2018 in Romania explained

Events from the year 2018 in Romania.

Incumbents

President

Prime Minister

President of the Senate

President of the Chamber of Deputies

Events

January

• 15 January – Prime Minister Mihai Tudose resigns after his Social Democratic Party leaders withdraw their support following a party feud.^{[1] [2]}
• 20 January – Tens of thousands of people protest in Romanian cities and abroad against amendments to the laws of justice and criminal codes.^[3]
• 29 January – The Romanian parliament approves Viorica Dăncilă as the country's first female premier.^[4] She is the third prime minister of Romania in less than 13 months.^[5]

February

• 22 February – Justice Minister Tudorel Toader announces that he will initiate the revocation procedure of Laura Codruța Kövesi from the post of chief prosecutor of the National Anticorruption Directorate.^[6] The announcement is followed by protests in several major cities in the country.^[7]

April

• 5 April – Nine people die after their minibus plunges into Bistrița River, near Viișoara, Neamț County.^[8]
• 11 April – Three tourists are found dead in Făgăraș Mountains after going missing since 30 March.^[9]
• 16 April – President Klaus Iohannis refuses to dismiss the chief prosecutor of the National Anticorruption Directorate, Laura Codruța Kövesi, also criticizing the report on which Justice Minister Tudorel Toader proposed the revocation of Kövesi.^[10] Toader announces that he will refer the Constitutional Court.^[11]
• 17 April – Former President Ion Iliescu is officially prosecuted for crimes against humanity for his role in the 1989 Revolution, alongside former Prime Minister Petre Roman.^{[12] [13]}
• 19 April – President of the Chamber of Deputies Liviu Dragnea announces Government's intention to move Romania's embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.^{[14] [15]}

June

• 9 June – More than 100,000 people assemble in Bucharest to protest alleged abuses committed by anti-corruption prosecutors. The protest is organised by the governing Social Democratic Party.^[16]
• 21 June – Liviu Dragnea, head of the Social Democratic Party, is convicted of abuse of power and handed a three-and-a-half-year sentence in an initial verdict after a corruption trial.^[17]
• 27 June – Dăncilă Cabinet survives a motion of no confidence. During the vote, several thousand opposition supporters protest outside Parliament, calling for the resignation of the government.^[18]
• 30 June – Four people are found dead and hundreds are evacuated from 185 flooded localities as hydrologists issue red flood warning in the counties of Covasna, Brașov and Bacău.^{[19] [20]}

July

• 1 July – Celebrating the centenary of the Great Union (the unification of Romania with Bessarabia, Bukovina and Transylvania), a demonstration called the Centenary March is organized by several Romanian and Moldovan activists for unification. It starts in Alba Iulia on this day.^[21]
• 9 July – President Klaus Iohannis dismisses the Chief Prosecutor of the National Anticorruption Directorate, Laura Codruța Kövesi.^[22]
• 11 July – Four people, including two children, are found dead after their cart is washed away by a flash flood in Tulcea County.^[23]

August

• 10 August – Violence ensues between anti-government protesters and the Romanian Gendarmerie in Victory Square, resulting in hundreds of people wounded and the complete evacuation of the square.
• 29 August – Participants of the Centenary March cross the Moldovan border.^[24]

September

• 1 September – The Centenary March ends in the Great National Assembly Square in Chișinău, Moldova.^[25]

October

• 6 and 7 October – A nationwide referendum is held in Romania regarding the prohibition of same-sex marriage, but it fails due to not reaching the required voter turnout.^[26] Another referendum is held at the same time in the Olt County to rename it to "Olt-Romanați County",^{[27] [28]} but it fails as well for the same reason.^{[29] [30]}

December

• 19 December – The main indexes of Bucharest Stock Exchange fall by more than 7 percent following the announcement of new taxes on banks, capping gas prices and major changes regarding private pensions scheme. The two major banks listed at BSE lose more than 15 percent of their value.^[31]

