ABSTRACT

Since 1996, Romania has had a system of direct party and campaign finance which exhibits many of the characteristics found among other post-communist countries. The funding scheme favors parliamentary parties, and the lack of financial controls has lead to repeated charges of corruption. Moreover, the use of public finance has become part of the larger debate over party registration and party patronage activities before and during campaigns. The Romanian case calls into question how state finance influences the party system and the role of money in politics. While considerable funding is necessary during the election campaign, party spending does not automatically translate into electoral success.