Editing Politics of Romania (section)

== {{anchor|Developments}}Since 1989 ==

Romania has made considerable progress in institutionalizing [[Democracy|democratic principles]], [[civil liberties]], and respect for [[human rights]] since the [[Romanian Revolution]] in [[Revolutions of 1989|December 1989]]. Nevertheless, many present-day Romanian politicians are former members of the [[Romanian Communist Party]] (PCR) and have also had ties with the Romanian secret police (i.e. [[Securitate|Securitatea]]). Since membership in the party was a requirement for advancement before 1989, many people joined to get ahead rather than because of ideological conviction; however, the communist past of some Romanian politicians remains highly controversial to the current day.

=== 1990–1992 ===

[[File:RO B University square rally.jpg|thumb|right|An anti-communist and anti-FSN rally in University square in Bucharest]]
[[File:Mineriad in early 1990 Bucharest Palatul Victoriei 5.tif|thumb|alt=Demonstration in front of large, square building|February 1990 Mineriad taking place near [[Victoria Palace]] in [[Bucharest]].]]

The Romanian Communist Party (PCR) officially ceased to exist after the December 1989 Romanian Revolution. An [[ad interim]]/[[acting (law)|acting]] government swiftly took office starting in late December 1989 which consisted of [[National Salvation Front (Romania)|National Salvation Front]] (FSN) members and would eventually govern Romania well up until 1992. The FSN had initially not decided to run in the 1990 elections but subsequently retracted their initial position and opted to participate in the [[1990 Romanian general election]], having the full support of state-owned media and an overwhelming majority of the voters during the electoral campaign, thereby eventually securing a landslide win.

Prior to the 1990 Romanian general election, over 200 new political parties sprang up just after 1989, most of them gravitating towards their leaders rather than revolving around political programs or full-fledged [[Geopolitics|geopolitical]] agendas. Nevertheless, all major political parties espoused democracy and free market reforms to varying degrees or extents. The largest political party by far, the governing [[National Salvation Front (Romania)|National Salvation Front]] (FSN), proposed slow, cautious economic reforms, and an artificial, weak [[social safety net]] (mostly for the working class of the still operating factories of the [[Heavy industry|heavy industries]]).

In stark contrast, the main opposition parties, more specifically the [[National Liberal Party (Romania)|National Liberal Party]] (PNL) and the [[Christian Democratic National Peasants' Party]] (PNŢCD), favored rapid, sweeping economic reforms, immediate [[privatization]] (which would have caused a [[shock therapy (economics)|shock therapy]]) as well as a drastic reduction and even total exclusion of former Communist Party (PCR) members from public Romanian political life. Apart from PCR members, the early demands of the Romanian historical democratic parties were also the reduction of the undercover members of the former [[Securitate]] (which could have been PCR members as well) from all areas of public life (thereby endorsing the [[Proclamation of Timișoara]] and the lustration law against the former Romanian secret police).

In the [[1990 Romanian general election|1990 presidential and legislative elections]], the FSN and its presidential candidate, [[Ion Iliescu]], won with a large majority of the votes (67.02 and 85.07 percent, respectively). The strongest opposition parties in the [[Senate of Romania|Senate]] were the [[Hungarians in Romania|Hungarian minority-oriented]] [[Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania]] (UDMR/RMDSZ) (with 7.20 percent) and the [[National Liberal Party (Romania)|National Liberal Party]] (PNL) (with 7.06 percent), followed by the [[Christian Democratic National Peasants' Party]] (PNȚCD) with only 2.50 percent and the [[Ecologist Party of Romania|Romanian Ecologist Party]] (with only 1.38 percent) as well other minor centre-right parties (e.g. [[Liberal Union–Brătianu]], [[National Reconstruction Party of Romania]], and the [[Democratic Group of the Centre]]) with less than one percent.

After FSN Prime Minister [[Petre Roman]]'s dismissal a few months before the 1992 general elections (following a late 1991 [[Mineriad]]), the FSN split in two. President Iliescu's supporters formed a new political party, namely the [[Social Democratic Party (Romania)|Democratic National Salvation Front]] (FDSN) which will later turn into PDSR and then PSD, while Roman's supporters retained the FSN name (which will later turn into PD and then PDL respectively).

=== 1992–1996 ===

[[File:Political_parties_in_Romania_after_1989_(2018).png|thumb|right|Flow chart depicting a detailed list of the political parties active in Romania since 1990, along with their afferent secessions and fusions/mergers.]]

The 1992 local, [[1992 Romanian general election|legislative]], and [[1992 Romanian general election|presidential]] elections indicated a major political rift between the [[List of cities and towns in Romania|urban centres]] and the countryside. Rural voters, grateful for the restoration of most agricultural land to farmers but fearful of change, strongly favored President Iliescu and the FDSN; the urban electorate favored the [[Romanian Democratic Convention|CDR]] (a coalition of several parties – the strongest of which were the PNŢCD and the PNL – and several other civic organizations as well) and quicker reform. Iliescu easily won re-election from a field of five other candidates, and the FDSN won a plurality/relative majority of seats in both chambers of the Romanian Parliament.

