Editing Romania (section)

=== Romania since 1989 ===
{{Main|Romanian Revolution of 1989|}}
[[File:Revolutia_Bucuresti_1989_000.JPG|thumb|Tanks and [[Miliția (Romania)|Miliția]] on the [[Bulevardul Magheru|Magheru Boulevard]] in [[Bucharest]] during the revolution]]
In the context of the fall of communism throughout Eastern Europe during the [[revolutions of 1989]], a protest in support of [[Reformed Church in Romania|Reformed pastor]] [[László Tőkés]] that began in December 1989 in [[Timișoara]] quickly escalated into a national uprising against the communist regime, ultimately resulting in the [[Trial and execution of Nicolae and Elena Ceaușescu|execution of Ceaușescu]] and his wife [[Elena Ceaușescu|Elena]] on 25 December 1989.<ref>[http://www.learnromanian.ro/romana/Romania-istorie.php History of Romania] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121101215818/http://www.learnromanian.ro/romana/Romania-istorie.php |date=2012-11-01 }} – Learn Romanian – Accessed 15 March 2009</ref>

An interim council composed of figures from civil society and former communist officials assumed control of the government, and [[Ion Iliescu]] became the provisional president of the country. The new government reversed many of the authoritarian communist policies<ref>{{cite web|last=Carothers|first=Thomas|title=Romania: The Political Background|url=http://www.idea.int/publications/country/upload/Romania,%20The%20Political%20Background.pdf|quote="This seven-year period can be characterized as a gradualistic, often ambiguous transition away from communist rule towards democracy."|access-date=2008-08-31}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last=Hellman|first=Joel|title=Winners Take All: The Politics of Partial Reform in Postcommunist|journal=Transitions World Politics|volume=50|issue=2|year=1998|pages=203–234|doi=10.1017/S0043887100008091 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.infoghidromania.com/istoriaromaniei.html Info Ghid Romania] – History – Accessed 15 March 2009</ref> and dismissed several leaders of the former regime, although still influenced by members of the former regime (the basis for the [[Golaniad]]'','' and [[Mineriads]]).

==== Return to democracy ====
In [[1990 Romanian general election|May 1990]], the first free elections in Romania since [[1937 Romanian general election|1937]] elections were held, with Iliescu of the [[National Salvation Front (Romania)|National Salvation Front]] winning the presidency with 85% of the vote. In [[1992 Romanian general election|1992]], he was reelected in the first election after the adoption of [[Constitution of Romania|a permanent constitution]] via [[1991 Romanian constitutional referendum|a referendum]] held [[1991 Romanian constitutional referendum|the previous year]]. Illiescu lost the [[1996 Romanian general election|1996 election]] to [[Emil Constantinescu]], but returned to power in [[2000 Romanian general election|2000]]. [[Traian Băsescu]] was elected president in [[2004 Romanian general election|2004]] and [[2009 Romanian presidential election|2009]], serving until [[2014 Romanian presidential election|2014]] at which point [[Klaus Iohannis]] succeeded him, being re-elected in [[2019 Romanian presidential election|2019]] and serving until [[2025 Romanian presidential election|2025]]. During these years several events occurred. In 2009, the country was bailed out by the [[International Monetary Fund]] as result of the [[Great Recession in Europe]] following the [[2008 financial crisis|2008 global financial crisis]].<ref name="igber">{{cite news|last1=Reguly|first1=Eric|title=In Gold Blood|url=https://www.newsweek.com/gold-blood-251438|publisher=Newsweek|date=20 May 2014|access-date=21 March 2021|archive-date=21 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210421213916/https://www.newsweek.com/gold-blood-251438|url-status=live}}</ref>

The post-1989 period has been characterised by the privatisation and closure of several former industrial and economic enterprises from the communist period were closed,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rtsa.ro/tras/index.php/tras/article/download/97/93|title=Deindustrialization and Urban Shrinkage in Romania. What Lessons for the Spatial Policy?|first=Claudia|last=Popescu|access-date=8 October 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161231182636/http://rtsa.ro/tras/index.php/tras/article/download/97/93|archive-date=31 December 2016 }}</ref> while [[Corruption in Romania|corruption]] has been a [[Corruption in Romania|major issue]] in contemporary politics.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-romania-corruption-mayors/romanias-powerful-mayors-tumble-in-corruption-crackdown-idUKKCN0RV3IO20151001|title=Romania's powerful mayors tumble in corruption crackdown|first=Luiza|last=Ilie|newspaper=[[Reuters]]|date=October 2015|access-date=15 August 2018|archive-date=16 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180816025624/https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-romania-corruption-mayors/romanias-powerful-mayors-tumble-in-corruption-crackdown-idUKKCN0RV3IO20151001|url-status=live}}</ref>

