Following the first round of the presidential elections in Romania, held on May 4, 2025, two candidates with opposing political views advanced to the second round: far-right nationalist George Simion and pro-European Nicușor Dăn.
According to data from Romania’s Central Election Bureau, after almost all ballots were counted:
George Simion, leader of the Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR) party, received 40.96% of the vote (3,862,404 voters).
Nicușor Dăn, an independent candidate and mayor of Bucharest, received 20.99% of the vote (1,979,711 voters).
The candidate from the ruling PSD-PNL-UDMR coalition, Crin Antonescu, lost to Dan towards the end of the vote count and did not make it to the second round.
The second round of elections is scheduled for May 18, 2025.
Political views of the candidates
Djordje Simion
Leader of the far-right AUR party, Simion is known for his nationalist and Eurosceptic rhetoric. His main positions include:
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Skepticism toward the EU and NATO: Criticizes EU leadership and opposes greater integration.
Opposition to military aid to Ukraine: Believes that Romania should not provide military aid to Ukraine.
Support for the idea of a Greater Romania: Advocates restoring Romania’s pre-World War II borders, including territories in Moldova and Ukraine.
Proximity to Donald Trump’s ideology: expresses support for the former US president and his policies.
Simeon has also stated his intention to include Calin Georgescu, who was previously barred from participating in the elections due to allegations of pro-Russian ties, in his government.
Nicușor Dăn
The current mayor of Bucharest, Dan positions himself as a pro-European reformer. His key positions:
Support for Romania’s membership in the EU and NATO: advocates strengthening ties with Western allies.
Fighting corruption: emphasizes the need for reforms and transparency in public administration.
Improving urban infrastructure: as mayor, he has focused on developing the urban environment and improving the quality of life for citizens.
Impact on domestic and foreign policy
The election results could significantly influence Romania’s course:
If Simion wins:
A shift away from the pro-European course and a strengthening of nationalist policies are possible.
Potential deterioration of relations with the EU and neighboring countries, especially in the context of territorial claims.
If Dan wins:
Maintaining and strengthening ties with the EU and NATO.
In March, the State Tax Service (STS) began actively monitoring money transfers to the bank accounts of Ukrainians who sell goods online. The tax authorities recorded 1.4 million transactions totaling 1.6 billion hryvnia in less than a month. Additional attention was drawn to 11,000 Ukrainians who received more than 50 transfers to their accounts. The average check for such transactions was 1,142 hryvnia.
The Tax Service recorded 1.4 million transactions totaling 1.6 billion hryvnia in less than a month, from March 1 to 20. Eleven thousand people who received more than 50 transfers in 2025 came under scrutiny.
On average, there were 127 transfers per person during this period. However, in some cases, the number of transactions per recipient reached several hundred. At the same time, the average check for such transactions was 1,142 hryvnia.
It should be noted that on March 1, 2025, the State Tax Service (STS) began actively monitoring money transfers to the bank accounts of Ukrainians who sell goods online. The new control tool — access to the RRO data accounting system — allows for the automatic identification of individuals and entrepreneurs who systematically receive funds but are not registered as entrepreneurs or do not use cash registers.
Currently, the STS has not brought such persons to justice. However, the risks for violators are serious. For example, the fine for operating without registration can range from 17,000 to 85,000 UAH with confiscation of property. Additionally, up to 200% of the value of goods or services that were sold without using a cash register.
In general, monitoring covers individuals who regularly receive funds for goods/services (especially through marketplaces or social networks) and sole proprietors who have not registered a cash register, although they are required to do so.
At the same time, the Tax Service does not take into account one-time sales of personal items through OLX or similar platforms or marketplaces.
https://opendatabot.ua/analytics/dps-personal-research
DTEK Kyiv Grids has completed almost 40% of the repairs planned for 2025 to prepare the city’s energy infrastructure for stable operation during peak consumption periods, in particular during the heat wave or autumn and winter.
“We have already completed almost 40% of the activities planned for 2025. In particular, we have repaired more than 90 transformer substations of different voltage classes and completed more than 300 repairs of cable lines,” the company said, citing Denys Bondar, CEO of DTEK Kyiv Electricity Grids.
In total, in 2025, the power engineers of the transmission system operator plan to carry out repairs at six high-voltage substations, as well as 802 distribution and transformer points. In addition, it is planned to repair almost 60 kilometers of overhead power lines, 60 transformers, 217 switches and carry out 2,150 repairs on underground cable power lines.
