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2016 Romanian parliamentary election

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2016 Romanian parliamentary election
← 2012 December 11, 2016 (2016-12-11) 2020 →
All 136 seats in the Senate
All 329 seats in the Chamber of Deputies
69 S and 165 D seats needed for a majority
Registered18,403,044
Turnout39.46% (Decrease 2.30 pp)
  First party Second party Third party
 
Leader Liviu Dragnea Alina Gorghiu Nicușor Dan
Party PSD PNL USR
Leader's seat D - Teleorman S - Timiș D - Bucharest
Last election 59 S / 150 D 50 S / 100 D -
Seats after 67 S / 154 D 30 S / 69 D 13 S / 30 D
Seat change Increase 8 S / Increase 4 D Decrease 20 S / Decrease 31 D New
Popular vote 3,204,864 1,412,377 625,154
Percentage 45.48% 20.04% 8.87%
  Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party
 
Leader Hunor Kelemen Călin Popescu-Tăriceanu Traian Băsescu
Party UDMR ALDE PMP
Leader's seat D - Harghita S - Bucharest S - Bucharest
Last election 9 S / 18 D - -
Seats after 9 S / 21 D 9 S / 20 D 8 S / 18 D
Seat change Steady 0 S / Increase 3 D New New
Popular vote 435,969 396,386 376,891
Percentage 6.19% 5.62% 5.35%
  Seventh party
 
Leader Varujan Pambuccian[a]
Party Minority parties
Leader's seat D - Nationwide[b]
Last election 0 S / 18 D
Seats after 0 S / 17 D
Seat change Steady 0 S / Decrease 1 D
Popular vote 94,028
Percentage 1.33%
Prime Minister before election

Dacian Cioloș
Independent (technocratic)

Prime Minister after election

Sorin Grindeanu
PSD

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Parliamentary elections were held in Romania on 11 December 2016.[2] They were the first held under a new electoral system adopted in 2015, which saw a return to the proportional electoral system last used in the 2004 elections. The new electoral legislation provides a norm of representation for deputies of 73,000 inhabitants and 168,000 inhabitants for senators, which decreased the number of MPs.[3]

A total of 466 parliamentary seats (308 deputies, 18 minority deputies, and 134 senators) were contested, compared with the 588 parliamentarians elected in 2012. The diaspora was represented by four deputies and two senators, elected by postal vote.[4] The elections saw a turnout of 39.5%, lower than in 2012 but slightly higher than in the 2008 elections.

New electoral system

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The parliamentary election of 2016 unfolded differently compared to 2012 and 2008. On 24 February 2015, the Electoral Code Commission decided in principle for the future electoral law to return to party-list proportional representation, thereby relinquishing the first-past-the-post (uninominal) voting system as introduced in 2008.[5] The option of turning the Parliament of Romania into a perfectly bicameral parliament, with some 300 deputies being elected on a closed list and 100 senators being elected by a single-round uninominal majority vote, had been discussed for years[6] and even agreed upon between the ruling Social Democratic Party (PSD) and the opposition.[7] The new electoral law promulgated by President Klaus Iohannis on 20 July 2015 however did not retain uninominal constituencies for the Senate. Closely sticking to the commission's recommendations, the new electoral law completely returned to party-list proportional representation.[8]

With a representation norm of one deputy per 73,000 inhabitants and one senator per 168,000 inhabitants,[9] a total of 308 deputies were elected, to which are added the 18 deputies of minorities, 134 senators and 6 MPs of diaspora (two senators and four deputies).[10] All in all this totals to a number of 466 MPs, five fewer than in 2008 and 122 fewer than in 2012.[8] While for single-party lists the electoral threshold is kept at 5%, a higher threshold of 8–10% is introduced for electoral alliances. For the first time the Romanian electors residing abroad were able to cast their vote via mail, in a reaction to the flawed procedures at the 2014 presidential election.[8]

Parties

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Although the image of Victor Ponta and his Social Democratic Party (PSD) was badly affected by corruption scandals and a recent wave of protests, the party remains one of the two major parties in Romania. Besides the PSD, the Romanian party system however went through a number of substantial regroupings.

Major regroupings

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Leading centre-left Social Democratic Party (PSD) and the Centre Right Alliance (ACD) of the Conservative Party (PC) and National Liberal Party (PNL) contested the 2012 parliamentary election under the joint ticket of the Social Liberal Union (USL).[11] They won an absolute majority to form a government headed by prime minister Victor Ponta.