With the CDR, the second-largest parliamentary group, reluctant to participate in a national-unity coalition, the FDSN (now the [[Social Democratic Party (Romania)|PDSR]]) formed a government under prime minister and economist [[Nicolae Văcăroiu]] with parliamentary support on behalf of the nationalists [[Romanian National Unity Party]] (PUNR) and [[Greater Romania Party]] (PRM) as well as the extreme left-wing [[Socialist Party of Labour]] (PSM) led by former PCR Prime Minister [[Ilie Verdeț]]. The future coalition would be labeled by the press as the "[[Red Quadrilateral]]" (originally known in Romanian as ''Patrulaterul Roșu'').<ref>{{cite web|language=ro|url=https://adevarul.ro/news/politica/patrulaterul-rosu-seintoarce-1_545910960d133766a888fee5/index.html|title="Patrulaterul roşu" se întoarce|author=Sorin Bocancea|work=Adevărul|date=4 November 2014|accessdate=30 January 2022}}</ref>

In January 1994, the governing coalition's stability became problematic when the PUNR threatened to withdraw its support unless it received cabinet portfolios. After intense negotiations, two PUNR members received cabinet portfolios in the Văcăroiu government in August of the same year. The following month, the incumbent Justice Minister also joined the PUNR. Nevertheless, subsequently, the PRM and the PSM left the coalition in October and December 1995, respectively.

=== 1996–2000 ===

The [[1996 Romanian local elections|1996 local elections]] indicated a major shift in the political orientation of the Romanian electorate, with opposition parties sweeping Bucharest and most of the larger cities in [[Transylvania]], [[Banat]], [[Bukovina]], and [[Dobruja]]. The trend continued in that year's [[1996 Romanian general election|legislative]] and [[1996 Romanian general election|presidential]] elections when the opposition dominated the cities and made strong inroads into rural areas previously dominated by President Iliescu and the PDSR (which lost many voters in their traditional stronghold constituencies outside Transylvania).

The opposition campaign emphasized the need to squelch corruption and introduce economic reform favoring liberalization and the free market. This message resonated with voters, resulting in a historical victory for the CDR coalition and the election of [[Emil Constantinescu]] as president (partly due to [[Corneliu Coposu]]'s death as well). To secure its electoral majority, the CDR invited Petre Roman's [[Democratic Party (Romania)|Democratic Party]] (the former FSN) and the UDMR/RMDSZ (representing the Hungarian minority) to join the government. Although over the next four years, Romania had three prime ministers (and despite internal frictions), the governing parties preserved their coalition and initiated a series of much-needed reforms.

=== 2000–2004 ===

Constantinescu stated in 2000 that he is no longer running for a second term, claiming that the system had defeated him. The CDR-led coalition with its new candidate [[Mugur Isărescu]] lost the first round of presidential elections held in November 2000 as a result of popular dissatisfaction with infighting among the constituent parties during the preceding four years and the economic hardship brought about by structural reforms. In the second round, Ion Iliescu, running again as the [[Social Democratic Party (Romania)|Social Democratic Party]] (PSD) candidate, won by a wide margin over extreme nationalist [[Greater Romania Party]] (PRM) candidate [[Corneliu Vadim Tudor]]. Iliescu subsequently appointed [[Adrian Năstase]] Prime Minister. In the Parliament, the PSD government (like its predecessor) relied on the support of the [[Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania|UDMR/RMDSZ]], which did not join the cabinet but negotiated annual packages of legislation and other measures favoring Romania's ethnic Hungarians (essentially through a [[Confidence and supply|confidence and supply agreement]]).

Năstase, in his four years as prime minister, continued the previous government's pro-Western foreign policy. The period was characterized by political stability unprecedented in post-communist Romania and consistent economic growth. Romania joined [[NATO]] in the spring of 2004 and signed an accession treaty to join the EU in 2007. However, the PSD government was plagued by allegations of corruption which would be significant factors in its eventual defeat in local and [[2004 Romanian general election|national elections in 2004]].

In September 2003, the [[Democratic Party (Romania)|Democratic Party]] (PD) and the [[National Liberal Party (Romania)|National Liberal Party]] (PNL) formed an electoral alliance, more specifically the [[Justice and Truth Alliance|Justice and Truth]] (DA) Alliance, as a mainstream opposition bloc to the ruling PSD. The DA Alliance agreed, among other measures, to vote as a bloc in the parliament and local councils and run common candidates in national and local elections. In October 2003, the country held a referendum on several constitutional amendments deemed necessary for EU accession. The amendments included provisions to allow foreigners to own land in Romania and to change the president's term from four to five years.

