List of political parties in Romania
This article lists political parties in Romania.
Overview
has a multi-party system with numerous political parties, in which no one party often has a chance of gaining parliamentary majority alone, and parties must work with each other to form coalition governments. The current system was established following the Romanian Revolution of 1989 and the adoption of a new constitution in 1991; prior to these events, Romania was a single-party state under the Communist Party of Romania.Since the early 1990s, Romanian politics saw a gradual decrease in the number of parties entering Parliament and a relative consolidation of existing parties along ideological lines. Major parties can be roughly grouped into liberal, social democratic, or conservative "families". Extremist groups have a relatively low political profile in Romania, despite a surge in popularity of far right and Eurosceptic parties across Europe in the 2010s. Party switching remains an issue, however, as does corruption, leading to an overall low level of public trust in political parties. To counter this perception, the two largest parties as of 2015 have initiated a series of internal reforms to strengthen their integrity criteria and impose disciplinary sanctions on party members investigated or convicted on corruption charges.
Legal framework
Article 40 of the Constitution of Romania states that citizens can freely associate into political parties, with the exception of judges, military and police personnel and other civil servants which are apolitical by law. The same article bans parties which campaign against political pluralism, the rule of law, and Romania's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Romania's party system is regulated by Law no. 14/2003 on political parties; the law initially mandated a list of 25,000 supporters, residing in at least 18 counties and the Municipality of Bucharest, for a party to be formally registered. However, in February 2015, the unregistered Pirate Party of Romania filed a complaint with the Constitutional Court, arguing that the list requirement is a violation of the constitutional provisions on freedom of association. The Court subsequently struck down the requirement as unconstitutional, and on 6 May 2015, the Romanian Parliament approved a modified version of the law, which allows the formation of a political party with 3 signatures.Parties represented in Parliament
Present-day political parties with parliamentary representation, in order of the number of representatives they have in the Chamber of Deputies:In addition, ethnic minority organizations are granted each seat in the Chamber of Deputies if: are the sole official representative organization of the minority; they participate in the legislative election and do not pass the 5% threshold but obtain at least 10% of the number of votes calculated to correspond to electing one deputy. These seats are added to the number of seats put up for election. As of 2018, there are eighteen such seats. The Hungarian minority organization, the Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania passes the 5% threshold for both houses of the Romanian Parliament, and is treated as a regular party.
Minor parties
Ethnic minority organizations
| Association of Italians of Romania | Asociația Italienilor din România - RO.AS.IT., Associazione degli Italiani di Romania - RO.AS.IT. |
| Bulgarian Union of the Banat - Romania | Uniunea Bulgară din Banat - România, Български съюз на Банат - Румъния |
| Community of the Lippovan Russians in Romania | Comunitatea Rușilor Lipoveni din România, Община русских-липован Румынии |
| Cultural Union of Ruthenians of Romania | Uniunea Culturală a Rutenilor din România, Културне Товариство Русинів Романії |
| Democratic Forum of Germans in Romania | Forumul Democrat al Germanilor din România, Demokratisches Forum der Deutschen in Rumänien |
| Democratic Union of Slovaks and Czechs in Romania | Uniunea Democratică a Slovacilor și Cehilor din România, Demokratický svaz Slováků a Čechů v Rumunsku, Demokratický zväz Slovákov a Čechov v Rumunsku |
