2008–2012 legislature of the Romanian Parliament

Last updated

Parliament of Romania
LIII legislature
2004–2008 2012–2016
Overview
Term20 December 2004 (2004-12-20) – 18 December 2012
Government PDL, PSD, PC

PDL, UDMR, UNPR

PSD, PNL, PC, UNPR
Opposition PNL, UDMR

PSD, PNL, PC

PDL, UDMR
Senate
Senate of Romania - 2012.png
Political structure of the Senate
Members137
President of the Senate Crin Antonescu (3 July 2012 – 18 December 2012) National Liberal Party

Vasile Blaga (28 November 2011 – 3 July 2012) Democratic Liberal Party

Contents

Mircea Geoană (19 December 2008 – 23 November 2011) Social Democratic Party
Democratic Liberal Party Cristian Rădulescu
Social Democratic Party Ilie Sârbu
National Liberal Party Mario Oprea
Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania Andras Levente Fekete Szabó
National Union for the Progress of Romania Şerban Mihăilescu
Chamber of Deputies
Romania Chamber of Deputies 2012.svg
Political structure of the Chamber of Deputies
Members334
President of the Chamber of Deputies Valeriu Zgonea (3 July 2012 – 18 December 2012) Social Democratic Party
Roberta Anastase (19 December 2008 – 3 July 2012) Democratic Liberal Party
Democratic Liberal Party Mircea Toader
Social Democratic Party Marian Neacşu
National Liberal Party Călin Popescu-Tăriceanu
Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania András-Levente Máté
Minorities Varujan Pambuccian
National Union for the Progress of Romania Luminiţa Iordache
Government
Boc I Cabinet
(coalition)
Emil Boc (22 December 2008 – 23 December 2009)
Boc II Cabinet
(coalition)
Emil Boc
Cătălin Predoiu (29 December 2009 – 9 February 2012)
Ungureanu Cabinet
(coalition)
Mihai Răzvan Ungureanu (9 February 2012 – 27 April 2012)
Ponta
(coalition)
Victor Ponta (27 April 2012 – 18 December 2012)
Sessions
1stDecember 2008 – February 2009
2ndFebruary 2009 – September 2009
3rdSeptember 2009 – February 2010
4thFebruary 2010 – September 2010
5thSeptember 2010 – February 2011
6thFebruary 2011 – September 2012
7thSeptember 2012 – December 2012

In Romania's 2008 legislative election, held on 30 November, no party won an outright majority. The Democratic Liberal Party (PDL) won the largest number of seats, closely followed by the Social Democratic Party (PSD) + Conservative Party (PC) Alliance. It was thought that the third-placed National Liberal Party (PNL) would hold the key for the new government. It asked for the position of Prime Minister in its negotiations with the two parties.

In the end, the Democratic Liberal Party (PDL) and Social Democratic Party (PSD) signed a coalition agreement, with Theodor Stolojan as Prime Minister designate. Two days later, inexplicably, Stolojan renounced this designation, and was quickly replaced by Emil Boc, Democratic Liberal Party (PDL) president and still incumbent Mayor of Cluj-Napoca to this day. The National Liberal Party (PNL), Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR), and the 18 Minorities Parties formed the Parliamentary Opposition.

The coalition originally had approximately 70% Parliament support, but the Social Democrats (PSD) pulled out of the coalition on 1 October 2009, in protest of the sacking of interior minister Dan Nica, [1] and the government fell in a vote of no confidence on 13 October. [2]

Senate

The President of the Senate for this legislature was Mircea Geoană, former president of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), between 19 December 2008 and 23 November 2011. He was replaced by Vasile Blaga on 28 November 2011. On 3 July 2012, Crin Antonescu replaced Blaga at the Senate Presidency. During Antonescu's tenure as interim President, the business of the Senate was carried by Vice President Petru Filip. Filip switched parties from the Democratic Liberal Party (PDL) to the Social Democratic Party (PSD) during the no confidence vote for the Ungureanu Cabinet. He also served as interim President of the Senate between the removal from office of Geoană and Blaga's election in 2011. At that time he was a PDL Vice President.

Seats in the Senate of Romania, 6th legislature
Party Election seating LostWonPresent seating
Seats %Seats %
Democratic Liberal Party 5137.22%1923525.54%
Social Democratic Party 4935.76%1534029.19%
National Liberal Party 2820.43%1642719.70%
Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania 96.57%2075.10%
National Union for the Progress of Romania 412128.75%
  Independents 221.45%
 Vacant seats14
Total137100137100

Chamber of Deputies

On 19 December 2008, Roberta Anastase was elected President of the Chamber of Deputies as a member of Democratic Liberal Party (PDL). She was removed from office on 3 July 2012, and replaced by Valeriu Zgonea, Chamber Vice President at that time.

