Democratic Party (Romania)

The Democratic Party (Romanian: Partidul Democrat, PD) is a social-democrat party of Romania.

PD traces its roots in the National Salvation Front (FSN), one of the first political parties to emerge after the Romanian Revolution of 1989 which ended the Communist regime. Conflicts 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).

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

In advance of the 2004 elections they joined forces with the National Liberal Party to create the Justice and Truth political alliance ("Dreptate şi Adevăr"), whose main purpose was to fight the all-dominating social-democrats PSD. The alliance managed to win around 32% of the votes in both Chambers, not enough for a majority and about 6% less than PSD, but still better than initially expected.

However, due to their alliances with the National Liberal Party, Romanian Humanist Party and the Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania, the Democratic Party is currently part of the governing coalition.

As of December 2004, the interim leader of PD is Emil Boc. Former leader Traian Băsescu. won the Romanian presidential election of 2004 and resigned from the party on December 18, since the office of President requires political independence. The next congress is due in the spring of 2005.

Notable current and former members

• Petre Roman - left and founded the Forţa Democrată (Democratic Force) party;
• Traian Băsescu - elected President of Romania, membership suspended during the mandate.
• Adriean Videanu - Mayor of Bucharest
• Emil Boc
• Radu Berceanu
• Alexandru Sassu (left for PSD)
• Bogdan Niculescu Duvăz (left for PSD together with Sassu)
• Victor Babiuc - formerly in charge of the Ministery of Defence (who knows in what party he may be right know)
• Radu Vasile (came from PNŢCD, maybe he has already left)
• Anca Boagiu
• Vasile Blaga

External link

• Democratic Party: Official site (in Romanian)