| Democratic Union of Turkish-Muslim Tatars of Romania | Uniunea Democrată a Tătarilor Turco-Musulmani din România, Romanya Müslüman Tatar Türklerĭ Demokrat Bĭrlĭgĭ |
| Federation of Jewish Communities of Romania | Federația Comunităților Evreiești din România |
| Hellenic Union of Romania | Uniunea Elenă din România, Ένωση Ελλήνων της Ρουμανίας |
| League of Albanians of Romania | Liga Albanezilor din România, Liga e shqiptarëve në Rumani |
| Party of the Roma | Partida Romilor, Partida le Romenge |
| Turkish Democratic Union of Romania | Uniunea Democrată Turcă din România, Romanya Türk Demokrat Birliği |
| Union of Armenians of Romania | Uniunea Armenilor din România, Ռումինիայի հայերի միություն |
| Union of Croatians of Romania | Uniunea Croaților din România, Zajedništvo Hrvata u Rumunjskoj |
| Union of Poles of Romania | Uniunea Polonezilor din România "Dom Polski", Związek Polaków w Rumunii "Dom Polski" |
| Union of Serbs of Romania | Uniunea Sârbilor din România, Савез Срба у Румунији |
| Union of Slavonic Macedonians of Romania | Asociația Macedonenilor Slavi din România, Сојуз на словенски Македонци на Романија |
| Union of Ukrainians of Romania | Uniunea Ucrainienilor din România, Союз українців Румунії |
Parties with elected representation at local and county level
Parties without elected representation
- Alliance for the Unity of Romanians '
- Communitarian Party of Romania '
- Democracy and Solidarity Party – Demos '
- New Generation Party – Christian Democratic '
- Party of the Revolution '
- Romanian Rebirth Party '
- Social Christian People's Union
Defunct parties
Parties active 1859–1918
| Conservative Party | Partidul Conservator | Active 1880–1918 |
| Conservative-Democratic Party | Partidul Conservator-Democrat | An offshoot of the Conservative Party, led by Take Ionescu; merged into the Conservative Nationalist Party; active 1908–1922 |
| Conservative Nationalist Party | Partidul Conservator Naționalist | An offshoot of the Conservative Party, active 1916 – 1935 |
| Constitutional Party | Partidul Constituțional | Active 1891–1907 |
| Democratic Nationalist Party | Partidul Naționalist-Democrat | Right-wing nationalist party; active 1910–1938 |
| Free and Independent Faction | Fracțiunea liberă și independentă | Active 1866–1875; merged into the National Liberal Party |
| National Liberal Party | Partidul Național-Liberal | Active 1875–1947 |
| National Party | Partida Națională | Active 1856–1859 |
| Peasants' Party | Partida Țărănească | Active 1895 |
| Radical Party / Radical Democratic Party | Partidul Radical / Partidul Democrat Radical | An offshoot of the National Liberal Party, led by George Panu; active c. 1884–1895; merged into the Conservative Party |
| Social Democratic Party of Romania | Partidul Social Democrat din România | Active 1910–1916, groups active illegally 1916–1918; Transformed into the Socialist Party of Romania |
| Romanian Social-Democratic Workers' Party | Partidul Social-Democrat al Muncitorilor din România | Active 1893–1899; most of its leadership joined the National Liberal Party, with others members eventually joining the Social Democratic Party of Romania |
Parties active 1918−1947
The following parties were all active in Romania in the interwar period and, in some cases, through and after World War II.Dates of founding and dissolution are given, where known. Failing that, the earliest and latest dates known for activities are given.
This period saw the proliferation of numerous extremist parties inspired by fascism, socialism and Communism. The latter were effectively banned in 1924 by the so-called Mârzescu law. A succession of coups drastically altered the political landscape as Romania went through a single-party dictatorship under the National Renaissance Front, then a military dictatorship without political parties, then briefly returning to multiparty democracy before finally becoming a people's republic.
