• Romania’s presidential election Romania’s presidential election By the Daily Telegraph, London – December 14, 2004 Orange power continued its advance in Eastern Europe yesterday with Traian Basescu’s victory in the Romanian presidential election. Like Viktor Yushchenko in Ukraine, his
• Romania’s presidential election
Romania’s presidential election
By the Daily Telegraph, London – December 14, 2004
Orange power continued its advance in Eastern Europe yesterday with Traian Basescu’s victory in the Romanian presidential election. Like Viktor Yushchenko in Ukraine, his centrist Justice and Truth Alliance had chosen that colour as its emblem.
In both countries, the generation that came to power after the collapse of the Soviet empire is losing ground to those less identified with the past. After 10 years of authoritarian rule under Leonid Kuchma, the Ukrainian opposition has forced a re-run of the second round of the presidential poll, which Mr. Yushchenko is favoured to win. In Romania, Ion Iliescu, former Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party, is stepping down after three terms in office. The record of both outgoing presidents has been marred by skulduggery. …
The comparison between the two countries should not, however, be pushed too far.
The choice for voters in Ukraine on December 26 will be much greater than that which was before the Romanian electorate last Sunday. In the first, the contest is between a candidate who would build ties with the West (Mr. Yushchenko) and one who would seek closer links with Russia (Viktor Yanukovich). In Romania, both Mr. Basescu and his defeated Left-wing rival, Adrian Nastase, are agreed on preparing Romania for accession to the European Union in 2007. As in other parts of Eastern Europe, the union has proved a powerful force in drawing applicants for membership away from their Communist heritage. …
