Politics of Romania

Romania's political framework is a semi-presidential representative republic where the Prime Minister is the head of government, while the President, according to the Constitution, holds a more symbolic role, being responsible for the foreign policy, signing certain decrees, approving laws promulgated by the parliament, and nominating the head of government (i.e. Prime Minister). Romania has a multi-party system, with legislative power vested in the government and the two chambers of the Parliament, more specifically the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature in theory. From 1948 until 1989, the communist rule political structure took place in the framework of a one-party socialist republic governed by the Romanian Communist Party (PCR) as its only legal party.

Romania's 1991 constitution (amended in 2003) proclaims it a democratic and social republic, deriving its sovereignty from the people. According to the constitution, "Human dignity, civic rights and freedoms, the unhindered development of human personality, justice, and political pluralism are supreme and guaranteed values."

The constitution provides for a President, a Parliament, a Constitutional Court, and a separate court system which includes the High Court of Cassation and Justice. The right to vote is granted to all citizens over 18 years of age.

The V-Dem Democracy Report 2025 classified Romania as an electoral democracy, while noting autocratization tendencies, citing Russian meddling in the election process leading to the annulment of the first round of the 2024 presidential election and a decrease in opposition parties’ autonomy.

Romania was fully admitted to the Schengen area on 1 January 2025.