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 2008 elections resulted in a virtual tie between the center-right PD-L and the center-left PSD parties, with each holding between 34%-37% of the seats in each chamber. The ruling center-right PNL party finished a distant third, and PNL Prime Minister Calin Tariceanu resigned. After intense negotiations among various configurations of the PD-L, PSD, and PNL, a majority PD-L-PSD coalition government was formed in December 2008 with Emil Boc as new Prime Minister. Among the new government’s top priorities is addressing the effects of global economic turmoil on Romania’s economic development, and coping with significant fiscal challenges facing the Romanian Government’s budget.
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. However, the UDMR is not a member of the current coalition
government. 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--Emil Boc
Minister of Foreign Affairs--Cristian Diaconescu
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.
