Romania’s ruling coalition reaches compromise on 2026 budget plan

Update: The draft state budget for 2026 was adopted on Friday, March 20, by the joint plenary session of Parliament. The proposal passed with 319 votes in favor, 104 against, and one abstention, Agerpres reported.

Initial story: The Parliament of Romania is expected to give its vote on the 2026 budget plan on March 20 after the ruling coalition’s parties reached an agreement to finance the RON 1.1 billion (0.05% of GDP) “solidarity package” required by the Social Democrats (PSD) and keeping the budget deficit within the 6.25%-of-GDP limit as requested by prime minister Ilie Bolojan. The ruling coalition’s parties agreed to trim down the RON 5 billion (EUR 1 billion, 0.25% of GDP) budget set aside for the High Court of Cassation and Justice (ICCJ) – a compromise that prompted protests from the High Court that warned it would sue the authorities for this.