Political system of Romania

1. Political system of Romania Political systems in South-Eastern Europe POL 268 Věra Stýskalíková

2. Character of the regime Nicolae Ceauşescu became head of the Communist Party in 1965 and head of state in 1967. Ceauşescu propagated the independent foreign policy (protested against the invasion of Warsaw pact into Czechoslovakia The regime could be compared in its brutality only to Hoxha regime in Albania: a massive force of secret police (the "Securitate"), censorship, massive relocations By 1984, despite high crop yield and food production, food rationing was introduced on a wide scale (the government promoted it as "a means to reduce obesity" and "rational eating"). Bread, milk, butter, cooking oil, sugar, pork, beef, chicken, and in some places even potatoes were rationed in most of Romania by 1989, with rations being made smaller every year (by 1989, a person could legally buy only 10 eggs per month, half to one loaf of bread per day, depending on the place of residence, or 500 grams of any kind of meat. According to a decree of 1988, all public spaces had to be kept to a temperature of no more than 16 degrees Celsius

3. Beginning of the transition The protests began in Timisoara and spred throughthout the country 24.12.1989 The dictator was with his wife sentenced by special military court and shot The Front of the national salvation set up the government Instabil situation, rebelling students, miners, conflict between Romanians and the Hungarians, some parties propagated the idea of Greater Romania The Constitution approved in December referendum 1991 – 77 % of the voters voted for the new Constitution

4. Transition – domination of postcommunist parties till 1996 March 1992 marked the split of the FSN into two groups: the Democratic National Salvation Front, led by Ion Iliescu (FDSN) and the Democrat Party (PD), led by Petre Roman. Iliescu won the presidential elections in September 1992 by a clear margin, and his party, the FDSN, won the general elections held at the same time. With parliamentary support from the nationalist PUNR (National Unity Party of Romanians), PRM (Greater Romania Party) , and the ex-communist PSM (Socialist Workers' Party), a new government was formed in November 1992 under Prime Minister Nicolae Văcăroiu, an economist and former Communist Party official. The FDSN changed its name to Party of Social Democracy in Romania (PDSR) in July 1993. The Văcăroiu government ruled in coalition with three smaller parties. This coalition dissolved before the November 1996 elections. This coincided with the bankruptcy of the Caritas pyramid scheme, a major scandal at the time in Romania.

5. Elections 1996 The right won the elections and started the economic reforms, liberalisation, privatisation, restructuralisation, no more subsidies for the enterprises Drop of the standard of living led to nationalism The relations between the Romanians and the Hungarians remained cold and hostile Corruption Clientelism The government issued the decret governing – issuing of decrets without the approval of the parliament, the constitution allowes that only in exceptional extraordinary cases

6. Elections in 2000 Re-turn to the left: The 2000 elections, brought Iliescu's PSD (Social Democratic Party) back to power and Iliescu himself won a third term as the country's president. Adrian Năstase became the Prime Minister of the newly formed government. His rule was shaken by recurring allegations of corruption. The postcommunist social democrats led by Ion Iliescu agreed in following the reform course

7. Elections in 2004 National union of Social democrats and Humanist party of Romania won 132 seats Coalition of the right Justice and Truth Alliance won 112 seats Greater Romania party 48 Hungarian democratic Union of Romania 22 Minor ethnic parties each 1 seat

8. Integration into euroatlantic structures Romania joined NATO in 2004, and the country is scheduled to join the European Union (EU), alongside Bulgaria, in 2007. The EU accession treaty was signed on April 25, 2005 at Luxembourg.

9. president The President of Romania shall be elected by universal, equal, direct, secret and free suffrage. No one may hold the office of President of Romania for more than two terms that can also be consecutive. The term of office of the President of Romania is five years. The President of Romania safeguards the observance of the Constitution and the proper functioning of the public authorities. To this effect, he shall act as a mediator between the Powers in the State, as well as the State and society. The Chamber of Deputies and the Senate may decide the impeachment of the President of Romania for high treason, in joint session, based on the votes of at least a third of the number of Deputies and Senators.

10. parliament Symetrical bicameralism Senat 143 MPs (proportional system, min. 35 years old, d ´Hondt) NAtional assembly (346 MPs: 324 proportional system + 19 seats reserved for ethnic minorities, which are not able to pass the threshhold, min. 23 years old) 4 years term Threshold 5 %; 8 % for coalition of 2 parties, 9 % for coalition of 3 parties and 10 % threshold for coalistion of 4 and more parties.