October 10, 2026 UPDATE
A roundup of domestic and international news
Newsroom, 10.10.2026, 19:30
Government. Luca Niculescu, the fourth prime minister-designate tasked with forming a new government in Bucharest, intends to present the government’s programme and the list of ministers to Parliament next Thursday. He has expressed optimism regarding negotiations with the parliamentary parties with a view to securing a majority considered to be pro-European. However, the leaders of the PSD and the PNL, on whom this majority depends, continue to exchange barbs over the current deadlock. On Friday, Social Democratic leader Sorin Grindeanu stated that the PSD supports the re-establishment of a stable majority alongside the PNL and the UDMR and is prepared to assume the responsibility of governing. The current interim Prime Minister and Liberal Party leader, Ilie Bolojan, replied that Romania needs a functioning government, but that the PNL’s refusal to govern with the PSD is not a matter of pride or political manoeuvring, but rather stems from the lesson the Liberals have learnt over the past year. It should be recalled that the PNL-USR-UDMR government led by Ilie Bolojan was dismissed on 5 May following a motion of no confidence passed by the PSD, its former coalition partner, and the AUR (the nationalist opposition).
Danube. The National Administration “Romanian Waters” announced on Saturday that it had ordered a temporary increase of 20 cubic metres per second, between 10 and 18 October, in the discharge from the Iezerul-Mostiştea reservoir, which is hydrologically connected to the Danube. This measure – alongside others involving the controlled release of water from other reservoirs – is of an exceptional nature and aims to ensure the hydrological conditions necessary for the safe operation of the Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant (south-east), on the Danube. Due to the severe drought, the river level has fallen to just 3 centimetres below the safety limit required for the operation of the two nuclear reactors, both of which have been shut down since 28 July and 13 August respectively. Under normal hydrological conditions, the Cernavodă Power Plant supplies 20 per cent of Romania’s domestic electricity consumption. Currently, the Danube’s flow rate at the point where it enters the country is below 1,200 cubic metres per second.
Shipyard. On Friday, the interim government in Bucharest welcomed the approval of the acquisition of the Mangalia Shipyard on the Black Sea by the German group Rheinmetall and considers this to be an important step towards reviving operations at one of Romania’s most important industrial sites. The Mangalia Shipyard was sold for 138 million euros, excluding VAT. According to the government, the approval of the acquisition is the result of negotiations conducted under the SAFE Programme, in which Romania made the implementation of military procurements from Rheinmetall conditional upon the company committing to investments in the Romanian defence industry, including the revitalisation of the Mangalia Shipyard. AUR, in the parliamentary opposition, accuses the government, however, of mismanaging the shipyard’s situation, allowing one of Romania’s most important strategic industrial assets to go into liquidation and be sold below its initial price, without any concrete guarantees for its future.
Events. This weekend, Romania’s capital is hosting a string of cultural and artistic events, ranging from immersive light displays on heritage buildings to theatre and film festivals and contemporary art exhibitions. The 10th anniversary edition of the Spotlight International Art Festival is transforming Calea Victoriei – an iconic thoroughfare in the heart of Bucharest – into a huge interactive exhibition space with free admission. Sixteen artists from seven countries are presenting 19 projects: 13 installations and six video-mapping shows. Meanwhile, the International Animation Film Festival is the perfect opportunity to watch the latest international productions in the genre. And the “Ion Creangă” Theatre is hosting the International Children’s Theatre Festival, featuring plays staged by theatres from Italy, Spain, Lithuania and Romania.
Exports. The Romanian and Libyan authorities have signed six sanitary and veterinary certificates that will allow the export of live animals and products of animal origin to Libya – sheep, goats, cattle, poultry and fish. In June, the European Commission blocked exports from Romania and three other EU Member States due to outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease. The decision caused heavy losses for Romanian sheep farmers, who staged protests. In September, however, the European Commission approved an action plan proposed by the National Veterinary Authority, which paved the way for direct negotiations with non-EU countries to resume exports, without lifting the EU-wide restrictions. (MI)
