View source for Politics of Romania

{{Short description|none}}<!-- "none" is preferred when the title is sufficiently descriptive; see [[WP:SDNONE]] -->

{{Infobox political system
| name                          = Politics of Romania
| native_name                   = {{lang|ro|Politica României}}
| image                         = Coat of arms of Romania.svg
| image_size                    = 110
| caption                       = [[Coat of arms of Romania]]
| type                          = [[Unitary state|Unitary]] [[Semi-presidential system|semi-presidential]] [[republic]]
| constitution                  = [[Constitution of Romania]] (1991)
| legislature                   = [[Parliament of Romania|Parliament]]
| legislature_type              = [[Bicameralism|Bicameral]]
| legislature_place             = [[Palace of the Parliament]]
| legislature_speaker           = 
| legislature_speaker_title     =
| upperhouse                    = [[Senate of Romania|Senate]]
| upperhouse_speaker            = [[Mircea Abrudean]]
| upperhouse_speaker_title      = [[President of the Senate of Romania|President of the Senate]]
| upperhouse_appointer          = 
| lowerhouse                    = [[Chamber of Deputies (Romania)|Chamber of Deputies]]
| lowerhouse_speaker            = [[Ciprian-Constantin Șerban]]
| lowerhouse_speaker_title      = [[President of the Chamber of Deputies of Romania|President of the Chamber of Deputies]]
| lowerhouse_appointer          =
| title_hos                     = [[President of Romania|President]]
| current_hos                   = [[Nicușor Dan]]
| appointer_hos                 = [[Elections in Romania|Direct popular vote]], [[two-round system]]
| title_hog                     = [[Prime Minister of Romania|Prime Minister]]
| current_hog                   = [[Ilie Bolojan]] (acting)
| appointer_hog                 = President
| title_hosag                   =
| current_hosag                 =
| appointer_hosag               =
| cabinet                       = [[Government of Romania]]
| current_cabinet               = [[Second Ciolacu Cabinet|Ciolacu Cabinet]]
| cabinet_leader                = Prime Minister
| cabinet_deputyleader          = Deputy Prime Minister	
| cabinet_appointer             = President
| cabinet_hq                    = [[Victoria Palace]]
| cabinet_ministries            = [[Government of Romania#Ministries|18]]
| judiciary                     = [[Judiciary of Romania]]
| judiciary_head                =
| courts                        =
| court                         = [[High Court of Cassation and Justice]]
| chief_judge                   = Corina Corbu
| court_seat                    = 
| court1                        = [[Constitutional Court of Romania|Constitutional Court]]
| chief_judge1                  = 
| court_seat1                   =
|-
}}{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2025}}{{Use British English|date=May 2025}}
{{Politics and Government of Romania}}

Romania's political framework is a [[Semi-presidential republic|semi-presidential]] representative [[republic]] where the [[Prime Minister of Romania|Prime Minister]] is the [[head of government]] while the [[President of Romania|President]], according to the Constitution, has at least in theory a more symbolic role, is responsible for the [[foreign policy]], signs certain decrees, approves laws promulgated by the parliament, and nominates the [[head of government]] (i.e. [[Prime Minister of Romania|Prime Minister]]). Romania has a [[multi-party system]], with [[Legislature|legislative power]] vested in the government and the [[Bicameralism|two chambers]] of the [[Parliament of Romania|Parliament]], more specifically the [[Chamber of Deputies (Romania)|Chamber of Deputies]] and the [[Senate of Romania|Senate]]. The [[judiciary]] is [[Judicial independence|independent]] of the executive and the legislature in theory. From 1948 until 1989, the [[Socialist Republic of Romania|communist rule]] political structure took place in the framework of a one-party socialist republic governed by the [[Romanian Communist Party]] (PCR) as its only legal party.

Romania's [[Constitution of Romania|1991 constitution]] (amended in 2003) proclaims it a democratic and social republic, deriving its [[sovereignty]] from the people. According to the constitution, "Human dignity, civic rights and freedoms, the unhindered development of human personality, justice, and political pluralism are supreme and guaranteed values."

The constitution provides for a President, a Parliament, a [[Constitutional Court of Romania|Constitutional Court]], and a separate court system which includes the [[High Court of Cassation and Justice]]. The right to vote is granted to all citizens over 18 years of age.

The [[Economist Intelligence Unit]] rated Romania as a "[[Defective democracy|flawed democracy]]" in 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Democracy Index 2023 |url=https://www.eiu.com/n/campaigns/democracy-index-2023/ |access-date=2024-07-05 |website=Economist Intelligence Unit |language=en-GB}}</ref> As of 2025, it could be classified as a [[hybrid regime]] behind a constitutional facade.{{efn|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Redacția |date=2024-12-06 |title=Elena Lasconi: Sunt aici să apăr democraţia şi nu renunţ la lupta cea dreaptă pentru a îndrepta ce a distrus un sistem corupt în 35 de ani |url=https://www.g4media.ro/elena-lasconi-sunt-aici-sa-apar-democratia-si-nu-renunt-la-lupta-cea-dreapta-pentru-a-indrepta-ce-a-distrus-un-sistem-corupt-in-35-de-ani.html |access-date=2024-12-06 |website=G4Media.ro |language=ro-RO}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mihăescu |first=Alexandru |date=2024-12-06 |title=BREAKING Elena Lasconi: Decizia CCR e ilegală. Condamn cu tărie ce au făcut azi. Statul român a călcat în picioare democrația |url=https://www.g4media.ro/breaking-elena-lasconi-decizia-ccr-e-ilegala-condamn-cu-tarie-ce-au-facut-azi-statul-roman-a-calcat-in-picioare-democratia.html |access-date=2024-12-06 |website=G4Media.ro |language=ro-RO}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=B1TV.ro - Ungureanu (USR), după anularea turului 1 al prezidențialelor: CCR vrea neapărat un om al sistemului PSD-PNL în fruntea statului. Să ne spună CCR, dominată de PSD-PNL, cine ar trebui să fie viitorul președinte, de ce mai votează românii? - B1TV.ro |url=https://www.b1tv.ro/politica/ungureanu-usr-dupa-anularea-turului-1-al-prezidentialelor-ccr-vrea-neaparat-un-om-al-sistemului-psd-pnl-in-fruntea-statului-sa-ne-spuna-ccr-dominata-de-psd-pnl-cine-ar-trebui-sa-fie-viitorul-pr-1536796.html/amp |access-date=2024-12-06 |website=www.b1tv.ro}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-12-06 |title=Cristian Ghinea (USR) la RFI: Decizia CCR este o uriașă rușine pentru România |url=https://www.rfi.fr/ro/rom%C3%A2nia/20241206-cristian-ghinea-usr-la-rfi-decizia-ccr-este-o-uria%C8%99%C4%83-ru%C8%99ine-pentru-rom%C3%A2nia |access-date=2024-12-06 |website=RFI |language=ro}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-12-06 |title=Țoiu (USR), despre anularea alegerilor: S-au schimbat opiniile politice iar asta nu e ceva ce ar trebui vreodată să influențeze CCR |url=https://www.digi24.ro/stiri/actualitate/politica/toiu-usr-despre-anularea-alegerilor-s-au-schimbat-opiniile-politice-iar-asta-nu-e-ceva-ce-ar-trebui-vreodata-sa-influenteze-ccr-3036751 |access-date=2024-12-06 |website=www.digi24.ro |language=ro}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Tănase |first=Roxana |date=2024-12-06 |title=Președintele USR Prahova, Felix Bulearcă, despre anularea alegerilor prezidențiale : "Sistemul a călcat democrația în picioare" |url=https://www.observatorulph.ro/politic/2740953-presedintele-usr-prahova-felix-bulearca-despre-anularea-alegerilor-prezidentiale-decizia-ccr-este-ilegala-imorala-si-zdrobeste-esenta-democratiei-votul?amp |access-date=2024-12-06 |website=Observatorul Prahovean |language=ro-RO}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=B1TV.ro - Moșteanu (USR), după decizia CCR privind prezidențialele: Statul român a ieșit în genunchi, instituțiile sunt praf. Doar am amânat lupta cu extremismul (VIDEO) - B1TV.ro |url=https://www.b1tv.ro/politica/mosteanu-usr-dupa-decizia-ccr-privind-prezidentialele-statul-roman-a-iesit-in-genunchi-institutiile-sunt-praf-doar-am-amanat-lupta-cu-extremismul-video-1536896.html/amp |access-date=2024-12-06 |website=www.b1tv.ro}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Redacția |date=2024-12-06 |title=Vlad Voiculescu (USR) condamnă decizia de anulare a alegerilor prezidențiale: Românii au fost batjocoriți/ Dreptul lor de a alege a fost suspendat de CCR |url=https://www.g4media.ro/vlad-voiculescu-usr-condamna-decizia-de-anulare-a-alegerilor-prezidentiale-romanii-au-fost-batjocoriti-dreptul-lor-de-a-alege-a-fost-suspendat-de-ccr.html |access-date=2024-12-06 |website=G4Media.ro |language=ro-RO}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=B1TV.ro - Radu Mihaiu (USR), despre anularea alegerilor prezidențiale: E o decizie total neașteptată, care are un preț pe care România îl va plăti mult timp de acum înainte (VIDEO) - B1TV.ro |url=https://www.b1tv.ro/politica/radu-mihaiu-usr-despre-anularea-alegerilor-prezidentiale-e-o-decizie-total-neasteptata-care-are-un-pret-pe-care-romania-il-va-plati-mult-timp-de-acum-inainte-video-1536875.html/amp |access-date=2024-12-06 |website=www.b1tv.ro}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Reacții la decizia CCR. Ruxandra-Cibu Deaconu, președinta USR Sibiu: " Nu este în regulă să repetăm alegerile până când iese cine trebuie" |url=https://www.turnulsfatului.ro/2024/12/06/reactii-la-decizia-ccr-ruxandra-cibu-deaconu-presedinta-usr-sibiu-bdquo-nu-este-in-regula-sa-repetam-alegerile-pana-cand-iese-cine-trebuie-rdquo-216209 |access-date=2024-12-06 |website=www.turnulsfatului.ro |language=ro}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.economist.com/interactive/democracy-index-2024|archive-url=https://archive.today/20250227082636/https://www.economist.com/interactive/democracy-index-2024#selection-9001.455-9005.1|url-status=dead|archive-date=2025-02-27|title=The global democracy index: how did countries perform in 2024? &#124; The …|date=27 February 2025}}</ref>}} Romania was fully admitted to the [[Schengen area]] on 1 January 2025.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/news/bulgaria-and-romania-join-schengen-area-2025-01-03_en|title=Bulgaria and Romania join the Schengen Area - European Commission|website=home-affairs.ec.europa.eu}}</ref>

== Executive branch ==

{{office-table}}
|[[President of Romania|President]]
|[[Nicușor Dan]]
|Independent
|26 May 2025
|-
|[[Prime Minister of Romania|Prime Minister]]
|[[Ilie Bolojan]]
|[[National Liberal Party (Romania)|National Liberal Party]] (PNL)
|23 June 2025
|-
|}

The president is elected by popular vote for a maximum of two five-year terms (four-year terms until 2004). The president is head of state (charged with safeguarding the constitution, foreign affairs, and the proper functioning of public authority), supreme commander of the [[Romanian Armed Forces|armed forces]], and chairperson of the [[Supreme Council of National Defence (Romania)|Supreme Council of National Defense]]. According to the constitution, the president acts as a mediator among the state's power centers and between the state and society. The president nominates the [[Prime Minister of Romania|prime minister]] after consultation with the party holding an absolute majority in [[Parliament of Romania|Parliament]] or, if there is no such majority, with all the parties in Parliament.