| Agrarian League | Liga Agrară | Offshoot of the People's Party; active 1929–1938 |
| Agrarian Party | Partidul Agrar | Led by Constantin Argetoianu; active 1932–1938 |
| Bessarabian Peasants' Party | Partidul Țărănesc din Basarabia | Founded in the Moldavian Democratic Republic; most of it merged into the Peasants' Party in 1921, a wing led by Ion Inculeț kept the name and later joined the National Liberal Party; active 1918–1923 |
| Bolshevik Leninist Group of Romania | Grupul Bolșevic Leninist din România | A Trotskyist grouping led by David Korner; active 1935. |
| Citizen Bloc | Blocul Cetățenesc | A nationalist party led by Grigore Forțu; active 1934 |
| Citizen Committees-Dem. I. Dobrescu | Comitetele Cetățenești Dem. I. Dobrescu | A dissident wing of the National Peasants' Party; active 1935–1938 |
| Communist Party of Romania | Partidul Comunist din România | Founded in 1921 as the Socialist-Communist Party, a group that emerged from the Socialist Party of Romania; after 1944 Romanian Communist Party ; active 1921–1948. Absorbed the Social Democratic Party and renamed itself the Romanian Workers' Party |
| Conservative-Democratic Party | Partidul Conservator-Democrat | An offshoot of the Conservative Party, led by Take Ionescu; merged into the Conservative Nationalist Party; active 1908–1922 |
| Conservative Nationalist Party | Partidul Conservator Naționalist | An offshoot of the Conservative Party, active 1916 – c.1935 |
| Crusade of Romanianism | Cruciada Românismului | Fascist party; active 1935–1936. |
| Democratic Bloc / Democratic Union | Blocul democratic / Uniunea democratică | Anti-fascist political organizations under the influence of the Romanian Communist Party, active 1935–1936, 1937–1939 |
| Democratic Nationalist Party | Partidul Naționalist-Democrat | Right-wing nationalist party, active 1910–1938 |
| Democratic Peasants' Party–Stere | Partidul Țărănesc-Democrat Constantin Stere | A dissident wing of the National Peasants' Party, merged with the Radical Peasants' Party; active 1930–1933 |
| Democratic Peasants' Party–Lupu | Partidul Țărănesc-Democrat Nicolae L. Lupu | A dissident wing of the National Peasants' Party; active 1946–1948 |
| Fire Swastika | Svastica de Foc | Fascist party, an offshoot of the National-Christian Defense League; active 1935–1938 |
| German Party | Partidul German din România / Deutsche Partei in Rumänien | Generally backing the party in government, it became strongly influenced by National Socialism after 1936; active 1919–1944 |
| German People's Party | Partidul Poporului German din România / Deutsche Volkspartei in Rumänien | An offshoot of the German Party, active 1935–1938 |
| Hungarian People's Union | Uniunea Populară Maghiară / Magyar Népi Szövetség | An offshoot of the Magyar Party, created as Union of Hungarian Workers of Romania', in close alliance with the Communist Party of Romania; active 1934–1953 |
| Independent Social Democratic Party | Partidul Social Democrat Independent | A dissident wing of the Social Democratic Party, led by Constantin Titel Petrescu; active 1946–1947 |
| Iron Guard | Garda de Fier | The usual name of the group founded as the Legion of the Archangel Michael, running in election first as the "Corneliu Codreanu" Grouping and then as the "Everything For the Fatherland" Party - fascist party active between 1927 and c. 1944–1945 |
| Jewish Democratic Committee | Comitetul Democratic Evreiesc | In close alliance with the Communist Party of Romania; active 1946–1948 |
| Jewish Party | Partidul Evreiesc | Active 1923–1938 |
| Laborer Party | Partidul Muncitor | Active 1918; merged into the Peasants' Party |
| League against Usury | Liga Contra Cametei | Active 1929 – c.1931 |
| Liberal Democratic Party | Partidul Liberal-Democrat | Founded as "Free Man" Grouping - a dissident wing of the National Liberal Party, led by Jean Th. Florescu; active 1931–1935. |
| Magyar Party | Partidul Maghiar | Active 1922–1938 |