Arts and entertainment

• 24 February – Touch Me Not, directed by Adina Pintilie, wins the Golden Bear prize for best film at the 68th Berlin International Film Festival.^[32]
• 27 March – The 12th edition of the Gopo Awards: Daniel Sandu's One Step Behind the Seraphim is awarded best film, best director, best actor and best screenplay.^[33]
• 5 April – Ioan-Aurel Pop, rector of Babeș-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca, is elected president of the Romanian Academy.^[34]
• 10 May – The Humans represent Romania in the second semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest in Lisbon, Portugal. For the first time since the introduction of the semi-finals, Romania's representatives fail to qualify for the final.^[35]
• 9 June – The largest edition to date of Bucharest Pride attracts about 10,000 people.^[36]
• 3–14 July – The 59th International Mathematical Olympiad is held in Cluj-Napoca.
• 2–5 August – The 4th edition of Untold Festival is held in Cluj-Napoca.

Sports

• 9 June – Simona Halep wins her first Grand Slam title after defeating American Sloane Stephens in the French Open.^{[37] [38]}

Deaths

January

• 2 January –, 81, intellectual, professor, engineer and researcher (b. 1936)^[39]
• 4 January – Aharon Appelfeld, 85, Romanian-born Israeli writer (b. 1932).^[40]
• 10 January –
  • , 83, singer and television presenter (b. 1934)^[41]
  • , 78, academician and historian (b. 1939)^[42]
  • , 64, mathematician (b. 1953)^[43]
• 11 January –, 76, writer (b. 1941)^[44]
• 24 January –
  • Ion D. Ion, 82, mathematician (b. 1935)
  • Attila Verestóy, 63, Romanian politician and chemical engineer, Senator (since 1990).^[45]
• 25 January – Neagu Djuvara, 101, Romanian historian, essayist and philosopher, pneumonia.^[46]

February

See main article: Deaths in February 2018.

• 3 February – Alec Sehon, 93, Romanian-born Canadian immunologist (b. 1924).^[47]
• 10 February –, 87, linguist (b. 1930)
• 13 February – Florin Diacu, 59, Romanian Canadian mathematician and author (b. 1959).^[48]
• 14 February –, 91, folklorist (b. 1926)
• 16 February –, 67, Orthodox archimandrite and abbot of Berzunți Monastery (b. 1951)
• 19 February –, 89, composer (b. 1928)
• 22 February – Serban Cantacuzino, 89, Romanian architect.^[49]
• 28 February – Ștefan Tașnadi, 64, Romanian weightlifter, Olympic silver medalist (1984).^[50]

March

• 4 March –, 76, politician (b. 1941)
• 6 March – Peter Freund, 81, Romanian-born American physicist.^[51]
• 9 March – Ion Voinescu, 88, Romanian Olympic footballer (1952).^[52]
• 13 March –, 88, sculptor (b. 1929)
• 19 March –, 56, presenter and programme-maker
• 25 March – Nicolae Tilihoi, 61, Romanian footballer (Universitatea Craiova).^[53]
• 27 March – Aimée Iacobescu, 71, Romanian actress (The Doom), breast cancer.^[54]
• 28 March – Octavian Dincuță, 70, footballer

April

See main article: Deaths in April 2018.

• 1 April –, 84, engineering geologist and geophysicist (b. 1934)
• 6 April – Șerban Papacostea, 89, historian (b. 1928)
• 11 April – Carmen Stănescu, 92, stage and film actress^[55]
• 14 April –, 78, caricaturist (b. 1939)
• 15 April –, 73, politician (b. 1945)
• 16 April –
  • Florea Dumitrescu, 91, economist, finance minister (1969–78), ambassador of Romania to China (1978–83) and governor of the National Bank (1984–89)^[56]
  • , 72, politician
  • , 70, folk music singer (b. 1947)
• 24 April – Dinu C. Giurescu, 91, historian and politician^[57]

May

• 1 May –, 89, general, Minister of National Defense (1980–1985) and Mayor of Bucharest (1985–1988) (b. 1928)
• 3 May – Doina Cornea, 88, Romanian human rights activist and professor.^[58]
• 15 May –, 81, sports commentator, journalist and politician (b. 1937)
• 16 May –
  • François Bréda, 62, Romanian writer and literary critic.^[59]
  • Lucian Pintilie, 84, Romanian film director.^[60]
• 21 May –, 91, academician, diplomat, mathematician, professor, and essayist (b. 1927)^[61]
• 22 May – Cabiria Andreian Cazacu, 90, mathematician and honorary member of the Romanian Academy.
• 25 May – Hildegard Puwak, 68, Romanian politician, Minister of European Integration (2000–2003).^[62]

June

See main article: Deaths in June 2018.