=== 2004–2008 ===

In 2004, [[Traian Băsescu]], the then-leader of the [[Democratic Party (Romania)|Democratic Party]] (PD), won the [[2004 Romanian general election|presidential election]] by a narrow margin. Băsescu subsequently appointed former national liberal leader [[Călin Popescu-Tăriceanu]] as prime minister. Popescu-Tăriceanu headed a government composed of the [[National Liberal Party (Romania)|PNL]], [[Democratic Party (Romania)|PD]], [[Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania|UDMR/RMDSZ]], and [[Conservative Party (Romania)|PC]] (formerly known as the Romanian Humanist Party or PUR).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://jurnalul.ro/vechiul-site/old-site/english-version/calin-popescu-tariceanu-gets-the-pm-job-54230.html|title=Calin Popescu Tariceanu Gets the PM Job|website=jurnalul.ro}}</ref> In order to secure a parliamentary majority, the coalition government relied on the support of 18 parliamentary seats reserved for ethnic-minority representatives.

The government's narrow majority in the Parliament led to calls for early elections. In July 2005, Prime Minister Popescu-Tăriceanu voiced plans to resign, prompting new elections; he then backtracked, noting his and the cabinet's need to focus on relief efforts for summer floods. During its first year, the government was also tested by a successfully resolved hostage crisis involving three Romanian journalists kidnapped in [[Iraq]] and [[avian influenza]] in several parts of the country, transmitted by wild birds migrating from Asia.

The government's overriding objective was the [[2007 enlargement of the European Union|accession of Romania to the European Union]] (EU), and on 1 January 2007 Romania became the 26th member of the EU. The government also maintained good relations with the United States, signing an agreement in December 2005 which would allow American troops to train and serve at several [[Romanian Armed Forces|Romanian military]] facilities. Băsescu and Popescu-Tăriceanu pledged to combat high-level corruption and implement broader reforms to modernize sectors such as the judicial system and healthcare.

On 19 April 2007, the Romanian Parliament suspended President Băsescu on charges of unconstitutional conduct. The suspension, passed by a 322–108 vote, opened the way for a [[2007 Romanian presidential impeachment referendum|national referendum on impeachment]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/d3be5f1a-ee6e-11db-b5e9-000b5df10621.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/d3be5f1a-ee6e-11db-b5e9-000b5df10621.html |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Romanian parliament suspends president|work=Financial Times|access-date=10 June 2015}}</ref> which failed by a large popular vote, and as such Băsescu was reinstated as President.

=== 2008–2012 ===

The November 2008 parliamentary elections were close, with the [[Social Democratic Party (Romania)|Social Democrats]] (PSD) winning 33.9 percent of the vote, President Traian Băsescu's centre-right [[Democratic Liberal Party (Romania)|Liberal Democrats]] (PDL) taking 32.34 percent, and the ruling [[National Liberal Party (Romania)|National Liberals]] (PNL) receiving 18.6 percent.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=99418|title=Romania Election Results Show Prospect of Tough Coalition Negotiations|access-date=10 June 2015}}</ref> The Liberal Democrats and Social Democrats formed a coalition after the election. Former prime minister Theodor Stolojan withdrew his candidacy for the premiership and President Băsescu nominated [[Emil Boc]], president of the Liberal Democrats, as prime minister.

With the onset of the [[Great Recession]], the Romanian political scene saw tensions between the president and the prime minister on the one hand as well as between the general population on the other hand. Tensions escalated with a [[2012 Romanian constitutional crisis|2012 political crisis]] and another attempt to impeach President Băsescu. In the [[2012 Romanian presidential impeachment referendum|referendum]], more than 7.4 million people (nearly 90 percent) supported Băsescu's removal from office. However, the Constitutional Court invalidated the referendum because the majority of the population did not vote (the voter turnout was 46%); Băsescu had called the referendum a ''[[coup d'état]]'' and asked the public to boycott it. All these events have been heavily criticized by international political figures, most notably by German chancellor [[Angela Merkel]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mediafax.ro/politic/angela-merkel-considera-inacceptabila-incalcarea-statului-de-drept-in-romania-9835221|title=Angela Merkel: Este inacceptabilă încălcarea statului de drept în România. Răspunsul lui Victor Ponta|work=Mediafax|access-date= 19 June 2020|language=ro}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mediafax.ro/politic/cronologie-2012-anul-razboiului-politic-declinul-popularitatii-lui-basescu-vehiculul-electoral-al-usl-10414246|title=2012, anul războiului politic. Declinul popularității lui Băsescu - vehiculul electoral al USL|work=Mediafax|access-date= 19 June 2020|language=ro}}</ref>

=== 2012–2016 ===

[[File:Biblioteca Nationala IMG 6855.JPG|thumb|right|Protest against [[Roșia Montană Project]] in Bucharest in 2013, taking place near the [[National Library of Romania]].]]
[[File:Universitatea Bucuresti IMG 6678.JPG|thumb|alt=Large demonstration, with many tricolor (vertical blue, gold and red) Romanian flags|The 2013 protests against the Roșia Montană Project turned into an anti-government social movement.]]

