September 21, 2026 UPDATE
A roundup of local and world news
Newsroom, 21.09.2026, 20:00
Diplomatic meetings at the UN General Assembly
President Nicușor Dan met in New York with UN Secretary-General António Guterres on the sidelines of his participation in the high-level debates of the UN General Assembly. The president’s agenda included meetings with the US Ambassador to the UN, Mike Waltz, and the President of the World Jewish Congress, Ronald Lauder, to whom he conveyed that Romania is ready to actively participate in the UN’s new working group dedicated to combating anti-Semitism. Nicușor Dan also met with former United States ambassadors to Bucharest, thanking them for their contribution to promoting Romania and their efforts toward strengthening and deepening the bilateral relationship. He noted that the Romania–US partnership is an “enduring” achievement built on “solid foundations”. On Wednesday, the head of state will deliver the national address in the plenary session of the General Assembly, where he will emphasize Romania’s efforts toward the UN reform process and the country’s contribution to ensuring peace, security, and a rules-and-norms-based international order.
PSD refuses support for Mureșan’s designated Cabinet
The leadership of the main opposition party, PSD, which holds the largest number of seats in Parliament, has decided not to support the Cabinet to be formed by Prime Minister-designate Siegfried Mureșan, a Liberal MEP. Social Democrat President Sorin Grindeanu said that his party will only vote for a government in which it is represented. In response, Siegfried Mureșan stated that by deciding not to back the government before seeing its program or engaging in dialogue, the current leadership of the Social Democrats is signaling that it does not want a solution to Romania’s political crisis. The Prime Minister-designate has 10 days to prepare the governing program and cabinet list after the decree signed by President Nicușor Dan was published in the Official Gazette on Monday. Teams from the supporting parties, PNL, USR and UDMR, have begun drafting the governing program. The designated premier’s stated intention is to maintain course regarding fiscal responsibility and reducing government waste. To obtain a vote of confidence, he will need the support of 233 MPs.
Chancellor Merz vows coalition stability following election losses
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz promised on Monday that his coalition government with the Social Democrats will continue its work, asserting that Germany’s “democratic future” depends on it following electoral losses suffered by the Chancellor’s conservative party against the far-right and the radical left, AFP reports. In the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (northeast), the anti-immigration, pro-Russian Alternative for Germany (AfD) came out in first place, while in Berlin, Die Linke outperformed the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz. These two defeats come on top of the one on September 6 in Saxony-Anhalt, an election won by the AfD.
Extremist politician Călin Georgescu detained by DIICOT
Former Romanian presidential candidate, pro-Russian extremist Călin Georgescu, was detained on Monday by prosecutors from the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) in a fraud case. According to DIICOT, he is suspected of belonging to an organized criminal group, along with two other individuals, that operated in a coordinated manner, primarily in Romania and the UK, to obtain illegal financial gains. The group reportedly received €1 million on the promise that it would help the victim secure €6 million in financing through a credit agreement with a banking institution. Călin Georgescu is also under investigation in two other cases, facing charges of Legionnaire propaganda and complicity in attempted actions against the constitutional order, as well as communicating false information.
Romania–US strategic talks on security cooperation
Interim Romanian Minister of Internal Affairs Cătălin Predoiu held a meeting on Monday with a delegation from the United States Department of Homeland Security. According to a ministry press release, talks focused on strengthening bilateral security cooperation, emphasizing combatting cross-border organized crime, border security, drug and migrant trafficking, illegal migration and responding to emerging threats. Both sides reaffirmed the strategic importance of the Romania–US relationship and highlighted joint projects, the exchange of experience and the development of modern cooperation mechanisms to strengthen prevention and response capabilities. Border security and the enhancement of cooperation mechanisms between Romania and the United States were also addressed in the release.
Romanian men’s volleyball team reaches European quarterfinals
The Romanian men’s national volleyball team will face reigning Olympic champion France on Tuesday in the quarterfinals of the European Championship. On Sunday, Romania defeated Ukraine in three sets, while France beat Portugal, also 3–0. Romania and France also met during the group stage last week in Cluj-Napoca, where the Romanian team won 3–2. For the national team, this marks their second consecutive qualification for the European Championship quarterfinals. This year’s tournament is co-hosted by Italy, Bulgaria, Finland and Romania. (VP)
