Contributor(s): Traian Băsescu, Professor Vladimir Tismaneanu | Traian Basescu is president of Romania. He was first elected to the post in December 2004, and was re-elected to a second 5-year term in 2009. He has previously served as mayor of Bucharest, and minister of transportation in the Ciorbea, Vasile, Isarescu, Roman and Stolojan governments. Prior to joining the government, he was a marine officer and merchant navy captain for the Romanian commercial fleet, having graduated in 1976 from the 'Mircea cel Bătrân' Civil Maritime Institute. Vladimir Tismaneanu is professor of comparative politics and director of the Center for the Study of Post-communist Societies, University of Maryland. He also serves as president of the scientific council of the Institute for the Investigation of Communist Crimes and the Memory of the Romanian Exile, Bucharest. This event is organised together with the Romanian Embassy, London, and with the generous support of the Romanian Cultural Institute. It forms part of the LSE European Institute - APCO Worldwide Perspectives on Europe Series and is coordinated by LSEE (LSE Research on South Eastern Europe).