| National-Agrarian Action | Acțiunea Național-Agrară | An offshoot of the National Peasants' Party, merged into the National Union for Work and Reconstruction; active 1946–1947 |
| National Agrarian Party | Partidul Național Agrar | An offshoot of the People's Party, merged into the National Christian Party; active c.1931–1935 |
| National Awareness Guard | Garda Conștiinței Naționale | A fascist party formed around Constantin Pancu; active 1919–1922 |
| National-Christian Defense League | Liga Apărării Național-Creștine | A far right proto-fascist party, merged into National Christian Party; active 1920–1935 |
| National Christian Party | Partidul Național-Creștin | Fascist party, active 1935–1938 |
| National-Corporatist League | Liga Național-Corporatistă | A fascist party, led by Mihail Manoilescu; active 1932–1938 |
| National Fascist Movement | Mișcarea Națională Fascistă | Active cca. 1923 |
| National Italo-Romanian Cultural and Economic Movement | Mișcarea Națională Culturală și Economică Italo-Română | Fascist party, merged into the National Fascist Movement; active 1921–1923 |
| National Liberal Party | Partidul Național-Liberal | Active 1875–1947; the present-day PNL claims to be the successor of this party. |
| National Liberal Party-Brătianu | Partidul Național Liberal-Brătianu | A dissident wing of the National Liberal Party; active 1931–1935 |
| National Liberal Party-Tătărescu/National Liberal Party-Bejan | Partidul Național-Liberal-Tătărescu / Partidul Național-Liberal-Bejan | A dissident wing of the National Liberal Party; active 1944–1948 |
| National Peasants' Party | Partidul Național Țărănesc | Merger of the Romanian National Party and the National Peasants' Party; active 1926–1947 |
| National Peasants' Party–Alexandrescu | Partidul Național Țărănesc-Anton Alexandrescu | An offshoot of the National Peasants' Party, in close alliance with the Romanian Communist Party, merged into the Ploughmen's Front; active 1945–1948 |
| National Renaissance Front | Frontul Renașterii Naționale | Renamed Party of the Nation in 1940, created as the fascist-inspired single official corporatist party by King Carol II; active 1938–1940 |
| National Romanian Fascia | Fascia Națională Română | Merged into the National Fascist Movement; active c.1920–1923 |
| National Socialist Party | Partidul Național-Socialist | Fascist party; active 1933 |
| National Socialist German Workers' Party of the German ethnic group in Romania | Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei der deutschen Volksgruppe in Rumänien / Partidul Național-Socialist Muncitoresc German al Grupului Etnic German din România | Local branch of the Nazi Party, membership limited to the German minority; active 1940–1944 |
| National Union for Work and Reconstruction | Uniunea Națională Muncă și Refacere | Led by Constantin Argetoianu, partly merged into the Union of Patriots and the Ploughmen's Front; active 1947 |
| Peasant Workers' Bloc | Blocul Muncitoresc-Țărănesc | An umbrella group for the banned Communist Party of Romania; active 1925–1933 |
| Peasants' Party | Partidul Țărănesc | Founded 1918, merged with the Romanian National Party into the National Peasants' Party in 1927 |
| Peasants' Party–Lupu | Partidul Țărănesc Nicolae L. Lupu | A dissident wing of the National Peasants' Party; active 1927–1934 |
| People's Party | Partidul Poporului | Founded under the name People's League ; active 1918–1929 |
| Ploughmen's Front | Frontul Plugarilor | Closely associated with the Romanian Communist Party; active 1933–1953 |
| Progressive Conservative Party | Partidul Conservator-Progresist | An offshoot of the Conservative Party, led by Alexandru Marghiloman; active in 1918 |
| Radical Peasants' Party | Partidul Țărănesc-Radical | A dissident wing of the National Peasants' Party; active 1933–1938 |
| Romanian Front | Frontul Român | Far right offshoot of National Peasants' Party; active 1935 – c.1944 |
| Romanian National Party | Partidul Național Român | Founded inside Austria-Hungary in 1881, merged with the Peasants' Party to form the National Peasants' Party in 1927 |
