May 16-23, 2026

A look at the headline-making events this past week

Bogdan Matei, 23.05.2026, 14:00

Economy: Inflation on the rise

The governor of the National Bank of Romania, Mugur Isărescu, warns that inflation could reach 11% in the summer, before falling to 5.5% by the end of the year. The central bank has revised its forecast for 2026 upwards, amid domestic political instability and tensions in the Middle East. Mugur Isărescu says that economic balances depend on the quick formation of a stable government and on carrying on fiscal corrections, and warns that a protracted political crisis may affect investor confidence and the exchange rate of the national currency. He also argues that the leu has currently found a balance point against the euro. Mugur Isǎrescu believes that investments, especially those financed under EU programmes, remain the main driving force of economic growth, but these depend on political stability and continued foreign financing.

Politics: Government wanted

President Nicuşor Dan Thursday morning had talks on the economic and political situation of the country with MPs from the United for Romania group, the PEACE – Romania First group and unaffiliated MPs. Most of these Senators and Deputies were elected in December 2024 on the lists of the populist parties SOS Romania and POT, which they later left. The president also had successive consultations with the leaders of the major parliamentary parties on Monday, with a view to designating a candidate for the PM post. In the end, he only said that he would continue the discussions until a solid pro-Western parliamentary majority takes shape, and asked political parties to show responsibility and maturity and to reach a common denominator, with coherent formulas and viable proposals for a future government, within a reasonable timeframe.

Polls: Distrust and pessimism

38.2% of Romanians would vote for the nationalist opposition party AUR, 20.3% for the National Liberal Party (in the ruling coalition), 17.5% for the Social Democrats (recently out of government), followed by Save Romania Union with 10% and the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania with 5% (both working together with the Liberals in the outgoing Cabinet). The rest of the parties would not reach the 5% election threshold, according to a poll conducted by INSCOP Research between May 11 and 14 and made public on Monday. Another survey, released on Sunday by CURS, also indicates AUR in first place, with 32%, followed by PSD with 24%, the Liberals with 20%, USR with 10%, and UDMR with 5%. A majority of Romanians (56%) believe that early elections are needed, according to the same survey. Inflation and the cost of living are the main concerns of the public (81%), and society is dominated by a sense of distrust and pessimism as regards the direction in which Romania is going (82%), while political instability (59%) has become a central theme in public perception, the CURS survey also shows. Other problems include corruption (38%), national security (36%), fuel prices (31%), unemployment (21%). At the same time, central public institutions and political leaders continue to see high levels of distrust, without any political actor able to garner majority support. The Church and the Army remain the institutions with the highest confidence rates (79% and 76%, respectively).

Music: a place on the podium and a resignation

The vocalist Alexandra Căpitănescu, placed third at the 2026 Eurovision music contest organised in Vienna, Austria, said that the performance is due to all those who supported her, and Romanians have proved that they can be a united nation, who support their talents. Shortly after the final, the journalist Vlad Țurcanu announced he was stepping down as director general of the Teleradio corporation in the Republic of Moldova, a mostly Romanian-speaking country. The resignation came after the official jury of the public broadcaster in Chișinău offered Alexandra Căpitănescu only 3 out of 12 points. Social networks saw many citizens of both Romanian states declare their disappointment with the jury’s vote, especially since the public in the Republic of Moldova gave Romania the maximum score.

Sports: Craiova win championship

Universitatea Craiova are Romania’s new football champions, after outclassing its last rival for the title, Universitatea Cluj, in the last but one leg of the season, 5-0 on home turf. Previously, Craiova had also beaten Cluj in the Romanian Cup final, after penalty kicks. Craiova won both the championship and the Cup again after exactly 35 years. Meanwhile, the Romanian Sorana Cîrstea, recently a semi-finalist in the Rome tournament, Monday reached the best place of her career, 18 WTA. Cîrstea managed to jump 9 positions since the ranking 2 weeks ago. Until now, her best place was 21, reached in 2013. Apart from Sorana Cîrstea, Romania has 2 players in the singles Top 100: Jaqueline Cristian, at 33, and Gabriela Ruse, at 71. The same 3 Romanians are in the doubles Top 100 as well. (AMP)