The [[2012 Romanian legislative election|legislative elections of 9 December 2012]] were seen by the public as an opportunity for change and to oust Băsescu. The [[Social Liberal Union]] (USL) received a large majority in the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate (60.07 and 58.61 percent of the vote, respectively) and a record 395 seats. The new prime minister, [[Victor Ponta]], quickly formed a government but the failure to adopt reforms quickly triggered a wave of [[2012–2015 unrest in Romania|protests]] against a government seen as not fulfilling the promises of the 2012 electoral campaign. Two other projects of national interest (shale drilling and the [[Roșia Montană]] mining project) unleashed [[Roșia Montană protests|more protests]]. The demonstrations, initially ecological in focus, became anti-government protests.

In early 2014, the PNL broke away from the USL and entered opposition. Along with the PDL, the PNL formed the [[Christian Liberal Alliance]] (ACL) to support the candidature of [[Klaus Iohannis]] as [[President of Romania]] and later agreed on a future merger that would retain the name of the National Liberal Party (PNL). Iohannis won a surprise victory in front of the incumbent PM Victor Ponta in the second round of the [[2014 Romanian presidential election|2014 presidential elections]], by a margin of 54.43%.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/nov/16/romania-klaus-iohannis-president|title=Klaus Iohannis wins Romanian presidential election|website=[[TheGuardian.com]] |date=16 November 2014}}</ref> At that time, many [[Romanian diaspora|voters abroad]] were rightfully angry because they were not all given the right to cast their ballots, which represented one of the key reasons for Ponta's defeat.

In late 2015, [[2015 Romanian protests|another series of nationwide protests]] ultimately prompted Prime Minister Victor Ponta's resignation. Shortly afterward, President Iohannis appointed then [[independent politician|independent]]-[[technocracy|technocrat]] [[Dacian Cioloș]] as [[Prime Minister of Romania|Prime Minister]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/elections/news/ex-commissioner-dacian-ciolos-to-be-romania-s-next-pm/|title=Ex-Commissioner Dacian Ciolos to be Romania's next PM|date=5 November 2015}}</ref> who led a likewise independent-technocratic government between late 2015 and early 2017.

=== 2016–2020 ===

[[File:Protest against corruption - Bucharest 2017 - Piata Universitatii - 5.jpg|thumb|right|Massive anti-corruption protest in Bucharest in January 2017 against the then-ruling [[Grindeanu Cabinet|PSD-ALDE socialist government]] led by former PM [[Sorin Grindeanu]].]]

The [[2016 Romanian legislative election|legislative elections of 11 December 2016]] saw a predictable comeback of the PSD as the major party in the Romanian Parliament, as most opinion polls gave them an electoral score of at least 40%. Alongside [[Alliance of Liberals and Democrats (Romania)|ALDE]] (a main splinter group from the PNL), the PSD initially formed a governing coalition under Prime Minister [[Sorin Grindeanu]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/12/30/sorin-grindeanu-named-new-prime-minister/|title = Romania names Grindeanu as prime minister}}</ref>

In early 2017, [[2017 Romanian protests|a series of massive nationwide protests]] (the greatest in Romania's history) requested Grindeanu's resignation and early elections because of the government's secret procedure of giving an ordinance modifying the Penal Code and Penal Procedure Code on the night of 31 January. The PM along with the entire government refused to step down but decided to withdraw the decrees that started the protests on 5 February at the protests' peak.

Approximately four months later, tensions arose between PM Sorin Grindeanu and PSD leader [[Liviu Dragnea]], which ultimately resulted in the loss of political support for the government on behalf of the PSD-ALDE coalition. The PM refused to resign but was eventually dismissed by a motion of no confidence passed by the Parliament with 241 votes (233 minimum needed).

Quickly afterward, [[Mihai Tudose]] was proposed by the socialists for the position of prime minister and was subsequently accepted by president Iohannis.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/en/romanian-president-appoints-social-democrat-mihai-tudose-as-new-pm/a-39428518|title=Romanian president appoints Social Democrat Mihai Tudose as new PM &#124; DW &#124; 26.06.2017|website=[[Deutsche Welle]] }}</ref> However, just after 6 months of governance, he resigned from this dignity. Consequently, the ruling coalition nominated a new Prime Minister candidate in the person of [[Viorica Dăncilă]], a former socialist [[Member of the European Parliament|MEP]] in [[List of members of the European Parliament (2014–2019)|2014–19]] who was also accepted by the state president. She was also the first female Prime Minister of Romania.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-42723492|title = Romania to have first female prime minister, Viorica Dancila|work = BBC News|date = 17 January 2018}}</ref> Subsequently, on 4 November 2019, after a motion of no confidence, the PSD minority government was replaced by a minority cabinet led by the National Liberal Party under [[Ludovic Orban]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://newsd.in/romania-opposition-leader-ludovic-orban-appointed-new-pm/|title = Romania opposition leader Ludovic Orban appointed new PM| date=15 October 2019 }}</ref> Furthermore, in November 2019, President Klaus Iohannis was [[2019 Romanian presidential election|re-elected]] by a landslide (with [[Democratic Forum of Germans in Romania|FDGR/DFDR]], [[USR PLUS]], and [[People's Movement Party|PMP]] support in the second round).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/nov/24/romania-centrist-president-re-elected-by-a-landslide-klaus-iohannis|work=The Guardian|title=Romanian centrist president re-elected by a landslide|date=24 November 2019|accessdate=12 April 2021}}</ref>

