2012 Romanian parliamentary election

none May 2025 2012 Romanian parliamentary election Romania parliamentary no yes 2008 Romanian legislative election 2008 2016 Romanian legislative election 2016 All 176 seats in the Senate All 412 seats in the Chamber of Deputies 89 S and 207 D yes 2012 12 09 41.76% ( 2.56pp)http://www.antena3.ro/alegeriparlamentare2012/ ALEGERI PARLAMENTARE 2012 www.antena3.ro 18 April 2018 Victor Ponta debate November 2014.jpg 97 97 130 0 0 FF8000 Victor Ponta USL D – Dolj 49+28 S / 114+65 D 122 S / 273 D 45 S / 94 D 4,344,288 D 58.63% D EPP Congress 7615 (8100155267) (cropped).jpg 97 97 130 0 0 318CE7 Vasile Blaga ARD S – Timiș 51 S / 115 D 24 S / 56 D 27 S / 59 D 1,223,189 D 16.51% D Dan Diaconescu la BEC depune candidatura la presedintie 22.09.2014.png 97 97 130 0 0 800080 Dan Diaconescu PP–DD New party 21 S / 47 D Was not elected 1,036,730 D 13.99% D 21 S / 47 D EPP Congress 5719 (8099356346) (cropped).jpg 97 97 130 0 0 008000 Hunor Kelemen UDMR D – Harghita 9 S / 22 D 9 S / 18 D 0 S / 4 D 380,656 D 5.14% D Varujan Pambuccian (2).JPG 97 97 130 0 0 Varujan PambuccianPambuccian, a member of the Union of Armenians of Romania, has been the parliamentary leader of the national minorities' group since 1996. Romanian ethnic minority parties 0 S / 18 D D - Nationwide National minorities have nationwide mandates and do not represent a specific county. 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 208 2015-07-20 94.12 https://www.roaep.ro/legislatie/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Legea-nr.-208-2015-actualizata.pdf ro 0 S / 18 D 0 S / 0 D 161,836 http://alegeri.roaep.ro/?alegeri=alegeri-parlamentul-romaniei-2012-14_05_2014 Alegeri Parlamentul României 2012 Autoritatea Electorală Permanentă alegeri.roaep.ro 16 June 2024 D 2.18% D 250px The results for the Chamber of Deputies and for the Senate Prime Minister Victor Ponta USL (PSD) Victor Ponta USL (PSD) Parliamentary elections were held in Romania on 9 December 2012. The Social Liberal Union (USL) co-led by former Prime Minister Victor Ponta won an absolute majority in both the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. At the time of the elections, despite the severe weather in several parts of the country, the turnout was approximately 42%, slightly higher than the last parliamentary elections held in 2008 which saw a turnout of 39%. The Social Liberal Union (USL) obtained a huge majority in both the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, with 60% and 59% respectively of the votes and in MP mandates, namely a record number of 395 seats. Far behind, the Right Romania Alliance (ARD) came in second place with only 17% of the vote and 80 seats, losing about half of what they won as the Democratic Liberal Party (PDL) in 2008. The ARD was officially dissolved after the elections.http://www.romania-insider.com/first-victim-of-the-2012-local-elections-right-romania-alliance-dissolves/71179/ First Victim of the 2012 elections: Right Romania dissolves right after election day 11 December 2012 12 December 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20121219171309/http://www.romania-insider.com/first-victim-of-the-2012-local-elections-right-romania-alliance-dissolves/71179/ 19 December 2012 dead People's Party – Dan Diaconescu (PP–DD) and the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR/RMDSZ) were the only other political groups that won seats in the Senate. Several parties of ethnic minorities also received individual seats in the Chamber of Deputies. Background Protests 2012 Romanian protests Following weeks of demonstrations against austerity measures demanded by the International Monetary Fund for a multi-billion US dollar loan, former Prime Minister Emil Boc (PDL) resigned on 6 February 2012. The opposition, represented at that time by the Social Liberal Union (USL) leaders Victor Ponta (PSD) and Crin Antonescu (PNL), then called for early elections. However, as the