GOVERNMENT
Romania's
1991 constitution proclaims Romania a democracy and market economy,
in which human dignity, civic rights and freedoms, the unhindered
development of human personality, justice, and political pluralism
are supreme and guaranteed values. The constitution directs the
state to implement free trade, protect the principle of competition,
and provide a favorable framework for production. The constitution
provides for a President, a Parliament, a Constitutional Court
and a separate system of lower courts that includes a Supreme
Court.
The two-chamber
Parliament, consisting of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate,
is the law-making authority. Deputies and senators are elected
for 4-year terms by universal suffrage. Elected officials at all
levels of government, with the exception of the President and
mayors, are selected on the basis of party lists, with parliamentary
seats, city and county council representation, all allocated in
proportion to party choices made by the electorate.
The president
is elected by popular vote for a maximum of two terms. The length
of the term was extended from four to five years in an October
2003 constitutional referendum. He is the Chief of State, charged
with safeguarding the constitution, foreign affairs, and the proper
functioning of public authorities. He is supreme commander of
the armed forces and chairman of the Supreme Defense Council.
According to the constitution, he acts as mediator among the power
centers within the state, as well as between the state and society.
The president nominates the prime minister, who in turn appoints
the government, which must be confirmed by a vote of confidence
from Parliament.
The Constitutional
Court adjudicates the constitutionality of challenged laws and
decrees. The court consists of nine judges, appointed for non-concurrent
terms of 9 years. Three judges are appointed by the Chamber of
Deputies, three by the Senate, and three by the president of Romania.
The Romanian
legal system is based on the Napoleonic Code. The judiciary is
to be independent, and judges appointed by the president are not
removable. The president and other judges of the High Court of
Cassation and Justice are appointed for terms of 6 years and may
serve consecutive terms. Proceedings are public, except in special
circumstances provided for by law.
The Ministry
of Justice represents "the general interests of society"
and defends the legal order as well as citizens' rights and freedoms.
The ministry is to discharge its powers through independent, impartial
public prosecutors.
For territorial
and administrative purposes, Romania is divided into 41 counties
and the city of Bucharest. Each county is governed by an elected
county council. Local councils and elected mayors are the public
administration authorities in villages and towns. The county council
is the public administration authority that coordinates the activities
of all village and town councils in a county.
The central
government appoints a prefect for each county and the Bucharest
municipality. The prefect is the representative of the central
government at the local level and directs any public services
of the ministries and other central agencies at the county level.
A prefect may block the action of a local authority if he deems
it unlawful or unconstitutional. The matter is then decided by
an administrative court.
Under
legislation in force since January 1999, local councils have control
over spending of their allocations from the central government
budget, as well as authority to raise additional revenue locally.
POLITICAL
CONDITIONS
November 2004 elections left the Romanian parliament closely divided between the center-right PNL-PD alliance and the PSD, which each hold between 30-40% of the seats in each chamber. The PNL-PD, however, forged a parliamentary majority with the support of the UDMR, PC and (in the lower house) the ethnic minority party representatives. The extreme nationalist PRM won fewer seats than in the 2000 elections, but remained a significant political player. Although the PNL and PD voted as a bloc in the parliament and ran candidates on a common list in the 2004 parliamentary elections, the two parties remained separated. On several occasions since 2005, President Traian Basescu has publicly expressed support for snap parliamentary elections. Parliamentary leaders have steadily opposed calling new elections.
After Romania's accession to the European Union on January 1, 2007, the
cooperation between PD President Basescu and PNL Prime Minister Tariceanu
devolved into political infighting. The political turmoil resulted in a rupture
of the PD-PNL alliance in April 2007, the 30-day suspension of the President in
May, and the President's campaign to force a change from party list
representational voting to single-member districts. After the country's first
elections to the European Parliament in November 2007, PD took in a Liberal
splinter group to become the PD-L. Prime Minister Tariceanu continues to head a
minority government in coalition with the UDMR and with the tacit support of the
Socialist opposition.
Political parties represent a broad range of views and interests, and elected officials and other public figures freely express their views. Civil society watchdog groups remain relatively small but have grown in influence. The press is free and outspoken, although there have been incidents of politically motivated intimidation and even violence against journalists and media management, particularly prior to 2004 national elections. Independent radio networks have proliferated, and several private television networks now operate nationwide. In addition, a large number of local private television networks have emerged.
Through support of or participation in consecutive government coalitions, the
UDMR has ensured the continuing influence of the ethnic Hungarian minority in
national government. In addition, consecutive governments have sought to improve
the socio-economic situation of the Roma minority, which continues to suffer
from severe poverty in many areas and discrimination. Although according to
government statistics Roma officially represent 2.5% of the population, Romani
organizations claim the percentage is actually several percentage points higher.
The restitution of private and religious property seized under communism or during World War II continues to move slowly. Particularly problematic is the return of Greek-Catholic churches, which were given to the Romanian Orthodox Church by the communist regime. The Romanian Orthodox Church thus far has turned over very few of these churches, many of which had belonged to the Greek Catholic community for hundreds of years. Romania has repealed communist-era legislation criminalizing homosexual acts and banned xenophobic and racist groups and their activities. Romanian law does not prohibit women's participation in government or politics, but societal attitudes remain a significant barrier. Women hold some high positions in government and roughly 10% of the seats in each chamber in the Parliament.
Principal
Government Officials
President of Romania--Traian Basescu
Prime Minister--Calin Popescu Tariceanu
Minister of Foreign Affairs--Lazar Comanescu
Romania
maintains an embassy in
the United States at 1607 23rd St., NW, Washington, DC 20008 (tel.
202- 232-3694, fax: 202-232-4748).
Type: Republic.
Constitution: December 8, 1991, amended by referendum October 18-19, 2003.
Branches: Executive--president (head of state), prime minister (head of government), Council of Ministers. Legislative--bicameral Parliament. Judicial--Constitutional Court, High Court of Cassation and Justice, and lower courts.
Subdivisions: 41 counties plus the city of Bucharest.
Political parties: Political parties represented in the Parliament are the Social Democratic Party (PSD); the National Liberal Party (PNL); the Democratic Liberal Party (PD-L); the Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania (UDMR); the Conservative Party (PC); the Greater Romania Party (PRM). Other political parties include National Democratic Christian Peasant Party (PNTCD), the New Generation Party (PNG), National Initiative Party (PIN) as well as political organizations of minorities.
Suffrage: Universal from age 18.
Defense: 1.9% of GDP.
