Information about Romania

Information

Information about Romania

Time Zone: Seven hours ahead of U.S. Eastern Standard Time (GMT + 2)
Flag of Romania:
Ethnic Groups: Romanian 89%, Hungarian 7.5%, Gipsy 1.9%, German, Other 1.6%
Population: 21,400,000 (2009 mid-year estimate)
Religions: Christian Orthodox 87%, Roman Catholic 5%, Protestant 5%, Jewish
Official Language: Romanian
Currency: Romanian Leu (RON)
Climate: Temperate, four distinct seasons, similar to northeastern USA
Capital: Bucharest (Bucuresti)
Form of State: Semi-parliamentary Republic with two legislative bodies: Senate (Senat) and Chamber of Representatives (Camera Deputatilor)
Legal system: Based on European models and Constitution of 1991.
Electoral System: Universal direct suffrage over the age of 18. Parties must win at least five percent of the national vote to gain representation in the Parliament.
National Elections: November 2008;
Next elections: Fall 2009 (presidential), Fall 2012 (parliamentary).
Head of State: President of the Republic, currently Mr. Traian Basescu. Romania's president is allowed to serve two consecutive five-year terms.
Head of the Government: the Prime Minister, currently Mr. Emil Boc (Democratic-Liberal Party).
National Government: The government is led by the Prime Minister, confirmed by the Parliament on the nomination of the President of Romania. The present Government is formed by the Democratic - Liberal Party and by the Social Democratic Party.
Main political parties: Social Democratic Party (PSD), Democratic-Liberal Party (PD-L), National Liberal Party (PNL), Democratic Union of the Hungarian Minority (UDMR).
Regional Government: Forty-one County Councils (Consiliu Judetean)