• 3 June –, 83, singer (b. 1934)^[63]
• 5 June – Karl Fritz Lauer, 80, Romanian-German scientist.^[64]
• 6 June – H. H. Wieder, 99, Romanian-born American physicist.^[65]
• 11 June – Maria Butaciu, 78, folk music singer (b. 1940)
• 20 June – Sándor Kányádi, 89, poet (b. 1929)
• 21 June –
  • Horaţiu Nicolau, 84, Romanian Olympic volleyball player.^[66]
  • , 78, historian, archivist and writer (b. 1939)^[67]
• 26 June – Joseph Seroussi, 85, Sudanese-born Romanian fashion designer.^[68]

August

See main article: Deaths in August 2018.

• 2 August – Mihai Radu Pricop, 68, politician (b. 1950)
• 7 August – Dumitru Fărcaș, 80, taragot player (b. 1938)
• 19 August – Margareta Niculescu, 92, puppeteer, director, and teacher (b. 1926)

September

• 19 September – Geta Brătescu, 92, visual artist (b. 1926)

October

See main article: Deaths in October 2018.

• 13 October – Georgeta Pitică, 88, table tennis player, world champion (b. 1930)
• 21 October – Ilie Balaci, 62, footballer (b. 1956)

November

See main article: Deaths in November 2018.

• 22 November – Nicolae Mihalcea, 96, Romanian Olympic equestrian (1952, 1956).^[69]
• 23 November – Bujor Hălmăgeanu, 77, Romanian football player (Steaua București, national team) and manager (Dacia Unirea Brăila), respiratory failure.^[70]
• 25 November – Randolph L. Braham, 95, Romanian-born American historian and political scientist.^[71]

December

See main article: Deaths in December 2018.

• 16 December –
  • Mircea Petescu, 76, Romanian football player (Steaua București, UTA Arad) and manager (Sparta Rotterdam), Alzheimer's disease.^[72]
  • Anca Pop, 34, Romanian-Canadian singer-songwriter, traffic collision.^[73]

See also

• 2018 unification declarations in Moldova and Romania
• 2018 in the European Union
• 2018 in Europe
• Romania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2018
• Romania at the 2018 Winter Olympics
• Romania at the 2018 Winter Paralympics
• Romania at the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics

