June 8, 2025
A roundup of domestic and international news
Newsroom, 08.06.2025, 14:00
Visit. Romanian President Nicuşor Dan will pay an official visit to Chişinău on Tuesday, where he will be received by the President of Moldova, Maia Sandu. The president’s visit agenda also includes meetings with the Speaker of the Parliament in Chişinău, Igor Grosu, and Prime Minister Dorin Recean. In the last part of the visit, President Dan will participate in the event “The Common European Future of Romania and the Republic of Moldova”, alongside his Moldovan counterpart.
Negotiations. Maintaining the single tax rate, cutting non-essential public spending, speeding up digitalization and maximizing the absorption of European funds are some of the recommendations made by business organizations in a joint appeal to the parliamentary party leaders. The appeal comes amid debates on economic recovery and budget deficit correction measures. Business people in Romania are worried that the debate would focus overwhelmingly on tax hikes, in the absence of any committed public vision for cutting excessive government spending or modernizing the state apparatus. Without a real commitment to domestic reform, any fiscal measures only risk burdening the economic engine needed for recovery, a statement signed by 11 business associations and organizations reads. According to the signatories, honest businesses should not have to pay to cover the deficit induced by irresponsible management of public finances, and efficient and responsible economic activity and high-performing and well-paid work should not be discouraged by tax mechanisms that discourage growth. The tax package discussed in recent days in Bucharest in a technical working group will be negotiated on Monday by President Nicușor Dan and representatives of the pro-European parties.
Pentecost. Orthodox Christians (the majority in Romania) and Catholics celebrate the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles of Jesus Christ on Sunday, a feast popularly called Pentecost or Whitsunday. From a religious point of view, Pentecost represents the founding of the Christian Church 50 days after the Resurrection of the Lord. According to tradition, the 12 apostles began to speak in tongues they had never spoken before, and the apostle Peter explained to everyone that the Holy Spirit had given them the gift of preaching in foreign languages. Following his words, the first 3,000 people were baptized, establishing the first Christian community. More than 300,000 pilgrims from home and abroad took part in the Catholic Pentecost procession in ȘumuleuCiuc, Harghita county (center) on Saturday. This year’s pilgrimage was held under the motto “Pilgrims of Hope”, similar to that of the Jubilee Year 2025 declared by Pope Francis. The Catholic pilgrimage in ȘumuleuCiuc has a history of over 450 years, is considered the largest in Central and Eastern Europe and has at its centre the miracle-working statue of the Virgin Mary, located in the Franciscan church.
Pride. On Saturday, the ‘Bucharest Pride’ march took place in Romania’s capital, organized by ACCEPT Association, the first non-governmental organization in Romania that defends and promotes LGBTQIA+ rights. The march reached its 20th anniversary edition. The marchers carried flags, umbrellas or fans in the colours of the rainbow, the symbol of diversity. Participants chanted slogans against homophobia, discrimination and fear and demanded equal rights for sexual minorities. Also on Saturday, the so-called March of Normality took place, against same-sex civil partnerships, same-sex marriage and adoption of children by gay couples. Some demonstrators carried crosses, icons or the Romanian flag.
Football. Romania’s national football team lost 1-2 to Austria on Saturday in Vienna in the third round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, in Group H of the European Zone. In the same group, Bosnia and Herzegovina beat San Marino 1-0 and has maximum points, 9. Romania will face Cyprus on Tuesday in Bucharest. The qualifying campaign started in March with the home game, 0-1, against Bosnia and Herzegovina. This was followed by a 5-1 away win over San Marino.
Weather. The heat wave still affects most of Romania. In the second part of the day, in the north-west, partially in the centre, in the north-east and in the west, the weather will become unsettled, with heavy showers and thunderstorms. As of Monday, the heat wave will affect only parts of the country, especially in the west and south. Today, the temperature-humidity index (TIU) locally will slightly exceed the critical threshold of 80. Maximum temperatures have reached 35 degrees. The noon reading in Bucharest was 33 degrees centigrade. (MI)
