September 9, 2025
A roundup of local and international news.
Newsroom, 09.09.2025, 13:55
EDUCATION – In a meeting with Romanian President Nicuşor Dan, the teachers who protested in Bucharest on Monday demanded the resignation of the Minister of Education, Daniel David, and the repeal of the order that provides for the increase in the teaching norm and the reduction of the pay for extra hours, the merger of some educational units and the increase in the number of students in classes. After the meeting, the education unions have announced that the protests will continue, both by the boycott of classes by teachers and by street protests, and that an all out strike is not excluded. In turn, Minister Daniel David said that through these measures, salaries and scholarships were saved until the end of the year.
TREASON – The former head of counterintelligence in the Republic of Moldova Alexandru Bălan, who held the position of deputy chief of the Intelligence and Security Service in Chisinau, was detained in Timişoara (western Romania) and accused of treason and of transmitting secret information to the KGB in Belarus. According to a press release by the DIICOT (Romanian anti-mafia and terrorism prosecutor’s office), the 47-year-old suspect is being investigated for treason, by transmitting state secret information in a continuous form. According to DIICOT, starting with 2024 and until now, the suspect has been involved in activities of unauthorized disclosure of secret information to representatives of a foreign power, under conditions likely to endanger Romania’s national security.
DEFICIT – Romania’s trade deficit exceeded 19 billion euros in the first 7 months of the year, up 7% compared to the same period in 2024, according to data made public today by the National institute of Statistics (INS). Exports stood at 56 billion euros, and imports at 75 billion. In July, exports accounted for 8.9 billion euros, while imports were 11.5 billion, resulting in a deficit of 2.8 billion.
STRIKE – France is paralysed today by a strike of the unions in public transport, rail and air, as well as in education, public services, health, trade and industry. Previously, French deputies voted, by a clear majority, against the centrist Prime Minister François Bayrou, who had requested a vote of confidence after presenting an austerity budget for 2026. Of the opposition, from the far right to the far left, 364 parliamentarians voted against the prime minister. Only 194, from the ruling coalition, voted in his favor. Radio Romania’s correspondent in Paris recalls that none of the three major political blocs – the extreme left, the moderate right and the radical right – has enough seats in parliament to support a government of its own. In just three years, no less than five cabinets have been in office. Almost two-thirds of the French people who took part in a survey said they want President Emmanuel Macron to resign. 56% of those surveyed also demand a new dissolution of parliament and early legislative elections.
MOLDOVA – The President of the Republic of Moldova, the pro-Western Maia Sandu, will address the European Parliament on Tuesday, during a solemn session. The speech takes place before the legislative elections in Moldova, scheduled for September 28. The EP’s plenary will also debate ways to strengthen the resilience of the Republic of Moldova against hybrid threats and Russian interference.
ENESCU FESTIVAL – The Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Alain Altinoglu, will perform for the second evening today at the Palace Hall in Bucharest, compositions by Enescu, Elgar and Dvořák, as part of the George Enescu International Festival. French cellist Gautier Capuçon will also take the stage. At the Romanian Athenaeum, music lovers are invited to attend a Brahms evening presented by the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra (Royal Orchestra of Flanders), conducted by Emmanuel Tjeknavorian, with violinist Simone Lamsma as soloist. At the National Theatre in Bucharest, the ballet performance of Malandain Ballet Biarritz, entitled “The Seasons”, a project of the Royal Opera of Versailles, is scheduled for today. The 27th edition of the George Enescu International Festival takes place in Bucharest and throughout the country until September 21.
FOOTBALL –Romania’s national football side will face Cyprus away tonight in a Group H match of next year’s World Cup qualifiers. The group leader is Bosnia, with 12 points, followed by Austria – 9, Romania – 6, Cyprus – 3 and San Marino – zero points. The last time Romania took part in a world finals tournament was in 1998, in France. (EE)
