Wird die Sozialpolitik in Rumänien endlich ein Thema? Anmerkungen zum „Sozialbericht“ des rumänischen Präsidenten Băsescu
Social Politics in Romania – an Issue Finally Raised? Notes on the “Social Report“ of Romania’s President Basescu

Summary/Abstract: Social inclusion still is wishful thinking in East and Southeast Europe. Apart from official, but not sufficient basic social protection such as pensions and unemployment benefits the new economic systems of the transforming states cannot be considered as “social market economy” in terms of the German model. In countries like Romania up to 30 per cent of the population still live below or slightly above the poverty level, important social problems are still unsolved. Among these are the brain drain and the irrational ratio of profits, wages and prices, the high share of pensioners and early pensioners, an ailing and inefficient health system, poverty and prostitution as well as the distressing demographic development. Since 1990 there has been no real social policy existing in Romania. Socially disadvantaged groups have no lobby in politics, media, science and society. Romania’s President Traian Basescu summoned experts in autumn 2009 to elaborate a “Social Report” that critically analyses the development since 1989. The article presents this Report as one of the most important political documents in post-revolutionary Romania.

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