A [[National Anticorruption Directorate]] was formed in the country in 2002.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Direcția Națională Anticorupție |url=http://www.pna.ro/about_us.xhtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230502100056/https://www.pna.ro/about_us.xhtml |archive-date=2 May 2023 |access-date=5 September 2023}}</ref> During the 2000s, Romania had one of the highest economic growth rates in Europe and has been referred at times as "the Tiger of Eastern Europe".<ref name="autogenerated2">{{cite web |title=Adevarul |url=http://www.adevarul.ro/articole/romania-tigrul-estului/354061 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080920030429/http://www.adevarul.ro/articole/romania-tigrul-estului/354061 |archive-date=20 September 2008 |access-date=25 September 2010 |publisher=Adevarul.ro}}</ref> This has been accompanied by a significant improvement in living standards as the country successfully reduced domestic poverty and established a functional democratic state.<ref name="hdrstats.undp.org">[http://hdrstats.undp.org/en/countries/country_fact_sheets/cty_fs_ROM.html Human Development Report 2009 – Country Fact Sheets – Romania] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101131652/http://hdrstats.undp.org/en/countries/country_fact_sheets/cty_fs_ROM.html|date=1 November 2013}}. Hdrstats.undp.org. Retrieved on 21 August 2010.</ref><ref>[http://www.mdgmonitor.org/factsheets_00.cfm?c=ROM&cd=642# Tracking the Millennium Development Goal] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131126063611/http://www.mdgmonitor.org/factsheets_00.cfm?c=ROM&cd=642|date=26 November 2013}}. MDG Monitor. Retrieved on 21 August 2010.</ref> However, Romania's development suffered a major setback during the [[Great Recession|late 2000s' recession]] leading to a large gross domestic product contraction and a budget deficit in 2009.<ref name="wsj4dec09">{{cite news |author=Joe Parkinson |date=4 December 2009 |title=Romania Faces Crucial Vote |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB125988241065975639 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170710033758/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB125988241065975639 |archive-date=10 July 2017 |newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]]}}</ref> This led to Romania borrowing from the International Monetary Fund.<ref>{{cite web |title=Romania and the IMF |url=https://www.imf.org/en/Countries/ROU |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150409084621/https://www.imf.org/external/country/ROU/index.htm |archive-date=9 April 2015 |website=IMF}}</ref> Worsening economic conditions led to [[2012 Romanian constitutional crisis|unrest]] and triggered a political crisis in 2012.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Gheorghe Stoica |author2=Lavinia Stan |title=Romanian Politics in 2012: Intra-Cabinet Coexistence and Political Instability |url=http://www.seejps.ro/volume-i-number-iii-ideologies-and-patterns-of-democracy/38-romanian-politics-in-2012-intra-cabinet-coexistence-and-political-instability.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140224152657/http://www.seejps.ro/volume-i-number-iii-ideologies-and-patterns-of-democracy/38-romanian-politics-in-2012-intra-cabinet-coexistence-and-political-instability.html |archive-date=24 February 2014 |work=South-East European Journal of Political Science}}</ref>

Since 2014, Romania launched an anti-corruption effort that led to the prosecution of medium- and high-level political, judicial and administrative offenses by the [[National Anticorruption Directorate]].<ref name=":0">{{cite web |title=2015 Investment Climate Statement - Romania |url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/e/eb/rls/othr/ics/2015/241712.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221205183454/https://2009-2017.state.gov/e/eb/rls/othr/ics/2015/241712.htm |archive-date=5 December 2022 |access-date=17 August 2015 |work=The US Department of State}}</ref> In 2015, massive [[2015 Romanian protests|anti-corruption protests]] which developed in the wake of the [[Colectiv nightclub fire]] led to the resignation of prime minister [[Victor Ponta]].<ref>"[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-34720183 Romania PM Ponta resigns over Bucharest nightclub fire] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151115091112/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-34720183|date=15 November 2015}}". [[BBC News]]. 4 November 2015.</ref> During 2017–2019, in response to measures which were perceived to weaken the fight against corruption, some of the [[2017–2019 Romanian protests|biggest post-1989 protests]] took place in Romania, with over 500,000 people protesting nationwide.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-38876134|title=Huge Romania rally despite decree repeal|date=6 February 2017|work=BBC News|access-date=15 August 2018|archive-date=12 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180812033239/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-38876134|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-romania-protests/thousands-of-romanians-rally-against-ruling-partys-judicial-overhaul-idUSKBN1DQ0T3|title=Thousands of Romanians rally against ruling party's judicial overhaul|first=Radu-Sorin|last=Marinas|newspaper=Reuters|date=26 November 2017|access-date=15 August 2018|archive-date=16 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180816061556/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-romania-protests/thousands-of-romanians-rally-against-ruling-partys-judicial-overhaul-idUSKBN1DQ0T3|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":0" />