Ambiguity in the [[Constitution of Romania]] (Article 85 (1), Article 103 (1))<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cdep.ro/pls/dic/site.page?id=339|title=CONSTITUTIA ROMÂNIEI|access-date=10 June 2015|archive-date=9 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211209134452/http://www.cdep.ro/pls/dic/site.page?id=339|url-status=dead}}</ref> may lead to situations where a coalition of parties obtaining an absolute majority in Parliament, or a party holding a [[Plurality (voting)|relative majority]] in Parliament, would be unable to nominate a prime minister because the president would refuse the nomination (with no party holding an absolute majority in Parliament). According to Article 103 (1), "unless no such majority exists", is interpreted by the president as "unless no such party exists" (although an absolute majority may be formed by one party, a coalition of parties, or an alliance).

In the 2008 parliamentary elections,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.becparlamentare2008.ro/rezul/part_tara_100.pdf|title=Archived copy|access-date=14 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171004184136/http://www.becparlamentare2008.ro/rezul/part_tara_100.pdf|archive-date=4 October 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> the [[Alliance PSD+PC]] won 33.1% of the seats in the Chamber of Deputies and 34.2% of the seats in the Senate. The [[National Liberal Party (Romania)|PNL]] won 18.6% of the seats in the Chamber of Deputies and 18.7% of the seats in the Senate, giving both parties a majority in the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. However, the president nominated a member of the [[Democratic Liberal Party (Romania)|PDL]] (which won less than 32.4% of the seats in the Chamber of Deputies and 33.5% of the seats in the Senate. The nominated prime minister chooses the other members of the government, and the government and its program must be confirmed by a vote of confidence from Parliament.

== Legislative branch ==

{{office-table}}
|[[President of the Senate of Romania|President of the Senate]]
|[[Mircea Abrudean]]
|[[National Liberal Party (Romania)|National Liberal Party]] (PNL)
|24 June 2025
|-
|[[President of the Chamber of Deputies of Romania|President of the Chamber of Deputies]]
|[[Sorin Grindeanu]]
|[[Social Democratic Party (Romania)|Social Democratic Party]] (PSD)
|24 June 2025
|}

The national legislature is a [[Bicameralism|bicameral]] [[Parliament of Romania|parliament]] ({{langx|ro|Parlament}}), consisting of the [[Chamber of Deputies (Romania)|Chamber of Deputies]] ({{langx|ro|Camera Deputaților}}) and the [[Senate of Romania|Senate]] ({{langx|ro|Senat}}). Members are elected to four-year terms by universal suffrage in a party-list [[proportional representation]] [[electoral system]]. Beginning in [[2008 Romanian legislative election|2008]], members are elected by [[mixed-member proportional representation]].

The number of senators and deputies has varied in each legislature, reflecting population changes. In 2008, there were 137 senatorial seats and 334 seats in the Chamber of Deputies; of the 334 deputy seats, 18 were held by ethnic minority representatives which would not meet the five-percent [[electoral threshold]] required for other parties and organizations.

== Classification of political parties ==

{{Main|List of political parties in Romania|Elections in Romania}}

Romania has a multiparty political system, which makes a majority government virtually impossible (unless a very high score is achieved in the legislative election by one particular political party). Smaller parliamentary parties have sometimes merged with larger ones during previous legislatures before 2020 (or created/were part of several electoral alliances). Currently, there are five main parliamentary parties (excluding the 18 [[Romanian ethnic minority parties|ethnic-minority parties]] which have one representative each) as follows:

{| class="wikitable" width=100%
|- 
! Logo
! colspan=2 | Party name
!rowspan=1 width=15%|Ideology
!rowspan=1 width=15%|Leader(s)
!rowspan=1 width=30%|Notes
|- style="text-align:center;"
! 
! style="background-color: {{party color|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}" |
|[[Social Democratic Party (Romania)|Social Democratic Party]]<br /> ({{langx|ro|Partidul Social Democrat}})
|[[Social democracy|Social democratic]], [[centre-left politics|centre-left]] [[populism|populist]], de facto [[Big tent|catch all]]
|[[Sorin Grindeanu]]
|<small>Currently the largest party in parliament. He currently leads a government formed with PNL and UDMR (government composition that was between 2021 and 2023). He achieved his worst results in recent elections.</small>
|- style="text-align:center;"
! [[File:Logo_of_the_Alliance_for_the_Union_of_Romanians.svg|100x100px]]
! style="background-color: {{party color|Alliance for the Union of Romanians}}" |
|[[Alliance for the Union of Romanians]]
([[Romanian language|Romanian]]: ''Alianța pentru Unirea Românilor'')
|[[Romanian nationalism]], [[Greater Romania|Romanian irredentism]], [[Euroscepticism]], [[right-wing populism]], [[national conservatism]]
|[[George Simion]]
|<small>Currently the second largest opposition party in parliament. In the legislative elections, AUR won 20% of the vote in all of Romania and the diaspora, which resulted in aresult that made the party the second largest in the country at the central political level.</small>
|- style="text-align:center;"
! [[File:Partidul Național Liberal (PNL) logo.svg|100x100px]]
! style="background-color: {{party color|National Liberal Party (Romania)}}" |
|[[National Liberal Party (Romania)|National Liberal Party]]<br /> ({{langx|ro|Partidul Național Liberal}})
|[[Conservative liberalism|Conservative liberal]], [[Right-wing politics|centre-right]] [[populism|populist]], de facto [[Big tent|catch all]]
|[[Ilie Bolojan]]
|<small>Until November 2021, the largest ruling party through a coalition government previously established in December 2020, but subsequently formed a minority government solely with the UDMR/RMDSZ after early September 2021 until late November of the same year (even after it was dismissed by a recorded-voted [[Motion of no confidence|no confidence motion]]). It is currently part of a [[grand coalition]] government known as the ''[[National Coalition for Romania]]'' (''CNR'' for short) along with PSD, being the second largest party within it. Additionally, it has also been crushed by internal disputes, growing [[Corruption in Romania|corruption]] scandals, and departures of various MPs and local politicians, some of which had already founded several splinter parties (e.g. most notably [[Ludovic Orban]]'s [[Force of the Right]] or FD for short).</small>
|- style="text-align:center;"
! [[File:Logo USR 2022 (1).svg|100x100px]]
! style="background-color: {{party color|Save Romania Union}}" |
|[[Save Romania Union]]<br /> ({{langx|ro|Uniunea Salvați România}})
|[[Liberalism]], [[Progressivism]], [[Social liberalism]], [[Economic liberalism]], [[Pro-Europeanism]]
|[[Dominic Fritz]]
|<small>Currently, the third largest parliamentary party (previously established as a formal political and [[electoral alliance]] between the [[Save Romania Union|USR]] and [[Freedom, Unity and Solidarity Party|PLUS]] known as the [[USR PLUS|2020 USR PLUS Alliance]] and then simply as USR-PLUS/USR PLUS) and in opposition towards the PSD-PNL-UDMR/RMDSZ grand coalition government (as well as to the current PSD-PNL government). [[Syncretic politics|Syncretic]] political position (mostly with considerable focus towards [[anti-corruption]] and the [[rule of law]]). Recently has clarified its political position (center-right) with strong emphasis on [[economic liberalism]], [[anti-corruption]] policies. Also recently, the party has taken slightly [[populism|populist]] positions.</small>
|- style="text-align:center;"
! [[File:SOS Romania logo.svg|100x100px]]
! style="background-color: {{party color|S.O.S. Romania}}" |
|[[S.O.S. Romania]]
([[Romanian language|Romanian]]: ''S.O.S. România'')
|[[Romanian nationalism|Romanian]] [[ultranationalism]], [[Greater Romania|Romanian irredentism]], [[hard euroscepticism]], [[social conservatism]]
|[[Diana Șoșoacă]]
|<small>Founded in 2021 and becoming popular after the entry of [[Diana Șoșoacă]], the party managed to send 2 MEPs after the [[2024 European Parliament election in Romania|2024 European Parliament election]]. In the [[2024 Romanian parliamentary election|parliamentary election]] it obtained a significant representation, becoming the fifth largest party in the parliament, and the second nationalist party after AUR. The party's rhetoric is ultra-nationalist, nationalist-revolutionary, and hardly Eurosceptic.</small>
|- style="text-align:center;"
! [[File:Logo of the Party of Young People.png|100x100px]]
! style="background-color: {{party color|Party of Young People}}" |
|[[Party of Young People]]
([[Romanian language|Romanian]]: ''Partidul Oamenilor Tineri'')
|[[Right-wing populism]], [[Romanian nationalism]], [[christian right]]
|[[Anamaria Gavrilă]]
|<small>Founded in 2023 by Anamaria Gavrilă, former AUR deputy, the party promotes traditionalist and national-christian ideologies, [[opposition to abortion|opposing abortion]] and [[Anti-vaccine activism|compulsory vaccination]]. POT supported the candidacy of [[Călin Georgescu]] in the [[2024 Romanian presidential election|presidential election of 2024]] and obtained parliamentary representation following the elections of December 1, 2024. The party is currently in opposition.</small>
|- style="text-align:center;"
! [[File:RMDSZlogo.png|100x100px]]
! style="background-color: {{party color|Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania}}" |
|[[Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania]]<br /> ({{langx|ro|Uniunea Democrată Maghiară din România}})
|[[Centre-right politics|Centre-right]], [[Hungarians in Romania|Hungarian minority interests]], Hungarian ethnic minority party
|[[Hunor Kelemen]]
|<small>Previously, the smallest ruling party in the centre-right coalition formed in December 2020 (which was later disbanded in September 2021). It was also part of the CNR ruling grand coalition along with PNL and PSD, being still the smallest party (or junior partner) in the aforementioned government. Since June 2023, it switched to opposition after not voting the [[Ciolacu Cabinet]].</small>
|}

The main four non-parliamentary parties (the first two around the five-percent threshold) with local representatives are as follows:

{| class="wikitable" width=100%
|- style="text-align:center;"
! Logo
! colspan=2 | Party name
!rowspan=1|Romanian name
!rowspan=1|Ideology
!rowspan=1|Leader
|- style="text-align:center;"
! [[File:Logo_Partidul_SENS.png|100x100px]]
! style="background-color: #a2da5a" |
|[[Health Education Nature Sustainability Party]]
|Partidul Sănătate, Educație, Natură, Sustenabilitate (SENS)
|[[Centre-left politics|Centre-left]] 
[[Green politics]]<br />[[Progressivism]]
|[[Andrei Macsut]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
|-
|- style="text-align:center;"
! [[File:Sigla_Forta_Dreptei.jpg|100x100px]]
! style="background-color: {{party color|Force of the Right}}" |
|[[Force of the Right]]
|Forța Dreptei (FD)
|[[Centre-right politics|Centre-right]] 
[[Liberal conservatism]]
|[[Ludovic Orban]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
|-
|- style="text-align:center;"
! [[File:PMP_logo.svg|100x100px]]
! style="background-color: {{party color|People's Movement Party}}" |
|[[People's Movement Party]]
|Partidul Mișcarea Populară (PMP)
|[[Centre-right politics|Centre-right]] 
[[Christian democracy]]
|[[Eugen Tomac]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
|-
|- style="text-align:center;"
!
! style="background-color: {{party color|United Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}" |
|[[United Social Democratic Party (Romania)|United Social Democratic Party]]
|Partidul Social Democrat Unit (PSDU)
|[[Centre-left politics|Centre-left]] 
[[Social democracy]]<br />[[Christian left]]
|[[Oana Crețu]]
|}


Unlike other former Soviet-bloc countries (such as, most notably, neighbouring [[Moldova|Republic of Moldova]]), no political party claiming to be the successor of the [[Romanian Communist Party]] (PCR) has been or is currently a significant player on the political scene, although the main continuator of FSN, more specifically PSD, has many times raised suspicions and accusations from electoral contenders regarding the past political careers of many of its current and former members who were first tier, high-ranking members of the PCR before the 1989 Romanian Revolution. The PNL also has many former Securitate members, former PCR members, or their relatives, in part through the merger with the PDL in 2014 but not only.