three parties behind the government (namely the PDL, UDMR/RMDSZ, and UNPR) still relied on a slight parliamentary majority, an ad interim solution was agreed with the opposition that the government could stay in power until the next elections, conditional of electing a political independent technocrat as the new prime minister. Consequently, the former Foreign Intelligence Service (SIE) Director Mihai Răzvan Ungureanu was appointed acting prime minister on 9 February 2012. The government announced the intention to hold parliamentary and local elections at the same time, by lengthening the term of the local elected officials (i.e. Mayors, Local Councils, County Councils, and County Councils Presidents). It was suspected that the attempt to delay local elections was related to the fact that massive street protests had erupted in the meantime, and, at the same time, the opposition political alliance Social Liberal Union (USL) went on strike in the Parliament, pushing for early parliamentary elections to be called one or two weeks after local elections in June. Initially, the government proposed an election date in November 2012, but as the mayoral mandates already expired in June 2012, this was ruled unconstitutional. The local elections were eventually held on 10 June, with an unexpected runoff and three repeated elections on 17 June. Motion of no confidence The political alliance Social Liberal Union (USL), at that time comprising the three parties PSD, PNL, and PC, initiated and succeeded to vote a motion of no confidence against Mihai Răzvan Ungureanu and his cabinet on 27 April 2012 after just two months in office. Afterwards, former President Traian Băsescu nominated then opposition leader and president of the Social Democratic Party, Victor Ponta as Prime Minister.http://www.euractiv.com/elections/romanian-government-falls-plus-change-analysis-510695 Romanian government falls: Plus ça change... EurActiv 9 February 2012 12 February 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120212081138/http://www.euractiv.com/elections/romanian-government-falls-plus-change-analysis-510695 dead Electoral system In May 2012, the new USL government passed an electoral law in parliament, which changed the election system to a single-round FPTP system without the 5% electoral thresholdhttp://derstandard.at/1336697749143/Radikales-Wahlrecht-beschlossen Radikales Wahlrecht beschlossen STANDARD Verlagsgesellschaft m.b.H. derstandard.at 18 April 2018 19 April 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180419053418/https://derstandard.at/1336697749143/Radikales-Wahlrecht-beschlossen live with extra seats for minorities, both ethnic minorities and Romanian minorities. However, after PDL, fearing poor results in the elections ahead because of itApril 2015, appealed the Constitutional Court of Romania who invalidated the law on 27 June 2012 and reinstated the old one.https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-06-27/romanian-constitutional-court-overturns-changes-to-election-law.html Bloomberg Andra Timu Romanian Constitutional Court Overturns Changes to Election Law 27 June 2012 11 March 2017 29 June 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120629153815/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-06-27/romanian-constitutional-court-overturns-changes-to-election-law.html live A consequence of this is that after the 2012 parliamentary elections the size of the new Parliament grew to a record total number of 588, an added 117 seats than in the last parliament: 39 supplementary Senate seats, and 97 supplementary Chamber of Deputies seats, including the 18 seats for the ethnic minorities parties and organisations. Party standings and political alliances In late 2010, the PSD+PC Alliance broke up without affecting the MEP seat held by the PC. In January 2011, the National Liberal Party – PNL and the Conservative Party – PC formed the Centre Right Alliance – ACD. In February 