That in the Romanian politics the king is naked has long ago stopped being a surprise for anyone, and if the fact in itself doesn’t strike us as grotesque would be the proof of a cheerful society.And the most recent political events are tale telling in this respect. Primary elections, alliances, statements and replies make up the image of a very busy and effervescent public space, but, at a second... 

The ruling party, PSD, is one step away from reiterating in November 2004 the electoral failure reported in the local elections this June. Its main opponent, the “Justice and Truth” PNL-PD Alliance (D.A. Alliance), a right-of-centre organisation, has proved – it’s true, only this year – that it is capable of answering the voters’ expectations: raising living standards... 

In the first weekend of October the Opposition managed to deal a decisive blow to the Power, by changing, in a skilful move, more or less planned, the rules of the game, and braking through the media bloskage that it had been subject to, for so long, by the subdued mass media. On this occasion, Romania was faced with a TV novelty. The first time that a political leader cried, live on all TV channels…... 

Much to the surprise of many, the leaders of PNL and PD, joined in the Justice and Truth Alliance (D.A), managed to finalise this summer the electoral lists for the Parliament and, even more importantly, the governance programme. The two projects will be made public in September. Contrary to the unequivocal expectations of PSD leaders, contrary to opinions persistently voiced in July and August by... 

he local elections lessened PSD’s status as the quasi-dominant party in the Romanian political arena. First time in four years, a true political alternative was established (the D.A. Alliance, made up of PNL – the National Liberal Party and PD – the Democrat party). PSD is losing ground in polls, the latest of which shows – a novelty in the 19th Century – that the Alliance... 

he result, below expectations, achieved by PSD in the local elections was accounted for mainly by the party’s poor performance in the electoral campaign. It is well known however that a party’s image is built in the long run, and only in exceptional cases can the electoral campaign have a decisive influence on the vote.In the local elections, PSD lost votes not particularly because of its... 

Once every four years, we are invited to take part, as helpless spectators, and then as apparent decision-makers, in the political ritual of the electoral campaign, in the elections game. Although the law stipulates a certain period of time for the electoral campaign, the entire year 2004 appears to be under the sign of this autumn’s elections, as voters find themselves in the awkward position... 

The joy of an electoral win has overwhelmed the Opposition, an important part of the media and some good share of the civil society. Everybody trusts an extraordinary victory of the Opposition, both now, and, more especially, this autumn, when the battle over the Victoria and Palaces- no longer seems a lost case – and thus a signal is conveyed that the Opposition could break through the apparently... 

The Social Democrat Party is set to lose the general elections this autumn, after the mediocre performance in the local elections. The results of these elections are not revealing enough to prove to what extent this performance was poor.In assessing the final result, one must take into account a series of variables. On election date, PSD was controlling most of the power levers, at a central and local... 

The PNL – PD Alliance, known as the Justice and Truth Alliance (acronym D.A. – Yes) won the local elections held in June in Romania. The surprising victory of the Alliance this summer announces the one that could occur in the Parliamentary and Presidential elections in November – December 2004. The great looser is the Social Democrat Party (PSD), the ruling party, whose propaganda...