ilie Bolojan. Meanwhile, the PNL, USR, and UDMR have continued to express their support for him.
Summit. Romania is represented by President Nicuşor Dan at the informal EU summit in Nicosia, Cyprus, the island nation currently holding the bloc’s rotating presidency. Heads of state and government are meeting on Thursday and Friday to discuss the current geopolitical situation, particularly the war in Ukraine and tensions in the Middle East. The Union’s future long-term budget is also on the agenda. European Council President António Costa has recently stated that the effects of high fuel prices are already visible in the lives of citizens and companies in member states. In the context of the war in Ukraine, the European Commission launched “AccelerateEU” on Wednesday, a five-pronged package to limit the effects of the new fossil fuel shock on households and industry. Thus, the proposal calls for closer coordination at the EU level, protecting consumers and industry from price shocks, accelerating electrification and the use of clean energy, developing the energy system and networks, as well as increasing public and private investment. These measures are to be discussed at the meeting in Nicosia.
Government. On Thursday, the Romanian Government adopted an emergency order providing for clearer authorisation conditions for companies bringing in foreign workers, as well as a tighter control of these companies, the reduction of bureaucracy and the digitalisation of procedures. Also, the order provides for clearer obligations for employers with respect to the salary granted to workers, accommodation and working conditions, and, for penalties in case of failure to comply.
Corruption. Six people have been detained for 24 hours by DNA prosecutors, who are investigating three criminal cases involving suspicions that, between 2022 and the present, crimes of corruption and acts analogous to corruption, as well as money laundering, were committed, in connection with the procurement of public works projects by the Bistriţa-Năsăud and Sălaj County Councils in north-western Romania. Among those detained are the public administrator and the executive director of the Bistriţa-Năsăud County Council, who were questioned following searches conducted at the County Council headquarters as well as at the residence of the institution’s president. He has resigned from his position as head of the county branch of the PSD. Raids were also conducted at the headquarters of the Sălaj County Council and at the home of its president, who has decided to suspend himself from his position as president of the county branch of the PNL for the duration of the ongoing legal proceedings.
Deficit. Romania’s budget deficit decreased from 9.3% of the GDP in 2024 to 7.9% in 2025, according to Eurostat data. In a Facebook post, Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan said this is the result of measures to cut expenses and boost revenues taken in the second half of last year, but also of the use of European funds from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. Romania still has the highest deficit level in the European Union, but also the largest correction, Ilie Bolojan added. The faster the correction is, the sooner healthy economic growth can begin, and this will be reflected in people’s living standards, the prime minister also said.
Anniversary. The National Bank of Romania is hosting the sixth edition of its “Open Days” event, marking the 146th anniversary of the institution’s founding. Guided tours provide the public with access to the most spectacular rooms in the old headquarters of the National Bank in the centre of Bucharest, information about the history of the Bank and entry to the Bank’s Museum. Visitors also have the opportunity to discover the fascinating history of the national currency in an exhibition titled ‘Money Speaks to Us: The History of the Leu from Metal to Polymer’ and admire some of the gold bars that are part of Romania’s international reserves.
Tennis. Romanian tennis player Jaqueline Cristian (WTA No. 33) defeated Ukrainian tennis player Yulia Starodubtseva (WTA No. 53) on Thursday, 3-6, 7-6, 6-4, in the second round of the WTA 1,000 tournament in Madrid, with over $8.2 million in prize money. Jaqueline thus moved on to the third round of the competition in the Spanish capital, where she will face the winner of the match between world No. 1 Arina Sabalenka and American Peyton Stearns (WTA No. 43). Meanwhile, also in Madrid, Romanian Sorana Cîrstea (WTA No. 24) will face Italian Tyra Grant (WTA No. 262) on Friday in the second round. (MI)