2011, ACD together with the Social Democratic Party – PSD formed the Social Liberal Union – USL. Following the local election, PSD, and the National Union for the Progress of Romania – UNPR formed the Centre Left Alliance, thus UNPR joining USL in mid 2012. For the 2012 local election PDL formed various county-level alliances with a wide range of parties, including UNPR. Following the presidential impeachment referendum it urged the formation of a political alliance with a number of minor political parties and foundations, such as New Republic led by Mihail Neamțu, and the centre-right Civic Initiative led by Mihai Răzvan Ungureanu. Eventually Ungureanu joined a minor party, Civic Force (FC), and was elected its president. The alliance registered at the Central Electoral Bureau was called Right Romania Alliance – ARD formed by PDL, PNȚCD, and FC. Opinion polling The PDL centred ARD alliance was formed late after the 2012 Romanian presidential impeachment referendum. As a result, some opinion polls do not include the ARD. Opinion polls that show PDL do not show ARD. The UNPR joined USL in August–September 2012, in a sceptical environment. As a result, some opinion polls showed both political entities. The PNG-CD leader George Becali joined the PNL and ran backed by the USL in Bucharest. Furthermore, his former party did not propose any candidates for this election. Polling Firm Date Source Social Liberal Union Right Romania Alliance Democratic Liberal Party (Romania) People's Party – Dan Diaconescu Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania Greater Romania Party New Generation Party – Christian Democratic National Union for the Progress of Romania USL ARD PDL PP-DD UDMR PRM PNG-CD UNPR Others Undecided IMAS 6 September 2012 57.1% N/A 17.8% 14.1% 5.8% 3% 0.6% 0.3% 1.3% N/A CSCI 9 September 2012 62% N/A 19% 11% 4% 2% N/A N/A 2% N/A CSOP 15 September 2012http://www.evz.ro/detalii/stiri/Sondaj-CSOP-1000750.html Sondaj CSOP: Ponta şi Antonescu plătesc factura referendumului 15 September 2012 16 September 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120916054745/http://www.evz.ro/detalii/stiri/Sondaj-CSOP-1000750.html live http://www.pesurse.ro/#/2012/09/14/sondaj-csop-alb-ca-zpada-tinde-spre-25-iar-usl-bga/#news pesurse.ro https://web.archive.org/web/20140626080304/http://www.pesurse.ro/#/2012/09/14/sondaj-csop-alb-ca-zpada-tinde-spre-25-iar-usl-bga/#news 2021-11-26 26 June 2014 50% N/A 21% 12% 5% 3% 1% 1% 5% N/A 49% 24% N/A 14% 5% 3% 2% 1% 2% N/A IMAS 27 September 2012 55% N/A 17.8% 15.5% 5.3% 2% 1.1% 0.3% 3% N/A CSCI 28 September 2012 58% 16% N/A 18% 5% 2% 1% N/A N/A N/A Avangarde 21 November 2012 62% 15% N/A 14% 3% 2% 1% N/A 3% N/A CCSB 3 December 2012 62% 17% N/A 10% 5% 2% N/A N/A 4% N/A Candidates Out of the 12 contesting parties running for the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, only three submitted a full list of candidates: Social Liberal Union (USL), Right Romania Alliance (ARD), and the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR/RMDSZ). People's Party - Dan Diaconescu (PP-DD) submitted a list with one candidate less than all the available colleges. Only one independent candidate decided to run for the Senate and 12 for the Chamber of Deputies. There were 18 national minorities associations proposing one candidate each for the Chamber of Deputies. Contesting parties and alliances PartyAbbr.IdeologyAlliance withSocial Liberal UnionUSLSocial liberalismBig tentPSD, PNL, PC, UNPR, PVRight Romania AllianceARDConservatismEconomic liberalismPD-L, FC, PNȚCDPeople's Party – Dan DiaconescuPP-DDLeft-wing populismLeft-wing nationalismDemocratic Alliance of Hungarians in RomaniaUDMRHungarian minority interestsSocial conservatismGreat Romania PartyPRMRight-wing populismNational conservatismRomanian Ecologist PartyPERGreen conservatismChristian democracyHungarian People's Party of TransylvaniaEMNP/PPMTHungarian minority interestsConservatismPeople's PartyPPSocialist