This period (i.e. the two years spanning between 2017 and 2019) was marked by governmental mayhem produced by the previous PSD-ALDE ruling coalition regarding their change of PMs as well as their intentions of changing both the Penal Code and the Penal Procedure Code, the Romanian society took to the streets of Bucharest and many other major cities of the country in huge numbers for more than 500 consecutive days in order to oppose the modification of these law packages, prompt early elections, as well as a referendum on the topic of justice.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.libertatea.ro/stiri/cel-mai-mare-protest-fata-de-oug-13-anuntat-pentru-duminica-in-capitala-sunt-asteptati-1-000-000-de-oameni-1734405|title=UPDATE. A șasea zi de proteste, un nou record. Peste 500.000 de oameni au protestat în toată țara / FOTO&VIDEO|work=Ziarul Libertatea|date=5 February 2017|access-date= 19 June 2020|language=ro}}</ref>

=== 2020–2024===

The [[2020 Romanian local elections]] which were held on 27 September were won by the PNL. Nonetheless, on 6 December, the PNL finished second in the [[2020 Romanian legislative election]]. The election was won by the oppositional [[Social Democratic Party (Romania)|Social Democrats]] (PSD) who came in first. Shortly after the official results came out, Orban resigned from his position as PM and was replaced by [[Nicolae Ciucă]] as acting/ad interim PM.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-55222276|title=Romanian PM Ludovic Orban resigns after poor election result|work=BBC|date=7 December 2020|accessdate=15 April 2021}}</ref>

In the meantime, the national liberals proceeded to negotiate the formation of a coalition government alongside USR PLUS and UDMR for a reportedly stable center-right governance for the next four years in Romania. The newly designated PM was therefore [[Florin Cîțu]], a member of the [[National Liberal Party (Romania)|National Liberal Party]] (PNL), who took office on 23 December 2020, after forming a three-party, center-right coalition consisting of the PNL, the [[USR PLUS]], and the [[Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania]] (UDMR/RMDSZ).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.eu/article/florin-citu-romania-national-liberal-party-government-prime-minister|title=Liberal Florin Cîțu put forward to be Romania's next prime minister|date=19 December 2020|accessdate=15 April 2021}}</ref>

Subsequently, in early September 2021, USR PLUS decided to exit the [[Cîțu Cabinet]] and so the three centre-right party alliance was officially disbanded, inadvertently leading to the major [[2021 Romanian political crisis]] which lasted for nearly three months, until [[Nicolae Ciucă]] was invested PM along with the [[Ciucă Cabinet|CNR cabinet]] in late November 2021.<ref>{{cite web|language=ro|url=https://www.digi24.ro/stiri/actualitate/politica/parlamentul-se-intruneste-pentru-votul-de-investire-a-guvernului-nicolae-ciuca-1748869|title=Miniștrii Guvernului Nicolae Ciucă au depus jurământul la Cotroceni. Klaus Iohannis: A fost nevoie să se treacă peste multe orgolii|work=Digi24.ro|author=Bogdan Păcurar|date=25 November 2021|accessdate=12 December 2021}}</ref> On 15 June 2023, [[Marcel Ciolacu]] (PSD) was sworn in as the new Romanian Prime Minister. Rotating premiership had been long agreed as part of a deal by the ruling coalition.<ref>{{cite web |title=Changing of the guard in Romania |url=https://www.kas.de/en/country-reports/detail/-/content/changing-of-the-guard-in-the-coalition |website=kas.de |language=en |date=15 June 2023}}</ref> Since the investment of the [[National Coalition for Romania|CNR]] cabinet, Romania has been experiencing a clear shift towards [[authoritarianism]], [[illiberalism]] and has the characteristics of a [[hybrid regime]] behind a constitutional facade.<ref>{{cite web | 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 | 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" | date=20 February 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | 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 | title=Degradare accelerată și fără precedent a democrației în regimul Iohannis-Ciucă. România e redusă la tăcere, PNL se PSD-izează rapid | date=29 June 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://romania.europalibera.org/a/riscul-democra%C8%9Biei-iliberale-in-romania-modelul-ungariei/31965186.html|title=Analiză &#124; Riscul democrației iliberale în România. Umbra serviciilor, plagiat, presă plătită de partide și proiecte secrete|first=Cristian|last=Andrei|date=1 August 2022|via=romania.europalibera.org}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | 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/ | title=România iliberală? Va aduce coaliția PSD-PNL-UDMR reformele necesare sau se va îngriji doar de clientela politică? | date=7 December 2021 }}</ref>

=== 2024–present===
In 2024, all 4 types of elections took place in Romania, a first in the post-December history of the country. [[2024 European Parliament election in Romania|European Parliament election]] and [[2024 Romanian local elections|the local election]] took place simultaneously on June 9, the European Parliament election being won by the [[National Coalition for Romania|PSD-PNL Alliance]], and the local ones by the [[Social Democratic Party (Romania)|Social Democratic Party]] (which ran separately from the [[National Liberal Party (Romania)|liberals]] in most counties). The European Parliament and local elections also provided positive results for the [[Romanian nationalism|nationalist]] parties such as the [[Alliance for the Union of Romanians]] (AUR) which sent 5 MEPs to the [[European Parliament]] and the more radical formation [[S.O.S. Romania]] which sent 2 MEPs. Also, in these elections, AUR strengthened its position in the territory by winning important seats in the county and local councils. Also, the simultaneous organization of the 2 elections on the same day was also met with problems and reports related to electoral fraud, the biggest scandals that came to the surface after the election were in sector 1 and sector 2 of [[Bucharest]].

