Democratic Party (Romania)

Democratic Party
Partidul Democrat
President Petre Roman (1993–2000)
Traian Băsescu (2000–2004)
Emil Boc (2004–2007)
Founded 1993
Dissolved 15 December 2007
Preceded by National Salvation Front
Succeeded by Democratic Liberal Party
European affiliation European People's Party (2006–2007)
International affiliation Socialist International (1996–2005)
Coalition Justice and Truth Alliance (2004–2007)

The Democratic Party (Romanian: Partidul Democrat, PD) was a social-democratic and, later, a centre-right political party in Romania. In January 2008, it merged with the Liberal Democratic Party, a splinter group of the National Liberal Party, to form the Democratic Liberal Party.

From 1996 to 2005 the party was a member of the Socialist International. From 2004 to 2007 the PD was the junior member of the governing Justice and Truth Alliance, although according to many Romanian opinion polls it remained the most popular of the two parties. Although he had to formally suspend his leadership of the party when elected president in 2004, the PD was largely associated with Romanian president Traian Băsescu.

History

Conflict broke out between FSN leaders Ion Iliescu and Petre Roman in early 1992, and this led to the separation of the Iliescu wing under the name of Democratic National Salvation Front (FDSN), which later became the Social Democratic Party (PSD).[1]

FSN was defeated by the FDSN in the 1992 legislative election and spent the next four years in opposition. In 1993 the FSN changed its name to the Democratic Party (PD). In the 1996 legislative election, the PD ran jointly with the now-defunct Romanian Social Democratic Party (PSDR), under the Social Democratic Union (USD) banner. After having ranked third, they joined a governing coalition with the Romanian Democratic Convention (CDR) and the ethnic Hungarian party Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR).[2] From 2000 to 2004 PD has been again in opposition.

In advance of the 2004 elections the PD joined forces with the National Liberal Party (PNL) to create the Justice and Truth Alliance (DA), whose main purpose was to fight the all-dominating PSD. The DA managed to win around 32% of the votes in both Chambers, not enough for a majority and about 6% less than the PSD. Together with its Liberal allies, the UDMR and the Conservative Party (PC), the PD was part of the governing coalition until April 2007.

During a congress in 2005, PD members voted in favour of joining the European People's Party (EPP) and abandoning the Party of European Socialists (PES) and the Socialist International (SI). In the same year Petre Roman left the party and together with his followers formed the Democratic Force (FD).

From mid-2005, the PD's relations with the PNL became strained due to an ongoing open conflict between Băsescu and Prime Minister Călin Popescu-Tăriceanu, who was also the chairman of the PNL. After his presidential victory in 2004, Băsescu appointed Tăriceanu as prime minister. Although he wanted to, he could not constitutionally dismiss him; at least, it took him a while. On 1 April 2007, Tăriceanu dismissed the ministers of PD and formed a minority government.[3]

On 15 December 2007 the PD was merged with the Liberal Democratic Party (PLD) to form the Democratic Liberal Party (PDL).

Ideology and policies

The political doctrine of the Democratic Party shifted from social democracy to centrism and greater conservatism since 2004, combined with economic liberalism and reformism. The party supported a consolidation of the free market and is supportive of Romania's flat tax rate of 16%. The party also supported reforming the Romanian Constitution in order to bring about a decentralisation in administration and give greater power to the eight development regions.

In terms of European politics, the Democratic Party:

Notable members

In 2007, out of 54 members of the PD group in Chamber of Deputies, 14 were not elected on PD electoral list:

References

  1. ↑ Roper, p.70
  2. ↑ Roper, p.79
  3. ↑ "Romania's prime minister names new Cabinet of minority government", Associated Press (International Herald Tribune), April 2, 2007.

Bibliography

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