Alliance PartyPASCommunismEuropean federalismSocial Protection People's PartyPPPSSocial liberalismPensioners' interestsWorkers' Social Democratic PartyPMSDSocial democracyLabourismNational Democratic Christian PartyPNDCChristian democracyNationalismEthnic minority partiesMinority interestsIndependent candidatesIndependent politics Conduct Although a report by the OSCE stated the elections were administered "professionally and efficiently",http://194.88.148.169/b4/cc/12/e5/default_851532130567.pdf?c=25b63f6fcc0da26c81c9bc1477148343 OSCE/ODIHR Election Expert Team Final Report 16 January 2013 18 January 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20160304092801/http://194.88.148.169/b4/cc/12/e5/default_851532130567.pdf?c=25b63f6fcc0da26c81c9bc1477148343 4 March 2016 dead the electioneering, initiated on 9 November and ended on 8 December, was not without incidents. Dan Diaconescu, candidate from PP-DD in the same college of Chamber of Deputies in Târgu Jiu with Prime Minister Victor Ponta, is investigated for electoral bribery."Dan Diaconescu, investigated because he bribed voters with mititei and biscuits. The defendant answers: «Ponta is envious!»" https://web.archive.org/web/20121115093820/http://www.evz.ro/detalii/stiri/alegeri-parlamentare-dan-diaconescu-cercetat-pentru-ca-si-a-mituit-electoratul-cu-mici-s-101047.html 15 November 2012 , Evz.ro Authorities were notified after PSD representatives within Gorj County Council filed a complaint regarding the distribution of food and the organization of an electoral spectacle before the electioneering."Dan Diaconescu, investigated for mititei and biscuits! https://web.archive.org/web/20121114054625/http://www.libertatea.ro/detalii/articol/dan-diaconescu-cercetat-mici-biscuiti-422176.html 14 November 2012 , Libertatea.ro According to the Emergency Ordinance issued on 6 November by Ponta Cabinet, offering food, drink and money in the campaign is illegal."Government approved the Emergency Ordinance on offering food, drink and money in the campaign" https://web.archive.org/web/20121109021942/http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-esential-13560154-guvernul-discuta-oug-privind-oferirea-alimente-bauturi-bani-campania-electorala.htm 9 November 2012 , HotNews.ro On 11 November, an old man from the commune of Mătăsari (Gorj County) had a heart attack shortly after a discussion in contradictory with PDL deputy Constantin Severus Militaru."An old man from Gorj has died after a dispute with a PDL deputy" https://web.archive.org/web/20121113205353/http://www.adevarul.ro/actualitate/politica/batran-murit-cearta-deputat-PDL_0_808719169.html 13 November 2012 , Adevărul.ro PDL deputy said that the old man was very indignant because his pension was not recalculated, although he had worked all his life in mining."First incident in the electioneering! Old man dead in Gorj after a dispute with a deputy!" https://web.archive.org/web/20121114052710/http://www.libertatea.ro/detalii/articol/batran-mort-campanie-dupa-cearta-deputat-severus-militaru-422203.html 14 November 2012 , Libertatea.ro The President of PDL Vrancea, Alin Trășculescu, was caught in the act by anticorruption prosecutors while receiving €50,000 from a businessman in the form of bribe."PDL deputy Alin Trășculescu, accused that demanded 150,000 euros bribe, to intervene in the government" https://web.archive.org/web/20121114213516/http://www.romanialibera.ro/actualitate/eveniment/deputatul-pdl-alin-trasculescu-acuzat-ca-a-cerut-150-000-de-euro-mita-pentru-a-interveni-la-guvern-283718.html 14 November 2012 , România Liberă He was detained for 24 hours for allegations of lobbyism, instigation to false and incitement to the misdemeanor of money laundering."PDL deputy Alin Trășculescu, detained for 24 hours. DNA accused him of lobbyism, instigation to false in documents and money laundering", Gândul.info Alin Trășculescu was under the supervision of National Anticorruption Department