European conditionality, ethnic control or electoral disarray? The 2011 controversial territorial reform attempt in Romania
European conditionality, ethnic control or electoral disarray? The 2011 controversial territorial reform attempt in Romania

Summary/Abstract: Though much criticized, especially for its inability of spending European subsidies, the current regional administration in Romania remained unchanged until the communist times. The sudden rush in totally reshaping the regional administration in 2011 triggered an intense debate on the matter. Though brief, it shed light on political constraints operating when it comes to reshape regional design. Whereas official arguments pointed at a severe European conditionality, electoral calculations seem to be at stake. Yet the decisive opposition to the project by the Hungarian party in government unravels a more profound conditionality, namely ethnic balance, related to the political geography of Transylvania.

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