In 2021, [[2021 Romanian political crisis|a political crisis]] ensued, leading to the outsting of [[Florin Cîțu]]'s [[Cîțu Cabinet|incumbent government]]. The [[Ciucă Cabinet]] then took power, with Romania since having experienced a shift towards [[authoritarianism]] and [[illiberalism]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sirbu |first=Laurentiu |date=20 February 2023 |title=PNL și PSD împing România către un regim autoritar. Amendamentul surpriză din legea anti-ONG, folosit împotriva presei. "Ne ducem într-o direcție foarte periculoasă" |url=https://www.fanatik.ro/pnl-si-psd-imping-romania-catre-un-regim-autoritar-amendamentul-surpriza-din-legea-anti-ong-folosit-impotriva-presei-ne-ducem-intr-o-directie-foarte-periculoasa-20316603 |access-date=14 April 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=29 June 2022 |title=Degradare accelerată și fără precedent a democrației în regimul Iohannis-Ciucă. România e redusă la tăcere, PNL se PSD-izează rapid |url=https://www.g4media.ro/degradare-accelerata-si-fara-precedent-a-democratiei-in-regimul-iohannis-ciuca-romania-e-redusa-la-tacere-pnl-se-psd-izeaza-rapid.html |access-date=14 April 2023 |website=G4Media.ro}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Andrei |first=Cristian |date=1 August 2022 |title=Analiză &#124; Riscul democrației iliberale în România. Umbra serviciilor, plagiat, presă plătită de partide și proiecte secrete |url=https://romania.europalibera.org/a/riscul-democrației-iliberale-in-romania-modelul-ungariei/31965186.html |access-date=14 April 2023 |work=Europa Liberă România |via=romania.europalibera.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=7 December 2021 |title=România iliberală? Va aduce coaliția PSD-PNL-UDMR reformele necesare sau se va îngriji doar de clientela politică? |url=https://www.bihon.ro/stirile-judetului-bihor/romania-iliberala-va-aduce-coalitia-psd-pnl-udmr-reformele-necesare-sau-se-va-ingriji-doar-de-clientela-politica-3868914/ |access-date=14 April 2023}}</ref> as well as an increased [[Corruption in Romania|corruption]]. Around this time, Romania was also hit by the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Romania|COVID-19 pandemic]]. In the [[2024 Romanian presidential election|2024 presidential election]], Independent candidate [[Călin Georgescu]] achieved a surprise win in the first round. However, the [[Constitutional Court of Romania|Constitutional Court]] annulled the election results, citing [[Accusations of Russian interference in the 2024 Romanian presidential election|Russian meddling]]. The cancellation led to [[2024–2025 Romanian election annulment protests|far-right protests]], [[2025 JD Vance speech at the Munich Security Conference|criticism]] by the [[Second presidency of Donald Trump|Trump administration]], and [[Ilie Bolojan]] becoming acting president in February 2025 as Iohannis resigned to political pressure.<ref name="Chao-Fong">{{Cite news |last1=Chao-Fong |first1=Léonie |last2=Krupa |first2=Jakub |last3=Chao-Fong |first3=Léonie |last4=Krupa |first4=Jakub |date=February 14, 2025 |title=Zelenskyy demands 'real security guarantees' before peace talks; Vance accused of 'trying to pick a fight' with EU – as it happened |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/feb/14/russia-ukraine-war-peace-vladimir-putin-volodymyr-zelenskyy-donald-trump-munich-security-conference-europe-news?page=with:block-67af4b688f08101b5631d57f&filterKeyEvents=false#liveblog-navigation |access-date=February 15, 2025 |work=[[The Guardian]] |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>