October 30, 2026
A roundup of local and world news
Newsroom, 30.10.2026, 13:55
BUDGET The government of Romania is set to pass today the first budget adjustment of the year, providing additional funding for healthcare, agriculture, pensions, salaries, and investments, as well as for local authorities. The sectors facing budget cuts include the development, education, energy, and transport. According to the finance minister Alexandru Nazare, the year-end deficit target stays at 6.2% of GDP, as projected revenues to the general aggregate budget have been revised downward by nearly EUR 900 million, and expenditures by approximately EUR 200 million. The reasons include lower-than-expected receipts from excise duties and European funds. A second budget adjustment is prepared for the coming period, following an assessment of the financial and budget situation by the finance ministry and the subsequent release of a report.
TRADE UNIONS Five nation-wide trade union confederations were invited to a working meeting with PM Luca Niculescu on Monday. The unions requested that the mostly Social Democratic government hold consultations regarding economic and social measures to be taken in the near future, ahead of preparing next year’s budget and the drafting of the upcoming public-sector wage law and amid efforts to reduce the budget deficit. Trade unions emphasise that these decisions will have a direct impact on people’s income and standard of living, and as such they call for a genuine dialogue and concrete solutions to protect employees’ rights and purchasing power.
POLL More than three-quarters of Romanians believe the country is heading in the wrong direction, 18% see the direction as the right one, and 5% offered no opinion in a poll conducted in the context of the new government taking office. Most respondents want to see lower prices and cost of living, as well as increases in wages and pensions. In terms of electoral preferences, more than one-third would vote for AUR (the nationalist opposition).
ROBOTICS This weekend, Bucharest becomes the European capital of robotics. Starting today and running for 3 days, the Polytechnic University campus is hosting the fifth edition of ROBOFEST, an event where robots compete, technology turns into a show, and young engineering enthusiasts put their ideas into practice. The event brings together over 1,500 participants from 34 countries, including students, researchers, professionals, and technology enthusiasts, along with more than 1,300 robots. The centerpiece of the event is RoboChallenge, a competition including 22 different categories, 2 of which are featured for the first time.
HANDBALL Romanian champions Dinamo Bucharest have qualified for the main group stage of the men’s EHF Champions League, following a decisive 36–26 away win against the French side Montpellier in the final round of the competition’s Group E on Thursday evening. Barcelona (Spain) finished the qualifier group in first place with 12 points, followed by Dinamo with 5 points. (AMP)
