May 8, 2025
A roundup of domestic and world news
Newsroom, 08.05.2025, 13:55
Depreciation – The National Bank of Romania (BNR) on Thursday quoted a new historic exchange rate of 5.1222 lei to the euro. This increase is the result of the first round of the presidential election held on May 4, when the sovereigntist George Simion, the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) candidate, obtained 40.96% of the votes, followed by the independent Nicuşor Dan, the mayor of Bucharest, with 20.99%. The BNR intervened on the foreign exchange market, but the pressure towards the depreciation of the leu remains very high. This was also confirmed by the European Central Bank, which reported that the euro had exceeded the psychological threshold of 5 lei on the interbank market, a benchmark that had been firmly defended by the BNR until now. A higher exchange rate directly affects services and products imported or expressed in euros, such as mobile phone subscriptions, excise taxes applied by the state on some products, the car market, the real estate market, as well as many foods, as Romania is dependent on imports.
Infringement – The European Commission has opened an infringement procedure against Romania for failing to introduce certain European provisions into national energy legislation. The Commission said that Bucharest is restricting the freedom of gas producers to set their wholesale prices on the market. The EC believes that the measure maintained by the Romanian executive is detrimental to the internal market and consumers. Romania now has two months to respond and take the necessary measures. Otherwise, the Commission says it will refer the case to the Court of Justice of the European Union.
Weather – The National Meteorological Administration on Thursday issued a Yellow Code Alert for showers and storms, valid until Friday morning in 21 counties in Romania and in Bucharest. It also issued an alert for significant rainfalls targeting most regions. In the southern counties, torrential showers, frequent electrical discharges and short-term wind intensifications (gusts of 50 – 70 km/h) will be reported. The amounts of water will be 15 – 25 liters/sq.m. and in small areas of 30 – 50 liters/sq.m. and in some places there will be storms and hail. At the same time, until Friday, at 10:00, a weather alert for torrential showers and significant amounts of water will be in force in most of the country. In the mountainous area, at altitudes over 1,500 meters, sleet and snow will be reported especially in the northern Eastern Carpathians where a layer of snow will be reported.
Motion – Senators from S.O.S. Romania, the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) and the Party of Young People (POT) representing the nationalist opposition, have submitted, in the plenum of the Senate, a simple motion against the health minister, the social democrat Alexandru Rafila, whom they accuse of poor management of the vaccination policy. The signatories to the document also accuse the relevant ministry of incorrect payment of the night shifts/on call services and claim that family doctors have been transformed into civil servants, through the large number of forms and papers they have to fill out daily. The motion will be debated and voted on Monday afternoon, in the Senate plenary session. According to the Parliament’s rules of procedure, the adoption of a simple motion does not entail the resignation or dismissal of the minister concerned.
Europe Day – On the occasion of Europe Day, on Friday, the debate “Together – Romania and our Europe: present and future” will take place in Bucharest, an event dedicated to reflecting on Romania’s European path and the common values shared within the EU, the Presidential Administration announced. The event will bring together approximately 200 guests, including 150 students and pupils in their final year of high school, ambassadors of the European Union member states accredited in Romania, as well as representatives of European institutions: the European Commission, the European Parliament, the European Investment Bank. Among the main speakers are Roxana Mînzatu, Vice-President of the European Commission, and Ramona Chiriac, Head of the European Commission Representation in Romania.
Victory – Parades and other events are taking place in the victorious countries of World War II on Thursday to mark the 80th anniversary of the Allied victory over Nazi Germany, dpa reports. In the United Kingdom, a service was held at Westminster Abbey, the church in London where British monarchs are crowned, and a large concert. The military parade, which was also attended by the royal family, took place on Monday. In France, President Emmanuel Macron marked the day by laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier under the Arc de Triomphe in Paris and attending the military parade on the Champs Elysees. Because of the war with Russia, Ukraine has not planned any major official events for Victory Day, with Thursday being considered the Day of Remembrance and Reconciliation. In general, Ukrainians currently celebrate the victory on May 8, like most Europeans, not on May 9, the date marked by the Soviets and later by the Russians.
Handball – The Romanian men’s handball team meets, this evening, on home ground, in Constanţa (southeast), the Portuguese national team, in a match from Group 8 of the second phase of the 2026 European Championship qualifiers. According to coach George Buricea, ‘with a victory, therefore with 2 points, Romania can qualify for the European Championship with a 99% chance.’
EP – The European Parliament has adopted a position of principle on the future multiannual budget of the European Union. The lead rapporteur on the file, MEP Siegfried Mureşan, says that the European Parliament wants more funds for defense and economic competitiveness, in line with the priorities of Europeans in the latest Eurobarometer. Two other priorities are the common agricultural policy and the cohesion policy, as well as facilitating access to money, Siegfried Mureşan said. The European Commission is to propose the draft budget in the summer, after which the Parliament and the Council will start negotiations.
Rome – A second plume of black smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel chimney on Thursday afternoon, indicating that the new Pontiff was not chosen from among the 133 cardinals taking part in the conclave. The cardinal electors of the Catholic Church are participating in the second day of the conclave to elect a successor to Pope Francis, ANSA reported. The first plume of smoke to rise from the Sistine Chapel chimney on Wednesday was black. Pope Francis died on April 21, on Easter Monday, at the age of 88, after 12 years at the helm of the Catholic Church. (LS)