[[2024 Romanian presidential election|2024 presidential election]] took place on November 24. The 1st round of the elections provided results that overturned any prediction prior to the election: the [[Independent politician|independent]] and [[Nationalism|nationalist]] candidate [[Călin Georgescu]] won the first round of the elections, obtaining 22.94% of the votes validly cast, followed by [[Elena Lasconi]] who obtained 19.18% of the votes. The 1st round also offered another premiere in the post-1989 history of Romania: [[Social Democratic Party (Romania)|Social Democratic Party]] (PSD) failed to qualify his candidate, [[Marcel Ciolacu]], in the 2nd round, thus losing the elections from the first round. Also, the [[National Liberal Party (Romania)|national-liberals]] obtained their weakest result in post-1989 history, [[Nicolae Ciucă]] obtaining only 8.79% of the votes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.sky.com/story/romania-in-shock-after-far-right-candidate-wins-first-round-of-presidential-election-13260461|title=Romania in shock after far-right candidate wins first round of presidential election|publisher=Sky News|accessdate=2024-12-30|lang=en}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|last=Henley|first=Jon|title=Shock as pro-Russia independent wins first round of Romanian election|date=2024-11-25|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/nov/25/calin-georgescu-romania-election-hard-right-candidate|work=The Guardian|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|access-date=2024-12-30}}</ref> A weak result was also recorded by the president of the [[Alliance for the Union of Romanians]], after it was widely speculated that [[George Simion]] would reach the second round.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/romania-elections-president-europe-nato-a6e3bd3f26272c4a9ab9337789f09da8|title=Far-right populist surprises in Romanian presidential election appearing set to enter runoff|publisher=AP News|date=2024-11-24|accessdate=2024-12-30|lang=en}}</ref> After failing to qualify in the 2nd round, Marcel Ciolacu announced his resignation as leader of the Social Democratic Party on November 25. However, he chose to remain as prime minister until a new government was formed following legislative election on 1 December.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.romania-insider.com/marcel-ciolacu-resigns-leader-psd-presidential-defeat-2024|title=Marcel Ciolacu resigns as leader of Romania’s Social Democrats after presidential defeat, Liberal leadership also under pressure|publisher=Romania Insider|date=2024-11-25|accessdate=2024-12-30|lang=en}}</ref> Amid discussions about the role of social networks and the strong presence of Călin Georgescu, Ciolacu also called for Georgescu's campaign funding on [[TikTok]] to be reviewed, while MEP and [[Renew Europe]] leader [[Valérie Hayer]] asked the TikTok CEO to answer questions about the platform's role in the elections before the [[European Parliament]], citing the [[Digital Services Act]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.politico.eu/article/elections-tiktok-ceo-eu-parliament-romania-election-fake-accounts-pro-russia-calin-georgescu-nato-shock-victory/|title=TikTok CEO summoned to European Parliament over role in shock Romania election|publisher=POLITICO|date=2024-11-26|accessdate=2024-12-30|lang=en-GB}}</ref> Klaus Iohannis, convened the meeting of the [[Supreme Council of National Defence (Romania)|Supreme Council of National Defense]], on the subject of possible risks to national security generated by the actions of some state and non-state cyber actors on some IT&C infrastructures, during the presidential elections. The CSAT meeting took place at the Cotroceni Palace on November 28, 2024.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://adevarul.ro/politica/iohannis-a-convocat-csat-pe-tema-unor-posibile-2404751.html|title=Iohannis a convocat CSAT pe tema unor posibile riscuri la adresa securității naționale în contextul alegerilor|publisher=adevarul.ro|date=2024-11-27|accessdate=2024-12-30|lang=ro}}</ref> [[Constitutional Court of Romania]] had a deadline for validating the first round of the presidential election on November 28, 2024. The electoral campaign for the second round of voting began on November 29 and ended on December 7, at 07:00.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.agerpres.ro/politica/2024/11/25/prezidentiale2024-validarea-primului-tur-de-catre-ccr-si-inceperea-campaniei-electorale-repere-ale-acestei-saptamani--1392886|title=Prezidențiale2024/ Validarea primului tur de către CCR și începerea campaniei electorale -..|publisher=www.agerpres.ro|accessdate=2024-12-30|lang=ro}}</ref> On November 28, 2024, the Court has decided recounting all votes of the 1st round of presidential election.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.digi24.ro/stiri/actualitate/politica/ccr-discuta-astazi-doua-cereri-de-anulare-a-primului-tur-al-alegerilor-prezidentiale-3024023|title=Fără precedent: CCR a cerut BEC renumărarea celor peste 9,4 milioane de voturi din primul tur prezidențial|publisher=www.digi24.ro|date=2024-11-28|accessdate=2024-12-30|lang=ro}}</ref> Following the recount, the first round was validated.<ref>{{Citation|last=Vulcan|first=Dora|title=CCR a validat primul tur al prezidențialelor. Turul doi, pe 8 decembrie. Ce spun cei doi candidați. Pregătiri pentru viitoarea guvernare|date=2024-12-03|url=https://romania.europalibera.org/a/ccr-a-validat-primul-tur-al-prezidentialelor-romanii-pot-merge-la-vot-in-turul-doi-pe-8-decembrie/33224009.html|work=Europa Liberă România|language=ro|access-date=2024-12-30|last2=Grădinaru|first2=Anca}}</ref> However, on December 4, 2024, President Iohannis declassified the CSAT documents that confirmed the involvement of a foreign state actor in the elections.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://hotnews.ro/iohannis-a-declasificat-documentele-prezentate-in-sedinta-csat-despre-calin-georgescu-sri-a-gasit-797-de-conturi-create-in-2016-conservate-si-activate-la-capacitate-maxima-1853640|title=Iohannis a declasificat documentele din CSAT. SRI a găsit 797 de conturi TikTok create în 2016 pentru Georgescu, conservate și „activate” în campania electorală / Tik Tok a recunoscut că a încasat 381.000 de dolari - HotNews.ro|date=2024-12-04|accessdate=2024-12-30|lang=ro-RO}}</ref> The new evidence forced the Constitutional Court to make the decision to annul the first round and entirely restart the electoral process, unprecedented decision in Romania's history.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.digi24.ro/alegeri-prezidentiale-2024/curtea-constitutionala-a-decis-anularea-primului-turul-al-alegerilor-prezidentiale-3036247|title=Curtea Constituțională a anulat alegerile prezidențiale și a decis că tot procesul va fi reluat de la zero. Principalele reacții|publisher=www.digi24.ro|date=2024-12-06|accessdate=2024-12-30|lang=ro}}</ref> Following the annulment of the elections, the stock indices started to rise<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.digi24.ro/stiri/economie/cresteri-de-peste-3-la-bursa-de-valori-bucuresti-ca-urmare-a-anularii-alegerilor-prezidentiale-3036551|title=Creșteri de peste 3% la Bursa de Valori București, ca urmare a anulării alegerilor prezidențiale|publisher=www.digi24.ro|date=2024-12-06|accessdate=2024-12-30|lang=ro}}</ref> after a few days of decline.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://hotnews.ro/bursa-romaneasca-isi-continua-scaderea-minus-de-aproape-3-in-deschidere-1853149|title=Bursa românească își continuă scăderea: minus de peste 3% în deschidere - HotNews.ro|date=2024-12-04|accessdate=2024-12-30|lang=ro-RO}}</ref>

