2012 Romanian parliamentary election
Romania
9 December 2012
All 176 seats in the Senate
All 412 seats in the Chamber of Deputies
89 and 207 seats needed for a majority
Turnout41.76% (Increase 2.56pp)
PartyLeader % Seats +/–
Chamber of Deputies
USL Victor Ponta
Crin Antonescu		 58.63 273 +94
ARD Vasile Blaga
Mihai Răzvan Ungureanu		 16.51 56 −59
PP–DD Dan Diaconescu 13.99 47 New
UDMR Hunor Kelemen 5.14 18 −4
Minority parties Varujan Pambuccian[lower-alpha 1] 2.86 18 0
Senate
USL Victor Ponta
Crin Antonescu		 60.10 122 +45
ARD Vasile Blaga
Mihai Răzvan Ungureanu		 16.71 24 −27
PP–DD Dan Diaconescu 14.65 21 New
UDMR Hunor Kelemen 5.24 9 0
This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.
The results for the Chamber of Deputies and for the Senate
Prime Minister before Prime Minister after
Victor Ponta Victor Ponta
USL (PSD)		 Victor Ponta
USL (PSD)		Victor Ponta

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.[1] 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

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.[2]

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 threshold[3] with extra seats for minorities, both ethnic minorities and Romanian minorities. However, after PDL, fearing poor results in the elections ahead because of it, appealed the Constitutional Court of Romania who invalidated the law on 27 June 2012 and reinstated the old one.[4] 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
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 2012 [5][6] 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.

Results

The Social Liberal Union (USL) maintained majority in both the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate.

Senate

The results for the Senate
PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Social Liberal Union4,457,52660.10122+45
Right Romania Alliance1,239,31816.7124−27
People's Party – Dan Diaconescu1,086,82214.6521New
Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania388,5285.2490
Greater Romania Party109,1421.4700
Hungarian People's Party of Transylvania58,7650.790New
Ecologist Party of Romania58,3350.7900
People's Party11,6810.160New
Socialist Alliance Party2,1710.0300
Popular and Social Protection Party2,1000.0300
Workers' Social Democratic Party1,3800.020New
National Democratic Christian Party1320.0000
Independents7280.0100
Total7,416,628100.00176+39
Valid votes7,416,62896.40
Invalid/blank votes276,9483.60
Total votes7,693,576100.00
Registered voters/turnout18,423,06641.76
Source: BEC

Chamber of Deputies

The results for the Chamber of Deputies
PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Social Liberal Union4,344,28858.63273+94
Right Romania Alliance1,223,18916.5156−59
People's Party – Dan Diaconescu1,036,73013.9947New
Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania380,6565.1418−4
Greater Romania Party92,3821.2500
Ecologist Party of Romania58,1780.7900
Hungarian People's Party of Transylvania47,9550.650New
Democratic Forum of Germans39,1750.5310
Party of the Roma22,1240.3010
Association of Macedonians of Romania12,2120.1610
Union of Armenians of Romania10,7610.1510
Bulgarian Union of Banat–Romania10,1550.1410
Federation of the Jewish Communities in Romania10,0190.1410
League of Albanians of Romania10,0100.1410
Hellenic Union of Romania9,8630.1310
People's Party9,3190.130New
Democratic Union of Turkish-Muslim Tatars9,2910.1310
Democratic Union of Slovaks and Czechs of Romania8,6770.1210
Community of the Lipovan Russians8,3280.1110
Union of Serbs of Romania8,2070.1110
Union of Poles of Romania8,0230.1110
Association of Italians of Romania7,9430.1110
Union of the Ukrainians of Romania7,3530.1010
Democratic Turkish Union of Romania7,3240.1010
Union of Croats of Romania6,2810.0810
Cultural Union of Ruthenians of Romania5,2650.0710
Socialist Alliance Party2,3310.0300
Popular and Social Protection Party9290.0100
Workers' Social Democratic Party2310.000New
National Democratic Christian Party380.0000
Independents12,3890.1700
Total7,409,626100.00412+78
Valid votes7,409,62696.31
Invalid/blank votes283,6533.69
Total votes7,693,279100.00
Registered voters/turnout18,423,06641.76
Source: BEC

Local referendums

Two local non-binding referendums were also organized on 9 December, concerning environmental issues.[7]

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.[7]

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.[7]

Incidents

Although a report by the OSCE stated the elections were administered "professionally and efficiently",[8] 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.[9] 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.[10] According to the Emergency Ordinance issued on 6 November by Ponta Cabinet, offering food, drink and money in the campaign is illegal.[11]

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.[12] 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.[13]

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.[14] He was detained for 24 hours for allegations of lobbyism, instigation to false and incitement to the misdemeanor of money laundering.[15] 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.

Notes

  1. ↑ Pambuccian has been the parliamentary leader of the national minorities' group since 1996 onwards.

References

  1. ↑ "First Victim of the 2012 elections: Right Romania dissolves right after election day". 11 December 2012. Archived from the original on 19 December 2012. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  2. ↑ "Romanian government falls: Plus ça change... | EurActiv". Archived from the original on 12 February 2012. Retrieved 9 February 2012.
  3. ↑ m.b.H., STANDARD Verlagsgesellschaft. "Radikales Wahlrecht beschlossen". derstandard.at. Archived from the original on 19 April 2018. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
  4. ↑ Timu, Andra (27 June 2012). "Romanian Constitutional Court Overturns Changes to Election Law". Bloomberg. Archived from the original on 29 June 2012. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  5. ↑ "Sondaj CSOP: Ponta şi Antonescu plătesc factura referendumului". Archived from the original on 16 September 2012. Retrieved 15 September 2012.
  6. ↑ "pesurse.ro". Archived from the original on 26 June 2014. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  7. 1 2 3 "Lower than needed turnout for local referendums on environmental impact of projects in Romania". Romania Insider. 11 December 2012. Archived from the original on 28 December 2012. Retrieved 11 December 2012.
  8. ↑ "OSCE/ODIHR Election Expert Team Final Report" (PDF). 16 January 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
  9. ↑ "Dan Diaconescu, investigated because he bribed voters with mititei and biscuits. The defendant answers: «Ponta is envious!»" Archived 15 November 2012 at the Wayback Machine, Evz.ro
  10. ↑ "Dan Diaconescu, investigated for mititei and biscuits! Archived 14 November 2012 at the Wayback Machine, Libertatea.ro
  11. ↑ "Government approved the Emergency Ordinance on offering food, drink and money in the campaign" Archived 9 November 2012 at the Wayback Machine, HotNews.ro
  12. ↑ "An old man from Gorj has died after a dispute with a PDL deputy" Archived 13 November 2012 at the Wayback Machine, Adevărul.ro
  13. ↑ "First incident in the electioneering! Old man dead in Gorj after a dispute with a deputy!" Archived 14 November 2012 at the Wayback Machine, Libertatea.ro
  14. ↑ "PDL deputy Alin Trășculescu, accused that demanded 150,000 euros bribe, to intervene in the government" Archived 14 November 2012 at the Wayback Machine, România Liberă
  15. ↑ "PDL deputy Alin Trășculescu, detained for 24 hours. DNA accused him of lobbyism, instigation to false in documents and money laundering", Gândul.info
Wikimedia Commons has media related to 2012 Romanian parliamentary election.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.