Romania
EU frees up billions in Covid cash for defense spending
Defense projects can now apply for a chunk of the remaining €335 billion — initially earmarked for climate and digital investment.
Weapons sales to Europe will continue as South Korea pivots left
Brussels rebukes Romania and Austria for breaching EU spending rules
Tate brothers face UK rape charges
EU launches major Black Sea plan with eye on defense as Putin hovers
US Republicans slam EU ‘double standard’ over Polish election financing
Anti-NATO Romanian ultranationalist Călin Georgescu retires from politics
Germany’s power subsidy plans are probably illegal. That’s unlikely to matter.
The EU is increasingly bending its own rules, giving Germany space to negotiate despite fears that Berlin is disadvantaging others.
Nicușor Dan starts nightmare new job as president of Romania
Monday’s inauguration comes at a critical time for the Eastern European nation of 19 million amid the threat of credit rating downgrades, a budget deficit crisis and a loss of faith in democracy.
Romanian court rejects George Simion’s election challenge
Presidential election loser Simion denounced the ruling and called on his supporters to “fight.”
Western countries reveal major Russian cyber-espionage campaign
Attacks ramped up after Moscow invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
18 hours in the making of a president: Inside Nicușor Dan’s election win
Romania’s new leader told POLITICO how he will approach international affairs and what he will do to rebuild trust in a democracy battered by corruption, economic strife and Russian meddling.
Romanian vote loser Simion claims France interfered in election
Hard-right candidate is challenging the results at Romania’s constitutional court.
Europe’s hard right stronger than ever after mega election weekend
Centrist wins in the triple election did not equal defeat of the right.
Tate bro tears and EU delight as Dan beats right-winger in Romania’s election
Centrist Bucharest Mayor Nicușor Dan won a stunning come-from-behind victory over hard-right George Simion.
Pro-EU moderate Nicușor Dan wins Romanian presidential election stunner
Bucharest mayor fends off challenge from hard-right firebrand George Simion, who conceded defeat after initially declaring himself the winner.
Russian interference claims hit Romania’s critical election on voting day
High numbers of voters are turning out to choose between hard-right candidate George Simion and centrist Nicușor Dan.
In Transylvania, fear haunts Romania’s troubled democracy
The birthplace of modern Romania is losing faith in politics 36 years after Communism fell, amid threats of reprisals at Sunday’s bitterly fought election.
Simion accuses Moldova of manipulating Romanian election as vote goes to wire
Turnout is high in Moldova, a nation with many Romanian voters who did not back ultranationalist Simion in the first round.
Romanian government accused of online censorship ahead of election rerun
Liberal campaigners and politicians say social media crackdown to prevent Russian interference has gone too far.
Romanian presidential front-runner accuses Macron of ‘dictatorial tendencies’
George Simion, leader of the right-wing AUR party, criticizes French president for interfering in Romania’s election.
The crown slips: How queen Ursula failed her transparency test
Presented by Instagram.
Who is winning the Romanian election?
Surveys show the centrist Bucharest mayor catching up with hard-right populist George Simion ahead of Sunday’s vote. But is this poll surge too late, or even real?
Romania’s Simion wants a broad coalition. Good luck with that.
Hard-right presidential candidate George Simion is extending a warm hand to other parties, but getting the cold shoulder.
Romania’s finances quake before historic vote
Economic malaise is helping nationalist presidential candidate George Simion.
Romania must reclaim prize energy assets from foreign investors, presidential favorite says
George Simion wants to tap into deep voter frustration with post-communist privatizations.
Britain needs a labor shortage, not EU youth mobility, says Farage’s deputy
“I want there to be a labor shortage, because that’s the way to getting productivity improvements,” Richard Tice tells POLITICO as he heaps scorn on EU-UK summit.
Romanian wild card George Simion sets Brussels’ nerves on edge
The presidential front-runner’s hostility to Ukraine is creating a rift with fellow European conservatives.
Populist currents and fragile coalitions: Trump’s shadow over Europe
Europe’s political center is wobbling. Again. In Germany, a dramatic Bundestag vote leaves new Chancellor Friedrich Merz bruised before he’s even begun. In Romania, the first round …