[[2024 Romanian parliamentary election|2024 parliamentary election]] took place on December 1. They took place within a relatively tense context and [[Political polarization|polarization]] in society as a result of the events that followed the 1st round of the presidential elections on November 24 such as the [[2024 Romanian anti-extremism protests|anti-extremism demonstrations]] and the counter-demonstrations of Călin Georgescu's supporters.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://hotnews.ro/tinerii-se-mobilizeaza-pentru-a-treia-zi-de-proteste-impotriva-lui-calin-georgescu-si-anunta-o-alta-locatie-in-bucuresti-piata-victoriei-1846763|title=VIDEO Proteste anti-Georgescu în București și alte orașe. Aproape 2.500 de participanți în Piața Victoriei: „SRI, rușine mare, ești complice la trădare” / Un presupus susținător al lui Georgescu, în mijlocul manifestanților pro-democrație / Contramanifestație la Universitate: „Rusia nu ne-ar ataca niciodată” - HotNews.ro|date=2024-11-27|accessdate=2024-12-30|lang=ro-RO}}</ref> The parliamentary election were won by the ruling [[Social Democratic Party (Romania)|social-democrats]], but with a lower score compared to the previous election in 2020. The official results indicated a hung parliament that requires the formation of a broad governing coalition for a stable majority. In the first days after the parliamentary election, there was discussion about the formation of a cordon sanitaire to isolate the so-called [[Sovereignism|sovereignist]] block (consisting of the parties AUR, [[S.O.S. Romania|SOS RO]] and [[Party of Young People|POT]]) and the formation of a stable pro-European coalition formed by PSD, PNL, [[Save Romania Union|USR]], [[Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania|UDMR]] and [[Romanian ethnic minority parties|ethnic minority parties]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.digi24.ro/stiri/actualitate/politica/coalitia-pro-europeana-negocieri-pentru-viitorul-guvern-cine-ar-putea-fi-candidatul-comun-la-alegerile-prezidentiale-3041919|title=Coaliția pro-europeană, negocieri pentru viitorul Guvern. Cine poate fi candidatul comun la alegerile prezidențiale|publisher=www.digi24.ro|date=2024-12-11|accessdate=2024-12-30|lang=ro}}</ref> As a result of the annulment of the first round of presidential election, [[Renewing Romanian's European Project|REPER]] requested the [[Permanent Electoral Authority (Romania)|Central Electoral Office]] to annul the [[2024 Romanian parliamentary election|parliamentary election]] emphasizing that the reasons that led to the decision of the CCR are also valid for the parliamentary election.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://hotnews.ro/reper-cere-anularea-alegerilor-parlamentare-avem-date-evidente-care-indica-ingerinta-rusiei-1855616|title=REPER cere anularea alegerilor parlamentare: „Avem date evidente care indică ingerința Rusiei” - HotNews.ro|date=2024-12-06|accessdate=2024-12-30|lang=ro-RO}}</ref> [[Vlad Gheorghe]], the leader of the party [[Justice and Respect in Europe for All Party|DREPT]], also called for the annulment of the parliamentary elections citing (the same "causes"): "Russian interference", "manipulation and disinformation of the population”.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.digi24.ro/alegeri-parlamentare-2024/vlad-gheorghe-liderul-partidului-drept-anunta-ca-a-cerut-anularea-alegerilor-parlamentare-au-fost-tot-sub-razboi-hibrid-3036699|title=Partidele DREPT și Reper au cerut și anularea alegerilor parlamentare. „Au fost tot sub război hibrid”|publisher=www.digi24.ro|date=2024-12-06|accessdate=2024-12-30|lang=ro}}</ref>

