New Romanian prime minister Luca Niculescu and Cabinet members sworn in

Luca Niculescu has been sworn in as Romania's Prime Minister after securing parliamentary support for his minority government. He received 280 votes in favor and aims to address the country's significant budget deficit. Niculescu's appointment follows a prolonged political crisis that began in May, leading to the ousting of former Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan. Despite initial backing from various parties for six months, analysts caution that political stability may be short-lived, as a long-term agreement is still pending. Romania continues to face economic challenges, including high inflation and a technical recession, amidst regional security concerns due to the war in Ukraine.