Romania today
The revolution opened the country to contacts with the West, enabling them also for ordinary people. They can receive foreigners in their homes, have a foreign currency and speak freely about matters that were previously taboo. Free Romania is certainly a country much friendlier to visitors, although the level of services and some relics of the communist era may unpleasantly disappoint a traveler accustomed to Western standards.
A year ago 1989 the state of the market was best reflected by empty store shelves and long queues. Currently, the thriving street trade and private shops created like mushrooms after the rain allow you to stock up on virtually everything. In May 1993 r. the government withdrew food subsidies, transport and energy, calling four- or five-fold price increases. At the time of writing this text, the annual inflation rate fluctuated within 140-160%.
Romanians on average earn about 800 000 lei per month gross (100 $) i – especially with the increasing inflation - traveling in Romania has become much more expensive for them than in the past. Hence the trains, Buses, hotels and hostels are much less crowded than in the year 1990. From the point of view of a newcomer from Polish local fees are not excessive.; as the only country in the east of Europe, Romania has not raised the prices of tickets to museums in recent years.
Many Romanians are disappointed by the lack of progress since 1989 r., low standard of living, rampant inflation and 8.5% unemployment (12% according to unofficial data). Everything can be bought, but for little it is enough money. Capitalist competitiveness is still in its infancy. The Romanians themselves are joking, that it would be hard to see, when a Romanian goes on hunger strike. Students have poor prospects of finding a job after graduation, most young couples live with their parents, and the government practically pulled out of housing investments. In front of 1989 r. the use of contraceptives and abortion were prohibited. Contraceptives are now widely available, but for many Romania unattainable because of the price or because of religious beliefs. Three-quarters of conception ends in dissolution.
There is some progress in domestic politics. Constitution z 1991 r. it includes guarantees of minority rights, a Democratic association of Hungarians (UDMR) it is represented both in the Romanian Senate, and in the House of Representatives.
Most Romanians would like to emigrate, if only the Western countries were willing to accept them, because hopes for improvement in the near future are quite slim. They value the recently regained freedom, and despite the economic difficulties, few of them would decide to return to the slavery of a totalitarian system.. It can be fascinating to talk to ordinary people about Ceausescu and compare the present with the recent past.. Some comments can be surprising.