Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
mania's abundance of multilingual, overeducated, underemployed college graduates make
it a popular place for companies looking to outsource pan- European call centres. Employ-
ers can easily fill a telephone bank with agents that satisfactorily speak three languages
(or more), with starting salaries as little as €300 per month.
Romanian Politics Today
To the international community it seemed like a spat between two overgrown boys. At a
critical juncture in Romania's economy and recent accession to the EU, a row between its
prime minister and president could not be more ill-timed. Victor Ponta promised his reign
would usher in generational change, a final breakaway from the cloying legacy of com-
munism. In December 2012 Ponta's Social Liberal Union (USL) won nearly 60% of the
vote, while Băsescu's Right Romania Alliance (ARD) limped in second with about 17%.
The result threatened to lead to a constitutional crisis; with President Basescu having pre-
viously hinted he might refuse to reappoint his arch-rival Ponta.
Since coming to office in May 2012, Ponta
has issued two-dozen emergency decrees -
among them dismissing the speakers of both
chambers of parliament (considered by many
as illegal) - greatly alarming Western diplo-
mats. In another Machiavellian move the om-
budsman was also conveniently dismissed,
leaving a vacuum for someone to challenge le-
gislation and granting Ponta free reign. Amid a
sea of public distrust and impatience with politicians, Ponta was also accused of plagiar-
ism in his doctoral thesis, a claim that was upheld by the University of Bucharest. Amid
the confusion, a concerned Washington dispatched its envoy to Bucharest to hold immedi-
ate talks with the feuding politicians. Meanwhile Traian Băsescu has kept a very low pro-
file since his near impeachment. The sparring continues, to the anger of most Romanians,
who are desperate for their country to move forwards, and not backwards because of in-
ternecine squabbling.
»Population: 21.8 million
»Area: 238,391 sq km
»GDP growth (2011): 2.5%
»Inflation rate (2011): 3.4%
»Official unemployment rate (2012): 7.5%
»Average monthly salary (2012): 1296 lei (€340)
SUPERSTITIONS
»Don't sit at the corner of a table or you'll never marry.
»If your right hand itches, you're about to lose some money.
»If you spill your coffee, you're in for some good luck.
