Romania, the largest of the Balkan nations, has a dramatic mountain landscape and a Black Sea coastline.
From the Roman and Ottoman to the Austro-Hungarian, it has witnessed the rise and fall of numerous empires.
Despite having a foreign policy distinct from that of the Soviet Union, the country was ruled by Communists after World War Two.
Nicolae Ceausescu's influence persisted for a very long time after the uprising that led to his overthrow on Christmas Day 1989. When it became one of the seven nations to join Nato in late March 2004, Romania made a significant break with its past.
Romania officially became a member of the EU in January 2007 after signing an accession agreement in April 2005 in Bucharest.
- Capital:. Bucharest.
- Area: . 238,397 sq km.
- Population:. 19.5 million.
- Language:. Romanian.
- the length of life. 70 years for men and 78 years for women.
Klaus Iohannis is the president.
In the second round of the presidential election in November 2014, provincial mayor Klaus Iohannis stunned Prime Minister Victor Ponta. In November 2019, he won reelection.
In the first round of voting, Mr Ponta defeated Mr Iohannis, the center-right incumbent mayor of Sibiu in Transylvania, and was currently leading the polls.
However, Mr. Iohannis was re-elected in 2019 after winning a decisive victory on a record turnout and running on an anti-corruption platform.
Marcel Ciolacu is the prime minister.
In June 2023, following the resignation of Nicolae Ciuca as part of a planned coalition reshuffle, Marcel Ciolacu, the leader of the Social Democratic Party, was appointed prime minister.
After his center-right National Liberal Party (PNL) and its adversaries in the center-left Social Democratic Party (PSD) and the ethnic Hungarian UDMR group reached a tense coalition agreement, Ciuca was nominated as prime minister in November 2022.
Ciuca was supposed to replace a Social Democratic Party candidate in May 2023 as stipulated in the agreement, but the change was delayed by a few weeks because of a significant teachers' strike.
Romania is falling behind on the reforms required to release additional tiers of EU recovery funds, which is a crucial element supporting its economic growth.
In 2024, when it must reduce its budget deficit to below the 3 percent cap on gross domestic product (GDP), or annual economic output, set by the European Union, it holds presidential, general, local, and European elections.
One of Southeast Europe's most vibrant media markets is found in Romania. The industry is dominated by a select group of conglomerates.
The preferred medium is television, with the two biggest networks being Pro TV and Antena 1. The public television station is TVR.
Cable and satellite pay TV offer a competitive market. The transition to digital terrestrial TV (DTT) hasn't been finished in Romania yet.
There are more than a hundred personal radios. Local, regional, and national stations are all operated by Public Radio Romania.
A few significant dates in Romanian history are:.
1859 . The prince of Moldavia and Wallachia is proclaimed to be Prince Alexandru Ioan Cuza.
1862 . Romania is a new state formed from the union of the two Danube principalities. Prince Cuza introduces a comprehensive reform agenda.
1877-1878 . Romania achieves complete independence from the Ottoman Empire by supporting Russia during the Russo-Turkish War. Additionally, the Danube delta coastline is acquired.
1916 . - Romania enlists in the Allies' war effort.
1918 . - Romania's size and population nearly double as a result of the post-war peace treaty.
1941-1944. Romania battles on the side of Germany against the Soviet Union before switching allegiances as the Soviet forces encircle the country.
1945 . – the installation of a government supported by the Soviet Union.
1965 . - The Communist Party is led by Nicolae Ceausescu. While advancing repressive rule and a personality cult at home, he pursues a foreign policy that frequently goes against Moscow's direction.
1989 . – After a bloody uprising, Nicolae Ceausescu and his wife Elena are put to death. Ion Iliescu, a former ally of Ceausescu, founded the National Salvation Front government.
2004 . – Romania joined NATO.
2007 . - The European Union accepts Romania and Bulgaria.
2015. - Following widespread anti-corruption demonstrations in Bucharest in response to the Colectiv nightclub fire that claimed 64 lives, Prime Minister Victor Ponta resigns.
