Priorities of the new Parliament session
Parliament sets its priorities as lawmakers resume their activity.
Daniela Budu, 02.02.2026, 14:00
After more than a month’s recess, Romania’s Parliament has resumed work. On Monday, the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies opened the first ordinary parliamentary session of the year. Under parliamentary procedure, the first day of the session is dedicated to electing the members of the standing bureaus in each chamber – the vice-presidents, secretaries and quaestors of the Senate and of the Chamber of Deputies. The presidents of the two chambers, Mircea Abrudean and Sorin Grindeanu, were elected for four-year terms following the investiture of the new Parliament.
The governing coalition – made up of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), the National Liberal Party (PNL), the Save Romania Union (USR) and the Democratic Alliance of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania (UDMR) – says its priorities for this session are the adoption of a broad package to reform both local and central public administration, measures to relaunch the economy, and the state budget for 2026. Although the budget is normally passed in December, before the start of the new year, the coalition has not yet submitted any draft legislation to Parliament. Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan has held several rounds of talks with line ministries on this year’s budget, but no draft has been presented so far.
Negotiations are currently at a standstill, because Prime Minister Bolojan insists that the budget will not be adopted until the reform of central and local public administration has entered into force. PSD agrees with the prime minister’s position, but says it will not support the administrative reform package unless it is accompanied by the economic recovery measures that the Social Democrats have been demanding since September last year. Both the public administration reform project and the economic recovery measures are to be adopted either through the government’s assumption of responsibility in Parliament or by emergency decree. The final decision will be taken at a coalition meeting later this week.
Meanwhile, the opposition has already announced that it will table a motion of no confidence against the government if the Prime Minister assumes responsibility for a third reform package. It is also preparing simple motions against the foreign and defence ministers, as well as several legislative initiatives aimed at cutting state spending and protecting citizens. During this session, the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies will also vote on the appointment of the heads of the Romanian Intelligence Service (SRI) and the Foreign Intelligence Service (SIE), once President Nicușor Dan submits his nominees for the two posts. Since taking office on 26 May last year, President Dan has been under pressure to make these long-awaited appointments.
In addition, Parliament must also elect a new Ombudsman during the current session. Under the coalition agreement, the nomination for this post belongs to USR.
It is also worth noting that the governing parties – PSD, PNL, USR, UDMR and the representatives of national minorities – currently hold 310 seats in Parliament. A working majority requires 232 votes, out of a total membership that currently exceeds 460 lawmakers. (VP)