Seats in the Chamber of Deputies of Romania
Parliamentary Group Election seating LostWonPresent
Seats %Seats %
Democratic Liberal Party 11534.43%291210631.73%
Social Democratic Party 11434.13%2929127.24%
National Liberal Party 6519.46%2165616.76%
Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania 226.58%20205.98%
Ethnic minorities parties 185.39%20164.79%
National Union for the Progress of Romania 1616123.59%
Independents 82.39%
 Vacant seats25
Total334100334100

During the 2009 Spring Session of the Parliament, two Inquiry Committees were constituted, along with an Inquiry Sub-Committee. One Committee was formed to examine Minister of Youth and Sport Monica Iacob-Ridzi, regarding her possible misuse of money spent on Youth Day festivities. The other investigated Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, Nicolae Nemirschi, regarding the possible misuse of money spent by his Ministry on the promotion of Governmental Programs. The Sub-Committee was formed to review former Prime Minister Călin Popescu-Tăriceanu, regarding the possible fraudulent allocation of oil drilling rights in the Snake Island area, recently gained by Romania.

The Chamber of Deputies was called in an Extraordinary Session in July to receive the reports of the Ridzi Inquiry Committee and Tăriceanu Inquiry Sub-Committee, and the formation of a new Inquiry Committee for the Minister of Tourism, Elena Udrea, regarding the possible misuse of money spent by her Ministry on tourism ads.

By-elections

Summary of the Romanian legislative by-election results for the 2008 - 2012 legislature (LIII)
DateCollege - ConstituencyCandidatesParties and alliancesVotes %
17 January 2010 CD 1-42 Radu Stroe National Liberal Party (Partidul Naţional Liberal)7,62570.17%
Honorius Prigoană Democratic Liberal Party (Partidul Democrat-Liberal)3,24229.83%
Total valid votes(40,583 expected voters) (turnout 27.12% - 11,006)10,867100.00%
Source: Biroul Electoral Municipal Archived 4 September 2020 at the Wayback Machine
25 April 2010 CD 19-42 Teo Trandafir Democratic Liberal Party (Partidul Democrat-Liberal)53.59%
Liliana Mincă PSD+PC Electoral Alliance (Alianţa Electorală PSD+PC)46.41%
Total valid votes (103,204 expected voters) (turnout 14.84%)15,093100.00%
Source: Autoritatea Electorală Permanentă Archived 13 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine
28 November 2010 CD 3-22 Mariana Câmpeanu National Liberal Party (Partidul Naţional Liberal)8,73834.86%
Daniel Răducanu Democratic Liberal Party (Partidul Democrat-Liberal)7,33929.28%
Ţoloaș Liliana PSD+PC Electoral Alliance (Alianţa Electorală PSD+PC)5,21820.81%
Nicolae TimișIndependent2,68310.70%
Bela Fülöp Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania (Uniunea Democrată Maghiară din România)4381.75%
Remus CerneaIndependent2691.07%
Mircea Părăian New Generation Party – Christian Democratic (Partidul Noua Generaţie - Creştin Democrat)1970.78%
Iosif Danci Christian-Democratic National Peasants' Party (Partidul Naţional Ţărănesc Creştin Democrat)1870.75%
Total valid votes(53,222 expected voters) (turnout 48.41% - 25,763)25,069100.00%
Source: Autoritatea Electorală Permanentă Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine
21 August 2011 CD 6-29 Adrian Rădulescu Democratic Liberal Party (Partidul Democrat-Liberal)17,18654.95%
Liviu Harbuz Social-Liberal Union (Uniunea Social Liberală)14,08945.05%
Total valid votes(57,996 expected voters) (turnout 53.93% - 32,184)31,275100.00%
Source: Autoritatea Electorala Permanenta Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine
CD 2-26 Florin Tătaru Social-Liberal Union (Uniunea Social Liberală)9,43342.67%
Mariana Pop Democratic Liberal Party (Partidul Democrat-Liberal)7,84535.48%
Mircea Dolha Ecologist Party of Romania (Partidul Ecologist Român)4,33819.62%
Felician Horzsa Greater Romania Party (Partidul România Mare)4932.23%
Total valid votes(79,241 expected voters) (turnout 27,90% - 22,478)22,109100.00%
Source: Biroul Electoral Judeţean Archived 31 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine

    See also

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    References

    1. BBC News, 2009-10-01. Romanian government falls apart. Retrieved 2009-10-14.
    2. BBC News, 2009-10-13. Romanian government falls on vote. Retrieved 2009-10-14.