ABSTRACT
This chapter analyses the implementation of the external voting policy in Romania and the impact of the electoral participation from abroad in the domestic electoral results. In particular, this chapter looks at the recent evolution of the transnational policies and the impact of them in the relations between the home country and transnational community. In this chapter, the concept of citizenship and the dual citizenship approach of Romania will be discussed to understand why dual citizenship and external voting have gained value in recent years and the impact of these policies in attracting members of the transnational community back to the home country. This chapter also provides a brief history of Romanian emigration and the consequences for the country of origin. In this chapter, the role of the transnational communities and the creation of the foreign constituency in Romania are discussed in light of the domestic political interests that political parties have demonstrated towards the large communities abroad, especially in Italy and Spain, and the impact of those communities in lobbying the government to gain relevance to the political life of the country of origin.