Over time, the PC and PNL increasingly distanced themselves from each other, with the PC – despite its name – embracing social liberalism[citation needed] and being affected by corruption scandals involving its leader, Dan Voiculescu, who was subsequently sentenced to prison for money laundering. In turn, the PNL dropped out of the coalition government in February 2014.[12] Formerly affiliated with the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE), the party applied for membership in the European People's Party (EPP) and was later accepted as a member.[13] The PNL's shift to the right led to a faction led by Călin Popescu-Tăriceanu leaving to form the Liberal Reformist Party (PLR), which then merged with the PC to found the Romanian Alliance of Liberals and Democrats (ALDE), named after the European party.[14][15] This move was criticized by Conservative MEP Maria Grapini, who accused her party of betrayal.[16]

Subsequently, the PNL joined forces with the Democratic Liberal Party (PDL), which itself had suffered a split when Traian Băsescu left to form the People's Movement (PMP).[17] Ahead of a complete merger, the PDL and PNL formed the Christian Liberal Alliance (ACL),[18] which successfully fielded Klaus Iohannis in the November 2014 presidential election.[19] The two parties fully merged on 17 November 2014 under the name of National Liberal Party (PNL).

In June 2015, the left-wing National Union for the Progress of Romania (UNPR) which was previously in the Centre Left Alliance (ACS) with the Social Democrats (PSD), absorbed the remainders of dissolved populist PP-DD[20] after the latter's founder Dan Diaconescu was convicted for extortion.[21] UNPR president Gabriel Oprea advanced an independent list for his party for the 2016 parliamentary election.[22] Though it aimed to win 10% of national vote on its own,[23] the party also reaffirmed its commitment to the Centre Left Alliance (ACS) with the PSD.[24] However, in July 2016, UNPR joined the right-leaning People's Movement Party (PMP) led by former president Traian Băsescu, despite protests from some UNPR members.[25][26] Oprea, himself under investigation for abuse of power, resigned from the party and declared his intention to leave politics.[27]

Further developments

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Further information: List of political parties in Romania

A new nationalist party, United Romania Party (PRU), was founded by MP Bogdan Diaconu on 17 August 2014 and became official by court decision on 17 February 2015.

Also notable was the rise of the Union for the Salvation of Romania (USR), a party recently created from its base in Bucharest as the Union for the Salvation of Bucharest. Led by Nicușor Dan, a mathematics professor, it was a reformist group of newcomers to politics committed to rooting out corruption. Polling suggested that the USR would exceed its goal of winning 10% of the popular vote.

The Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR/RMDSZ), the largest party representing an ethnic minority, was also projected to be represented in the parliament.

Parties to be entered in the election and their leaders[28]1
PSD (Liviu Dragnea) PNL (Alina Gorghiu) ALDE[29] (Daniel Constantin, Călin Popescu-Tăriceanu) UDMR (Hunor Kelemen) USR (Nicușor Dan) PMP (Traian Băsescu) PRU (Bogdan Diaconu) AN (Marian Munteanu) PER (Dănuț Pop) PRM (Emil Străinu) PSR (Constantin Rotaru)

