4. The lesser of two evils (2000 - 2004)

The severe economic decline and Emil Constantinescu’s decision not to run for president again are tilting the odds in favour of Corneliu Vadim Tudor, a far-right politician who, in November 2000, makes it to the second presidential round. Romania is left with no other choice but what was then known as the lesser evil, in other words, Ion Iliescu for the third time.

But Romania is also  invited to join the NATO on November 23, 2002 and visas for European countries are waivered, which generates the first wave of massive migration to a better world.