The exchange rate climbed on Tuesday towards the 5.1 lei/euro threshold, and this depreciation will be seen in higher prices for various products and services, interest rates have risen and are likely to remain high, which makes investors and the business environment have some legitimate concerns, said the executive director of the Concordia Employers' Confederation, Radu Burnete. 'After a long period of stability for the exchange rate (1-2 years), today we have seen a rapid rise towards the 5.1 leu/euro threshold, amid growing pressures on the foreign exchange market. The central bank has made efforts and intervened recently to defend the exchange rate, but this could not be done indefinitely. The depreciation of the leu will be seen in higher prices for various products and services (telephone, gas, petrol, etc.), which means higher inflation. However, Romanian products will become more competitive for export, which could help to reduce the trade deficit and balance Romania's external situation', Burnete explained. According to him, interests could be kept at a high level, due to the need to finance the state.'Amid all this uncertainty, interest rates have risen and are likely to remain high, given the government's pressing need for financing in the context of a very high deficit. The moment is a sensitive one, and investors and the business environment have some legitimate concerns,' Radu Burnete pointed out. The Stock Exchange in Bucharest reacted negatively at the results of the first round of presidential elections and at the changes on the political scene, while interests which indicate the cost of loans increased, and the exchange rate of leu/euro surpassed the psychological threshold of 5 lei on Tuesday.According to the BNR data, the euro was quoted to 5.0378 lei on Tuesday, up by 6.03 bani (1.21%) against the previous quotation, of 4.9775 lei, registering a historic maximum.The three-month ROBOR index, which is used to calculate the cost of variable-rate consumer loans in lei, rose to 6.08% p.a. from 5.90% p.a. in the previous session.
A new CURS poll published on Sunday, June 29, shows that if local elections were held in Bucharest next Sunday, reformist party USR would obtain 27%, followed by the Social Democratic Party (PSD) with 22%, and far-right party Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) with 18%. The National Liberal Party (PNL) comes in fourth, […]
Last week, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Bucharest indicted three individuals for an EUR 100 million fraud in a case involving both EU and national funds. Among those indicted is an Italian citizen, alleged to be the leader of the group, which operated between 2019 and 2024. The suspect was detained on February […]
The number of building permits for residential buildings increased by 0.6% in the first five months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, with 14,134 such permits issued, according to data published Monday by the National Institute of Statistics. Increases were recorded in the Western region (+166 permits), Center (+70), North-West (+68), South-East […]
Cluj-Napoca, a major city in Romania’s Transylvania region, is taking a step toward becoming a more animal-friendly city, as a new proposal allowing pets in public institutions has been opened for public debate. Mayor Emil Boc announced the initiative, stating, “A city that is friendly to animals is a better city for people.” The draft […]
The president of S.O.S. Romania, Diana Iovanovici Șoșoacă, announced on Monday, June 30, that three senators were expelled from the party, effectively disbanding the party’s group in the Senate. According to the Romanian Parliament’s regulations, a party must have more than seven members to establish a group in the Senate. With the expulsion of the […]
Chinese social media platform TikTok has reportedly opened a branch in Romania, following public criticism, along with governmental and EU-level scrutiny, after Romania’s last presidential elections. The local company is called Tik Tok Romania, has a share capital of RON 5,000, and provides other IT-related service activities. It will be managed by Laura Andreea Savu, […]