Opinion polls

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  Parties that surpass the parliamentary threshold of 5% (except the leading party)
  Parties that do not surpass the parliamentary threshold of 5%
  Parties that maybe can surpass or not surpass the parliamentary threshold of 5%
Poll source Date Sample size PNL PDL PLR PSD–UNPR–PC PPDD UDMR PRM PMP PNȚCD M10 PRU Other Lead
INSCOP 1–6 Jul 2014 1,055 19.3% 11.9% 42.3% 2.8% 5.4% 3.2% 7.5% 1.2% 13.7%
CCSCC 20–26 Aug 2014 1,248 34% 5% 38% 4% 6% 2% 7% 4%
INSCOP 30 Aug–4 Sep 2014 1,058 31.5% 4.4% 42.6% 3.4% 5.8% 3.3% 7.1% 0.8% 10.1%
INSCOP 27 Nov–2 Dec 2014 1,076 41.7% 3.3% 38.8% 2.3% 5.1% 1.2% 5.6% 0.6% 2.9%
Poll source Date Sample size PNL PLR PSD–UNPR–PC PPDD UDMR PRM PMP PNȚCD M10 PRU Other Lead
CSOP 13–18 Dec 2014 1,044 47% 34% 2% 6% 3% 3% 13%
CSOP 27 Jan–4 Feb 2015 1,036 49% 32% 2% 6% 2% 3% 17%
INSCOP 5–10 Feb 2015 1,065 44.2% 3.3% 37.4% 1.4% 5% 1.1% 4% 0.9% 6.8%
Avangarde 18–26 Feb 2015 900 40% 5% 37% 3% 5% 4% 3% 3%
CSOP 3–10 Mar 2015 1,007 49% 31% 2% 7% 2% 2% 18%
CSCI 24–28 Mar 2015 1,073 39% 6% 37% 2% 5% 2% 3% 2%
ARP 30 Mar–3 Apr 2015 1,100 44% 3% 34% 2% 5% 2.5% 2.5% 1% 10%
CSCI 20–24 Apr 2015 1,090 42% 5% 39% 1% 4% 1% 3% 3%
Avangarde 21–29 Apr 2015 950 43% 5% 40% 1% 4% 1% 2% 2% 3%
INSCOP 23–30 Apr 2015 1,085 44.7% 2.2% 39.1% 1% 5.2% 2% 2.8% 1% 5.6%
Poll source Date Sample size PNL ALDE (PLR+PC) PSD UNPR (incl. PP–DD) UDMR PRM MP PNȚCD M10 PRU Other Lead
INSCOP 9–14 Jul 2015 1,075 44.5% 3% 37.1% 5.1% 2.1% 2.4% 1.2% 2.3% 2.3% 7.4%
CSCI 10–17 Aug 2015 1,021 41% 3% 37% 2% 5% 3% 5% 3% 1% 4%
Avangarde 1–7 Sep 2015 1,000[c] 32% 6% 34% 7% 2% 4% 2% 5% 8% 2%
INSCOP 10–15 Sep 2015 1,085 42% 2.6% 35% 5.1% 5% 1.3% 2.5% 1% 2% 1% 2.5% 7%
INSCOP 26 Nov–2 Dec 2015 1,071 40.1% 4% 36.3% 2.6% 5.2% 1.1% 4.4% 1% 2.4% 2.9% 3.8%
ARP 2–6 Dec 2015 950 35% 6.5% 34% 2.5% 4% 5% 7.5% 2.5% 1.5% 1.5% 1%
CIADO 1–5 Feb 2016 1,157 35.45% 4.57% 36.42% 23.56% 0.97%
INSCOP 21–28 Mar 2016 1,068 37.2% 5.3% 39.2% 5% 1% 5.1% 0.4% 2.2% 1.2% 3.4% 2%
Poll source Date Sample size PNL ALDE PSD PMP (incl. UNPR) UDMR USR PRU Other Lead
CIADO 1–10 Aug 2016 5,428 (urban only) 32.33% 8.2% 35.76% 7.57% 5.1% 8.1% - 2.94% 3.43%
TNS 14–23 Sep 2016 1,000 25% 7% 45% 4% 5% 10% 3% 1% 20%
ARP 17–24 Sep 2016 1,170 30% 5.5% 38% 4% 5% 9% - 8.5% 8%
CIADO 6–30 Oct 2016 4,500 29.3% 6.5% 44.6% 4.9% 5.2% 5.7% 2.5% 1.3% 15.3%
CCSB 1-7 Nov 2016 1,261 27.2% 5.2% 40.2% 5% 5.4% 11% 4.2% 1.8% 13%
TNS 11-21 Nov 2016 1,003 18% 7% 40% 7% 3% 19% 3% 3% 21%
Avangarde 20-27 Nov 2016 1000 27% 6% 43% 5% 5% 8% 3% 3% 16%
SOCIOPOL 23-30 Nov 2016 1006 25% 6% 40% 5% 5% 10% 5% 4% 15%
SOCIOPOL 3-7 Dec 2016 1002 27% 6% 41% 4% 4% 7% 5% 6% 14%
IRES 6-7 Dec 2016 1100 23% 6% 44% 6% 5% 7% 4% 5% 21%
Avangarde Synthesis Unspecified 24–31% 5–6% 40% 5–7% - 7–15% 3–5% - 9–16%

Graphical summary of the polls

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Graphical representation of the polling for the 2016 Romanian parliamentary election