Notes and References

1. Web site: Romanian PM Mihai Tudose resigns after losing party support . . 15 January 2018.
2. Web site: Romanian Prime Minister Is Forced Out, the Second in Seven Months . . Kit Gillet . 15 January 2018.
3. Web site: Zeci de mii de oameni au protestat în București. Manifestanții au aprins lanternele și au cântat imnul în fața Parlamentului . Știrile Pro TV . 20 January 2018 . Romanian.
4. Web site: Romania: Viorica Dancila voted in as first female prime minister . DW . 29 January 2018.
5. Web site: Romania Names 3rd Prime Minister in a Year Amid Struggle Over Corruption . The New York Times . Kit Gillet . 29 January 2018.
6. Web site: Tudorel Toader vrea revocarea lui Kovesi din funcția de procuror șef al DNA. "Acte și fapte de netolerat" . Știrile Pro TV . 22 February 2018 . Romanian.
7. Web site: Protest în Piața Victoriei din Capitală, după anunțul ministrului Toader privind revocarea șefei DNA. Oameni în stradă și în marile orașe . Adevărul . Alexandra Șerban . 22 February 2018 . Romanian.
8. Web site: Nouă morți în Neamț după ce un autobuz a căzut în râul Bistrița . Adevărul . George-Andrei Cristescu, Florin Jbanca . 5 April 2018 . Romanian.
9. Web site: Trupurile neînsuflețite ale celor trei turiști dispăruți pe munte au fost recuperate. Ce s-ar fi întâmplat cu ei . Digi24 . 11 April 2014 . Romanian.
10. Web site: Iohannis nu o revocă pe Kovesi. "Motivele prezentate de ministrul Justiției nu m-au convins" . Știrile Pro TV . 16 April 2018 . Romanian.
11. Web site: Reacția ministrului Justiției după refuzul președintelui Iohannis de revocare din funcție a șefei DNA. Ce-i răspunde Augustin Zegrean . Adevărul . Claudia Spridon . 16 April 2018 . Romanian.
12. Web site: Dosarul "Revoluției". Ion Iliescu este, oficial, urmărit penal pentru infracțiuni contra umanității . Știrile Pro TV . 17 April 2018 . Romanian.
13. Web site: Ion Iliescu, pus sub acuzare în Dosarul Revoluției. Urmărirea penală, extinsă . Digi24 . 17 April 2018 . Romanian.
14. Web site: Liviu Dragnea: Guvernul a decis mutarea efectivă a ambasadei de la Tel Aviv la Ierusalim . Mediafax . Gabriel Pecheanu . 19 April 2018 . Romanian.
15. Web site: Dragnea: Ambasada României din Israel va fi mutată de la Tel Aviv la Ierusalim . Digi24 . 20 April 2018 . Romanian.
16. News: Romania: Pro-govt rally protests anti-corruption 'abuses' . https://web.archive.org/web/20180612161734/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/romania-pro-govt-rally-protests-anti-corruption-abuses/2018/06/09/325eafb0-6c04-11e8-a335-c4503d041eaf_story.html . dead . 12 June 2018 . The Washington Post . Alison Mutler . 9 June 2018.
17. Web site: Leader of Romania's ruling party sentenced for corruption . The Guardian . Andrew MacDowall . 21 June 2018.
18. Web site: Romania's PSD-ALDE government survives vote of no confidence in Parliament . Business Review . Ovidiu Posirca . 27 June 2018.
19. Web site: Cod roșu de inundații. Sute de persoane evacuate din calea apelor. Digurile au fost întărite . Știrile Pro TV . 30 June 2018 . Romanian.
20. Web site: UPDATE - Doi bărbați au murit luați de viituri, numărul victimelor inundațiilor a ajuns la patru. 4 drumuri naționale rămân închise. Carmen Dan: Au fost afectate 185 de localități din 35 de județe, situația s-a stabilizat. FOTO . News.ro . 1 July 2018 . Romanian.
21. News: A început Marșul Centenarului: 1300 de km de la Alba Iulia la Chișinău. Cotidianul. 2 July 2018. ro. 12 April 2020. 12 April 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200412200000/https://cotidianul.md/2018/07/02/a-inceput-marsul-centenarului-1300-de-km-de-la-alba-iulia-la-chisinau/. dead.
22. Web site: Romanian Prosecutor Who Took On Entrenched Corruption Is Fired . The New York Times . Kit Gillet . 9 July 2018.
23. Web site: O întreagă familie luată de viitură, în Tulcea. Cum au fost găsiți cei 4 membri . Știrile Pro TV . 11 July 2018 . Romanian.