| Social Democratic Party | Partidul Social Democrat | Created from the merger of the parties forming the Federation of Romanian Socialist Parties, merged into the Romanian Communist Party; active 1927–1948 |
| Social Democratic Party of Bukovina | Partidul Social Democrat din Bucovina | Founded inside Austria-Hungary, briefly joined into the Socialist Party of Romania, before separating again and becoming an autonomous section of the Federation of Romanian Socialist Parties, which evolved into the Social Democratic Party; active 1896–1920, 1921–1927 |
| Socialist Party | Partidul Socialist | An offshoot of the Social Democratic Party, led by Constantin Popovici, merged with the Independent Socialist Party to create the Unitary Socialist Party, only to break from the latter and ultimately join the Union of Patriots; active 1933, 1935–1944 |
| Social Democratic Party of Transylvania and Banat / Socialist Party of Transylvania and Banat | Partidul Social Democrat din Transilvania și Banat / Partidul Socialist din Transilvania și Banat | Founded inside Austria-Hungary, it emerged from the Hungarian Social Democratic Party, and briefly joined into the Socialist Party of Romania, before separating again and becoming an autonomous section of the Federation of Romanian Socialist Parties, which evolved into the Social Democratic Party; active 1906–1920, 1921–1927 |
| Socialist Democratic Party | Partidul Socialist Democrat | Created by Ioan Flueraș and George Grigorovici; active 1945–1946 |
| Socialist Party of Romania | Partidul Socialist din România | Formed by members of the Social Democratic Party, it absorbed the Social Democratic Party of Transylvania and Banat and the Romanian Social Democratic Party of Bukovina; active 1918–1921 |
| Socialist Peasants' Party | Partidul Socialist-Țărăneasc | A dissident wing of the National Peasants' Party, merged into the Ploughmen's Front; active 1943–1944 |
| Socialist Workers Party / Independent Socialist Party | Partidul Socialist al Muncitorilor / Partidul Socialist Independent | An offshoot of the Social Democratic Party, led by Leon Ghelerter, merged with the Socialist Party to create the Unitary Socialist Party; active 1928–1933 |
| Union of Patriots/National Popular Party | Uniunea Patrioților / Partidul Național-Popular | In close alliance with the Communist Party of Romania; active 1942–1948 |
| Ukrainian Workers' Party of Romania | Партія українських працюючих Румунії "Визволення"/Vîzvolenia | An offshoot of the Social Democratic Party of Bukovina, it closely collaborated with the Worker-Peasant Bloc; active primarily in northern Bukovina, in 1929–1934. |
| Unitary Socialist Party | Partidul Socialist Unitar | Merger of the Independent Socialist Party and the Socialist Party, merged into the Social Democratic Party; active 1933–1938, 1944 |
| Vlad Țepeș League | Liga "Vlad Țepeș" | Offshoot of the People's Party, led by Grigore Filipescu; active 1929–1938 |
Communist-era parties (1947–1989)
Although distinct parties in the communist era were not politically relevant, the following were the officially recognized political forces:| Romanian Communist Party | Partidul Comunist Român | Known as Romanian Workers' Party ' between 1948 and 1965; disestablished in 1989 |
| Front of Socialist Unity and Democracy | Frontul Democrației și Unitații Socialiste | An organization created as an outlet of the PCR; active 1968-1989 |
| General Union of Romanian Trade Unions | Uniunea Generală a Sindicatelor din România | Active 1948–1989 |
| Hungarian People's Union | Uniunea Populară Maghiară / Magyar Népi Szövetség | Created as Union of Hungarian Workers of Romania ', in close alliance with the Romanian Communist Party; active 1934–1953 |
| Jewish Democratic Committee | Comitetul Democratic Evreiesc | In close alliance with the Romanian Communist Party; active 1946–1953 |
| Ploughmen's Front | Frontul Plugarilor | Closely associated with the Romanian Communist Party; active 1933–1953 |
Other parties were allowed to exist, with unclear status, until mid-1948.