Results

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Results of the election, showing vote strength by electoral district. Top: results for the Chamber of Deputies; bottom: results for the Senate.
Results of the election by electoral district. Top: results for the Chamber of Deputies; bottom: results for the Senate
Vote share by party and county

Chamber of Deputies

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PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Social Democratic Party3,204,86445.48154+4
National Liberal Party1,412,37720.0469–31
Save Romania Union625,1548.8730New
Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania435,9696.1921+3
Alliance of Liberals and Democrats396,3865.6220New
People's Movement Party376,8915.3518New
United Romania Party196,3972.790New
Greater Romania Party73,2641.0400
Ecologist Party of Romania62,4140.8900
Our Romania Alliance61,2060.870New
Romanian Socialist Party24,5800.3500
Party of the Roma13,1260.1910
Democratic Forum of Germans12,3750.1810
Democratic Union of Slovaks and Czechs of Romania6,5450.0910
Community of the Lipovan Russians6,1600.0910
Hellenic Union of Romania5,8170.0810
Democratic Turkish Union of Romania5,5360.0810
Association of Macedonians of Romania5,5130.0810
Union of Serbs of Romania5,4680.0810
Federation of the Jewish Communities in Romania5,0690.0710
Union of Armenians of Romania4,8680.0710
League of Albanians of Romania4,6400.0710
Bulgarian Union of Banat–Romania4,5420.0610
Union of Croats of Romania3,5320.0510
Association of Italians of Romania3,4860.0510
Union of Poles of Romania3,3550.0510
Cultural Union of Ruthenians of Romania2,8240.0410
Humanist Power Party2,5990.040New
New Romania Party1,7640.030New
Union of the Ukrainians of Romania1,1720.0210
Youth Civic Action Platform6090.010New
Green Party5660.010New
Democratic Roma Party5230.010New
National Unity Bloc5180.010New
Our Vrancea Party5110.010New
Independents76,7641.0900
Total7,047,384100.00329–83
Valid votes7,047,38497.05
Invalid/blank votes213,9162.95
Total votes7,261,300100.00
Registered voters/turnout18,403,04439.46
Source: BEC

Senate

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PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Social Democratic Party3,221,78645.6867+8
National Liberal Party1,440,19320.4230–20
Save Romania Union629,3758.9213New
Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania440,4096.2490
Alliance of Liberals and Democrats423,7286.019New
People's Movement Party398,7915.658New
United Romania Party207,9772.950New
Greater Romania Party83,5681.1800
Ecologist Party of Romania77,2181.0900
Our Romania Alliance66,7740.950New
Romanian Socialist Party32,8080.4700
Humanist Power Party3,0660.040New
New Romania Party2,3490.030New
National Unity Bloc7390.010New
Green Party7190.010New
Youth Civic Action Platform7190.010New
Our Vrancea Party6520.010New
Democratic Roma Party6480.010New
Republican Party of Romania520.000New
Independents21,3950.3000
Total7,052,966100.00136–40
Valid votes7,052,96697.16
Invalid/blank votes205,9732.84
Total votes7,258,939100.00
Registered voters/turnout18,403,04439.44
Source: BEC

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Pambuccian has been the parliamentary leader of the national minorities' group since 1996 onwards.
  2. ^ National minorities have nationwide mandates and do not represent a specific county. [1]
  3. ^ Bucharest only.

