CURRENT SOCIAL AND POLITICAL CHALLENGES IN ROMANIA

Treatment of minorities -Different cultures - Religious faiths Different nationalities co-exist in Dobrogea ( a region which is situated in the South East of Romania), such as: Turkish, Russians, Mongolians, Greek, Roma people) They are accepted in schools, they have their own businesses, which are very profitable, especially in Tourism (they own hotels at the seaside and in the Danube Delta) and Services (popular restaurants with traditional food). Minorities have built their own churches. It has even been approved by the Government with the acceptance of the Orthodox Church to build one of the biggest mosques in the world (11.000 square metres) in Bucharest, where they are planning to have a library and many lecture rooms in which the Koran could be taught to the minority Muslim people.

Lutheran church Bucharest Catholic church Bacău Mosque Constanța

Inclusion in Education Existing borders in education There are language and religion criteria of admission/ attendance/ teaching in some schools in Romania. For example, in the Catholic High School you can only study/ teach if you are Catholic. Similarly, you can become a student in the German High School if you have German roots or if you speak German very well (you have to sit an exam). Inclusion in education Romanians from the Republic of Moldavia are accepted in universities without examination. All minority students take national exams in their native language. Acceptance of Roma students on special seats/ criteria (2- 3 Roma students are included in each class ). There is a diversity of religions and ethnicity in the Romanian schools.

Tendencies of Nationalism In the areas in which the Hungarian people represents the majority population both the Romanian and Hungarian people sometimes express nationalist feelings. These feelings are isolated cases but they are used by the media to raise discussions and they are supported by the Hungarian Democratic Party in our country.

SOCIAL TENSION AND INSTABILITY Romanians’ fight for the independence of justice For more than a year Romanians have been protesting against the changes in some judicial laws which are thought to protect senior figures of the country from justice and at the same time to challenge the authority of court decisions. There have been daily demonstrations, marches in Bucharest and 70 other towns in Romania which have even lead to prime-ministers resignations. Adopting the changes in these laws is considered to be a stop to the fight of the judiciary against corruption, which is one of the most serious problems Romania is dealing with (Romanian prosecutors have investigated hundreds of officials over the last decade over allegations of corruption).

Social Division Deprived Groups in Romania Rural population in Romania is much more endangered by poverty and social exclusion than the people who live in the cities mainly because of the low rural income. Rural poor people represent two thirds of the total poor population in Romania. Factors which lead to poverty and social exclusion in the rural areas: Low education- Low income Ethnicity- Roma people do not own land that they can work, they don’t have jobs because they don’t get their qualifications, they quit school very early in their lives. Gender: Most women in rural areas don’t have jobs, thus they don’t have a stable income. They depend on the man of the family or on social services. Infrastructure, access and utilities: Access of rural population to education and healthcare services are seriously affected.

Immigration Romania is not a very desirable destination for the people in need of international protection. Until now only approximately 1000 refugees have come to Romania. Romania has acted more as a transit passage for migrants who are trying to reach Western Europe. Overcrowded boats on the Black Sea have been saved by the marine officers while trying to cross the sea in search of a better life in the West. The ones who have chosen Romania to stay don’t find it easy to get jobs because it is difficult for them to learn the language. (They say Romania’s language courses are not very well structured to be able to learn it in 6 months- 1 year- the time the government supports their expenses.) They say Romania needs better inclusion policies.