The political direction of the country directly influences capital, investor confidence and the future of each business, claims Cristina Chiriac, president of the National Confederation for Women’s Entrepreneurship (CONAF), noting that female entrepreneurship, especially in the area of ​​SMEs, is the first to feel the effects of an uncertain political climate.

“Romania is preparing to vote in the second round of the presidential elections, in a context in which economic fragility and social polarization are reaching a critical threshold. We no longer have the luxury of treating the elections as a symbolic exercise or of voting with the ease of those who believe that the stakes are abstract. As a doctor of economics and an entrepreneur, but also as president of the largest organization dedicated to female entrepreneurship in Romania, I can say with all responsibility: the political direction of the country directly influences capital, investor confidence and the future of each business. Female entrepreneurship, especially in the area of ​​SMEs, is the first to feel the effects of an uncertain political climate: more difficult access to financing, sudden legislative changes, postponements of government support programs,” said Cristina Chiriac.

According to her, Romania’s economy is strongly integrated into the European single market. In 2023, over 71% of the country’s exports were to European Union countries, according to INS and Eurostat data. Active European funds, including those from the PNRR, available in the 2021-2027 financial year, exceed 40 billion euros and support vital projects for infrastructure, education, health and green transition.

“Any signal of political instability, any flirtation with euroscepticism or isolationist discourses can endanger the country’s rating, investment attraction and even the exchange rate. These are not abstract theories: they are direct effects, already felt in economies that have decoupled from the European space. Relevant examples are Hungary or Poland, which have faced rating fluctuations and investor concerns due to political decisions,” said Cristina Chiriac, according to Agerpres.

She noted that stock markets react quickly to uncertainty and stated that, in Romania, the recent fluctuations in benchmark indices prove, once again, that the capital market is the most sensitive barometer of political decisions. Investors react to figures and to the signals transmitted by public discourse. There is an interdependent relationship between political stability and investor confidence. Elections are not isolated events: they chart real trajectories for the market, currency, capital.

“What happens if we deviate from the European direction? A president who sabotages international partnerships or sends contradictory messages to the EU and NATO can lead to: decreased investor confidence, increased financing costs, legislative instability and, implicitly, blockages in the private sector. For small and medium-sized enterprises, for entrepreneurs who live off fair contracts and development plans, the lack of fiscal and political predictability is a major risk, not a theoretical scenario. And for the state? A budget under pressure, with revenues affected by the departure of capital and the decline in consumption. In this context, promises to increase pensions and salaries become simple statements without coverage,” says Cristina Chiriac.

She argues that, although the president does not have direct prerogatives in fiscal policy, he profoundly influences the economy by appointing the prime minister, by external positioning, by vetoing certain laws or by referring matters to the Constitutional Court.

In his opinion, Romania needs a president who understands the balance between sovereignty and international cooperation, between political will and financial discipline. We need leaders who can create trust – both in business and in society. Especially now, when inflation remains a threat, private investment needs protection, and our competitiveness depends on the ability to attract know-how and capital, not repel them.

“My call is simple. It is not a moment for anger. It is a moment for lucidity. For responsibility. I urge you to go to the vote. Choose the European direction. Staying on the European direction means pragmatism, not obedience. It means access to know-how, to the common market, to cheap capital. It means a Romania that matters and decides, not one that contests and loses. Choose stability. Choose a Romania that can be competitive, connected and dignified. The future is not guaranteed. It is won. It is built step by step, vote by vote, choice by choice,” Cristina Chiriac said.