section_path: Other boycotts and boycott plans/Romania
section_name: Romania
paragraph_text: Romania
  
  Boycott calls also appeared in Romania. Romanian political figures such as Călin Georgescu, the frontrunner in the canceled 2024 Romanian presidential election, and former prime minister Victor Ponta, called on fellow citizens to initiate a boycott on 10 February that would last until 16 February. They asked for supermarkets to be boycotted not only for high prices but also for allegedly not selling Romanian products, opting instead to buy local products to encourage the national economy and promote domestic food security. Furthermore, they desired to have Romanian prices and food quality to be more in line with that of Western Europe. Companies called to be boycotted included Lidl, Kaufland, Carrefour, Mega Image, Profi and Penny Market. Romania had one of the highest inflation rates in the European Union in 2023, at 5.1%, leading to price increases for vegetables, fruits and detergents. As of 12 February, the boycott had had limited following, with a large number of Romanians continuing to shop from supermarkets. Furthermore, an anti-boycott movement appeared on social media in response to the involvement of extremist parties in the boycott.