Mainstream parties in Romania have shown unexpectedly high survival rates. However, over the past decades, new parties have emerged and succeeded in establishing parliamentary representation. While traditional parties tend to follow the conventional model of party organization, newer parties seem less inclined to stick to established patterns. This paper examines the internal structures of new Romanian parties by analyzing their use of ICT in party communication and their roles in reshaping the relationship between party leaders and members, with particular emphasis on their capacity to enhance or hinder leadership accountability. By analyzing two contrasting examples—the Save Romania Party (a center-right social movement) and the Alliance of the Union of Romania (the main Romanian radical-right party)—the paper investigates the various uses and abuses of digital tools in intra-party politics across two dimensions: candidate selection and deliberation.
