The End of Postcommunism in Romania

The 2004 parliamentary and presidential elections saw the defeat of the former communists who ruled Romania for most of the period since the fall of communism. The outcome of the presidential election surprised many, with outgoing president Ion Iliescu replaced not by the favored Prime Minister Adrian Năstase of the ruling Social Democratic Party (PSD), but by Bucharest mayor Traian Băsescu of the opposition Justice and Truth Alliance (DA). The country now has a democratic and pro-European government; the question is whether this new government will be able to break with the semi-authoritarian habits of its postcommunist predecessors and tackle persistent problems such as pervasive corruption and lack of transparency and accountability.