The Biggest of the Balkan countries, Romania has dramatic mountain surroundings and a coastline at the Black Sea.
It has observed a large number of empires come and pass from the Roman and Ottoman to the Austro-Hungarian.
After International Conflict II the country fell under Communist rule, although the management pursued a foreign policy impartial of that of the Soviet Union.
The legacy of Communist leader Nicolae Ceausescu lingered long after the rebellion which caused his downfall on Christmas Day 1989.
A slower developer than other former communist countries of japanese Europe, Romania took an immense step away from its previous while it was one of seven countries to join Nato in late March 2004.
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Provincial mayor Klaus Iohannis inflicted a surprise defeat on Top Minister Victor Ponta in a presidential election run-off in November 2014.
Mr Ponta used to be best in the opinion polls and had crushed Mr Iohannis, the centre-proper mayor of the town of Sibiu in Transylvania, in the first spherical of voting.
But Mr Iohannis, who campaigned on an anti-corruption platform, won a decisive victory on a record turn-out.
Prime minister-designate: Viorica Dancila
MEDIA
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Romania has one in every of essentially the most dynamic media markets in southeastern Europe. A handful of conglomerates dominates the industry.
TV is the medium of choice, with industrial stations Professional TV and Antena 1 being the prime outlets. TVR is the public broadcaster.
There is a aggressive pay TV sector, via cable and satellite tv for pc. Romania is yet to complete the switch to virtual terrestrial TELEVISION (DTT).
There are more than ONE HUNDRED private radios. Public Radio Romania operates national, neighborhood and local stations.
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TIMELINE
Some key dates in Romania’s historical past:
1859 – Prince Alexandru Ioan Cuza is proclaimed prince of Moldavia and Wallachia.
1862 – The union of the 2 Danubian principalities is consolidated right into a new state – Romania. Prince Cuza launches an ambitious policy of reform.
Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Nationwide Day parade earlier the Palace of the Parliament in Bucharest
1877-1878 – Romania wins full independence from the Ottoman Empire by means of siding with Russia in the Russo-Turkish Battle. It also acquires a beach at the Danube delta.
1914 – King Carol’s demise ends Romania’s alliance with the Valuable Powers – Germany and Austria. His nephew Ferdinand takes Romania into World Battle I at the Allied facet in 1916.
1918 – As part of the peace settlement at the finish of the war, Romania acquires a couple of territories with resident Romanian populations – just about doubling in dimension and population.
1941-1944 – Romania fights on German side towards Soviet Union; switches aspects as Soviet forces shut in.
1945 – Soviet-backed govt installed.
1965 – Nicolae Ceausescu becomes Communist Party chief. He pursues international policy that regularly runs counter to Moscow’s lead, even as expanding repressive rule and character cult at house.
Symbol copyright Getty Images Symbol caption Romanians have a good time the fall of the Ceaucescu regime in December 1989
1989 – Bloody nationwide uprising, Ceausescu and his wife Elena attempt to flee but are stuck and achieved. Nationwide Salvation Front based, headed by former Ceasescu best friend Ion Iliescu.
2004 – Romania admitted to Nato.
2007 – Romania and Bulgaria join the european Union, raising the eu club to 27.
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