February 19, 2026 UPDATE
A roundup of local and world news
Newsroom, 19.02.2026, 20:15
PEACE On Thursday President Nicușor Dan represented Romania in Washington at the first meeting of the Board of Peace, established by the US president Donald Trump as part of his peace plan for Gaza. In his address, President Dan said that Romania can help with the reconstruction of schools and the reform of the public administration system and police in Gaza. Romania supports the US’ and the international community’s efforts for solving global conflicts, including in the Middle East. The White House announced that officials from over 20 countries attended the meeting. According to press secretary Karoline Leavitt, member states have pledged over 5 billion US dollars for reconstruction and humanitarian efforts in the Palestinian enclave and will provide thousands of troops for an international stabilisation force. Traditional Western allies of the United States have been reluctant to join the new Board, given the risk that this structure could replace the United Nations in tackling global conflicts. From the European Union, Hungary and Bulgaria are the only countries that have signed the Charter to join the organization. Israel, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Belarus have also expressed support and become member countries. President Nicuşor Dan said Romania would only be an observer to the proceedings.
ECONOMY Romania’s PM Ilie Bolojan on Thursday met with officers of the Moody’s rating agency, and explained that the draft budget for 2026 aims at a deficit target of 6.2% of GDP. He said this threshold may be reached while keeping the high level of investments, especially using funds from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. The Romanian PM listed measures to keep public spending in check, and also mentioned that this year the government will focus on consolidation and economic growth. The meeting with Moody’s took place in a delicate economic and financial context. Romania’s governmental debt went over 60% of the Gross Domestic Product for the first time and, according to data from the National Statistics Institute, the country has slipped into technical recession. Moody’s makes regular assessments of developments in Romania.
WEATHER The situation is returning to normal in the eastern half of Romania, after the snowfalls and blizzards on Tuesday and Wednesday. Over 170 localities in 23 counties and the capital city Bucharest were affected. Hundreds of trees and scores of electricity poles fell, over 10,000 homes were left without electricity, and some schools still have online classes today or have suspended classes. Passenger trains have been canceled, and others have delays of up to 6 hours. On the other hand, traffic has resumed under normal conditions on all motorways. Romania faced one of the most severe winter episodes this season, with a code red alert for snowfall in Bucharest and the neighboring Ilfov County on Wednesday morning. Bucharest saw the worst snowfalls in over 18 years, with the snow layer reaching almost half a meter.
ARREST Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the younger brother of King Charles of the United Kingdom, was arrested on Thursday in relation to misconduct in a public office, The Telegraph and the BBC report. The former prince was arrested at his residence in Sandringham right on his 66th birthday and he is the most important member of the royal family to be arrested in modern history. The arrest came after the police had announced earlier this month that it was investigating a case in which Mountbatten-Windsor would have allegedly transmitted documents to the former child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, according to files published by the US government. In Britain the offense carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. King Charles’ brother is no longer a member of a royal family after last year the King had stripped him of his title as a prince and duke due to his association with the businessman Jeffrey Epstein. Epstein was found dead in his Manhattan cell in August 2019 after having been arrested on charges of sex trafficking of minors.
BRANCUSI The “Constantin Brâncuşi Year” officially opened in Romania on February 19, exactly 150 years after the birth of the artist widely acknowledged as the father of modern sculpture. Many events, exhibitions and concerts reflecting Brâncuşi’s thinking and spiritual legacy have been announced. They began at the “Constantin Brâncuşi” University in Târgu Jiu, with a national symposium on “Brâncuşi, always contemporary”. Also in Târgu Jiu until May 19 the public will be able to admire an exhibition of works by celebrated names of modern art, such as Salvador Dalí and Pablo Picasso. An awards ceremony of the sculpture department of the Fine Artists Union is to take place in Bucharest. Events dedicated to Constantin Brâncuşi will continue throughout the year, both in the country and abroad.
PENSIONS The Romanian government plans to eliminate other special pensions, after the Constitutional Court upheld the bill reforming the magistrate pension system. PM Ilie Bolojan announced that all systems that allow retirement at 50-52 years of age and where pension benefits are equal to the last salary must be corrected. He explained that next month the Cabinet would come up with draft laws to implement these principles. The Prime Minister added that this concerns staff in defence, security and public order, but emphasised that in all cases there will be a transitional period so as not to cause shocks in the system. Exemptions would also be in place for those who work in difficult conditions. On Wednesday, after several postponements, the Constitutional Court ruled that the bill regarding the magistrate pension reform is constitutional. The draft legislation, which increases the retirement age of judges and prosecutors and reduces the amount of their pension benefits, is next to be signed into law by the president.
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