Romania

Romania is navigating a period of political uncertainty, with the government operating in a caretaker capacity following a recent confidence vote. President Nicușor Dan has appointed Eugen Tomac as Prime Minister-designate to form a new technical government, signaling a significant transition in leadership. This comes as the Social Democratic Party (PSD) has withdrawn from the previous ruling coalition and, alongside the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), has been a key opposition force.

The country is also grappling with a general strike in the health sector, with unions expressing dissatisfaction over salary laws and potentially jeopardizing a substantial tranche of National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) funds. Concurrently, incidents involving Russian drones have continued to draw national attention, prompting discussions on defense strategies and leading to the expulsion of a Russian embassy employee.

Allegations of corruption and mismanagement persist, with investigations revealing a state-owned company purchased land at an inflated price and concerns raised over judicial promotions. Amidst these challenges, politicians have agreed on a new, partially public format for wealth declarations, and the country is preparing for an approaching heatwave.