Social Liberal Humanist Party

Last updated
Social Liberal Humanist Party
Partidul Umanist Social Liberal
AbbreviationPUSL
President Cristian Popescu Piedone [1]
General SecretarySimona Alice Man
Founder Dan Voiculescu
Founded28 September 2015 (2015-09-28)
Split from Conservative Party
HeadquartersPiața Presei Libere nr. 1, Sector 1, Bucharest
Ideology
Political position Syncretic [8]
European Parliament group Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats [9] [10]
Colors  Blue
Senate
1 / 136
Chamber of Deputies
4 / 330
European Parliament
1 / 33
Mayors
3 / 3,176
County Councillors
0 / 1,340
Local Council Councilors
170 / 39,900
Website
pusl.ro

The Social Liberal Humanist Party (Romanian : Partidul Umanist Social Liberal, PUSL), formerly Humanist Power Party (Social-Liberal) (Romanian : Partidul Puterii Umaniste (social-liberal), PPU-SL) is a centrist [11] political party in Romania. It was founded in 2015 by members of the Conservative Party (PC) who did not want to merge with the Liberal Reformist Party (PLR), led by Călin Popescu-Tăriceanu. [12]

Contents

History

In the summer of 2015, the Conservative Party (PC), led by Daniel Constantin, merged with the Liberal Reformist Party (PLR), creating the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats (ALDE). [13] At the same time, PC MEP Maria Grapini opposed this decision, criticizing the disappearance of the party's ideology and announced that she would join a new group, the Party of Humanist Power (PPU).

Ideology

When it launched in 2015, the party claimed to have a centre-right political doctrine. [14] Later, the party began to reject the left-right political spectrum, promoting conservative humanism and traditional values as the third way. [15] The departure of several people from the People's Movement Party into the Social Liberal Humanist Party strengthened the conservative outlook of the party. [16]

The party also has populist rhetoric centered around its leader, Cristian Popescu Piedone. [17]

PUSL member Nicolae Păun claimed that the party promotes humanist, socialist and liberal values. [18]

Notable members

Controversy

In 2018, former Sector 4 mayor, Cristian Popescu Piedone join PPU and reentered politics, [24] having previously been prosecuted for the Colectiv nightclub fire back in 2015. [25] He was accounted responsible and in 2019 sentenced to 8 years in prison, but the sentence was not decisive and was attacked by the Bucharest Court of Appeal. With all the legal problems and controversy surrounding Piedone, PPU still endorsed him as candidate in the 2016 Romanian local elections for mayor of Sector 4 [26] as well as in the 2020 Romanian local elections for mayor of Sector 5, winning the latter. [27]

PUSL has also been labeled by the press as Dan Voiculescu's personal party, who has been described as the de facto leader of the party. [28] [29] [30] [31]

Electoral history

Legislative elections

Election Chamber Senate PositionAftermath
Votes%SeatsVotes%Seats
2016 12,5990.04
7 / 329
3,0660.04
2 / 136
 12th Extra-parliamentary endorsement for PSD-ALDE government (2017–2019)
Extra-parliamentary endorsement for PSD minority government (2019)
Extra-parliamentary opposition to PNL minority government (2019–2020)
Opposition to PNL minority government (2020)
2020 270,5361.19
4 / 330
59,4651.01
1 / 136
 9th Extra-parliamentary opposition to PNL-USR PLUS-UDMR government
(2020–2021)
Opposition to PNL-USR PLUS-UDMR government (2021)
Opposition to PNL-UDMR minority government (2021)
Endorsing CNR government (2021–present)

Notes:

1 The MPs were elected on the PSD and ALDE lists. [32]

2 The MPs were elected on the PSD list.

Local elections

National results

ElectionCounty Councilors (CJ)MayorsLocal Councilors (CL)Popular vote %Position
Votes%SeatsVotes%SeatsVotes%Seats
2016 21,9160.26
0 / 1,434
0 / 3,186
0 / 40,067
2020 64,2320.79
0 / 1,340
58,6800.73
3 / 3,176
48,5780.68
170 / 39,900
64,2320.79 10th 

Mayor of Bucharest

ElectionCandidateFirst round
VotesPercentagePosition
2020 Gabriela Firea 1250,690
37.97%
 2nd 
2024 Cristian Popescu Piedone TBDTBDTBD

Notes:

1 PSD candidate, Gabriela Firea, was endorsed by PPU

Presidential elections

ElectionCandidateFirst roundSecond round
VotesPercentagePositionVotesPercentagePosition
2019 Ramona Bruynseels 244,275
2.65%
 7th not qualified

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