September 16, 2026
A roundup of domestic and international news
Newsroom, 16.09.2026, 13:55
Consultations. Romanian President Nicuşor Dan has called for consultations on Thursday with representatives of the parliamentary political parties and groups to nominate a candidate for the office of prime minister. The head of state has postponed this nomination because the parliamentary parties have been unable to reach an agreement that would secure the necessary majority in Parliament. The PSD (left-wing), currently in the opposition, says it is ready to join the government. The PNL and USR, both center-right parties that, together with the UDMR, form the interim government, do not wish to be part of an executive branch alongside the Social Democrats. The PSD, PNL, and USR do not rule out the possibility of early elections, an idea that the AUR—a populist, nationalist opposition party—has supported since the beginning of the political crisis. We recall that, in early May, Parliament passed a motion of no confidence initiated by the PSD and AUR against the Cabinet led by Liberal Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan, who continues to serve in an interim capacity.
IAEA. Romanian Acting Foreign Minister Oana Ţoiu is participating in the 70th session of the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna through Friday. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bucharest, in her speech during the plenary session, Ţoiu will reiterate Romania’s firm support for promoting the peaceful, safe, and responsible use of nuclear energy, in accordance with international standards and requirements. The Romanian official’s agenda includes, among other things, a discussion with IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi on nuclear nonproliferation issues. The Romanian delegation includes representatives from the Ministry of Energy and institutions with responsibilities in the field of nuclear energy, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs notes.
Protest. The protest by farmers and livestock breeders in the capital, which took place on Tuesday, escalated into violent clashes with law enforcement. Law enforcement used tear gas, while some of the participants tore down the protective fences. “An event like the one that took place at the protest in Victoriei Square is not organized by shepherds who came to protest peacefully, but by hooligans,” said Bucharest Prefect Andrei Nistor. A total of 47 people who participated in the protest and committed antisocial acts were taken to police stations, according to the Bucharest Gendarmerie. Interior Minister Cătălin Predoiu condemned the violence and attacks on law enforcement. He emphasized that the ministry he leads respects the right to protest and freedom of expression, as long as they are exercised within the limits of the law.
Debt. Romania’s total external debt increased by more than 6.4 billion euros in the first seven months of the year, reaching nearly 235 billion euros, according to data from the National Bank of Romania (BNR). During the same period, the current account deficit exceeded 16 billion euros, compared to over 15.7 billion euros during the same period in 2025. Furthermore, in the first seven months of this year, foreign direct investment fell to approximately 1.13 billion euros, down from nearly 5 billion euros in the same period last year, the BNR reports.
State of the Union Address. Europe is dealing with an “openly hostile world”, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in her State of the Union address. She noted that, at the same time, a war of aggression is being waged on the continent, global competition is marked by a struggle for industrial capacity, and an information campaign is seeking to undermine trust in the European Union. Von der Leyen also said that the EU is currently the only entity that can ensure the sovereignty of Europeans and that the continent’s fate must remain in their hands. Trade relations with China, as well as the challenges posed by climate change and efforts to address them, were two other major themes of Ursula von der Leyen’s speech.
Firefighters. Romanian firefighters have completed their mission in Greece, where they assisted Greek authorities in fighting wildfires. Since early August, 120 firefighters, working in three shifts, have been stationed near Athens alongside Greek firefighters, where they responded to assist communities threatened by wildfires. From August 1 to September 15, the Department for Emergency Situations within the Ministry of Internal Affairs participated in Greece as part of the pre-positioning program organized by the Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations. The EU-funded assistance program was designed to support communities across Europe that had been severely affected by the devastating wildfires of previous years.
Volleyball. Romania’s men’s national volleyball team plays today in Cluj-Napoca (northwest) against France in its final group-stage match at the European Championship, hosted from September 9–26 by Italy, Bulgaria, Finland, and Romania. In its first four matches in Group D, Romania lost to Latvia 3-1 in sets and to Germany 3-2, but defeated Switzerland 3-1 and Turkey 3-1. In the current standings, France is in first place, followed by Germany and Romania. The top four teams advance to the round of 16. (MI)
