Romania

=== Contemporary period ===

{{Main|History of Romania since 1989}}

[[File:RO B University square rally.jpg|thumb|right|An anti-communist and anti-[[National Salvation Front (Romania)|National Salvation Front]] (FSN) rally in Bucharest (1990)]]

After the 1989 revolution, the [[National Salvation Front (Romania)|National Salvation Front]] (FSN), led by [[Ion Iliescu]], took partial and superficial multi-party democratic and free market measures after seizing power as an ad interim governing body.<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 characterised as a gradualistic, often ambiguous transition away from communist rule towards democracy.|access-date=31 August 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080827222957/http://www.idea.int/publications/country/upload/Romania,%20The%20Political%20Background.pdf|archive-date=27 August 2008}}</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|date=January 1998|pages=203–234|doi=10.1017/S0043887100008091|s2cid=55115094}}</ref> In March 1990, [[Ethnic clashes of Târgu Mureș|violent outbreaks went on in Târgu Mureș]] as a result of Hungarian oppression in the region. In April 1990, a sit-in protest contesting the results of [[1990 Romanian general election|that year's legislative elections]] and accusing the FSN, including Iliescu, of being made up of former Communists and members of the Securitate grew rapidly to become what was called the [[Golaniad]]. Peaceful demonstrations degenerated into violence, prompting the intervention of coal miners summoned by Iliescu. This episode has been documented widely by both local<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mineriade.iiccr.ro/vocile_presei/presa_interna/|title=Institutul de Investigare a Crimelor Comunismului și Memoria Exilului Românesc|publisher=mineriade.iiccr.ro|access-date=14 March 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110822013205/http://mineriade.iiccr.ro/vocile_presei/presa_interna/|archive-date=22 August 2011}}</ref> and foreign media,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mineriade.iiccr.ro/vocile_presei/presa_internationala/|title=Institutul de Investigare a Crimelor Comunismului și Memoria Exilului Românesc|publisher=mineriade.iiccr.ro|access-date=14 March 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110822013250/http://mineriade.iiccr.ro/vocile_presei/presa_internationala/ |archive-date=22 August 2011}}</ref> and is remembered as the [[June 1990 Mineriad]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Bohlen|first=Celestine |title=Evolution in Europe; Romanian miners invade Bucharest|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html|quote=Responding to an emergency appeal by President Ion Iliescu, thousands of miners from northern Romania descended on the capital city today|access-date=31 August 2008|work=The New York Times|date=15 June 1990}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://mineriade.iiccr.ro/cronologie_evenimente/1990/|title=Institutul de Investigare a Crimelor Comunismului și Memoria Exilului Românesc|publisher=mineriade.iiccr.ro|access-date=14 March 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110822011847/http://mineriade.iiccr.ro/cronologie_evenimente/1990/|archive-date=22 August 2011}}</ref>

The subsequent disintegration of the Front produced several political parties, including most notably the [[Social Democratic Party (Romania)|Social Democratic Party]] (PDSR then PSD) and the [[Democratic Party (Romania)|Democratic Party]] (PD and subsequently PDL). The former governed Romania from 1990 until 1996 through several coalitions and governments, with Ion Iliescu as head of state. Since then, there have been several other democratic changes of government: in 1996 [[Emil Constantinescu]] was elected president, in 2000 Iliescu returned to power, while [[Traian Băsescu]] was elected in 2004 and narrowly re-elected in 2009.<ref>[http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-international-6689374-presa-internationala-despre-alegerile-din-romania-traian-basescu-castigat-limita-romanii-mici-sperante-dezghete-ajutorul-fmi.htm Presa internationala despre alegerile din Romania: Traian Basescu a castigat la limita; Romanii au mici sperante sa se dezghete ajutorul de la FMI – International] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304002223/http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-international-6689374-presa-internationala-despre-alegerile-din-romania-traian-basescu-castigat-limita-romanii-mici-sperante-dezghete-ajutorul-fmi.htm |date=4 March 2016}}. HotNews.ro. Retrieved on 21 August 2010.</ref>

In 2009, the country was bailed out by the [[International Monetary Fund]] as an aftershock of the [[Great Recession in Europe]].<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}}</ref> In November 2014, [[Sibiu]] former [[Democratic Forum of Germans in Romania|FDGR/DFDR]] mayor [[Klaus Iohannis]] was elected president, unexpectedly defeating former Prime Minister [[Victor Ponta]], who had been previously leading in the opinion polls. This surprise victory was attributed by many analysts to the implication of the [[Romanian diaspora]] in the voting process, with almost 50% casting their votes for Klaus Iohannis in the first round, compared to only 16% for Ponta.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-17776564|title=Romania profile – Leaders – BBC News-GB|work=BBC News |date=20 April 2012 |access-date=28 June 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160717161427/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-17776564|archive-date=17 July 2016}}</ref> In 2019, Iohannis was re-elected president in a landslide victory over former Prime Minister [[Viorica Dăncilă]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/nov/24/romania-centrist-president-re-elected-by-a-landslide-klaus-iohannis|title=Romanian centrist president re-elected by a landslide|agency=Agence France-Presse|date=24 November 2019|website=The Guardian}}</ref>

[[File:Protest against corruption - Bucharest 2017 - Piata Universitatii - 5.jpg|thumb|Romania saw large waves of protests against judicial reforms of the [[Social Democratic Party (Romania)|PSD]]-[[Alliance of Liberals and Democrats (Romania)|ALDE]] government during the [[2017–2019 Romanian protests]].]]