for two years. He claimed he could get contracts with the State, from the Ministry of Development and Tourism, led then by Elena Udrea. Results The Social Liberal Union (USL) maintained majority in both the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. Senate thumb|right|500px|The results for the Senate thumb|497x497px|Results of the 2012 Romanian legislative elections, showing the number of votes for the party that won a plurality in each locality. Results for the Senate. Social Liberal Union 4457526 122 +45 Right Romania Alliance 1239318 24 −27 People's Party – Dan Diaconescu 1086822 21 New Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania 388528 9 0 Greater Romania Party 109142 0 0 Hungarian People's Party of Transylvania 58765 0 New Ecologist Party of Romania 58335 0 0 People's Party 11681 0 New Socialist Alliance Party 2171 0 0 Social Protection People's Party 2100 0 0 Workers' Social Democratic Party 1380 0 New National Democratic Christian Party 132 0 0 Independents 728 0 0 276948 +39 18423066 BEC Chamber of Deputies thumb|right|500px|The results for the Chamber of Deputies thumb|500x500px|Results of the 2012 Romanian legislative elections, showing the number of votes for the party that won a plurality in each locality. Results for the Chamber of Deputies. Social Liberal Union 4344288 273 +94 Right Romania Alliance 1223189 56 −59 People's Party – Dan Diaconescu 1036730 47 New Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania 380656 18 −4 Greater Romania Party 92382 0 0 Ecologist Party of Romania 58178 0 0 Hungarian People's Party of Transylvania 47955 0 New Democratic Forum of Germans 39175 1 0 Party of the Roma 22124 1 0 Association of Macedonians of Romania 12212 1 0 Union of Armenians of Romania 10761 1 0 Bulgarian Union of Banat–Romania 10155 1 0 Federation of the Jewish Communities in Romania 10019 1 0 League of Albanians of Romania 10010 1 0 Hellenic Union of Romania 9863 1 0 People's Party 9319 0 New Democratic Union of Turkish-Muslim Tatars 9291 1 0 Democratic Union of Slovaks and Czechs of Romania 8677 1 0 Community of the Lipovan Russians 8328 1 0 Union of Serbs of Romania 8207 1 0 Union of Poles of Romania 8023 1 0 Association of Italians of Romania 7943 1 0 Union of the Ukrainians of Romania 7353 1 0 Democratic Turkish Union of Romania 7324 1 0 Union of Croats of Romania 6281 1 0 Cultural Union of Ruthenians of Romania 5265 1 0 Socialist Alliance Party 2331 0 0 Social Protection People's Party 929 0 0 Workers' Social Democratic Party 231 0 New National Democratic Christian Party 38 0 0 Independents 12389 0 0 283653 +78 18423066 BEC File:Romania Chamber 2012.svg Local referendums Two local non-binding referendums were also organized on 9 December, concerning environmental issues.Lower than needed turnout for local referendums on environmental impact of projects in Romania http://www.romania-insider.com/lower-than-needed-turnout-for-local-referendums-on-environmental-impact-of-projects-in-romania/71262/ 11 December 2012 Romania Insider 11 December 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20121228032740/http://www.romania-insider.com/lower-than-needed-turnout-for-local-referendums-on-environmental-impact-of-projects-in-romania/71262/ 28 December 2012 dead The first one took place in Alba county and people were asked whether they were in favor or against the Roșia Montană mining project. Although 62% of those who voted voiced support for the controversial project, the referendum did not meet the required turnout of 50%, as only 43,2% of voters turned up. The second referendum was held in the communes of Limanu, Costinești as well as in the city of Mangalia and asked voters to say whether they were in favor or against the use, by Chevron, of shale gas extraction by means of hydraulic fracturing. This referendum failed to meet the required turnout as well. Notes References External links Category:Parliamentary elections in Romania Romania Parliamentary