The national currency depreciated on Thursday against the euro, which was calculated by the National Bank of Romania (BNR) at 5.1222 lei, on the rise by 2.31 bani (0.45%) against the previous quotation of 5.0991 lei, recording a new historic high. The leu also lost ground against the US dollar, which was quoted at 4.5369 lei, on the rise by 4.71 bani (+1.05%), against Wednesday, when it was 4.4898 lei. The national currency depreciated against the Swiss franc, calculated by BNR at 5.4930 lei, on the rise by 4.64 bani (0.85%) against 5.4466 lei, the previous quotation, recording a historic high. A gram of gold depreciated against the Swiss franc, calculated by BNR at 5.4930 lei, on the rise by 4.64 bani (0.85%) compared to 5.4466 lei, the previous quotation, recording a historic high. A gram of gold got cheaper at 487.0692 lei, from 487.1276 lei, at the previous session. In an effort to curb the currency’s decline, the National Bank has intervened in the market, leading to a notable rise in interest rates. The three-month ROBOR index surged to 7.25%, the highest level since January 2023. Over the past few days, the central bank has spent at least 7 billion euros to stabilize the currency. Despite attempts to soften his rhetoric and position himself as “Romania’s Meloni,” George Simion has so far failed to ease public or investor concerns. Simion has announced plans to form a government composed of the far-right AUR and POT parties if he wins the second round of the presidential elections on May 18. A poll published on Wednesday shows Simion with 38.9% support, compared to 31.3% for Nicusor Dan. Another 14.7% of respondents were undecided, while 8.9% declined to answer. Excluding undecided and non-respondents, the results suggest Simion could secure 55.4% of the vote, with Dan at 44.6%, according to the Verified Institute. The possibility of early elections has raised concerns in Romania’s business community, as the process could take several months, prolonging political instability. Interim Minister for European Funds Marcel Bolos said on Thursday that there are no discussions about a potential agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), adding that IMF involvement typically comes with “harsher reforms” than those outlined in Romania’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan.He also expressed hope that this emotional reaction from markets and investors would subside soon. Romania currently has the highest budget deficit in the European Union — 8.65% of GDP in 2024, up from 5.61% in 2023. The cost of servicing state debt remains very high due to the country's weak credit ratings (Fitch: BBB-, S&P Global: BBB-, Moody’s: Baa3).
Romanian deep-tech startup .lumen, the developer of what it says are the world’s first AI-powered glasses for the blind, has secured a new investment from EIT Urban Mobility, the European innovation community focused on advancing sustainable and inclusive urban mobility solutions. The value of the new funding round was not disclosed. The investment aligns with […]
The health spending per capita in Romania was the lowest in the EU, with spending less than half the EU average in 2023, the recently released report, State of Health in the EU - Romania Country Health Profile 2025, shows. At the same time, life expectancy in Romania is 5.1 years below the EU average, […]
Romania’s annual inflation rate stood at roughly 9.8% in November 2025, similar to October, according to data published by the National Institute of Statistics (INS). Food prices increased by 7.6% last month, while services rose roughly 11% and non-food goods climbed 10.7%. The consumer price index rose by 0.42% in November compared with October, while […]
Three French soldiers deployed in Romania as part of NATO’s Multinational Battle Group at Cincu intervened to save a truck driver following a serious traffic accident on the A3 Bucharest–Ploiești motorway, the Romanian Ministry of Defense said. The incident occurred earlier this week as the soldiers were traveling toward Ploiești and witnessed the truck crash...
Eight contemporary art galleries will present the works of the artists they represent at the third edition of the Smallest Art Fair in Town, an event dedicated to works on paper. This edition showcases works “investigating the state of wandering, disorientation, and rediscovery in the face of uncertainty.” Under the title In Dark Woods, A […]
Parents everywhere are asking an important question: What skills will truly prepare a child for a world defined by rapid change, global uncertainty, and the rise of artificial intelligence? For decades, schools focused entirely on academics. Today, research from neuroscience, performance psychology, and leading universities shows a different reality: The students who thrive long-term are […]