==Latest elections==

=== Presidential election ===
{{main|2025 Romanian presidential election}}
[[File:PSD-PNL-PDL electoral performance chart.svg|thumb|right|275px|Electoral performance of candidates from the {{Nowrap|{{color box|#dc2c23ff}}[[Social Democratic Party (Romania)|PSD]]}}, {{Nowrap|{{color box|#ffe000ff}}[[National Liberal Party (Romania)|PNL]]}} and {{Nowrap|{{color box|#f47321ff}}[[Democratic Party (Romania)|PD]]/[[Democratic Liberal Party (Romania)|PDL]]}} in the first round of Romanian presidential elections, 2000─2024]]

The last [[2025 Romanian presidential election|presidential election]] took place on May 4 and May 18, 2025, respectively. Following the events that occurred during the first round of voting and the finding of foreign interference in the [[2024 Romanian presidential election|November 2024 presidential elections]], the [[Constitutional Court of Romania|Constitutional Court]] annulled the elections, so they were repeated in May 2025.
{{Election results

|cand1=[[George Simion]]
|party1=[[Alliance for the Union of Romanians]]{{efn|name=Simion and Ponta|}}
|votes1=3862761
|votes1_2=5339053

|cand2=[[Nicușor Dan]]
|color2=#BAE002
|party2=[[Independent politician|Independent]]{{efn|name=Dan}}
|votes2=1979767
|votes2_2=6168642

|cand3=[[Crin Antonescu]]
|party3=[[Romania Forward Electoral Alliance]]{{efn|Also endorsed by [[Romanian ethnic minority parties|ethnic minority parties]]}}
|votes3=1892930
|rowspan=9|votes3_2=

|cand4=[[Victor Ponta]]
|party4=[[Independent politician|Independent]]{{efn|name=Simion and Ponta}}
|votes4=1230164
|color4=#E02043

|cand5=[[Elena Lasconi]]
|colour5={{party colour|Save Romania Union (2022)}}
|party5=[[Save Romania Union]]{{efn|name=USR}}
|votes5=252721

|cand6=[[Lavinia Șandru]]
|party6=[[Social Liberal Humanist Party]]
|votes6=60682

|cand7=[[Daniel Funeriu]]
|party7=[[Independent politician|Independent]]
|votes7=49604

|cand8=[[Cristian Terheș]]
|party8=[[Romanian National Conservative Party]]
|votes8=36445

|cand9={{ill|Sebastian Popescu|ro}}
|party9=[[New Romania Party]]
|votes9=25994

|cand10={{ill|John Ion Banu|ro}}
|party10=[[Independent politician|Independent]]
|votes10=22020

|cand11={{ill|Silviu Predoiu|ro}}
|party11=[[National Action League Party]]
|votes11=17186

|invalid=141466
|invalid2=134171
|electorate=17988031
|turnout=53.21
|electorate2=17988218
|source= Permanent Electoral Authority<ref>{{cite web |url=https://prezenta.roaep.ro/prezidentiale04052025/pv/romania/results/ |title=Rezultate alegeri prezidențiale 2025 |website=Autoritatea Electorală Permanentă |language=ro |access-date=2025-06-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Alegeri prezidențiale – Tur 2 |url=https://prezenta.roaep.ro/prezidentiale18052025/ |website=Prezență vot |access-date=17 May 2025}}</ref>
}}

=== European Parliament election ===
{{main|2024 European Parliament election in Romania}}

{{Election results
|image=[[File:2024 European Parliament election in Romania (alliances).svg]]
|party1=[[National Coalition for Romania|PSD–PNL Alliance]]|votes1=4341686|seats1=19|sc1=
|party2=[[AUR Alliance]]|votes2=1334905|seats2=6|sc2=New
|party3=[[United Right Alliance]]|votes3=778901|seats3=3|sc3=
|party4=[[Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania]]|votes4=579180|seats4=2|sc4=
|party5=[[S.O.S. Romania]]|votes5=450040|seats5=2|sc5=New
|party6=[[Renewing Romania's European Project]]|votes6=334703|seats6=0|sc6=New
|party7=United Diaspora Party|votes7=159943|seats7=0|sc7=New|color7=#4B91E1
|party8=[[Social Liberal Humanist Party]]|votes8=132402|seats8=0|sc8=New
|party9=Patriots Party|votes9=65440|seats9=0|sc9=New|color9=#242B3E
|party10=[[Greater Romania Party]]|votes10=59272|seats10=0|sc10=
|party11=[[The Right Alternative]]|votes11=40281|seats11=0|sc11=New
|party12=Socialist Romania Alliance ([[Romanian Socialist Party (2003)|PSR]]–[[Social Democratic Workers' Party (Romania)|PSDM]])|votes12=37119|seats12=0|sc12=|color12=#CE1126
|party13=[[Independent politician|Independents]]|votes13={{#expr:(275796 + 221630 + 80241 + 51087)}}|seats13=1|sc13=
|total_sc=+1
|invalid=488551
|electorate=18025329
|source=[https://europarlamentare2024.bec.ro/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/PVCVAM_1.pdf BEC]
}}

=== Legislative election ===

The [[2024 Romanian legislative election|latest legislative election]] was held on 1 December 2024. The two tables below are represented the results for both the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies:

==== Chamber of Deputies ====
[[File:Romania Chamber of Deputies 2024.svg|thumb|300x300px|Seat distribution in the [[Chamber of Deputies (Romania)|Chamber of Deputies in Romania]] after the 1 December 2024 legislative election:<br />
{{legend|#CC3333|PSD: 86 seats}}{{Legend|gold|AUR: 63 seats}}{{legend|#FFFF00|PNL: 49 seats}}{{legend|#002b57|USR: 40 seats}}{{Legend|#89CFF0|SOS RO: 28 seats}}{{Legend|#330099|POT: 24 seats}}{{legend|#126401|UDMR: 22 seats}}
{{legend|#000000|National minorities: 19 seats}}]]

{{Election results
|image=[[File:Romania Chamber of Deputies 2024.svg]]
|party1=[[Social Democratic Party (Romania)|Social Democratic Party]]|votes1=2030144|seats1=86|sc1=–24
|party2=[[Alliance for the Union of Romanians]]|votes2=1665143|seats2=63|sc2=+30
|party3=[[National Liberal Party (Romania)|National Liberal Party]]|votes3=1219810|seats3=49|sc3=–44
|party4=[[Save Romania Union]]|votes4=1146357|seats4=40|sc4=–15
|party5=[[S.O.S. Romania]]|votes5=679967|seats5=28|sc5=New
|party6=[[Party of Young People]]|votes6=596745|seats6=24|sc6=New
|party7=[[Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania]]|votes7=585397|seats7=22|sc7=+1
|party8=[[Health Education Nature Sustainability Party]]|votes8=276494|seats8=0|sc8=New
|party9=[[Force of the Right]]{{efn|[[Alliance of Liberal-Conservative Right Forces]]}}|votes9=189678|seats9=0|sc9=New
|party10=[[United Social Democratic Party (Romania)|United Social Democratic Party]]|votes10=177137|seats10=0|sc10=New
|party11=[[Renewing Romania's European Project]]{{efn|[[Platform for Democracy, Prosperity, and Progress]]}}|votes11=114223|seats11=0|sc11=New
|party12=[[Justice and Respect in Europe for All Party]]|votes12=107474|seats12=0|sc12=New
|party13=[[Romanian National Conservative Party]]|votes13=45687|seats13=0|sc13=New
|party14=[[Patriots of the Romanian People]]|color14=#145247|votes14=40960|seats14=0|sc14=0
|party15=[[Romanian Ecologist Party]]|votes15=34641|seats15=0|sc15=0
|party16=[[Independent Social Democratic Party (Romania, 2019)|Independent Social Democratic Party]]|color16=#B72026|votes16=33372|seats16=0|sc16=0
|party17=[[Romania in Action Party]]|votes17=28504|seats17=0|sc17=New
|party18=[[National Christian Alliance]]|color18=#991B1F|votes18=25789|seats18=0|sc18=0
|party19=[[New Romania Party]]|votes19=14107|seats19=0|sc19=0
|party20=[[Party of the Roma|Party of the Roma "Pro Europa"]]|votes20=13881|seats20=1|sc20=0
|party21=[[Association of Macedonians of Romania]]|votes21=13800|seats21=1|sc21=0
|party22=[[Socialist Romania Alliance]]|votes22=12849|seats22=0|sc22=0
|party23=[[League of Albanians of Romania]]|votes23=9177|seats23=1|sc23=0
|party24=[[Union of the Ukrainians of Romania]]|votes24=8750|seats24=1|sc24=0
|party25=[[Democratic Forum of Germans in Romania]]|votes25=8577|seats25=1|sc25=0
|party26=[[Union of Serbs of Romania]]|votes26=7962|seats26=1|sc26=0
|party27=[[Alternative for National Dignity]]|votes27=7747|seats27=0|sc27=0
|party28=[[Hellenic Union of Romania]]|votes28=7565|seats28=1|sc28=0
|party29=[[Community of the Lipovan Russians in Romania]]|votes29=7434|seats29=1|sc29=0
|party30=[[Democratic Union of Slovaks and Czechs of Romania]]|votes30=7420|seats30=1|sc30=0
|party31=[[Federation of the Jewish Communities in Romania]]|votes31=5281|seats31=1|sc31=0
|party32=[[Bulgarian Union of Banat–Romania]]|votes32=5089|seats32=1|sc32=0
|party33=[[Democratic Union of Turkic-Muslim Tatars of Romania]]|votes33=4908|seats33=1|sc33=0
|party34=[[Union of Armenians of Romania]]|votes34=4747|seats34=1|sc34=0
|party35=[[Cultural Union of Ruthenians of Romania]]|votes35=4571|seats35=1|sc35=0
|party36=[[Democratic Turkish Union of Romania]]|votes36=4547|seats36=1|sc36=0
|party37=[[Union of Croats of Romania]]|votes37=4413|seats37=1|sc37=0
|party38=[[Union of Poles of Romania|Union of Poles of Romania "Dom Polski"]]|votes38=4215|seats38=1|sc38=0
|party39=[[Association of Italians of Romania]]|votes39=4128|seats39=1|sc39=0
|party40=[[National Action League Party]]|votes40=2912|seats40=0|sc40=New
|party41=[[Forum of Czechs in Romania]]|votes41=2817|seats41=1|sc41=+1
|party42=[[Party of Faithful People]]|color42=#26057A|votes42=1143|seats42=0|sc42=0
|party43=[[Geto-Dacian Union Party]]|color43=#FDE88A|votes43=435|seats43=0|sc43=0
|party44=[[Patria Party]]|color44=#1709DC|votes44=391|seats44=0|sc44=0
|party45=[[Republican Party of Romania]]|color45=#2A3273|votes45=279|seats45=0|sc45=0
|party46=[[Christian Democratic National Peasants' Party]]|votes46=270|seats46=0|sc46=0
|party47=[[Green Party (Romania)|Green Party]]|votes47=248|seats47=0|sc47=0
|party48=[[United Pensioners' Party]]|color48=#6EAEC7|votes48=229|seats48=0|sc48=0
|party49=[[Party of Justice]]|color49=#C31D03|votes49=184|seats49=0|sc49=0
|party50=[[Independent politician|Independents]]|votes50=76043|seats50=0|sc50=0
|total_sc=+1
|invalid=171877
|electorate=19503273
|source=[https://prezenta.roaep.ro/parlamentare01122024/pv/romania/results/ Permanent Electoral Authority]<br>[https://www.roaep.ro/prezentare/comunicat-de-presa/comunicat-de-presa-privind-numarul-de-mandate-obtinute-de-competitorii-electorali-la-alegerile-pentru-senat-si-camera-deputatilor-din-anul-2024-pe-grupe-de-varsta-si-pe-gen/ Seat counts]
|color4={{party color|Save Romania Union (2022)}}|color8=#a2da5a}}
{{bar box|title=Popular vote|titlebar=#ddd|width=600px|barwidth=410px|bars={{bar percent|PSD|{{party color|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}|21.96}}
{{bar percent|AUR|{{party color|Alliance for the Union of Romanians}}|18.01}}
{{bar percent|PNL|{{party color|National Liberal Party (Romania)}}|13.20}}
{{bar percent|USR|{{party color|Save Romania Union (2021)}}|12.40}}
{{bar percent|SOS RO|{{party color|S.O.S. Romania}}|7.36}}
{{bar percent|POT|{{party color|Party of Young People}}|6.46}}
{{bar percent|UDMR|{{party color|Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania}}|6.33}}
{{bar percent|SENS|#a2da5a|2.99}}
{{bar percent|FD|{{party color|Force of the Right}}|2.05}}
{{bar percent|Others|#C0C0C0|9.24}}}}{{bar box|title=Seats summary|titlebar=#ddd|width=600px|barwidth=410px|bars={{bar percent|PSD|{{party color|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}|25.98}}
{{bar percent|AUR|{{party color|Alliance for the Union of Romanians}}|19.34}}
{{bar percent|PNL|{{party color|National Liberal Party (Romania)}}|14.80}}
{{bar percent|USR|{{party color|Save Romania Union (2021)}}|12.08}}
{{bar percent|SOS RO|{{party color|S.O.S. Romania}}|8.16}}
{{bar percent|POT|{{party color|Party of Young People}}|7.25}}
{{bar percent|UDMR|{{party color|Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania}}|6.65}}
{{bar percent|Ethnic minorities|#000000|5.74}}}}