Meanwhile, the negotiations between PSD, PNL, USR and UDMR have reached an impasse, USR making several requests to the potential coalition partners such as tax cuts, the resignation of the president [[Klaus Iohannis]], the rapid adoption of the new budget, the start of the procedures for the initiation of the referendum "no convicted criminals from holding public office" and the resignation of the heads of the intelligence services.<ref>{{Citation|last=Vulcan|first=Dora|title=USR a cerut coaliției să adopte bugetul până luni, să-i demită pe șeful AEP, pe șefii de servicii și să ceară demisia lui Iohannis|date=2024-12-18|url=https://romania.europalibera.org/a/usr-a-cerut-coalitiei-sa-adopte-bugetul-2025-pana-luni-sa-i-demita-pe-seful-aep-pe-sefii-de-servicii-si-sa-ceara-demisia-lui-iohannis-/33244834.html|work=Europa Liberă România|language=ro|access-date=2024-12-30}}</ref> In the end, the USR stayed out of the negotiations on the future governing coalition<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://adevarul.ro/politica/elena-lasconi-explica-de-ce-usr-a-fost-exclus-din-2410152.html|title=Elena Lasconi explică de ce USR a fost exclus din coaliția pro-europeană: „Noi ne dorim să fim la guvernare, ei nu ne vor”|publisher=adevarul.ro|date=2024-12-20|accessdate=2024-12-30|lang=ro}}</ref> thus the return of the old PSD-PNL-UDMR-minorities formula that was between 2021 and 2023 during the [[Ciucă Cabinet]] materialized. On December 23, 2024, the new government was invested with a fragile majority (a little over 50%), [[Second Ciolacu cabinet]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/ro/guvernul-ciolacu-2-%C3%AEnvestit-cu-o-majoritate-fragil%C4%83/a-71149090|title=Guvernul Ciolacu 2, învestit cu o majoritate fragilă – DW – 23.12.2024|publisher=dw.com|accessdate=2024-12-30|lang=ro}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|accessdate=2024-12-30 |date=2024-12-30 |lang=ro |publisher=euronews.ro: Știri de ultimă oră, breaking news, #AllViews |title=VIDEO Guvernul Ciolacu 2, votat la limită, după ce a fost învestit pe repede înainte. Miniștrii au depus jurământul la Cotroceni |url=https://www.euronews.ro/articole/noul-guvern-ciolacu-investit-azi-audierile-ministrilor-si-votul-in-parlament}}</ref> The new government decided, in the meeting of December 28, that the date of the new presidential elections in 2025 would be March 23 for the 1st round and April 6 for the 2nd round.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://hotnews.ro/data-alegerilor-prezidentiale-va-fi-aprobata-de-guvern-in-prima-sedinta-din-anul-2025-1870973|title=Data alegerilor prezidențiale va fi aprobată de Guvern în prima ședință din anul 2025 - HotNews.ro|date=2024-12-30|accessdate=2024-12-30|lang=ro-RO}}</ref> Later in January 2025 the government set the final calendar for the presidential elections: May 4th for the 1st round and May 18th for the 2nd round.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.digi24.ro/alegeri-prezidentiale-2025/calendarul-alegerilor-prezidentiale-2025-perioada-electorala-incepe-pe-18-februarie-iar-campania-pe-4-aprilie-3101691|title=Calendarul alegerilor prezidenţiale 2025. Perioada electorală începe pe 18 februarie, iar campania, pe 4 aprilie|date=2025-01-30|accessdate=2025-02-28|lang=ro-RO}}</ref>