April 28, 2026 UPDATE 1
The latest news from RRI
Newsroom, 28.04.2026, 20:00
Motion – The Social Democratic Party (PSD), a former member of the pro-European government coalition in Bucharest, the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) and PEACE – Romania First, the populist, ultra-nationalist opposition, on Tuesday submitted a motion of no confidence against the minority government led by the Liberal Ilie Bolojan. The document was signed by 253 members of parliament For the motion to pass and the government to be dismissed, a majority of 233 votes is required, out of a total of 463 MPs. Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan warned that the government’s collapse now would mean economic chaos and the risk of losing billions of Euros from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), because the PSD and AUR have no plan for what’s coming next and are raising expectations among Romanians that they cannot fulfill. The motion is entitled “STOP the ‘Bolojan Plan’ to destroy the economy, impoverish the population, and fraudulently sell off state assets” and will be read on Wednesday in the joint plenary session of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, and on May 5 it will be debated and voted on.
Summit – Romania’s President Nicușor Dan stated on Tuesday in Dubrovnik, Croatia, during the Three Seas Initiative (I3M) Summit, that the countries in the region must have the will to function as a single market and to have regional champions. He called for integration into the global market and for fostering transatlantic relations. Founded in 2015, the Three Seas Initiative (I3M) brings together 13 EU member states, including Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Greece, Romania, and Poland, as well as others located between the Adriatic, Baltic, and Black Seas. The platform aims to strengthen regional cooperation in three key areas: energy, transport, and digital infrastructure, with the goal of developing north-south connectivity and bolstering the economic and strategic resilience of the region, which has a population of approximately 120 million. On the sidelines of the Summit, Romania’s representatives signed two Memoranda of Understanding regarding the connection of the ports of Constanța (southeast) and Rijeka (Croatia), as well as Romania’s accession to the Three Seas Initiative Infrastructure Fund. The Memorandum of Understanding between the two ports contributes to strengthening regional connectivity and reinforcing the role of the Port of Constanța as a strategic hub on the Black Sea, facilitating its integration into European transport corridors and access to international markets. In the ten years since the Initiative was launched, Romania has hosted the I3M twice: in 2018 and 2023. The summit in Dubrovnik takes place on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Immunity – On Tuesday, the European Parliament voted to lift the immunity of MEP Diana Iovanovici Şoşoacă for all the alleged crimes for which she is under investigation in Romania, with one exception: the one related to a speech she delivered in the plenary session of the European Parliament in which she praised the Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceauşescu. The request was made by the General Prosecutor’s Office in Bucharest. Diana Şoşoacă is under investigation for several offenses, including Legionary propaganda, promoting the cult of individuals convicted of war crimes, and Holocaust denial. The European Parliament’s Committee on Legal Affairs issued a favorable opinion last week on the request to lift her immunity.
SAFE – On Tuesday, the joint defense committees of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate in Bucharest issued a favorable report on a request from the Defense Ministry regarding the “Security Action for Europe” (SAFE) program. The request seeks prior approval to initiate contract award procedures for 15 projects proposed for funding. Representatives of the Ministry of National Defense stated that the average share of local production will be approximately 50% for programs carried out through SAFE. Defense Minister Radu Miruţă specified that there is a mandatory localization threshold for these projects, which may increase depending on the ability of Romanian companies to adapt more quickly to the construction requirements of these programs. Romania has the second-largest allocation of funds through the European funding program, specifically 16.6 billion Euros. The funds are earmarked for the construction of segments of the A7 Moldavia Motorway and the A8 Unirii Motorway (northeast), as well as for military procurement, procurement for the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and other institutions in the national security and safety sector. (LS)