References

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  1. ^ Legea privind alegerea Senatului şi a Camerei Deputaţilor, precum şi pentru organizarea şi funcţionarea Autorităţii Electorale Permanente, cu modificările şi completările ulterioare [The Law on the election of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, as well as on the organization and operation of the Permanent Electoral Authority, with subsequent amendments and additions - Updated text] (PDF) (208, 94.12) (in Romanian). 20 July 2015.
  2. ^ "Alegeri parlamentare 2016. Guvernul a decis ca pe 11 decembrie sa votam senatorii si deputatii". Știrile ProTV. 31 August 2016.
  3. ^ Pană, Ştefan (5 January 2016). "ANALIZĂ: 2016, anul alegerilor locale şi parlamentare. Noile reguli electorale". Mediafax.
  4. ^ "Legea votului prin corespondenţă, promulgată de preşedinte". Gândul. 19 November 2015. Archived from the original on 14 September 2016. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
  5. ^ Andrei, Cristian (24 February 2015). "NOUA LEGE ELECTORALĂ. Parlamentari aleşi pe liste şi campanii electorale finanţate de stat". Gândul (in Romanian).
  6. ^ Zachmann, Sebastian (27 February 2013). "Votul pe listă revine la alegerile din 2016". Adevărul (in Romanian).
  7. ^ "Schimbări MAJORE la viitoarele alegeri parlamentare: Se renunţă la uninominal şi se revine la votul pe liste". România TV (in Romanian). 24 February 2015.
  8. ^ a b c Mihai Pelin; Ana-Maria Popescu (21 July 2015). "New Election Law in Romania". Radio România Internaţional. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
  9. ^ Filimon, Paul (20 July 2015). "Legea ALEGERILOR PARLAMENTARE pe LISTE, promulgată de Iohannis". România Liberă (in Romanian).
  10. ^ Rosca, Iulia (20 July 2015). "Presedintele Klaus Iohannis a promulgat Legea alegerilor parlamentare". HotNews.ro (in Romanian).
  11. ^ Romanian opposition parties join forces, SE Times, 06/02/2011
  12. ^ "Romania's Liberals to leave ruling coalition, government". The Sofia Globe. Retrieved 2014-07-16.
  13. ^ "EPP concerned over actions of radical Islamic militant groups and over latest political developments in Romania; welcomes five new member parties". European People's Party. 12 September 2014. Archived from the original on 13 April 2015.
  14. ^ "New political party in Romania". romania-insider.com. 2015-06-22. Archived from the original on 2015-06-26. Retrieved 2015-06-26.
  15. ^ "ALDE Party President welcomes establishment of new party in Romania". Archived from the original on 2016-03-03.
  16. ^ Dolana, Andra (18 June 2015). "SCANDAL ÎN PC. Grapini își varsă "amărăciunea" pe Facebook. Conservatorii: Hoțul strigă hoții". România Liberă (in Romanian).
  17. ^ Grigoras, Alina (29 January 2014). "People's Movement Party aims re-launching". NineO'Clock.ro. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
  18. ^ Georgescu, Serban (22 July 2014). "PNL and PDL form the Christian Liberal Alliance". nineoclock.ro. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
  19. ^ "Romanians elected Klaus Iohannis their new president for the next five years". TheDiplomat.ro. 17 November 2014. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
  20. ^ Novaceanu, Alina (29 June 2015). "Oprea: Am încheiat o fuziune prin absobţie cu PP-DD. Suntem un partid al uşilor deschise" (in Romanian). Retrieved 30 December 2015.
  21. ^ "Romanian media owner and politician gets five years in jail for blackmail". romania-insider.com. 2015-03-04. Archived from the original on 2015-09-30. Retrieved 2015-09-22.
  22. ^ Tomescu, Ioana (19 July 2015). "Gabriel Oprea: UNPR are două variante pentru viitoarele alegeri, în alianţă cu PSD sau singuri". Evenimentul Zilei (in Romanian).
  23. ^ "UNPR's Oprea: UNPR matters in Romanian politics". Agerpres. 29 August 2015. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
  24. ^ "UNPR will support the prime minister-designate and his cabinet in Parliament". Agerpres. 11 November 2015. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
  25. ^ Carmen Vintilă (20 July 2016). "PMP și UNPR au FUZIONAT astăzi. Traian Băsescu: "Cel mai bun profil de premier sunt eu"". Evenimentul Zilei.
  26. ^ "UPDATE Congresele reunite ale PMP și UNPR au aprobat în unanimitate fuziunea". Agerpres. 20 July 2016. Archived from the original on 21 July 2016. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
  27. ^ "Gabriel Oprea, urmarit penal de DNA in dosarul "Audi + jacuzzi". Fostul ministru a venit la DNA cu trei garzi de corp". Retrieved 17 August 2016.
  28. ^ "Partide care au depus la Biroul Electoral Central liste de susţinători la nivel național la alegerile pentru Senat și Camera Deputaților din data de 11 decembrie 2016 - Biroul Electoral Central".
  29. ^ Neagu, Alina (19 June 2015). "Daniel Constantin si Calin Popescu Tariceanu au semnat protocolul de fuziune intre PC si PLR: Noua formatiune se va numi Partidul Alianta Liberalilor si Democratilor (ALDE)". HotNews.ro (in Romanian).
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