==== Senate ====
[[File:Romania Senate 2024.svg|thumb|300x300px|Seat distribution in the [[Senate of Romania]] after the 1 December 2024 legislative election:<br />
{{legend|#CC3333|PSD: 36 seats}}{{Legend|gold|AUR: 28 seats}}{{legend|#FFFF00|PNL: 22 seats}}{{legend|#002b57|USR: 19 seats}}{{Legend|#89CFF0|SOS RO: 12 seats}}{{legend|#126401|UDMR: 10 seats}}{{Legend|#330099|POT: 7 seats}}]]

{{Election results
|image=[[File:Romania Senate 2024.svg]]
|party1=[[Social Democratic Party (Romania)|Social Democratic Party]]|votes1=2065087|seats1=36|sc1=–11
|party2=[[Alliance for the Union of Romanians]]|votes2=1694705|seats2=28|sc2=+14
|party3=[[National Liberal Party (Romania)|National Liberal Party]]|votes3=1322468|seats3=22|sc3=–19
|party4=[[Save Romania Union]]|color4={{party color|Save Romania Union (2022)}}|votes4=1134831|seats4=19|sc4=–6
|party5=[[S.O.S. Romania]]|votes5=718409|seats5=12|sc5=New
|party6=[[Party of Young People]]|votes6=591927|seats6=7|sc6=New
|party7=[[Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania]]|votes7=590783|seats7=10|sc7=+1
|party8=[[Health Education Nature Sustainability Party]]|votes8=263173|seats8=0|sc8=New
|party9=[[Force of the Right]]{{efn|[[Alliance of Liberal-Conservative Right Forces]]}}|votes9=173703|seats9=0|sc9=New
|party10=[[United Social Democratic Party (Romania)|United Social Democratic Party]]|votes10=164659|seats10=0|sc10=New
|party11=[[Renewing Romania's European Project]]{{efn|[[Platform for Democracy, Prosperity, and Progress]]}}|votes11=126408|seats11=0|sc11=New
|party12=[[Justice and Respect in Europe for All Party]]|votes12=114500|seats12=0|sc12=New
|party13=[[Romanian National Conservative Party]]|votes13=50287|seats13=0|sc13=New
|party14=[[Patriots of the Romanian People]]|color14=#145247|votes14=48436|seats14=0|sc14=0
|party15=[[Independent Social Democratic Party (Romania, 2019)|Independent Social Democratic Party]]|color15=#B72026|votes15=41712|seats15=0|sc15=0
|party16=[[Romanian Ecologist Party]]|votes16=38561|seats16=0|sc16=0
|party17=[[National Christian Alliance]]|color17=#991B1F|votes17=31094|seats17=0|sc17=0
|party18=[[Romania in Action Party]]|votes18=30252|seats18=0|sc18=New
|party19=[[New Romania Party]]|votes19=17203|seats19=0|sc19=0
|party20=[[Socialist Romania Alliance]]|votes20=16256|seats20=0|sc20=0
|party21=[[Alternative for National Dignity]]|votes21=10473|seats21=0|sc21=0
|party22=[[National Action League Party]]|votes22=3838|seats22=0|sc22=New
|party23=[[Party of Faithful People]]|color23=#26057A|votes23=806|seats23=0|sc23=0
|party24=[[Patria Party]]|color24=#1709DC|votes24=493|seats24=0|sc24=0
|party25=[[Geto-Dacian Union Party]]|color25=#FDE88A|votes25=480|seats25=0|sc25=0
|party26=[[Christian Democratic National Peasants' Party]]|votes26=371|seats26=0|sc26=0
|party27=[[Party of Justice]]|color27=#C31D03|votes27=325|seats27=0|sc27=0
|party28=[[Republican Party of Romania]]|color28=#2A3273|votes28=314|seats28=0|sc28=0
|party29=[[Green Party (Romania)|Green Party]]|votes29=290|seats29=0|sc29=0
|party30=[[Phralipe Party of the Roma]]|color30=#CDCDCD|votes30=287|seats30=0|sc30=0
|party31=[[Independent politician|Independents]]|votes31=7826 <!-- 1747+1407+1311+1262+1225+874-->|seats31=0|sc31=0
|total_sc=0
|invalid=149557
|electorate=19503273
|source=[https://prezenta.roaep.ro/parlamentare01122024/pv/romania/results/ Permanent Electoral Authority]<br>[https://www.roaep.ro/prezentare/comunicat-de-presa/comunicat-de-presa-privind-numarul-de-mandate-obtinute-de-competitorii-electorali-la-alegerile-pentru-senat-si-camera-deputatilor-din-anul-2024-pe-grupe-de-varsta-si-pe-gen/ Seat counts]
}}{{bar box|title=Popular vote|titlebar=#ddd|width=600px|barwidth=410px|bars={{bar percent|PSD|{{party color|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}|22.30}}
{{bar percent|AUR|{{party color|Alliance for the Union of Romanians}}|18.30}}
{{bar percent|PNL|{{party color|National Liberal Party (Romania)}}|14.28}}
{{bar percent|USR|{{party color|Save Romania Union (2021)}}|12.26}}
{{bar percent|SOS RO|{{party color|S.O.S. Romania}}|7.76}}
{{bar percent|POT|{{party color|Party of Young People}}|6.39}}
{{bar percent|UDMR|{{party color|Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania}}|6.38}}
{{bar percent|SENS|#a2da5a|2.84}}
{{bar percent|FD|{{party color|Force of the Right}}|1.88}}
{{bar percent|Others|#C0C0C0|7.61}}}}{{bar box|title=Seats summary|titlebar=#ddd|width=600px|barwidth=410px|bars={{bar percent|PSD|{{party color|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}|26.86}}
{{bar percent|AUR|{{party color|Alliance for the Union of Romanians}}|20.89}}
{{bar percent|PNL|{{party color|National Liberal Party (Romania)}}|16.41}}
{{bar percent|USR|{{party color|Save Romania Union (2021)}}|14.17}}
{{bar percent|SOS RO|{{party color|S.O.S. Romania}}|8.95}}
{{bar percent|UDMR|{{party color|Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania}}|7.46}}
{{bar percent|POT|{{party color|Party of Young People}}|5.22}}}}


=== Local election ===

{{Main|2024 Romanian local elections}}

The latest general local election was held on 27 September 2020.

{{election table|title=Summary of the 2024 Romanian local elections results}}
|-
|- style="background-color:#C9C9C9"
! style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:center;" colspan=2 rowspan=2 | Party
! style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:center;" colspan=3 | [[Mayor of Bucharest]] (PGMB)
! style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:center;" colspan=3 | Mayors (P)
! style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:center;" colspan=3 | Local Councils<br />seats (CL)
! style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:center;" colspan=3 | County Councils<br />seats (CJ)
|-
|- style="background-color:#C9C9C9"
! style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:center;" |Votes
! style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:center;" |%
! style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:center;" |Seats
! style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:center;" |Votes
! style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:center;" |%
! style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:center;" |Seats
! style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:center;" |Votes
! style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:center;" |%
! style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:center;" |Seats
! style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:center;" |Votes
! style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:center;" |%
! style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:center;" |Seats
|-
| {{party color cell|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Social Democratic Party (Romania)|Social Democratic Party]]<br /> ({{langx|ro|Partidul Social Democrat}} - PSD)
| style="text-align:right;" |163,147
| style="text-align:right;" |22.17%
| style="text-align:right;" |0
| style="text-align:right;" |3,045,816	
| style="text-align:right;" |34.74%
| style="text-align:right;" |1,677
| style="text-align:right;" |2,830,129	
| style="text-align:right;" |32.56%
| style="text-align:right;" |16,509
| style="text-align:right;" |2,640,850
| style="text-align:right;" |33.50%
| style="text-align:right;" |521
|-
| {{party color cell|National Liberal Party (Romania)}}
| style="text-align:left;" | [[National Liberal Party (Romania)|National Liberal Party]]<br /> ({{langx|ro|Partidul Național Liberal}} - PNL)
| style="text-align:right;" |57,336
| style="text-align:right;" |7.79%
| style="text-align:right;" |0
| style="text-align:right;" |2,548,478
| style="text-align:right;" |29.07%
| style="text-align:right;" |1,132
| style="text-align:right;" |2,273,927
| style="text-align:right;" |26.16%
| style="text-align:right;" |12,802
| style="text-align:right;" |2,178,075
| style="text-align:right;" |27.63%
| style="text-align:right;" |412
|-
| {{party color cell|Alliance for the Union of Romanians}}
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Alliance for the Union of Romanians]] <br /> ({{langx|ro|Alianța pentru Unirea Românilor}} - AUR)
| style="text-align:right;" |22,208
| style="text-align:right;" |3.01%
| style="text-align:right;" |0
| style="text-align:right;" |549,306
| style="text-align:right;" |6.26%
| style="text-align:right;" |30
| style="text-align:right;" |829,365
| style="text-align:right;" |9.54%
| style="text-align:right;" |3,527
| style="text-align:right;" |843,734
| style="text-align:right;" |10.70%
| style="text-align:right;" |159
|-
| {{party color cell|United Right Alliance}}
| style="text-align:left;" | [[United Right Alliance]]<br /> ({{langx|ro|Alianța Dreapta Unită}} - ADU)
| style="text-align:right;" |352,734
(with [[Renewing Romania's European Project|REPER]])
| style="text-align:right;" |47.94%
(with [[Renewing Romania's European Project|REPER]])
| style="text-align:right;" |1
| style="text-align:right;" |550,850
| style="text-align:right;" |6.28%
| style="text-align:right;" |28
| style="text-align:right;" |583,042
| style="text-align:right;" |6.70%
| style="text-align:right;" |961
| style="text-align:right;" |653,476
| style="text-align:right;" |8.29%
| style="text-align:right;" |75
|-
| {{party color cell|Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania}}
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania]] <br /> ({{langx|ro|Uniunea Democrată Maghiară din România}} - UDMR)
| style="text-align:right;" |-
| style="text-align:right;" |-
| style="text-align:right;" |-
| style="text-align:right;" |378,594
| style="text-align:right;" |4.31%
| style="text-align:right;" |200
| style="text-align:right;" |471,588
| style="text-align:right;" |5.42%
| style="text-align:right;" |2,525
| style="text-align:right;" |506,659
| style="text-align:right;" |6.42%
| style="text-align:right;" |104
|-
| {{party color cell|National Coalition for Romania}}
| style="text-align:left;" | [[National Coalition for Romania|PSD-PNL Alliance]]<br /> ({{langx|ro|Alianța PSD-PNL}} - PSD-PNL){{efn|[[Social Democratic Party (Romania)|Social Democratic Party]] and [[National Liberal Party (Romania)|National Liberal Party]] have run together in some cities, countryside and in [[Timiș County|Timiș]] and [[Ilfov County|Ilfov]] counties at local election}}
| style="text-align:right;" |-
| style="text-align:right;" |-
| style="text-align:right;" |-
| style="text-align:right;" |511,190
| style="text-align:right;" |5.83%
| style="text-align:right;" |29
| style="text-align:right;" |429,728
| style="text-align:right;" |4.94%
| style="text-align:right;" |308
| style="text-align:right;" |258,741
| style="text-align:right;" |3.28%
| style="text-align:right;" |42
|-
| {{party color cell|S.O.S. Romania}}
| style="text-align:left;" | [[S.O.S. Romania]] <br /> ({{langx|ro|S.O.S. România}} - SOS RO)
| style="text-align:right;" |18,531
| style="text-align:right;" |2.51%
| style="text-align:right;" |0
| style="text-align:right;" |85,105
| style="text-align:right;" |0.97%
| style="text-align:right;" |0
| style="text-align:right;" |120,819
| style="text-align:right;" |1.39%
| style="text-align:right;" |149
| style="text-align:right;" |226,949
| style="text-align:right;" |2.87%
| style="text-align:right;" |0
|-
| {{party color cell|Social Liberal Humanist Party}}
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Social Liberal Humanist Party]] <br /> ({{langx|ro|Partidul Umanist Social Liberal}} - PUSL)
| style="text-align:right;" |111.411
| style="text-align:right;" |15.14%
| style="text-align:right;" |0
| style="text-align:right;" |107,355
| style="text-align:right;" |1.22%
| style="text-align:right;" |4
| style="text-align:right;" |128,060
| style="text-align:right;" |1.47%
| style="text-align:right;" |225
| style="text-align:right;" |78,927
| style="text-align:right;" |1.00%
| style="text-align:right;" |0
|-
| {{party color cell|Independent}}
| style="text-align:left;" | [[List of political parties in Romania|Other political parties, independent contenders, and local alliances]]
| style="text-align:right;" |10.394
| style="text-align:right;" |1.40%
| style="text-align:right;" |0
| style="text-align:right;" |990,104
| style="text-align:right;" |11.32
| style="text-align:right;" |76
| style="text-align:right;" |1,022,962
| style="text-align:right;" |11.82%
| style="text-align:right;" |3,045
| style="text-align:right;" |494.716
| style="text-align:right;" |6.31%
| style="text-align:right;" |2
|-
| style="text-align:left;" colspan = 2 | '''Total:'''
| style="text-align:right;" |735.761
| style="text-align:right;" |100
| style="text-align:right;" |1
| style="text-align:right;" |8.766.798
| style="text-align:right;" |100
| style="text-align:right;" |3,176
| style="text-align:right;" |8.689.620
| style="text-align:right;" |100
| style="text-align:right;" |39,900
| style="text-align:right;" |7.882.129
| style="text-align:right;" |100
| style="text-align:right;" |1,340
|-
| style="text-align:left;" colspan=20 | ''Notes''
|-
| style="text-align:left;" colspan=20 | Sources: [https://prezenta.roaep.ro/locale09062024/romania/pv-final Romanian Permanent Electoral Authority]
|-
|}