As noted in the company, the power engineers of the capital conduct inspections, diagnostics of equipment and electrical lines, in particular, using thermal imagers, mobile electrical laboratories, analysis of technical fluids, etc. and, based on the data obtained, identify weaknesses where an accident may occur.
As reported, last year DTEK Kyiv Electricity Networks repaired and reconstructed 797 power facilities and 62 km of power lines and performed 5 thousand repairs of cable lines, investing almost UAH 1 billion in these projects.
In April 2025, Ukraine exported 4.1 million tons of agricultural products, which is 23.4% less than the same indicator of the previous month, according to the Ukrainian Agribusiness Club.
“Such dynamics of export reduction is typical for this season. The vast majority of the grown products have already been exported, and there are still small volumes for export,” the analysts explained.
Experts noted that almost all groups of goods in April 2025 show a decline in exports. The only exception is vegetable oils, the export volumes of which are growing. This is due to the atypical situation on the Ukrainian sunflower oil market, whose production volumes were stretched over time this year.
According to them, in April 2025, the structure of agricultural exports was dominated by vegetable oils, which amounted to 525.8 mln tons, up 6% compared to the previous month. At the same time, sunflower oil accounted for 91% of exports, and soybean oil – 9%.
Grain exports decreased by 33% and amounted to 2.4 mln tons, with corn accounting for 65%, wheat – 32%, barley – 2%; oilseeds – by 3% to 421.2 thsd tonnes. tons (soybeans – 78%, rapeseed – 20% and flax – 1%), cake after extraction of vegetable oils – by 14% to 423.0 thousand tons (sunflower – 73%, soybean – 27%), other types of agricultural products – by 2% to 357.0 thousand tons.
PrJSC “Ukrainian Financial Housing Company” (Ukrfinzhytlo), which manages the state program “eOselya”, increased its assets by 54% to UAH 93.76 billion in 2024.
According to the company’s annual financial statements posted in the information disclosure system of the National Securities and Stock Market Commission (NSSMC), its revenues increased by 25.7% last year to UAH 10.3 billion, while expenses increased 2.7 times to UAH 2.73 billion.
The company’s retained earnings at the end of 2024 amounted to UAH 9.5 billion.
As of December 31, 2024, financial investments in the company’s securities amounted to UAH 68.9 billion, and loans for UAH 12.9 billion were received. The company’s net profit increased by 5% to UAH 6.2 billion.
In 2024, Ukrfinzhytlo reportedly issued UAH 14.4 billion in loans to partner banks to finance the eHouse program, including by quarter: first quarter – UAH 3.7 billion; second quarter – UAH 4.3 billion; third quarter – UAH 3.3 billion; fourth quarter – UAH 3 billion.
In addition, in 2024, the company paid UAH 3.3 billion in favor of the state to the budgets of all levels and other target funds in the form of taxes, fees and other mandatory payments.
“Ukrfinzhytlo also plans to distribute UAH 1.87 billion in dividends from its net profit for 2024 to the state budget.
As reported, the eOselya affordable mortgage lending program was launched in Ukraine in October 2022. Contract servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, employees of the security and defense sector, healthcare workers, teachers, and scientists can apply for a preferential mortgage at 3% per annum for up to 20 years with a down payment of 20% of the cost of housing. Starting from August 1, 2023, war veterans, combatants, internally displaced persons (IDPs) and citizens who do not own housing exceeding the standard area can apply for the eHouse program at a 7% interest rate.
Under the terms of the program, privileged categories of participants can buy housing in a house under construction and houses not older than 10 years (in the capital and regional centers), while other participants can buy housing in a house not older than three years or a building under construction. IDPs can participate in “eHouse” at 7% per annum and purchase housing less than 10 years old or under construction throughout Ukraine, where the program operates.
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine amended the terms of eHouse by Resolution No. 939 of August 16. In particular, starting from September 19, eRestoration certificates can be used as a down payment for the purchase of housing under eHouse, property rights to private houses under construction can be purchased, and interest rates have been increased after 10 years of loan servicing. Starting from October 19, the down payment for young people under the age of 25 was reduced (from 10%).
The program involves 11 partner banks: state-owned Oschadbank, PrivatBank, Ukrgasbank, Sens Bank, Sky Bank, Credit Dnipro Bank, Globus Bank, Tascombank, Bisbank, and Radabank.
In total, as of May 1, 16,600 families have become homeowners since the launch of the eHouse preferential mortgage program in 2022, with the total amount of loans received amounting to UAH 27.302 billion.