24. News: Moldova to Allow Opposing Protests in Capital. Mădălin. Necșuțu. Balkan Insight. 31 August 2018.
25. News: VIDEO // De la Alba Iulia, la Chișinău: Marșul Centenarului a ajuns în Piața Marii Adunări Naționale. jurnal.md. 1 September 2018. ro.
26. News: Romanian constitutional ban on same sex marriage fails on low vote turnout. Luiza. Ilie. Reuters. 7 October 2018.
27. News: Referendum special pentru 300.000 de români. Digi24. 6 October 2018. ro.
28. News: "DA", pentru Olt-Romanați!. Alin. Dorobanțu. Ziarul de Olt. 19 September 2018. ro.
29. News: Referendumul din Olt a eșuat, deși prezența a fost mai mare decât la referendumul pentru familie. Petre. Dobrescu. Libertatea. 7 October 2018. ro.
30. News: A picat și referendumul "Olt-Romanați". Cotidianul. 8 October 2018. ro.
31. Web site: UPDATE: Bucharest stock market crashes as investors worry about new taxes in 2019; Banca Transilvania lost almost 20 pct of its value . Business Review . Sorin Melenciuc . 19 December 2018.
32. Web site: 'Touch Me Not' wins Golden Bear top prize at Berlin film festival . Reuters . Michelle Martin . 24 February 2018.
33. Web site: "Un pas în urma serafimilor", marele câștigător la Premiile Gopo 2018 . Premiile Gopo . 28 March 2018 . Romanian . 18 April 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180418225351/http://www.premiilegopo.ro/stiri/un-pas-n-urma-serafimilor-marele-ctigtor-la-premiile-gopo-2018 . 18 April 2018 . dead .
34. Web site: Ioan Aurel Pop este noul presedinte al Academiei Romane: in 2012, s-a delimitat de verdictul de plagiat dat de colegii din CNATDCU lui Ponta . HotNews . Raluca Pantazi . 5 April 2018 . Romanian.
35. Web site: Reprezentanții României nu s-au calificat în finala Eurovision 2018, pentru prima dată după 14 ani . Adevărul . Alexandra Constanda . 11 May 2018 . Romanian.
36. Web site: 'Bucharest Pride' 2018: A victory for tolerance . DW . 10 June 2018.
37. Web site: French Open - Halep wins first Grand Slam title . BBC Sport . 9 June 2018.
38. Web site: Halep lifts first Grand Slam trophy at Roland Garros . WTA . Stephanie Livaudais . 9 June 2018.
39. http://armeniconstanta.ro/in-memoriam-garabet-kumbetlian/ In Memoriam Garabet Kumbetlian
40. https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/aharon-appelfeld-holocaust-survivor-who-chronicled-its-traumas-dies-at-85/2018/01/04/b26a4e20-f162-11e7-97bf-bba379b809ab_story.html Aharon Appelfeld, Holocaust survivor who chronicled its traumas, dies at 85
41. http://www.teatrultanase.ro/iN_MEMORIAM_Lucky_Marinescu_12_07_1934___10_01_2018_angajata_la_Teatrul_Savoy_Bucuresti_din_anul_1954-pfl2828.html IN MEMORIAM Lucky Marinescu (12.07.1934 - 10.01.2018), angajată la Teatrul Savoy București din anul 1954
42. http://adevarul.ro/locale/cluj-napoca/amurit-istoricul-nicolae-edroiu-marturisirea-facuta-urma-8-anisuntmandru-m-am-nascut-roman-traiesc-romania-1_5a565af7df52022f75604aed/index.html Academician Nicolae Edroiu died in front of the History Institute in Cluj-Napoca
43. Papadima volume . European Journal of Mathematics . . September 2, 2020. 10.1007/s40879-020-00423-y . Dimca . Alexandru . Alexandru Dimca. Păunescu . Laurențiu . Suciu . Alexander I. . 6 . 3 . 619–623 . 240805169 . free .
44. Web site: Elisabeta Isanos, traducătoare a lui Eminescu. Schiță de portret. ro. Crai Nou. Doina. Cernica. November 8, 2019. April 6, 2023.
45. https://www.romania-insider.com/attila-verestoy-dies/ One of the richest senators in Romania dies at age 63
46. Web site: A murit Neagu Djuvara. Cine a fost și ce a însemnat pentru cultura și istoria României. ro. Digi24. January 25, 2018. April 6, 2023.
47. https://passages.winnipegfreepress.com/passage-details/id-252771/SEHON_ALEC Alec H. Sehon
48. Web site: Florin Nicolae Diacu: Obituary. Legacy.com.
49. http://www.mytex.ro/stiri/546-expres/569775-a-murit-printul-serban-cantacuzino.html A murit Prinţul Şerban Cantacuzino
