History
Until late December 1989, it appeared that the Socialist Republic of Romania would enter the final decade of the century as one of the few remaining orthodox communist states.
On 21 December 1989 Bucharest workers booed Ceausescu during a mass rally and bloody street battles between army troops and Securitate and the people began in the capital. The following day the Ceausescus tried to flee Romania, but were arrested. They were tried briefly by an anonymous court and executed by firing squad on Christmas Day.
In late 1990, Roman’s reform program appeared to have almost no chance of succeeding. Public outrage had thwarted the attempt to establish more realistic prices. The government had failed to overcome bureaucratic inertia on the part of anti-reform officials and managers fearful of losing their special privileges. More importantly, the government’s loss of legitimacy with the people and the threat of a potentially violent “second revolution” left Romania’s future course in grave doubt.
Romania has managed to consolidate its ties with Russia while continuing to integrate with western Europe. Its entry into the European Union is slated for 2007. Meanwhile, its entry into NATO was confirmed in 2004. Romania now enjoys a period of stability.
National Flag: Three equal vertical stripes – red, yellow, blue (hoist side), the national coat of arms that used to be center in the yellow band has been removed.
National day: 1st December, anniversary of the 1918 union of all Romanians into one single state.
Constitution: 8 December 1991
Anthem: "Wake up, Romanian", lines by Andrei Muresanu (participant in the 1848 Revolution), music Anton Pann.