The state budget law and the state social security budget law were adopted on Friday by Parliament after marathon debates marked by attacks and tensions.
The state budget law was adopted with 319 votes „for,” 104 votes „against,” and one abstention. Two parliamentarians did not vote.
The state social security budget received 314 votes "for," 105 "against," and 12 abstentions. One parliamentarian did not vote.
Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan stated after the vote that all the reforms carried out so far - including those related to administration, special pensions, and reductions in public institutions' expenses - are reflected in this budget.
"The budget also represents the safety net we have in the face of unwanted derailments. Thus, no one will be able to discard the efforts of Romanians made in recent months and squander public finances," he emphasized.
In turn, the President of the PSD, Sorin Grindeanu, declared that Romania has a budget voted on, "with good and bad aspects," and thanked the parliamentarians from both the ruling party and the opposition for their efforts in this regard.
AUR announced that it will challenge the 2026 budget project at the Constitutional Court.
The general budget debates began on Thursday around 9:00 PM with a two-hour delay, followed by discussions and votes on articles and annexes.
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At 3:00 AM, the joint session of Parliament suspended the debates, and the Senate President, Mircea Abrudean, announced that they would resume on Friday at 10:00 AM.
Spotmedia kept you informed with the most important information about the plenary debate and the 2026 budget vote:
- Romania has a realistic, responsible, and privilege-free budget, and the reforms are moving forward despite populist temptations, the National Liberal Party announced on Friday after the Parliament's adoption of the 2026 state budget project. "The National Liberal Party welcomes the adoption of the 2026 state budget, a budget of truth, built on a profoundly different economic approach than in previous years, marking a clear departure from unsustainable past practices. Romania today has a realistic, responsible, and fair budget for its citizens. It is a budget that fundamentally changes the country's economic model: from debt-based consumption to investments that generate real development and the chance for long-term prosperity," the party stated in a release.
- The President of the Senate, Mircea Abrudean, considers that the state budget adopted by Parliament is "correctly realigned" and oriented towards investments, showing that the state is "a responsible partner."
- AUR will challenge the 2026 budget project at the Constitutional Court, announced the party's president, George Simion. He stated that the new budget directly affects families and mothers in Romania, citing the possible reduction of maternity leave. "We are talking about mothers, future mothers, and families considering whether to have a child or not. And today they are under the shadow of doubt. Maternity leave will be reduced from two years to one," Simion affirmed.
- The President of the PSD, Sorin Grindeanu, stated that Romania has a budget voted on, "with good and bad aspects", and thanked the parliamentarians from both the ruling party and the opposition for their efforts. "The budget has been voted on. I thank my colleagues in Parliament, both from the ruling party and the opposition. It was an effort. Last night, as you saw, we stayed until 3:00 AM. Today we have a budget voted on, with good and bad aspects, but Romania has a budget, which is a good thing," Grindeanu said at the Parliament Palace. He added that from now on, the Government's priority should be related to the evolution of fuel prices.
- Bolojan thanked the parliamentarians for the vote and stated that Romania aims to maintain a 6.2% deficit target. "Thank you to all who voted for the budget. This budget proposes a new approach, and all the reforms carried out so far and the expense reductions are reflected in this document. The budget also represents a safety net against potential unwanted deviations. We speak the truth and do everything in our power to balance the financial situation. We must continue to work to strengthen Romania. We must have the capacity to respond to any shock. Romania aims to maintain a 6.2% deficit target," declared Ilie Bolojan.
- Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan stated that after Parliament adopted the 2026 budget law, all the reforms carried out so far - including those related to administration, special pensions, and reductions in public institutions' expenses - are reflected in this budget.
- The state social security budget was also voted on, with 314 votes "for," 105 "against," and 12 abstentions. One parliamentarian did not vote.
- The state budget law was adopted with 319 votes "for," 104 votes "against," and one abstention. Two parliamentarians did not vote.
- The general debates on the draft law of the 2026 state budget and the state social security budget have concluded. No amendments rejected by the Budget-Finance Committees were accepted. The final vote is scheduled for 12:45 PM.
- The President of the PSD, Sorin Grindeanu, stated that after the adoption of the 2026 state budget, the Government should focus on measures to reduce the impact of rising fuel prices. Grindeanu was asked about the support measures for Romanians to curb the diesel price, which could exceed 12 lei this weekend. "Minister Bogdan Ivan presented all these things. I expect that, after the approval of this budget, which will happen in a few hours, the Government will deal with this, both from the perspective of the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Agriculture, because these are the important things. Beyond the scandals and circus in Parliament, we see what happens every day," he said at the Parliament Palace.
- Budgets for the Protection and Guard Service and the Ministry of Culture were voted on.
- Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan arrived at Parliament but did not answer journalists' questions.
- The joint session of the two Houses of Parliament where the final vote on the draft Law of the State Budget and the draft Law of the State Social Security Budget is to take place has begun.