October 28, 2025 UPDATE
A roundup of local and world news
Newsroom, 28.10.2025, 20:00
PROTESTS Trade unions in Romania are preparing for fresh protests. The main confederations have announced plans to take people to the streets on Wednesday to voice their dissatisfaction with the policies introduced by the government, which they claim shows contempt for work and workers. Unionists have several demands, including an increase in minimum wages and pensions, fair taxation and the protection of jobs. The head of the “Cartel Alfa” National Trade Union Confederation, Bogdan Hossu, said that these are austerity measures only for ordinary citizens, with no impact on the excessive budget deficit. He also says that in the last three and a half months over 7,500 jobs have been lost in the economy through insolvency, closures or the reorganisation of some companies, and added that preparations are underway to eliminate almost 14,000 jobs in public administration.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE The Romanian Senate Monday passed a bill aimed at fighting domestic violence by increasing punishments for repeat offenders. The document also stipulates that provisional restraining orders remain valid until the court settles requests for a final order. The vote on the draft law was unanimous. The bill will next be reviewed by the Chamber of Deputies, which is the decision-making body.
PATRIARCH The Romanian Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan Tuesday met with the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople, and with Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church. On Monday, Bartholomew I, present in Bucharest for the consecration of the painting on the walls of the National Cathedral, was decorated by President Nicuşor Dan with the “Star of Romania” National Order, the highest distinction of the Romanian state. The Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople said that the church must participate in the contemporary dialogue on justice, peace and the defence of human dignity. Meanwhile, on the Metropolitan Hill in Bucharest, the pilgrimage to the relics of Saint Demetrius the New and those of Saint John Jacob of Neamţ continues until Friday.
VISIT Romania remains committed to continuing to implement measures to ensure sustainable economic recovery, Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan said on Tuesday, after a meeting with the European Commissioner for Economy, Valdis Dombrovskis, who was on a visit to Bucharest. The Prime Minister reiterated the Government’s commitment to an 8.4% budget deficit target for this year and mentioned that the government aims at a deficit target close to 6% for next year. Ilie Bolojan thanked Valdis Dombrovskis for the support provided by the European Commission in the negotiations on the revised PNRR. The Romanian official also had talks on Monday with Dan Jorgensen, the European Commissioner for Energy and Housing, on which occasion he stated that, in order to balance production and consumption, Romania must invest in storage and in connecting energy networks with Western Europe, which will help reduce costs and increase energy security.
FORUM The NATO Industry Forum takes place in Bucharest on November 5-6. The event is co-organised by the Allied Command Transformation and the Defence Industry, Innovation and Armaments Division of the NATO Headquarters International Staff, under the patronage of NATO’s secretary general. This is a strategic-level event that facilitates direct and continuing cooperation between NATO and the defence industry. The 2025 edition is themed “NATO Rearmament – Innovate, Accelerate, Sustain.” The event brings together industry executives, senior NATO civilian and military leaders and national officials, as well as key leaders from other institutions. The defence ministry supports the organisation of this forum, reaffirming Romania’s commitment, as host country, to facilitate strategic dialogue between the Alliance and the industry. (AMP)