50. http://foter.ro/cikk/20180228_elhunyt_tasnadi_istvan_kolozsvari_sulyemelo_olimpikon Elhunyt Tasnádi István kolozsvári súlyemelő olimpikon
51. https://news.uchicago.edu/article/2018/03/13/peter-freund-particle-physicist-and-fiction-writer-1936-2018 Peter Freund, particle physicist and fiction writer, 1936–2018
52. https://sport.hotnews.ro/stiri-fotbal-22332111-fostului-international-ion-voinescu-decedat-varsta-88-ani.htm Fostul international Ion Voinescu a decedat la varsta de 88 de ani
53. https://www.digisport.ro/special/s-a-stins-din-viata-nicolae-tilihoi-fost-mare-jucator-al-craiovei-415777 S-a stins din viaţă Nicolae Tilihoi, fost mare jucător al Craiovei. Marți va fi înmormântat
54. https://www.click.ro/vedete/romanesti/barbatul-care-ajutat-o-pe-aimee-iacobescu-cand-toti-i-au-intors-spatele Bărbatul care a ajutat-o pe Aimée Iacobescu, când toţi i-au întors spatele
55. http://www.agerpres.ro/flux-documentare/2015/07/29/documentar-actrita-carmen-stanescu-implineste-90-de-ani-07-55-36 Actrița Carmen Stănescu împlinește 90 de ani
56. News: Fostul ministru Florea Dumitrescu a murit la 91 de ani . . 2018-04-16 . 2018-05-10 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180416233906/https://www.libertatea.ro/stiri/fostul-ministru-florea-dumitrescu-a-murit-la-91-de-ani-2218211 . 2018-04-16 . live.
57. Web site: A murit academicianul Dinu C. Giurescu. ro. Historia. September 19, 2020.
58. http://www.maszol.ro/index.php/belfold/95775-meghalt-doina-cornea Meghalt Doina Cornea
59. http://eletmod.transindex.ro/?hir=23238 Elhunyt Bréda Ferenc költő, író, műfordító - a Transindex.ro portálról
60. http://evz.ro/lucian-pintilie-murit-regizor.html A Murit Lucian Pintilie. Marele Regizor avea 84 de ani.
61. Web site: Plecarea cărturarului diplomat  - Academician Mircea Malița. ro. academiaromana.ro. Romanian Academy. May 22, 2018. April 6, 2023.
62. http://www.mediafax.ro/politic/a-murit-hildegard-puwak-fost-ministru-al-integrarii-europene-in-guvernul-nastase-17231595 A murit Hildegard Puwak, fost ministru al Integrării Europene în guvernul Năstase
63. Web site: Alexandru Jula a murit. Cântărețul avea 83 de ani. Stirile Pro TV. 3 June 2018. ro. 22 January 2021.
64. http://www.trauerforum-altkreis.de/traueranzeige/karlfritz-lauer Karl Fritz Lauer
65. http://ece.ucsd.edu/press-clips/passing-of-professor-emeritus-applied-physics-herman-harry-wieder Passing of Professor Emeritus in Applied Physics, Herman "Harry" Wieder
66. Web site: Odihnește-te în pace Horațiu Nicolau!. June 21, 2018. 12 September 2022. 12 September 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220912171659/https://www.clubulrapid.ro/odihneste-te-in-pace-horatiu-nicolau/. dead.
67. Web site: In Memoriam Gernot Nussbächer. Arhivele Nationale. 22 June 2017. ro. 22 January 2021.
68. https://www.cancan.ro/milionarul-joseph-serrousi-murit-omul-de-afaceri-avea-85-de-ani-19803182 Milionarul Joseph Seroussi A Murit! Omul De Afaceri Avea 85 De Ani
69. http://www.csasteaua.ro/ultimul-salut/ Ultimul salut
70. https://www.digisport.ro/special/a-decedat-bujor-halmageanu-fost-campion-cu-steaua-in-1968-562788 A decedat Bujor Hălmăgeanu, fost campion cu Steaua în 1968
71. http://szabadsag.ro/-/elhunyt-a-magyar-holokausztkutatas-doyenje-randolph-l-braham Elhunyt a magyar holokausztkutatás doyenje, Randolph L. Braham
72. https://www.prosport.ro/sport-life/special/a-murit-mircea-petescu-unul-dintre-primii-impresari-ai-anilor-90-omul-care-i-a-dus-pe-hagi-la-real-madrid-si-gica-popescu-la-psv-eindhoven-fostul-capitan-de-la-uta-suferea-de-alzheimer-17787161 A murit Mircea Petescu, unul dintre primii impresari ai anilor '90, omul care i-a dus pe Hagi la Real Madrid şi Gică Popescu la PSV Eindhoven. Fostul căpitan de la UTA suferea de Alzheimer
73. https://nypost.com/2018/12/18/singer-songwriter-anca-pop-dies-in-danube-river-car-crash/ Singer-songwriter Anca Pop dies in Danube River car crash