June 10, 2026 UPDATE
A roundup of local and international news.
Elena Enache, 10.06.2026, 20:00
COURT – Romania’s Constitutional Court in Bucharest postponed on Wednesday, until June 18, a decision on the notification submitted by the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Sorin Grindeanu, regarding a possible constitutional legal conflict between the Government and Parliament, triggered by the adoption of the emergency ordinance concerning the European SAFE program for defense investments. The notification states that the ordinance was published in the Official Journal after the Government had been dismissed through a motion of no confidence, meaning the interim cabinet no longer had the authority to issue ordinances. Moreover, the ordinance regulates measures that were already under parliamentary debate, thereby affecting the balance between the branches of government. Previously, the ordinance had also been challenged at the Constitutional Court by the nationalist opposition parties AUR, SOS, and PACE, but the Court rejected their complaint.
PRESIDENCY– Romanians want a governing formula, and governing ultimately means responsibility, President Nicușor Dan said on Wednesday. “Romanians care little about our electoral debates (…) I advise Romanians to keep calm and maintain hope, and I assure our partners that Romania is keeping its course,” the head of state said, speaking against the backdrop of uncertainty surrounding the formation of a future government. Also on Wednesday, the designated prime minister, Eugen Tomac, said he was determined to continue his efforts and not give up the mandate he received from President Dan. Meanwhile, the exchange of criticism and accusations continues between the former main governing partners, through statements and online posts. The National Liberal Party (PNL) argues that the Social Democratic Party (PSD) is trying to control a potential Tomac led cabinet and impose its policies without actually assuming responsibility for governing. In response, the Social Democratic leader, Sorin Grindeanu, says the liberals are driven by pride, creating only blockages and looking for pretexts, while Romanians need a new government capable of making swift decisions.
VANDALISM – The homes of three Romanian families in Belfast, the British province of Northern Ireland, were vandalized, in the context of the violence in the city, but, according to the information currently available, no victims of Romanian citizenship have been reported, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bucharest has announced. The three families are currently safe, but have expressed their intention to return to the country as soon as possible. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommends that Romanians in Northern Ireland follow the instructions of the local police and avoid traveling to areas where demonstrations are taking place. Hundreds of protesters, many of them with their faces covered, attacked police and set vehicles on fire in Belfast, in a wave of anti-immigration violence, which followed a knife attack committed by a Sudanese refugee, news agencies report.
GOVERNMENT– Romania’s designated prime minister, Eugen Tomac, concluded on Wednesday, after meeting with the deputies representing national minorities other than the Hungarian minority, a round of discussions in which he presented his objectives and the main directions of his future governing program. Although political reactions so far do not indicate the formation of a majority that would support him, he stated that he is determined to continue his efforts and not give up the mandate received from President Nicușor Dan.
ECONOMY – Romania’s trade deficit has decreased by 7% this year, but the national economy shows no signs of recovery. Data published on Tuesday by the National Institute of Statistics indicates that in the first four months of the year, exports increased by 1.9%, while imports fell by 0.5%. Representatives of exporters say the figures are a positive signal, but insufficient to ensure a revival of the national economy, given that the reduction of the trade deficit was achieved through a drop in imports and, implicitly, in consumption. These developments have repercussions on economic growth, confirmed by the National Commission for Strategy and Prognosis, which has estimated economic growth of only 0.1% in 2026. The macroeconomic situation is expected to improve starting in 2027.
SANCTIONS – Brussels presented on Tuesday the proposal for the 21st package of sanctions against Russia, one of the toughest so far. In the energy sector, the European Commission proposes freezing, until next year, the cap on the price of Russian oil at its current level of around 60 dollars per barrel. It also adds another 30 vessels transporting Russian oil to the sanctions list, bringing the total to more than 660 tankers. Ships providing logistical services to this fleet are also targeted, as well as critical infrastructure such as ports, airports, and refineries. In the financial sphere, the European Union is expanding sanctions on the Russian banking system, targeting 31 Russian banks with trading restrictions. For the first time, the EU introduces the possibility of a total ban on crypto services from third countries that facilitate sanctions evasion. At the same time, the European Commission introduces a ban on entry into the Union for those who have served in the Russian army since the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine. (EE)