The post–1989 period is characterised by the fact that most of the former industrial and economic enterprises which were built and operated during the communist period were closed, mainly as a result of the policies of privatisation of the post–1989 regimes.<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>

Corruption has been a [[Corruption in Romania|major issue]] in contemporary Romanian 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}}</ref> In November 2015, massive [[2015 Romanian protests|anti-corruption protests]] which developed in the wake of the [[Colectiv nightclub fire]] led to the resignation of Romania's 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 2017–2018, in response to measures which were perceived to weaken the fight against corruption, some of the [[2017–2018 Romanian protests|biggest protests since 1989]] took place in Romania, with over 500,000 people protesting across the country.<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}}</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}}</ref> Nevertheless, there have been significant reforms aimed at tackling corruption. A [[National Anticorruption Directorate]] was formed in the country in 2002, inspired by similar institutions in [[Belgium]], [[Norway]] and [[Spain]].<ref>[http://www.pna.ro/about_us.xhtml Direcția Națională Anticorupție]</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>{{cite web|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/e/eb/rls/othr/ics/2015/241712.htm|title=2015 Investment Climate Statement - Romania|work=The US Department of State|access-date=17 August 2015}}</ref>

==== NATO and EU integration ====
[[File:Tratado de Lisboa 13 12 2007 (081).jpg|thumb|left|Romania joined the [[European Union]] in 2007 and signed the [[Treaty of Lisbon]].]]

After the end of the [[Cold War]], Romania developed closer ties with Western Europe and the United States, eventually joining [[NATO]] in 2004, and hosting the [[2008 Bucharest summit|2008 summit]] in Bucharest.<ref>{{cite news|title=NATO update: NATO welcomes seven new members|url=http://www.nato.int/docu/update/2004/04-april/e0402a.htm|publisher=[[NATO]]|access-date=31 August 2008|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080911134550/http://www.nato.int/docu/update/2004/04-april/e0402a.htm|archive-date=11 September 2008|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The country applied in June 1993 for membership in the [[European Union]] and became an Associated State of the EU in 1995, an Acceding Country in 2004, and a [[2007 enlargement of the European Union|full member]] on 1&nbsp;January 2007.<ref>{{cite news |title=EU approves Bulgaria and Romania|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/5380024.stm|work=[[BBC News]]|access-date=31 August 2008|date=26 September 2006|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081203223404/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/5380024.stm|archive-date=3 December 2008}}</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|url=http://www.adevarul.ro/articole/romania-tigrul-estului/354061 |title=Adevarul|publisher=Adevarul.ro|access-date=25 September 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080920030429/http://www.adevarul.ro/articole/romania-tigrul-estului/354061|archive-date=20 September 2008}}</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|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB125988241065975639|newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|title=Romania Faces Crucial Vote|date=4 December 2009|author=Joe Parkinson|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170710033758/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB125988241065975639|archive-date=10 July 2017}}</ref> This led to Romania borrowing from the International Monetary Fund.<ref>{{cite web|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|url-status=dead|title=Romania and the IMF|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|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|title=Romanian Politics in 2012: Intra-Cabinet Coexistence and Political Instability|work=South-East European Journal of Political Science|author1=Gheorghe Stoica|author2=Lavinia Stan|url-status=dead|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}}</ref>

[[File:2008 Bucharest summit (5).JPG|thumb|right|Romania joined [[NATO]] in 2004 and hosted [[2008 Bucharest summit|its 2008 summit]] in Bucharest.]]

Near the end of 2013, ''[[The Economist]]'' reported Romania again enjoying "booming" economic growth at 4.1% that year, with wages rising fast and a lower unemployment than in Britain. Economic growth accelerated in the midst of government liberalisations in opening up new sectors to competition and investment—most notably, energy and telecoms.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/blogs/blighty/2013/12/what-britain-forgets|title=Romania is booming|newspaper=The Economist|date=17 December 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701164338/http://www.economist.com/blogs/blighty/2013/12/what-britain-forgets|archive-date=1 July 2017}}</ref> In 2016, the [[Human Development Index]] ranked Romania as a nation of "Very High Human Development".<ref name="UNDP2016">{{cite web|url=http://hdr.undp.org/sites/default/files/2016_human_development_report.pdf|title=Human Development Report 2016 – "Human Development for Everyone"|publisher=[[Human Development Report|HDRO (Human Development Report Office)]] [[United Nations Development Programme]]|access-date=22 March 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170825175902/http://hdr.undp.org/sites/default/files/2016_human_development_report.pdf|archive-date=25 August 2017}}</ref>

Following the experience of economic instability throughout the 1990s, and the implementation of a free travel agreement with the EU, a great number of [[Romanian diaspora|Romanians emigrated]] to Western Europe and North America, with particularly large communities in Italy, Germany, and Spain. In 2016, the Romanian diaspora was estimated to be over 3.6&nbsp;million people, the fifth-highest emigrant population in the world.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.romania-insider.com/oecd-romanian-diaspora-july-2019|title=Report: Romanian diaspora, fifth largest in the world|website=Romania Insider|date=16 July 2019}}</ref>