February 26, 2025 UPDATE (I)

A roundup of domestic and international news

Newsroom, 26.02.2025, 19:53

Consultations. Romania’s interim president Ilie Bolojan held consultations at the Cotroceni Palace with representatives of the parliamentary parties to define Romania’s position at the extraordinary European Council meeting on March 6, when important decisions for European security are expected. The president of the co-ruling Social Democratic Party (PSD), Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, said that his party’s proposal was for Romania to not send troops to Ukraine. PSD also stood for additional money for defense, but in the form of investments in the national armament industry. The president of the sovereignist Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) also stood against sending troops to Ukraine. In turn, the Save Romania Union (USR-center-right) told the president that Romanian should invest more in defense. The president of USR, Elena Lasconi, believes that there should be a clear plan for the participation in the reconstruction of Ukraine. The Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians (UDMR) also wants Romania to invest in modern military capabilities, and does not agree with sending Romanian soldiers to Ukraine. The sovereignist SOS party does not want to see Romanian troops in Ukraine and is against the continuation of the war and our country’s participation in this conflict. The representatives of the sovereignist Young People’s Party did not attend the consultations. Also participating in the talks were members of the national minorities’ group and of the co-ruling National Liberal Party (PNL).

Investigation. On Wednesday, the former presidential candidate Călin Georgescu, a pro-Russian extremist, was taken in for questioning under a warrant by the General Prosecutor’s Office. According to an official release, he was placed under judicial control for 60 days and charged on six counts, including actions against the constitutional order, initiation or setting up an organization with a fascist, racist or xenophobic character and promoting the cult of persons guilty of committing crimes of genocide. On Wednesday morning, prosecutors conducted dozens of searches across five counties, in a case related to the financing of his election campaign, the establishment of a fascist, racist or xenophobic organisation, as well as to promoting a cult of persons guilty of genocide. Targeted by the investigation is also a close associate of Georgescu, Horaţiu Potra, the leader of a mercenary group that operated in Africa. According to the Prosecutor’s Office, investigations are conducted in this case for offences including actions against the constitutional order, failure to comply with the weapons and ammunition legislation, public incitement.

Drones. The Romanian Parliament adopted, on Wednesday, a draft law that allows the army to shoot down drones that illegally enter the Romanian airspace, based on the threat levels and risks to human life and property. In Romania, a member state of the EU and NATO, which shares a 650 km border with Ukraine, fragments of Russian drones have repeatedly fallen, while the Russian army was attacking the Ukrainian port infrastructure. Both Houses of Parliament passed the bill despite strong opposition from ultra-nationalist far-right politicians who control more than a third of the legislative seats. The draft law establishes specific conditions for Romania to control the use of its airspace for both manned and unmanned aircraft. According to the proposed law, the allied systems present in Romania could participate in any action, in accordance with the collective defense treaties with the NATO and EU member states.

Parliament. A no-confidence motion tabled by the self-styled sovereigntist opposition against the Romanian government is to be discussed and voted on this Friday. The signatories say that the current Cabinet is illegitimate, has lost its credibility as some of its members are linked to individuals involved in a high-profile criminal case, and is failing to implement its own governing program, in which it promised, among other things, an increase in pensions and allowances. Also in opposition, the declared pro-European USR announced that it would not back the motion. The ruling coalition comprising the Social Democratic Party, the National Liberal Party and the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania say Romania needs serious solutions, not image strategies.

Ukraine. Kyiv announced an agreement was reached with Washington on the joint development of Ukrainian mineral resources and the reconstruction of the country after the invasion launched by Russia 3 years ago. The deal, about which few details are known, could be signed in Washington this Friday. The arrangement was agreed after the US president Donald Trump demanded access to key Ukrainian minerals as compensation for the aid given to Ukraine in the war with Russia. Official sources quoted by Western media say that Washington has given up initial demands of USD 500 billion in revenues from natural resources, but has not provided the firm security guarantees demanded in exchange by Ukraine, which would be negotiated at a later date.

Corruption. Twenty individuals have been detained over bribery charges in an investigation into illicit activity in the Port of Constanta (south-eastern Romania). Among others, the head of the Constanta branch of the Social Democratic Party, Ion Dumitrache, and several officers for the Maritime Ports Administration were detained. According to Anticorruption prosecutors, in 2024 and 2025 several businessmen allegedly promised and gave public officials bribes ranging from EUR 2,000 to 100,000, as well as other goods, to help them develop their businesses in the Constanta Port area, by speeding up asset transfer procedures, extending a waste collection contract, winning tenders or ensuring exclusive access to certain berths. The businessmen in question have allegedly promised an estimated EUR 6 million in bribes. The Bucharest Court dismissed prosecutor’s request for pre-trial arrest of 7 of the defendants, placing them under court supervision instead. Similar requests for another 13 defendants are yet to be heard. (MI)