June 15, 2026
A roundup of local and international news.
Newsroom, 15.06.2026, 13:55
LIBERALS – In Romania, the National Liberal Party leadership is meeting today in an extended session to discuss the situation created after the head of state, Nicușor Dan, nominated the Liberal first vice president Adrian Veștea for the position of prime minister. President Dan’s decision, which had not been communicated to the Liberals beforehand, has caused tensions within the party. The interim prime minister and PNL leader, Ilie Bolojan, whose government was dismissed by parliament on May 5 through a no confidence vote, described the president’s gesture as a hostile move meant to provoke a split within the party. Veștea’s nomination came after presidential adviser Eugen Tomac failed to secure a majority for a technocratic cabinet.
EU ACCESSION – The Republic of Moldova and Ukraine are, as of today, one important step closer to European integration, after all EU member states voted last week to begin the first intergovernmental accession conferences. The key argument, that made this start to actual accession negotiations possible, was that both the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine managed to implement enough reforms, even though one has been facing Russian aggression on its territory for more than four years, while the other is suffering the effects of the war in the neighboring country and is defending itself, also against Russia, but in a different kind of conflict – a hybrid war marked by repeated attempts to alter the course desired by most Moldovan citizens. Chișinău and Kyiv officially requested to join the EU shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.
RULING – The Bucharest Military Tribunal decided on Monday to acquit the former heads of the Gendarmerie involved in the violent repression of protesters at the anti government demonstration of August 2018. The three had been tried for abuse of office. Other officers and non commissioned officers from the Bucharest Gendarmerie who took part in the repression of the protesters were also acquitted or received suspended sentences. The decision is not final and can be appealed. In 2023, the former Gendarmerie chiefs were sent to trial by prosecutors from the Military Section of the General Prosecutor’s Office in the case concerning the August 10, 2018 protest, with more than 300 injured persons joining the case as civil parties. According to the investigation, Colonel Laurențiu Cazan, as commander of the operation, along with Gheorghe Cucoș and Ionuț Sindile, as coordinators, carried out their duties improperly and ordered the gendarmes under their command to intervene by force to disperse the entire crowd of protesters gathered near the government building — around 30,000 people — an intervention they later also directed. Prosecutors argued that the use of force by the gendarmes against the entire mass of protesters was unlawful and unjustified, and that the use of equipment such as rubber batons, protective shields, tear gas sprays, acoustic and tear gas grenades, large capacity sprayers, and cartridges could be considered an “inhuman” and “degrading” treatment.
AGREEMENT – The United States and Iran have announced that they have reached an agreement to halt the military conflict, including in Lebanon, and to unblock the Strait of Hormuz. The memorandum of understanding is expected to be signed on Friday, most likely in Geneva. The agreement, welcomed by international leaders, has led to a roughly 4% drop in oil prices, bringing quotations to below 85 dollars per barrel. The deal extends the ceasefire for 60 days, during which negotiations would begin for a comprehensive agreement concerning Iran’s nuclear program.
TENNIS – Former world No. 1 Simona Halep officially retired from professional tennis during a gala event held at BT Arena in Cluj Napoca, in northwestern Romania. Marked by moments of deep emotional intensity, the event brought together great legends of Romanian sport, including Nadia Comăneci, Gheorghe Hagi, Ilie Năstase and Virginia Ruzici, as well as international tennis figures such as her former coaches Darren Cahill and Daniel Dobre, and top players Elina Svitolina and Gaël Monfils. (EE)
