 Romania joined NATO in spring 2004 and signed an accession treaty to join the EU.However, the PSD government was plagued by allegations of corruption which would be significant factors in its defeat in local and national elections in 2004.In September, 2003 the Democratic Party (PD) and National Liberal Party (PNL) formed an electoral alliance, the Justice and Truth (DA) Alliance, as a mainstream opposition bloc to the ruling PSD.