== Judicial branch ==

{{office-table}}
|[[High Court of Cassation and Justice|President of the High Court of Cassation and Justice]]
|[[Lia Savonea]]
|None
|August 2025
|-
|President of the Superior Council of Magistrates
|Elena Costache
|None
|August 2025
|}

The Romanian legal system, based on the [[Napoleonic Code]], is [[inquisitorial system|inquisitorial]]. The judiciary is independent, and judges appointed by the president are not removable. The president and other judges of the Supreme Court are appointed for six-year terms and may serve consecutive terms. Proceedings are public, except in special circumstances provided for by law.

Judicial power is vested in a hierarchical system of courts, culminating with the supreme court: Înalta Curte de Justiție și Casație ([[High Court of Cassation and Justice]]), whose judges are appointed by the president on the recommendation of the Superior Council of Magistrates.

The Ministry of Justice represents the general interests of society and defends the [[rule of law]] and citizens' rights and freedoms. The ministry exercises its power through independent, impartial public prosecutors.

=== Constitutional issues ===

{{office-table}}
|[[Constitutional Court of Romania|President of the Constitutional Court]]
|[[Simina Tănăsescu]]
|None
|July 2025
|}

The (Constitutional Court) judges issues of constitutionality invoked in any court and judges the compliance of laws (or other state regulations) with the [[Romanian Constitution]]. The court, outside the judicial branch, follows the tradition of the [[Constitutional Council (France)|French Constitutional Council]] with nine judges serving nine-year, non-renewable terms. Since the 2003 revision of the constitution, its decisions cannot be overturned by a parliamentary majority.

==Regional institutions==
{{Main|Administrative divisions of Romania}}

[[File:ROMANIAN POLITICAL SYSTEM.png|thumb|500px|The Romanian political mechanism]]

For territorial and administrative purposes, Romania is divided into 41 [[Counties of Romania|counties]] (''județe'', singular ''județ'') and the city of [[Bucharest]]. Each county is governed by an elected council. Local councils and elected mayors are the public authorities in villages and towns. The county council coordinates the activities of village and town councils.

The central government appoints a [[prefect]] for each county and Bucharest, who represents the government at the local level and directs the ministries and other central agencies at the county level. A prefect may block the action of a local authority if he deems it unlawful or unconstitutional, with the matter then adjudicated by an administrative court.

Under legislation enacted in January 1999, local councils control the spending of their allocations from the central government budget and have the authority to raise additional revenue locally. Although centrally-appointed prefects formerly had significant authority over the budget, this is now limited to a review of expenditures to determine their constitutionality.

== {{anchor|Developments}}Since 1989 ==

Romania has made considerable progress in institutionalizing [[Democracy|democratic principles]], [[civil liberties]], and respect for [[human rights]] since the [[Romanian Revolution]] in [[Revolutions of 1989|December 1989]]. Nevertheless, many present-day Romanian politicians are former members of the [[Romanian Communist Party]] (PCR) and have also had ties with the Romanian secret police (i.e. [[Securitate|Securitatea]]). Since membership in the party was a requirement for advancement before 1989, many people joined to get ahead rather than because of ideological conviction; however, the communist past of some Romanian politicians remains highly controversial to the current day.

=== 1990–1992 ===

[[File:RO B University square rally.jpg|thumb|right|An anti-communist and anti-FSN rally in University square in Bucharest]]
[[File:Mineriad in early 1990 Bucharest Palatul Victoriei 5.tif|thumb|alt=Demonstration in front of large, square building|February 1990 Mineriad taking place near [[Victoria Palace]] in [[Bucharest]].]]

The Romanian Communist Party (PCR) officially ceased to exist after the December 1989 Romanian Revolution. An [[ad interim]]/[[acting (law)|acting]] government swiftly took office starting in late December 1989 which consisted of [[National Salvation Front (Romania)|National Salvation Front]] (FSN) members and would eventually govern Romania well up until 1992. The FSN had initially not decided to run in the 1990 elections but subsequently retracted their initial position and opted to participate in the [[1990 Romanian general election]], having the full support of state-owned media and an overwhelming majority of the voters during the electoral campaign, thereby eventually securing a landslide win.

Prior to the 1990 Romanian general election, over 200 new political parties sprang up just after 1989, most of them gravitating towards their leaders rather than revolving around political programs or full-fledged [[Geopolitics|geopolitical]] agendas. Nevertheless, all major political parties espoused democracy and free market reforms to varying degrees or extents. The largest political party by far, the governing [[National Salvation Front (Romania)|National Salvation Front]] (FSN), proposed slow, cautious economic reforms, and an artificial, weak [[social safety net]] (mostly for the working class of the still operating factories of the [[Heavy industry|heavy industries]]).

In stark contrast, the main opposition parties, more specifically the [[National Liberal Party (Romania)|National Liberal Party]] (PNL) and the [[Christian Democratic National Peasants' Party]] (PNŢCD), favored rapid, sweeping economic reforms, immediate [[privatization]] (which would have caused a [[shock therapy (economics)|shock therapy]]) as well as a drastic reduction and even total exclusion of former Communist Party (PCR) members from public Romanian political life. Apart from PCR members, the early demands of the Romanian historical democratic parties were also the reduction of the undercover members of the former [[Securitate]] (which could have been PCR members as well) from all areas of public life (thereby endorsing the [[Proclamation of Timișoara]] and the lustration law against the former Romanian secret police).

In the [[1990 Romanian general election|1990 presidential and legislative elections]], the FSN and its presidential candidate, [[Ion Iliescu]], won with a large majority of the votes (67% and 85.1%, respectively). The strongest opposition parties in the [[Senate of Romania|Senate]] were the [[Hungarians in Romania|Hungarian minority-oriented]] [[Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania]] (UDMR/RMDSZ) (with 7.2%) and the [[National Liberal Party (Romania)|National Liberal Party]] (PNL) (with 7.1%), followed by the [[Christian Democratic National Peasants' Party]] (PNȚCD) with only 2.5% and the [[Ecologist Party of Romania|Romanian Ecologist Party]] (with only 1.4%) as well other minor centre-right parties (e.g. [[Liberal Union–Brătianu]], [[National Reconstruction Party of Romania]], and the [[Democratic Group of the Centre]]) with less than one per cent.

After FSN Prime Minister [[Petre Roman]]'s dismissal a few months before the 1992 general elections (following a late 1991 [[Mineriad]]), the FSN split in two. President Iliescu's supporters formed a new political party, namely the [[Social Democratic Party (Romania)|Democratic National Salvation Front]] (FDSN) which will later turn into PDSR and then PSD, while Roman's supporters retained the FSN name (which will later turn into PD and then PDL respectively).

=== 1992–1996 ===

[[File:Political_parties_in_Romania_after_1989_(2018).png|thumb|right|Flow chart depicting a detailed list of the political parties active in Romania since 1990, along with their afferent secessions and fusions/mergers.]]

The 1992 local, [[1992 Romanian general election|legislative]], and [[1992 Romanian general election|presidential]] elections indicated a major political rift between the [[List of cities and towns in Romania|urban centres]] and the countryside. Rural voters, grateful for the restoration of most agricultural land to farmers but fearful of change, strongly favored Iliescu and the FDSN; the urban electorate favored the [[Romanian Democratic Convention|CDR]] (a coalition of several parties – the strongest of which were the PNŢCD and the PNL – and several other civic organizations as well) and quicker reform. Iliescu easily won re-election from a field of five other candidates, and the FDSN won a plurality/relative majority of seats in both chambers of the Romanian Parliament.

With the CDR, the second-largest parliamentary group, reluctant to participate in a national-unity coalition, the FDSN (now the [[Social Democratic Party (Romania)|PDSR]]) formed a government under prime minister and economist [[Nicolae Văcăroiu]] with parliamentary support on behalf of the nationalists [[Romanian National Unity Party]] (PUNR) and [[Greater Romania Party]] (PRM) as well as the extreme left-wing [[Socialist Party of Labour]] (PSM) led by former PCR Prime Minister [[Ilie Verdeț]]. The future coalition would be labeled by the press as the "[[Red Quadrilateral]]" (originally known in Romanian as ''Patrulaterul Roșu'').<ref>{{cite web|language=ro|url=https://adevarul.ro/news/politica/patrulaterul-rosu-seintoarce-1_545910960d133766a888fee5/index.html|title="Patrulaterul roşu" se întoarce|author=Sorin Bocancea|work=Adevărul|date=4 November 2014|accessdate=30 January 2022}}</ref>

In January 1994, the governing coalition's stability became problematic when the PUNR threatened to withdraw its support unless it received cabinet portfolios. After intense negotiations, two PUNR members received cabinet portfolios in the Văcăroiu government in August of the same year. The following month, the incumbent Justice Minister also joined the PUNR. Nevertheless, subsequently, the PRM and the PSM left the coalition in October and December 1995, respectively.