Post−1989 parties
| Alliance for Romania | Alianța pentru România | Absorbed into National Liberal Party; active June, 1997–August, 2001 |
| Christian Democratic National Peasants' Party | Partidul Național Țărănesc Creștin Democrat | Refounded as the Christian Democratic National Peasants' Party; active 1989–2005 |
| Civic Alliance Party | Partidul Alianța Civică | Absorbed into National Liberal Party; active 1991–1998 |
| Civic Force | Forța Civică | Absorbed into Democratic Liberal Party in 2014 |
| Conservative Party | Partidul Conservator | Absorbed into Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in 2015 |
| Democratic Agrarian Party of Romania | Partidul Democrat Agrar din România | |
| Democratic Liberal Party | Partidul Liberal Democrat | Absorbed into National Liberal Party; active 2007–2014 |
| Direct Democracy Romania | Partidul Democratie Directa Romania | Founded in 2015 |
| Ecologist Union of Romania Party | Partidul Uniunea Ecologistă din România | Absorbed into Ecologist Party of Romania; active March–August 2012 |
| "Everything For the Country" Party | Partidul "Totul Pentru Țară" | Dissolved in 2015 |
| Free Trade Party | Partidul Liber-Schimbist | Active 1990–1996 |
| Liberal Party 1993 | Partidul Liberal 1993 | Absorbed into National Liberal Party; active 1993–1995 |
| Liberal Reformist Party | Partidul Liberal Reformator | Absorbed into Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in 2015 |
| National Christian Democratic Alliance | Alianța Natională Creștin Democrată | Absorbed into Christian Democratic National Peasants' Party |
| National Christian Democratic Party | Partidul Național Creștin Democrat | Active 1990–2014. |
| National Initiative Party | Partidul Inițiativa Națională | Absorbed into the National Union for the Progress of Romania in February 2012 |
| National Liberal Party-Câmpeanu | Partidul Național-Liberal-Câmpeanu | Absorbed into National Liberal Party; active 1995–2003 |
| National Liberal Party-Democratic Convention | Partidul Național Liberal - Convenţia Democrată | Absorbed into National Liberal Party; 1991–1993 |
| National Liberal Party Youth Wing | Partidul Național-Liberal Aripa Tînără | Merged into the Liberal Party 1993; active 1990–1992 |
| Party of Liberty and Social Unity | Partidul Libertății și Unității Sociale | Active 1993–1996 |
| National Union for the Progress of Romania | Uniunea Națională pentru Progresul României | Merged into the People's Movement Party; active 2010–2016 |
| Party of Unity of the Romanian Nation | Partidul Unității Națiunii Române | Absorbed into Conservative Party in 2006 |
| Party of Romanian Life | Partidul Vieții Românești | |
| People's Action | Acțiunea Populară | |
| People's Party | Partidul Popular | |
| People's Party – Dan Diaconescu | Partidul Poporului – Dan Diaconescu | Absorbed into National Union for the Progress of Romania in 2015 |
| Republican Party | Partidul Republican | Dissolved in 2008 |
| Romanian National Unity Party | Partidul Unității Naționale a Românilor | - |
| Romanian Social Democratic Party | Partidul Social Democrat Român | Absorbed into Social Democratic Party in 2001 |
| Social Protection People's Party | Partidul Popular și al Protecției Sociale | Absorbed into National Union for the Progress of Romania in 2011; active 1994–2011 |
| Socialist Alliance Party | Partidul Alianța Socialistă | Merged into the Socialist Alternative Party in late 2013; active 2004–2013 |
| Socialist Party of Labour | Partidul Socialist al Muncii | One section absorbed into Social Democratic Party in July 2003, another reconstituted as the Socialist Alliance Party |
| Union for Romanian Reconstruction | Uniunea pentru Reconstrucția României | Absorbed into Christian Democratic National Peasants' Party in December 2004 |
| Union of Right-Wing Forces | Uniunea Forțelor de Dreapta | Founded in 1996 as Alternative for Romania Party, changed its name to UFD in 2000, absorbed into National Liberal Party in April 2003 |
| United Left Party | Partidul Stângii Unite | Absorbed into the Socialist Alliance Party in October 2008 |
| Workers' Social Democratic Party | Partidul Social Democrat al Muncitorilor | Dissolved in 2013. |
| Alternate Right | Alternativa Dreaptă | Newly founded political party since October 2018 |