🇷🇴Week of October 19

A vessel was struck by a drone about 13 miles off the Romanian coast, just outside Romania's territorial waters, President Nicușor Dan said. The ship sank, one sailor was killed and three others were reported missing. Nine sailors were rescued, and the vessel was in danger of going under after the damage.123

Dan called on Russia to put an end to the war and said it was time Moscow took the initiatives seriously. The attack drew a sharp reaction from Luca Niculescu, who called the sinking of the tanker unacceptable.4256

The strike happened near Constanța, and the first images of the damaged ship were published after the attack. The minehunter M 271 returned to the port of Constanța after a mission in the Black Sea alongside ships from allied navies.37

Dan said Romania's defense had moved out of a theoretical zone in remarks to future soldiers. He also announced France's support in talks with allies on defending Romania in the Black Sea.89

Eurostat reported a budget deficit of 9.2 percent of GDP for Romania in the second quarter of 2026, the highest in the European Union for that quarter. The Finance Ministry said the quarterly figure reflects investment spending and the timing of revenue collection rather than the full-year position. The ministry put the ESA deficit at six months at 3.4 percent of GDP.123

The chief economist of the National Bank of Romania said the 9.2 percent figure covers only the second quarter of 2026. The Finance Ministry's explanation of the quarterly data was taken up by the PSD, which used it to attack its coalition partners.456

Attributed claim: PNL accused PSD of manipulation and disinformation in public statements. Adrian Câciu of PSD answered with a call to "wake up from drunkenness," and AUR senator leader Petrișor Peiu said the Eurostat data show the Bolojan government with PSD hid the state of public finances.789

Europa FM reported that Romania posted the largest budget deficit in the EU in the second quarter of 2026 and that the annual deficit target can still be met.2

Two attacks with bladed weapons in schools in Bistrița and Pitești put school safety on the national agenda, and the issue reached the Supreme Council of National Defence (CSAT). President Nicușor Dan responded to the two attacks, and his statement was carried as the declaration of the day.123

Luca Niculescu convened a meeting at the Victoria Palace for Friday morning to set out a plan for school safety, saying it is not enough to react after each serious incident and that he wants an integrated plan to raise safety in schools established very quickly. Measures under preparation include checks on pupils, 1,000 security guards and a new law on school safety, steps Sorin Ionescu said also exist in other countries.4567

The prosecutor general said school safety is not optional but an obligation of the state and a right of every child and teacher, and that alarm signals must not be ignored until tragedies occur. He added that authorities' intervention must respect the rights of minors, the presumption of innocence and the principle of proportionality.89

Justice Minister Radu Marinescu asked judicial bodies to react promptly in investigating offences committed in the school environment.105

Călin Georgescu remains in pre-trial detention after a final court ruling, with judges again unable to agree on the case. The file was sent to a panel convened to resolve the divergence, and a third judge was called in.1234

Supporters of Georgescu blocked traffic on Splaiul Independenței in Bucharest. The detention ruling came the same day as the road blockade.5

Georgescu spent 10 hours with DIICOT prosecutors during a forensic examination of devices seized from him. He had earlier been placed under judicial control, with a set of restrictions and obligations for the following 60 days.67

George Simion issued his first reaction after DIICOT picked Georgescu up from traffic. Traian Băsescu described the detention as a spectacle that has something behind it.89

The Episcopia Oradiei opened an inquiry after Georgescu's visit to a monastery where the priest called him by a title.10

Health Minister Alexandru Rogobete said he has redirected 150 million lei in additional funding to emergency departments (UPU) and ambulance services across Romania. He said the money was needed because "we cannot afford a crisis of the emergency system."12

Rogobete also said he wants a gradual increase in pay for on-call medical shifts (gărzi), part of the emergency measures he announced at the ministry.3

Attributed claim: AUR senator Cristian Vântu rejected the announcement, saying the PSD is covering its incompetence with the same people who caused the disaster. He said Rogobete is returning to lead the Health Ministry while hospitals have money for only two more weeks.4

Rogobete attacked Bolojan, saying he "cut with the axe from top to bottom." Separately, economist Cristian Păun criticised the minister after his attacks, telling him: "Băi, ia, gata! Lăsați văicărelile."56