JUNE 24, 2026
A roundup of local and world news
Newsroom, 24.06.2026, 13:55
TALKS Romania’s president, Nicusor Dan, has called on the pro-western Parliamentary parties to kick off a new round of talks with a view to signing a support agreement for a future government. On Tuesday after a new round of talks with all the parties represented in Parliament, he said the alternative of a minority government based on a suchlike agreement was taking shape. According to some political sources, the PNL leader, Ilie Bolojan, would today meet the presidents of the USR and UDMR for talks over the formation of a minority government. Another alternative would be a minority government formed by the PSD, which has voiced its readiness to take over. We recall that after the withdrawal of the PSD and the endorsement of a no-confidence vote by the Legislature on May 5th, Romania had an interim government made up of PNL-USR-UDMR led by the Liberal chief, Ilie Bolojan. In the meantime, none of the two Prime Ministers-designate managed to muster a Parliament majority. Without support, the presidential adviser, Eugen Tomac, stepped down before making public his ruling programme and ministerial team, whereas, Adrian Vestea failed to get the right number of votes in Parliament.
PNL The leadership of the National Liberal Party has kicked off an ample political reshuffling campaign by sanctioning and expelling the members who attempted to install a government headed by their colleague Adrian Vestea, who were part of the cabinet he proposed or who voted for him in Parliament. The PNL has already decided not to expand the interim mandates in several county branches and in four out of Bucharest’s six districts. We recall that on June 14th, Romania’s President, Nicusor Dan, designated the Liberal Adrian Vestea for the position of Prime Minister. The Liberal president and incumbent interim Prime Minister, Ilie Bolojan, says the party has not been previously briefed upon by the President and describes the announcement as a hostile act and an attempt of breaking the PNL.
IE Every year on June 24, Romania and its Diaspora celebrate the International Day of the Romanian Blouse, also known as ‘ie’, – the main piece of the traditional Romanian women’s costume and symbol of national identity, through a series of cultural events. The day has been marked since 2022, after it was celebrated for almost a decade upon the initiative of the Romanian communities in the Diaspora and the promoters of the Romanian cultural identity around the world. ‘The day is a good opportunity to highlight the creativity, industriousness and skills of the women who passed down this trade’ the Ministry of Culture has announced. The international recognition of this practice culminated with inscribing this blouse on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in December 2022. Made only from natural materials, flax or cotton, with hand-made embroideries specific to various Romanian regions, the blouse is still worn during religious holidays, family reunions, cultural and community events. The blouse has always been a source of inspiration for fashion designers all over the world.
PNRR The European Commission has paid Romania 2.25 billion Euros worth of grants, marking the fourth installment within the Mechanism of Recovery and Resilience, the central element of the Next Generation EU programme aimed at supporting the economic recovery, development and competitiveness of the member countries. Bucharest has thus attracted over 60% of the total PNRR allotment and has time until the end of September to file the last payment request. The PNRR has a total value of 21.5 billion Euros and Romania has so far attracted roughly 13 billion.
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