BUCHAREST : Romanian Road Show

On the road to capitalism and democracy, the 23 million people of Romania are proving to be Eastern Europe’s laggards. Nearly three years into the transition away from decades of communism, political instability is still delaying progress on reform.

Elections scheduled Sunday for president and Parliament hold out little hope of quickening the pace. On the contrary, many fear an outcome so fractured that it could take months for the rival parties to agree on a ruling coalition.

While the people seem deeply divided, the stakes of the election have been made clear. Western governments are quietly warning Romanians that reelection of the neo-Communist faction headed by President Ion Iliescu will further shackle their quest for prosperity.