Călin Georgescu remains the favorite for the presidential election in Romania

Călin Georgescu, who won the annulled first round of the presidential elections in November 2024 as an independent candidate, remains the favorite for the position with 45% support among Romanians, according to a sociological survey by the Sociopol agency conducted between February 10 and 14, BTA reported. He is followed by former Prime Minister and Social Democrat Victor Ponta as an independent candidate, who receives 16% support. The candidate of the ruling coalition, Crin Antonescu, the mayor of Bucharest, Nicușor Dan (an independent candidate), and the leader of the opposition Save Romania Union, Elena Lasconi, have 10% support. The support for the leader of the far-right Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), George Simion, is 6%, and for the MEP and leader of the far-right party "SOS Romania" Diana Șoșoacă - 2%. The presidential elections in Romania are scheduled for May 4 (first round) and May 18 (second round). Georgescu's supporters are planning protests for February 21 and 22 against the decision to annul the 2024 presidential vote and schedule new elections.

Consumer protest in Croatia moves in front of the National Bank

Protest of consumers under the slogan "Five minutes of warning silence", organized by the “Hello Inspector" platform, was held on February 20 in front of the headquarters of the Croatian National Bank. Similar protests were held in 20 other Croatian cities, national television HRT reported. The discontent is caused by the rise of prices of goods and services, the highest inflation in the EU, the inaction of the Croatian National Bank and state authorities, the greed of banks and telecommunications operators, as well as poverty and social injustice, the organizers say. According to Croatian media, many citizens prefer to travel to the markets in Slovenia and Italy, where the prices of some goods are lower.

Greece building gas interconnector with North Macedonia

The construction of the new Greece-North Macedonia gas pipeline has begun. Company Terna is working on the preliminary activities on the Greek part of the project, the Greek information portal "Energy Mag" reported, quoted by BGNES. The budget of the National Natural Gas System Operator DESFA for the gas pipeline Nea Mesimvria – Gevgelija is 92 million euros. The project is expected to be completed in the spring of 2026. "A whole gas pipeline will be built, which will pass from Greece through North Macedonia and Serbia to Hungary, Austria and Central Europe. The project that generations of politicians before us have mentioned will be completed. With this North Macedonia will take a central place in gas supplies in Central Europe," Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport of North Macedonia Aleksandar Nikoloski said in September 2024.

The most serious problem for Turks is the rising cost of living

A survey on life satisfaction in 2024 conducted by the Turkish Statistical Institute shows that 49.6% of Turks were happy. 14.5% of respondents felt unhappy.

The same survey indicates that the most serious problem for people in the country in 2024 was the rising cost of living. This is what 29.2% of respondents think. The problems in the education system are second– 15.7%. Poverty is in third place - 14%.

From Belgrade to Budapest by train in less than 3 hours in 2026

It is expected that a high-speed railway line will be completed by 2026, making the trip from Belgrade to Budapest just 2 hours and 40 minutes long. The line is 350 km long. This became clear after the meeting of the presidents of Serbia and Hungary – Aleksandar Vučić and Tamás Sulyok in Budapest, Tanjug has reported. The connection will be serviced by 9 trains manufactured by Chinese company CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles. According to Vučić, the Belgrade-Budapest line will be the best in all of Europe and will boost tourism between the two countries.

Compiled by: Miglena Ivanova

Publication in English: Al. Markov

Photos: adevarul.ro, vijesti.hrt.hr, republika.mk, tr.investing.com, makronom.eu