As we approach the 20th Anniversary of the fall of Ceausescu, Romania is again in a state of political crisis. The Social Democratic Party left the governing coalition on 1st October in protest over the sacking of one of their ministers. The Government then collapsed on Tuesday 13th October, after a vote of no confidence by the Parliament. Presidential elections are due to take place on 22nd November.

Romania has been one of the European nations hit hardest by soaring inflation and unemployment.

Moldova held repeat elections on 29th July, ousting the Communist Government. A coalition of four democratic parties took over.

Pray that both countries will reach some political stability again and be able to overcome their economic problems"

The current President of Romania was elected on an "anti-corruption" ticket - the verbal fighting in the last election was bitter, slanderous and false on the opposition side - and he has proved to be a man of his word in fighting corruption in the government.

The quieter situation in Moldova is the reason that goods (including shoeboxes) and travellers have freer access to the country.

A snippet from the RomAF newsletter (a Christian charity which helped Link Romania with advice in the early '90's) received recently.