Daniel Bromfield Pop

A lack of affordable housing in urban centres is driving political instability across Central and Eastern Europe. The transition from communism brought new freedoms, increased mobility, a wider array of consumer goods, and economic growth to most countries in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) following their integration with Western Europe.

When elections fail to offer voters sufficient choices, they risk becoming referendums on the state – and democracy – itself. Romania’s last-minute, aborted presidential election in December 2024 and the victory of ultra-nationalist George Simion in the first round of the rescheduled election on 4 May is a reminder that electoral processes are “markets” expected to reveal and sort voter preferences under pre-agreed rules.