=== 1996–2000 ===

The [[1996 Romanian local elections|1996 local elections]] indicated a major shift in the political orientation of the Romanian electorate, with opposition parties sweeping Bucharest and most of the larger cities in [[Transylvania]], [[Banat]], [[Bukovina]], and [[Dobruja]]. The trend continued in that year's [[1996 Romanian general election|legislative]] and [[1996 Romanian general election|presidential]] elections when the opposition dominated the cities and made strong inroads into rural areas previously dominated by President Iliescu and the PDSR (which lost many voters in their traditional stronghold constituencies outside Transylvania).

The opposition campaign emphasized the need to squelch corruption and introduce economic reform favoring liberalization and the free market. This message resonated with voters, resulting in a historical victory for the CDR coalition and the election of [[Emil Constantinescu]] as president (partly due to [[Corneliu Coposu]]'s death as well). To secure its electoral majority, the CDR invited Petre Roman's [[Democratic Party (Romania)|Democratic Party]] (the former FSN) and the UDMR/RMDSZ (representing the Hungarian minority) to join the government. Although over the next four years, Romania had three prime ministers (and despite internal frictions), the governing parties preserved their coalition and initiated a series of much-needed reforms.

=== 2000–2004 ===

Constantinescu stated in 2000 that he is no longer running for a second term, claiming that the system had defeated him. The CDR-led coalition with its new candidate [[Mugur Isărescu]] lost the first round of presidential elections held in November 2000 as a result of popular dissatisfaction with infighting among the constituent parties during the preceding four years and the economic hardship brought about by structural reforms. In the second round, Ion Iliescu, running again as the [[Social Democratic Party (Romania)|Social Democratic Party]] (PSD) candidate, won by a wide margin over extreme nationalist [[Greater Romania Party]] (PRM) candidate [[Corneliu Vadim Tudor]]. Iliescu subsequently appointed [[Adrian Năstase]] Prime Minister. In the Parliament, the PSD government (like its predecessor) relied on the support of the [[Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania|UDMR/RMDSZ]], which did not join the cabinet but negotiated annual packages of legislation and other measures favoring Romania's ethnic Hungarians (essentially through a [[Confidence and supply|confidence and supply agreement]]).

Năstase, in his four years as prime minister, continued the previous government's pro-Western foreign policy. The period was characterized by political stability unprecedented in post-communist Romania and consistent economic growth. Romania joined [[NATO]] in the spring of 2004 and signed an accession treaty to join the EU in 2007. However, the PSD government was plagued by allegations of corruption which would be significant factors in its eventual defeat in local and [[2004 Romanian general election|national elections in 2004]].

In September 2003, the [[Democratic Party (Romania)|Democratic Party]] (PD) and the [[National Liberal Party (Romania)|National Liberal Party]] (PNL) formed an electoral alliance, more specifically the [[Justice and Truth Alliance|Justice and Truth]] (DA) Alliance, as a mainstream opposition bloc to the ruling PSD. The DA Alliance agreed, among other measures, to vote as a bloc in the parliament and local councils and run common candidates in national and local elections. In October 2003, the country held a referendum on several constitutional amendments deemed necessary for EU accession. The amendments included provisions to allow foreigners to own land in Romania and to change the president's term from four to five years.

=== 2004–2008 ===

In 2004, [[Traian Băsescu]], the then-leader of the [[Democratic Party (Romania)|Democratic Party]] (PD), won the [[2004 Romanian general election|presidential election]] by a narrow margin. Băsescu subsequently appointed former national liberal leader [[Călin Popescu-Tăriceanu]] as prime minister. Popescu-Tăriceanu headed a government composed of the [[National Liberal Party (Romania)|PNL]], [[Democratic Party (Romania)|PD]], [[Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania|UDMR/RMDSZ]], and [[Conservative Party (Romania)|PC]] (formerly known as the Romanian Humanist Party or PUR).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://jurnalul.ro/vechiul-site/old-site/english-version/calin-popescu-tariceanu-gets-the-pm-job-54230.html|title=Calin Popescu Tariceanu Gets the PM Job|website=jurnalul.ro}}</ref> In order to secure a parliamentary majority, the coalition government relied on the support of 18 parliamentary seats reserved for ethnic-minority representatives.

The government's narrow majority in the Parliament led to calls for early elections. In July 2005, Prime Minister Popescu-Tăriceanu voiced plans to resign, prompting new elections; he then backtracked, noting his and the cabinet's need to focus on relief efforts for summer floods. During its first year, the government was also tested by a successfully resolved hostage crisis involving three Romanian journalists kidnapped in [[Iraq]] and [[avian influenza]] in several parts of the country, transmitted by wild birds migrating from Asia.

The government's overriding objective was the [[2007 enlargement of the European Union|accession of Romania to the European Union]] (EU), and on 1 January 2007 Romania became the 26th member of the EU. The government also maintained good relations with the United States, signing an agreement in December 2005 which would allow American troops to train and serve at several [[Romanian Armed Forces|Romanian military]] facilities. Băsescu and Popescu-Tăriceanu pledged to combat high-level corruption and implement broader reforms to modernize sectors such as the judicial system and healthcare.

On 19 April 2007, the Romanian Parliament suspended President Băsescu on charges of unconstitutional conduct. The suspension, passed by a 322–108 vote, opened the way for a [[2007 Romanian presidential impeachment referendum|national referendum on impeachment]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ft.com/content/d3be5f1a-ee6e-11db-b5e9-000b5df10621 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/d3be5f1a-ee6e-11db-b5e9-000b5df10621.html |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Romanian parliament suspends president|work=Financial Times|access-date=10 June 2015}}</ref> which failed by a large popular vote, and as such Băsescu was reinstated as President.

=== 2008–2012 ===

The November 2008 parliamentary elections were close, with the [[Social Democratic Party (Romania)|Social Democrats]] (PSD) winning 33.9% of the vote, President Traian Băsescu's centre-right [[Democratic Liberal Party (Romania)|Liberal Democrats]] (PDL) taking 32.3%, and the ruling [[National Liberal Party (Romania)|National Liberals]] (PNL) receiving 18.6%.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=99418|title=Romania Election Results Show Prospect of Tough Coalition Negotiations|access-date=10 June 2015}}</ref> The Liberal Democrats and Social Democrats formed a coalition after the election. Former prime minister Theodor Stolojan withdrew his candidacy for the premiership and President Băsescu nominated [[Emil Boc]], president of the Liberal Democrats, as prime minister.

With the onset of the [[Great Recession]], the Romanian political scene saw tensions between the president and the prime minister on the one hand as well as between the general population on the other hand. Tensions escalated with a [[2012 Romanian constitutional crisis|2012 political crisis]] and another attempt to impeach President Băsescu. In the [[2012 Romanian presidential impeachment referendum|referendum]], more than 7.4 million people (nearly 90%) supported Băsescu's removal from office. However, the Constitutional Court invalidated the referendum because the majority of the population did not vote (the voter turnout was 46%); Băsescu had called the referendum a ''[[coup d'état]]'' and asked the public to boycott it. All these events have been heavily criticized by international political figures, most notably by German chancellor [[Angela Merkel]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mediafax.ro/politic/angela-merkel-considera-inacceptabila-incalcarea-statului-de-drept-in-romania-9835221|title=Angela Merkel: Este inacceptabilă încălcarea statului de drept în România. Răspunsul lui Victor Ponta|work=Mediafax|date=9 July 2012 |access-date= 19 June 2020|language=ro}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mediafax.ro/politic/cronologie-2012-anul-razboiului-politic-declinul-popularitatii-lui-basescu-vehiculul-electoral-al-usl-10414246|title=2012, anul războiului politic. Declinul popularității lui Băsescu - vehiculul electoral al USL|work=Mediafax|date=28 December 2012 |access-date= 19 June 2020|language=ro}}</ref>

=== 2012–2016 ===

[[File:Biblioteca Nationala IMG 6855.JPG|thumb|right|Protest against [[Roșia Montană Project]] in Bucharest in 2013, taking place near the [[National Library of Romania]].]]
[[File:Universitatea Bucuresti IMG 6678.JPG|thumb|alt=Large demonstration, with many tricolor (vertical blue, gold and red) Romanian flags|The 2013 protests against the Roșia Montană Project turned into an anti-government social movement.]]

The [[2012 Romanian legislative election|legislative elections of 9 December 2012]] were seen by the public as an opportunity for change and to oust Băsescu. The [[Social Liberal Union]] (USL) received a large majority in the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate (60.07 and 58.61 percent of the vote, respectively) and a record 395 seats. The new prime minister, [[Victor Ponta]], quickly formed a government but the failure to adopt reforms quickly triggered a wave of [[2012–2015 unrest in Romania|protests]] against a government seen as not fulfilling the promises of the 2012 electoral campaign. Two other projects of national interest (shale drilling and the [[Roșia Montană]] mining project) unleashed [[Roșia Montană protests|more protests]]. The demonstrations, initially ecological in focus, became anti-government protests.

In early 2014, the PNL broke away from the USL and entered opposition. Along with the PDL, the PNL formed the [[Christian Liberal Alliance]] (ACL) to support the candidature of [[Klaus Iohannis]] as [[President of Romania]] and later agreed on a future merger that would retain the name of the National Liberal Party (PNL). Iohannis won a surprise victory in front of the incumbent PM Victor Ponta in the second round of the [[2014 Romanian presidential election|2014 presidential elections]], by a margin of 54.43%.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/nov/16/romania-klaus-iohannis-president|title=Klaus Iohannis wins Romanian presidential election|website=[[TheGuardian.com]] |date=16 November 2014}}</ref> At that time, many [[Romanian diaspora|voters abroad]] were rightfully angry because they were not all given the right to cast their ballots, which represented one of the key reasons for Ponta's defeat.

In late 2015, [[2015 Romanian protests|another series of nationwide protests]] ultimately prompted Prime Minister Victor Ponta's resignation. Shortly afterward, President Iohannis appointed then [[independent politician|independent]]-[[technocracy|technocrat]] [[Dacian Cioloș]] as [[Prime Minister of Romania|Prime Minister]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/elections/news/ex-commissioner-dacian-ciolos-to-be-romania-s-next-pm/|title=Ex-Commissioner Dacian Ciolos to be Romania's next PM|date=5 November 2015}}</ref> who led a likewise independent-technocratic government between late 2015 and early 2017.

=== 2016–2020 ===

[[File:Protest against corruption - Bucharest 2017 - Piata Universitatii - 5.jpg|thumb|right|Massive anti-corruption protest in Bucharest in January 2017 against the then-ruling [[Grindeanu Cabinet|PSD-ALDE socialist government]] led by former PM [[Sorin Grindeanu]].]]

The [[2016 Romanian legislative election|legislative elections of 11 December 2016]] saw a predictable comeback of the PSD as the major party in the Romanian Parliament, as most opinion polls gave them an electoral score of at least 40%. Alongside [[Alliance of Liberals and Democrats (Romania)|ALDE]] (a main splinter group from the PNL), the PSD initially formed a governing coalition under Prime Minister [[Sorin Grindeanu]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/12/30/sorin-grindeanu-named-new-prime-minister/|title = Romania names Grindeanu as prime minister}}</ref>

In early 2017, [[2017 Romanian protests|a series of massive nationwide protests]] (the greatest in Romania's history) requested Grindeanu's resignation and early elections because of the government's secret procedure of giving an ordinance modifying the Penal Code and Penal Procedure Code on the night of 31 January. The PM along with the entire government refused to step down but decided to withdraw the decrees that started the protests on 5 February at the protests' peak.

