May 18, 2026

A roundup of local and international news.

Newsroom, 18.05.2026, 13:55

CONSULTATIONS – Romanian President Nicuşor Dan is holding official consultations with parliamentary parties today to appoint a new prime minister. Two weeks ago, the minority government led by liberal Ilie Bolojan was dismissed by censure motion with the votes of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), until recently part of the pro-European coalition, and AUR (populist, ultranationalist). The first to consult with the head of state today were members of the PSD delegation. Social Democrat leader Sorin Grindeanu said he ruled out a government led by Ilie Bolojan and an alliance outside of pro-Western parties. AUR President George Simion said that if a parliamentary majority is not found for a new government, the solution must be to return to the electorate. In turn, the leader of the National Liberal Party (PNL), Ilie Bolojan, said, after consultations, that, if PSD is part of the future government, the PNL will be in opposition. The head of state is still having discussions with the leaders of the USR, followed by the UDMR, the National Minorities Group, SOS Romania and POT. The USR has ruled out participating in a government structure that would include the PSD. The UDMR wants to restore the coalition with the PSD, PNL, USR and the national minorities, but admites that this is very difficult.

RATING – Romania’s long and short‑term foreign and local‑currency debt ratings have been reaffirmed by Standard & Poor’s, but the outlook remains negative. Although the agency had already evaluated Romania in April under its regular schedule, this additional review was triggered by an exceptional event – the dismissal of Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan by Parliament. S&P acknowledges the fiscal consolidation measures that have helped reduce the budget deficit, yet it also points to several ongoing vulnerabilities: the still elevated budget deficit, the country’s substantial external financing needs, and the risks stemming from political instability in an already complex regional environment.

EUROVISION – Romania returned to the Eurovision Song Contest this year after a two‑year break and achieved an impressive 3rd‑place finish. Alexandra Căpitănescu’s entry, Choke me, matched the country’s best historical results, previously obtained by Luminița Anghel and Sistem in 2005 and by Paula Seling and Ovi in 2010, both in Vienna. The Republic of Moldova also delivered a strong performance, with Satoshi’s Viva, Moldova! resonating well with audiences. Meanwhile, Bulgaria — absent for several years due to financial difficulties — won the competition for the first time in its history. The winning song, Banagaranga performed by Dara, was produced by Romanian musician Cristian Tarcea, known as Monoir.

FILM – Cristian Mungiu’s new film, Fjord, premieres today in the main competition of the Cannes Film Festival. Already awarded the Palme d’Or in 2007 for 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days, the Romanian director returns with an English‑language international co‑production. According to the festival’s official description, the film follows the Gheorghiu family — a devout Romanian‑Norwegian couple raising five children — who relocate from Romania to a remote coastal village in Norway. They gradually form a friendship with a neighboring local family, but tensions arise when one of the Gheorghiu daughters arrives at school with unexplained bruises. The community begins to question whether the marks are connected to the parents’ strict approach to raising their children. Mungiu explains that he aims to explore the challenges of today’s globalized world, where people shaped by very different cultures and values must learn to communicate and coexist, often under difficult circumstances. The lead roles are played by Norwegian actress Renate Reinsve and Romanian‑American actor Sebastian Stan, both of whom have received Oscar nominations during their careers.

FOOTBALL – Universitatea Craiova (south-west) won the Romanian football champion title, after a decisive 5-0 victory, obtained on Sunday evening, on its home field, against the rival Universitatea Cluj (north-west), in the penultimate stage of the Super League play-off. With a four-point lead over Cluj, Craiova can no longer be surpassed in the standings. It is the fifth champion title in the history of the University of Craiova and the first after a 35-year break. The Oltean team also won the Romanian Cup this season, the eighth in its history, in the final played last week, also against the University of Cluj. (EE)