2025 was not a good year for democracy. The NGO Coalition for the Citizens launched the State of Democracy in 2025 Report, an analysis of democracy, the rule of law, and civil rights in Romania, developed by CeRe: The Resource Centre for Public Participation, the Centre for Public Innovation, and ActiveWatch, with contributions from ApTI – Association for Technology and Internet, Expert Forum, and Greenpeace Romania.

From the summary:

The elections that weren’t — The annulment of the 2024 presidential elections remains without any official explanation. No lessons acknowledged, no public report.

Transparency vs. opacity — 93 emergency ordinances in one year, attempts to restrict access to public information, and asset declarations removed from the public domain through a Constitutional Court ruling.

Freedom of expression under pressure — Journalists threatened, activists intimidated, organised smear campaigns.

Protest treated as a public order problem — Administrative restrictions and disproportionate interventions by law enforcement limit citizens’ right to take to the streets.

Digital rights adrift — Arbitrary enforcement of rules on online content and a lack of expertise in the AI space raise new risks for fundamental rights.

A strained judiciary, declining trust — Controversial appointments, blocked reforms, an increasingly fragile public perception.

SLAPPs and courtroom intimidation — Costly lawsuits used as a pressure tool against journalists and NGOs.

The environment: between public interest and private interests — Environmental organisations are marginalised, intimidated, and harassed in court.

Doses of optimism — Tentative steps in lobbying regulation, progress on the anti-femicide law, and a few court victories for environmental protection.

The report is available HERE.