Approximately four months later, tensions arose between PM Sorin Grindeanu and PSD leader [[Liviu Dragnea]], which ultimately resulted in the loss of political support for the government on behalf of the PSD-ALDE coalition. The PM refused to resign but was eventually dismissed by a motion of no confidence passed by the Parliament with 241 votes (233 minimum needed).

Quickly afterward, [[Mihai Tudose]] was proposed by the socialists for the position of prime minister and was subsequently accepted by president Iohannis.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/en/romanian-president-appoints-social-democrat-mihai-tudose-as-new-pm/a-39428518|title=Romanian president appoints Social Democrat Mihai Tudose as new PM &#124; DW &#124; 26.06.2017|website=[[Deutsche Welle]] }}</ref> However, just after 6 months of governance, he resigned from this dignity. Consequently, the ruling coalition nominated a new Prime Minister candidate in the person of [[Viorica Dăncilă]], a former socialist [[Member of the European Parliament|MEP]] in [[List of members of the European Parliament (2014–2019)|2014–19]] who was also accepted by the state president. She was also the first female Prime Minister of Romania.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-42723492|title = Romania to have first female prime minister, Viorica Dancila|work = BBC News|date = 17 January 2018}}</ref> Subsequently, on 4 November 2019, after a motion of no confidence, the PSD minority government was replaced by a minority cabinet led by the National Liberal Party under [[Ludovic Orban]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://newsd.in/romania-opposition-leader-ludovic-orban-appointed-new-pm/|title = Romania opposition leader Ludovic Orban appointed new PM| date=15 October 2019 }}</ref> Furthermore, in November 2019, President Klaus Iohannis was [[2019 Romanian presidential election|re-elected]] by a landslide (with [[Democratic Forum of Germans in Romania|FDGR/DFDR]], [[USR PLUS]], and [[People's Movement Party|PMP]] support in the second round).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/nov/24/romania-centrist-president-re-elected-by-a-landslide-klaus-iohannis|work=The Guardian|title=Romanian centrist president re-elected by a landslide|date=24 November 2019|accessdate=12 April 2021}}</ref>

This period (i.e. the two years spanning between 2017 and 2019) was marked by governmental mayhem produced by the previous PSD-ALDE ruling coalition regarding their change of PMs as well as their intentions of changing both the Penal Code and the Penal Procedure Code, the Romanian society took to the streets of Bucharest and many other major cities of the country in huge numbers for more than 500 consecutive days in order to oppose the modification of these law packages, prompt early elections, as well as a referendum on the topic of justice.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.libertatea.ro/stiri/cel-mai-mare-protest-fata-de-oug-13-anuntat-pentru-duminica-in-capitala-sunt-asteptati-1-000-000-de-oameni-1734405|title=UPDATE. A șasea zi de proteste, un nou record. Peste 500.000 de oameni au protestat în toată țara / FOTO&VIDEO|work=Ziarul Libertatea|date=5 February 2017|access-date= 19 June 2020|language=ro}}</ref>

=== 2020–2024===

The [[2020 Romanian local elections]] which were held on 27 September were won by the PNL. Nonetheless, on 6 December, the PNL finished second in the [[2020 Romanian legislative election]]. The election was won by the oppositional [[Social Democratic Party (Romania)|Social Democrats]] (PSD) who came in first. Shortly after the official results came out, Orban resigned from his position as PM and was replaced by [[Nicolae Ciucă]] as acting/ad interim PM.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-55222276|title=Romanian PM Ludovic Orban resigns after poor election result|work=BBC|date=7 December 2020|accessdate=15 April 2021}}</ref>

In the meantime, the national liberals proceeded to negotiate the formation of a coalition government alongside USR PLUS and UDMR for a reportedly stable center-right governance for the next four years in Romania. The newly designated PM was therefore [[Florin Cîțu]], a member of the [[National Liberal Party (Romania)|National Liberal Party]] (PNL), who took office on 23 December 2020, after forming a three-party, center-right coalition consisting of the PNL, the [[USR PLUS]], and the [[Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania]] (UDMR/RMDSZ).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.eu/article/florin-citu-romania-national-liberal-party-government-prime-minister|title=Liberal Florin Cîțu put forward to be Romania's next prime minister|date=19 December 2020|accessdate=15 April 2021}}</ref>

Subsequently, in early September 2021, USR PLUS decided to exit the [[Cîțu Cabinet]] and so the three centre-right party alliance was officially disbanded, inadvertently leading to the major [[2021 Romanian political crisis]] which lasted for nearly three months, until [[Nicolae Ciucă]] was invested PM along with the [[Ciucă Cabinet|CNR cabinet]] in late November 2021.<ref>{{cite web|language=ro|url=https://www.digi24.ro/stiri/actualitate/politica/parlamentul-se-intruneste-pentru-votul-de-investire-a-guvernului-nicolae-ciuca-1748869|title=Miniștrii Guvernului Nicolae Ciucă au depus jurământul la Cotroceni. Klaus Iohannis: A fost nevoie să se treacă peste multe orgolii|work=Digi24.ro|author=Bogdan Păcurar|date=25 November 2021|accessdate=12 December 2021}}</ref> On 15 June 2023, [[Marcel Ciolacu]] (PSD) was sworn in as the new Romanian Prime Minister. Rotating premiership had been long agreed as part of a deal by the ruling coalition.<ref>{{cite web |title=Changing of the guard in Romania |url=https://www.kas.de/en/country-reports/detail/-/content/changing-of-the-guard-in-the-coalition |website=kas.de |language=en |date=15 June 2023}}</ref> Since the investment of the [[National Coalition for Romania|CNR]] cabinet, Romania has been experiencing a clear shift towards [[authoritarianism]], [[illiberalism]] and has the characteristics of a [[hybrid regime]] behind a constitutional facade.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.fanatik.ro/pnl-si-psd-imping-romania-catre-un-regim-autoritar-amendamentul-surpriza-din-legea-anti-ong-folosit-impotriva-presei-ne-ducem-intr-o-directie-foarte-periculoasa-20316603 | title=PNL și PSD împing România către un regim autoritar. Amendamentul surpriză din legea anti-ONG, folosit împotriva presei. "Ne ducem într-o direcție foarte periculoasă" | date=20 February 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.g4media.ro/degradare-accelerata-si-fara-precedent-a-democratiei-in-regimul-iohannis-ciuca-romania-e-redusa-la-tacere-pnl-se-psd-izeaza-rapid.html | title=Degradare accelerată și fără precedent a democrației în regimul Iohannis-Ciucă. România e redusă la tăcere, PNL se PSD-izează rapid | date=29 June 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://romania.europalibera.org/a/riscul-democra%C8%9Biei-iliberale-in-romania-modelul-ungariei/31965186.html|title=Analiză &#124; Riscul democrației iliberale în România. Umbra serviciilor, plagiat, presă plătită de partide și proiecte secrete|first=Cristian|last=Andrei|date=1 August 2022|via=romania.europalibera.org}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bihon.ro/stirile-judetului-bihor/romania-iliberala-va-aduce-coalitia-psd-pnl-udmr-reformele-necesare-sau-se-va-ingriji-doar-de-clientela-politica-3868914/ | title=România iliberală? Va aduce coaliția PSD-PNL-UDMR reformele necesare sau se va îngriji doar de clientela politică? | date=7 December 2021 }}</ref>

=== 2024–present===
{{Overly detailed|section|details=|date=May 2025}}
In 2024, all 4 types of elections took place in Romania, a first in the post-December history of the country. [[2024 European Parliament election in Romania|European Parliament election]] and [[2024 Romanian local elections|the local election]] took place simultaneously on June 9, the European Parliament election being won by the [[National Coalition for Romania|PSD-PNL Alliance]], and the local ones by the [[Social Democratic Party (Romania)|Social Democratic Party]] (which ran separately from the [[National Liberal Party (Romania)|liberals]] in most counties). The European Parliament and local elections also provided positive results for the [[Romanian nationalism|nationalist]] parties such as the [[Alliance for the Union of Romanians]] (AUR) which sent 5 MEPs to the [[European Parliament]] and the more radical formation [[S.O.S. Romania]] which sent 2 MEPs. Also, in these elections, AUR strengthened its position in the territory by winning important seats in the county and local councils. Also, the simultaneous organization of the 2 elections on the same day was also met with problems and reports related to electoral fraud, the biggest scandals that came to the surface after the election were in sector 1 and sector 2 of [[Bucharest]].

The first round of the [[2024 Romanian presidential election|2024 presidential election]] was held on 24 November, with independent candidate [[Călin Georgescu]] winning the first round with 22.9% and USR candidate [[Elena Lasconi]] finishing second with 19.2%.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-24 |title=Far-right populist surprises in Romanian presidential election appearing set to enter runoff |url=https://apnews.com/article/romania-elections-president-europe-nato-a6e3bd3f26272c4a9ab9337789f09da8 |accessdate=2024-12-30 |publisher=AP News |lang=en}}</ref>
After [[Accusations of Russian interference in the 2024 Romanian presidential election|accusations of Russian interference]] in the election,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-26 |title=TikTok CEO summoned to European Parliament over role in shock Romania election |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/elections-tiktok-ceo-eu-parliament-romania-election-fake-accounts-pro-russia-calin-georgescu-nato-shock-victory/ |accessdate=2024-12-30 |publisher=POLITICO |lang=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-27 |title=Iohannis a convocat CSAT pe tema unor posibile riscuri la adresa securității naționale în contextul alegerilor |url=https://adevarul.ro/politica/iohannis-a-convocat-csat-pe-tema-unor-posibile-2404751.html |accessdate=2024-12-30 |publisher=adevarul.ro |lang=ro}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Prezidențiale2024/ Validarea primului tur de către CCR și începerea campaniei electorale -.. |url=https://www.agerpres.ro/politica/2024/11/25/prezidentiale2024-validarea-primului-tur-de-catre-ccr-si-inceperea-campaniei-electorale-repere-ale-acestei-saptamani--1392886 |accessdate=2024-12-30 |publisher=www.agerpres.ro |lang=ro}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2024-11-28 |title=Fără precedent: CCR a cerut BEC renumărarea celor peste 9,4 milioane de voturi din primul tur prezidențial |url=https://www.digi24.ro/stiri/actualitate/politica/ccr-discuta-astazi-doua-cereri-de-anulare-a-primului-tur-al-alegerilor-prezidentiale-3024023 |accessdate=2024-12-30 |publisher=www.digi24.ro |lang=ro}}</ref> the CCR called on 28 November for a recount of all 1st round votes,<ref name=":0" /> after which it validated the results five days later.<ref>{{Citation |last1=Vulcan |first1=Dora |title=CCR a validat primul tur al prezidențialelor. Turul doi, pe 8 decembrie. Ce spun cei doi candidați. Pregătiri pentru viitoarea guvernare |date=2024-12-03 |work=Europa Liberă România |url=https://romania.europalibera.org/a/ccr-a-validat-primul-tur-al-prezidentialelor-romanii-pot-merge-la-vot-in-turul-doi-pe-8-decembrie/33224009.html |access-date=2024-12-30 |language=ro |last2=Grădinaru |first2=Anca}}</ref> However, the CCR reversed its validation on 6 December following new CSAT documents declassified by Iohannis two days previously.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-12-04 |title=Iohannis a declasificat documentele din CSAT. SRI a găsit 797 de conturi TikTok create în 2016 pentru Georgescu, conservate și "activate" în campania electorală / Tik Tok a recunoscut că a încasat 381.000 de dolari - HotNews.ro |url=https://hotnews.ro/iohannis-a-declasificat-documentele-prezentate-in-sedinta-csat-despre-calin-georgescu-sri-a-gasit-797-de-conturi-create-in-2016-conservate-si-activate-la-capacitate-maxima-1853640 |accessdate=2024-12-30 |lang=ro-RO}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-12-06 |title=Curtea Constituțională a anulat alegerile prezidențiale și a decis că tot procesul va fi reluat de la zero. Principalele reacții |url=https://www.digi24.ro/alegeri-prezidentiale-2024/curtea-constitutionala-a-decis-anularea-primului-turul-al-alegerilor-prezidentiale-3036247 |accessdate=2024-12-30 |publisher=www.digi24.ro |lang=ro}}</ref>

