Romania grapples with near‑10% inflation and demands for an anti‑austerity government

Eurostat data show that Romania recorded a 9.7% annual inflation rate in May, the highest among EU members and almost three times the bloc's 3.3% average. Inflation has risen steadily from 8.3% in February to 9.7% in May, driven by internal production shortfalls and wage‑price imbalances, according to economist Adrian Mitroi.

The Social Democratic Party (PSD) in Botoșani warned that ten months of falling purchasing power have left families cutting expenses, farmers unable to obtain credit and children going to school hungry. Party vice‑president Marius Budăi said, "We need an executive that works for the people, not against them," and outlined demands for a new government: halt austerity measures, no new taxes on low‑income earners, price caps on basic goods, higher minimum wages and indexed pensions, and support for vulnerable groups.

Both reports highlight the mounting cost‑of‑living pressure on Romanian households and the political push for policy changes to curb the inflation‑driven hardship.