Eastern European Green Parties after the Economic Crisis – The case of Romanian Green Party

In Romania, the economic crisis and the implementation of harsh austerity measures have had a profound impact on the political scene, and the year 2012 was particularly defined by an intense political turmoil, with far reaching implications. The two round of elections, local and parliamentary, have resulted in a shift in power, and a different arrangement of actors on the political landscape. The end of 2012 brought several important new developments for the Romanian Green Party: a step forward in the process of de-defragmentation of greens with the fusion of the two Green Parties. This resulted in a Green Party affiliated to EGP that has two PMs, a number of seats in local government, and a new political alliance with social democrats and liberals. In my research I attempt to analyze all these developments against the more general economic and political opportunity background. I will pay a special attention on the analysis of institutional and ideological issues that resulted in the fragmentation and then unification of green forces (for example the issues of sexual minority rights or the separation between the State and church – both extremely controversial for the Romanian society). I will also analyze the controversial debates on cyanide gold mining, and shell gas extraction at a time when the economic pressure favors demand for job creation, foreign investments, exploitation of natural resources, and increased revenues for the state budget at the expense of environmental protection, health and livelihood of disadvantaged people in rural area where resources are located. My case study research is based on qualitative empirical data drawn from political documents, manifestos, press releases, mass-media coverage, and semi-structured interviews with party members, representatives of European Greens, leaders of environmental movement and political elites.