The [[2024 Romanian parliamentary election|2024 parliamentary election]] took place on 1 December. They took place within a relatively tense context and [[Political polarization|polarization]] in society as a result of the events that followed the 1st round of the presidential elections on 24 November such as the [[2024 Romanian anti-extremism protests|anti-extremism demonstrations]] and the counter-demonstrations of Călin Georgescu's supporters.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://hotnews.ro/tinerii-se-mobilizeaza-pentru-a-treia-zi-de-proteste-impotriva-lui-calin-georgescu-si-anunta-o-alta-locatie-in-bucuresti-piata-victoriei-1846763|title=VIDEO Proteste anti-Georgescu în București și alte orașe. Aproape 2.500 de participanți în Piața Victoriei: "SRI, rușine mare, ești complice la trădare" / Un presupus susținător al lui Georgescu, în mijlocul manifestanților pro-democrație / Contramanifestație la Universitate: "Rusia nu ne-ar ataca niciodată" - HotNews.ro|date=2024-11-27|accessdate=2024-12-30|lang=ro-RO}}</ref> The parliamentary election were won by the ruling [[Social Democratic Party (Romania)|social-democrats]], but with a lower score compared to the previous election in 2020. The official results indicated a hung parliament that requires the formation of a broad governing coalition for a stable majority. In the first days after the parliamentary election, there was discussion about the formation of a cordon sanitaire to isolate the so-called [[Sovereignism|sovereignist]] block (consisting of the parties AUR, [[S.O.S. Romania|SOS RO]] and [[Party of Young People|POT]]) and the formation of a stable pro-European coalition formed by PSD, PNL, [[Save Romania Union|USR]], [[Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania|UDMR]] and [[Romanian ethnic minority parties|ethnic minority parties]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.digi24.ro/stiri/actualitate/politica/coalitia-pro-europeana-negocieri-pentru-viitorul-guvern-cine-ar-putea-fi-candidatul-comun-la-alegerile-prezidentiale-3041919|title=Coaliția pro-europeană, negocieri pentru viitorul Guvern. Cine poate fi candidatul comun la alegerile prezidențiale|publisher=www.digi24.ro|date=2024-12-11|accessdate=2024-12-30|lang=ro}}</ref> As a result of the annulment of the first round of presidential election, [[Renewing Romanian's European Project|REPER]] requested the [[Permanent Electoral Authority (Romania)|Central Electoral Office]] to annul the [[2024 Romanian parliamentary election|parliamentary election]] emphasizing that the reasons that led to the decision of the CCR are also valid for the parliamentary election.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://hotnews.ro/reper-cere-anularea-alegerilor-parlamentare-avem-date-evidente-care-indica-ingerinta-rusiei-1855616|title=REPER cere anularea alegerilor parlamentare: "Avem date evidente care indică ingerința Rusiei" - HotNews.ro|date=2024-12-06|accessdate=2024-12-30|lang=ro-RO}}</ref> [[Vlad Gheorghe]], the leader of the party [[Justice and Respect in Europe for All Party|DREPT]], also called for the annulment of the parliamentary elections citing (the same "causes"): "Russian interference", "manipulation and disinformation of the population”.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.digi24.ro/alegeri-parlamentare-2024/vlad-gheorghe-liderul-partidului-drept-anunta-ca-a-cerut-anularea-alegerilor-parlamentare-au-fost-tot-sub-razboi-hibrid-3036699|title=Partidele DREPT și Reper au cerut și anularea alegerilor parlamentare. "Au fost tot sub război hibrid"|publisher=www.digi24.ro|date=2024-12-06|accessdate=2024-12-30|lang=ro}}</ref>

Meanwhile, the negotiations between PSD, PNL, USR and UDMR have reached an impasse, USR making several requests to the potential coalition partners such as tax cuts, the resignation of the president [[Klaus Iohannis]], the rapid adoption of the new budget, the start of the procedures for the initiation of the referendum "no convicted criminals from holding public office" and the resignation of the heads of the intelligence services.<ref>{{Citation|last=Vulcan|first=Dora|title=USR a cerut coaliției să adopte bugetul până luni, să-i demită pe șeful AEP, pe șefii de servicii și să ceară demisia lui Iohannis|date=2024-12-18|url=https://romania.europalibera.org/a/usr-a-cerut-coalitiei-sa-adopte-bugetul-2025-pana-luni-sa-i-demita-pe-seful-aep-pe-sefii-de-servicii-si-sa-ceara-demisia-lui-iohannis-/33244834.html|work=Europa Liberă România|language=ro|access-date=2024-12-30}}</ref> In the end, the USR stayed out of the negotiations on the future governing coalition<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://adevarul.ro/politica/elena-lasconi-explica-de-ce-usr-a-fost-exclus-din-2410152.html|title=Elena Lasconi explică de ce USR a fost exclus din coaliția pro-europeană: "Noi ne dorim să fim la guvernare, ei nu ne vor"|publisher=adevarul.ro|date=2024-12-20|accessdate=2024-12-30|lang=ro}}</ref> thus the return of the old PSD-PNL-UDMR-minorities formula that was between 2021 and 2023 during the [[Ciucă Cabinet]] materialized. On 23 December 2024, the new government was invested with a fragile majority (a little over 50%), [[Second Ciolacu cabinet]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/ro/guvernul-ciolacu-2-%C3%AEnvestit-cu-o-majoritate-fragil%C4%83/a-71149090|title=Guvernul Ciolacu 2, învestit cu o majoritate fragilă – DW – 23.12.2024|publisher=dw.com|accessdate=2024-12-30|lang=ro}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|accessdate=2024-12-30 |date=2024-12-30 |lang=ro |publisher=euronews.ro: Știri de ultimă oră, breaking news, #AllViews |title=VIDEO Guvernul Ciolacu 2, votat la limită, după ce a fost învestit pe repede înainte. Miniștrii au depus jurământul la Cotroceni |url=https://www.euronews.ro/articole/noul-guvern-ciolacu-investit-azi-audierile-ministrilor-si-votul-in-parlament}}</ref> In January 2025, the [[2025 Romanian presidential election|2025 presidential election]] was scheduled for May.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.digi24.ro/alegeri-prezidentiale-2025/calendarul-alegerilor-prezidentiale-2025-perioada-electorala-incepe-pe-18-februarie-iar-campania-pe-4-aprilie-3101691|title=Calendarul alegerilor prezidenţiale 2025. Perioada electorală începe pe 18 februarie, iar campania, pe 4 aprilie|date=2025-01-30|accessdate=2025-02-28|lang=ro-RO}}</ref> In the runoff on 18 May, [[Nicușor Dan]] defeated [[George Simion]], with [[Presidency of Nicușor Dan|his presidency]] beginning on 26 May 2025.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Moldova |first=Europa Liberă |date=26 May 2025 |title=Nicușor Dan a devenit oficial președinte al României. Relația cu R. Moldova, printre priorități |url=https://moldova.europalibera.org/a/33424356.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250530134151/https://moldova.europalibera.org/a/33424356.html |archive-date=30 May 2025 |access-date=30 May 2025 |work=Radio Europa Liberă |language=ro}}</ref>

==Foreign relations==
{{Main|Foreign relations of Romania}}
[[File:President_Joe_Biden_sits_down_for_a_meeting_with_President_Klaus_Iohannis.jpg|thumb|Romanian president [[Klaus Iohannis]] with U.S. president [[Joe Biden]] in the [[Oval Office]], May 2024]]
On 1 January 2007, [[Romania]] became a [[member states of the European Union|member of the European Union]] (EU) in the fifth wave of [[EU enlargement]].<ref>[http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/5th_enlargement/index_en.htm Enlargement, 3 years after] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090625150449/http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/5th_enlargement/index_en.htm |date=25 June 2009 }}, [[Europa (web portal)]]</ref> During the 2000s, Romania implemented a number of reforms to prepare for EU accession, including the consolidation of its democratic systems, the institution of the [[rule of law]], the acknowledgement of respect for [[Human rights in Romania|human rights]], the commitment to personal [[freedom of expression]], and the implementation of a functioning [[free-market economy]].

Romania joined the [[NATO|North Atlantic Treaty Organization]] (NATO) on 29 March 2004, following the decision taken at the [[2002 Prague summit|Prague Summit]], in November 2002. Romania was a partner to the allied forces during the [[Gulf War]], particularly during its service as president of the [[UN Security Council]]. Romania has been active in peacekeeping operations in [[UNAVEM (disambiguation)|UNAVEM]] in [[Angola]], [[IFOR]]/[[SFOR]] in [[Bosnia and Herzegovina|Bosnia]], [[Albania]], in [[Afghanistan]] and sent 860 troops to [[Iraq]] after the invasion led by the [[United States]].

Romania has developed strong [[Hungary–Romania relations|relations with Hungary]], with the latter playing a key role in supporting Romania's bid to join the EU.{{Citation needed|date=March 2014}} Romania's [[Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania|ethnic Hungarian party]] also participated in all the government coalitions between 1996 and 2008 and from 2009. In 1996, Romania signed and ratified a basic bilateral treaty with Hungary that settled outstanding disagreements, laying the foundation for closer, more cooperative relations.<ref name="1996treaty">{{Cite web |url=http://www.dri.gov.ro/lege-nr-1131996-pentru-ratificarea-tratatului-de-intelegere-cooperare-si-buna-vecinatate-dintre-romania-si-republica-ungara-semnat-la-timisoara-la-16-septembrie-1996/ |title=Lege nr. 113/1996 pentru ratificarea Tratatului de înţelegere, cooperare şi bună vecinătate dintre România şi Republica Ungară, semnat la Timişoara la 16 septembrie 1996 – DRI |access-date=25 February 2022 |archive-date=8 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180708162328/http://www.dri.gov.ro/lege-nr-1131996-pentru-ratificarea-tratatului-de-intelegere-cooperare-si-buna-vecinatate-dintre-romania-si-republica-ungara-semnat-la-timisoara-la-16-septembrie-1996/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Bulgarian relations with Romania feature regular official visits by the two presidents. In the first half of the 20th century, Romania and Bulgaria had a serious conflict over the [[Dobruja]] region. This dispute, while now largely forgotten, escalated into all out war in 1913. The territorial dispute between the two countries ended with the [[Treaty of Craiova]].

==See also==
* [[Mass media in Romania]]
* [[Human rights in Romania]]
* [[Romanian Armed Forces|Military of Romania]]
* [[Moldova–Romania relations|Relations of Romania with Moldova]]
* [[Unification of Moldova and Romania|Movement for unification of Romania and Moldova]]

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20030726141818/http://www.embassy.romania.org/ List of Romanian Embassies]
*[http://www.worldstatesmen.org/Romania.htm World Statesmen: Romania], including a comprehensive list of princes, monarchs, prime ministers, etc.
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20071011054358/http://web.ku.edu/~herron/europe/romania.php Erik Herron's Guide to Politics of East Central Europe and Eurasia]

==Further reading==
* John Hickman and Chris Little, "Seat/Vote Proportionality in Romanian and Spanish Parliamentary Elections", ''Journal of Southern Europe and the Balkans'' Volume 2, Number 2, November 2000.

{{Romanian Topics}}
{{Politics of Europe}}
{{Romanian elections}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Politics of Romania}}
[[Category:Politics of Romania| ]]