Abstract
Unlike the other East-Central European countries, where the transition from communist rule to democracy was the result of peaceful movements or negotiations around a round table, Romania experienced a violent change of regime. The last communist ruler, Nicolae Ceausescu, was removed from his sultanistic position by a popular uprising. The step towards a democratic regime expressed the will of huge masses of people that demonstrated in all important cities of the country and in almost all localities. The present political system in Romania may be described as a representative democracy, governed by the directly elected President and Parliament (semi-presidential system), according to the provisions of the new Constitution.
Culic, Irina