According to the World Justice Project’s 2025 Rule of Law Index, Romania has dropped three places to 44th globally, reflecting a continued decline in democratic standards and institutional integrity. The report highlights weakening checks on government power, reduced transparency, and growing political interference in the judiciary, echoing a global trend where 68% of countries show erosion in rule-of-law indicators. Freedom of expression, civic engagement, and judicial independence are all deteriorating amid corruption and public distrust. While Nordic countries remain top performers, Romania is slipping toward the middle of the rankings, signaling deep structural issues. The WJP warns that although building a stable legal system takes time, its deterioration can occur swiftly through populism, poor governance, and lack of accountability—threatening to make Romania’s democratic regression irreversible without urgent reforms.