View source for Senate of Romania

{{Short description|Upper house of the Parliament of Romania}}
{{distinguish|Roman Senate}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox legislature
| name               = Senate
| native_name        = Senat
| legislature        = 9th Legislature
| coa_pic            = Coat of arms of the Senate of Romania.png
| coa-pic            =
| foundation         = 1864
| session_room = Saeimas priekšsēdētāja vizīte Rumānijā.jpg
| session_res = 240px
| house_type         = Upper house
| body               = Parliament of Romania
| leader1_type       = [[President of the Senate of Romania|President]]
| leader1            = [[Mircea Abrudean]]        
| party1             = [[National Liberal Party (Romania)|PNL]]
| election1          = 24 June 2025
| leader2_type       = [[Standing Bureau of the Senate of Romania|Vice Presidents]]
| leader2            = 
| party2             =
| election2          = 
| leader3_type       = Secretaries
| leader3            = <!-- {{ubl|[[David Gheorghe]] ([[Democratic Liberal Party (Romania)|PDL]])|[[Onofrei Orest]] ([[Democratic Liberal Party (Romania)|PDL]])|[[Popa Cornel]] ([[National Liberal Party (Romania)|PNL]])|[[Silistru Doina]] ([[Social Democratic Party (Romania)|PSD+PC]])]] -->
| party3             =
| election3          = 
| leader4_type       = Quaestors
| leader4            = <!-- {{ubl|[[Ioan Chelaru]] ([[Social Democratic Party (Romania)|PSD+PC]])|[[Constantin Dumitru]] ([[Democratic Liberal Party (Romania)|PDL]])|[[Dan-Radu Ruşanu]] ([[National Liberal Party (Romania)|PNL]])|[[Attila Verestóy]] ([[Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania|UDMR]])}} -->
| party4             =
| election4          = 
| leader5_type       =
| leader5            =
| party5             =
| election5          =
| leader6_type       =
| leader6            =
| party6             =
| election6          =
| seats              = 134 (+2 vacant)
| structure1         = [[File:SenatulRomaniei16.10.2025.svg|360px]]
| structure1_res     = 250px
| political_groups1  =
'''[[Bolojan cabinet|Government]] (89)'''
* {{color box|{{party color|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}}} [[Social Democratic Party (Romania)|Social Democratic Party]] (38){{efn|
* {{color box|{{party color|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}}} [[Social Democratic Party (Romania)|Social Democratic Party]] (36)
* {{color box|{{party color|Independent (politician)}}}} [[Independent politician|Independent]] (2)}}
* {{color box|{{party color|National Liberal Party (Romania)}}}} [[National Liberal Party (Romania)|National Liberal Party]] (22)
* {{color box|{{party color|Save Romania Union (2022)}}}} [[Save Romania Union]] (19)
* {{color box|#126401}} [[Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania|Democratic Alliance of Hungarians]] (10) 
'''[[Parliamentary opposition|Opposition]] (45)'''
* {{color box|{{party color|Alliance for the Union of Romanians}}}} [[Alliance for the Union of Romanians]] (28)
* {{color box|#3cd1bb}} [[PEACE – Romania First]] (11){{efn|
* {{color box|{{party color|Independent (politician)}}}} [[Independent politician|Independent]] (11)}}
* {{color box|{{party color|Independent (politician)}}}} [[Independent politician|Independents]] (6){{efn|
* {{Color box|{{party color|Party of Young People}}}} [[Party of Young People]] (5)
* {{color box|{{party color| S.O.S. Romania}}}} [[S.O.S. Romania]] (1)}}
| committees1        = {{Collapsible list |title=15 |liststyle=list-style-type:disc |Committee for legal affairs, appointments, discipline, immunities and validations|Committee on Budget, finance, banking and capital market|Commission for economy, industry and services|Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development|Committee on Foreign Affairs|Committee on public administration, the territory and environmental protection|Commission for defense, public order and national security|Commission for work, family and social protection|Committee for Education, Science, Youth and Sports|Committee on Public Health|Committee for culture, art and media information in the table|Commission on Human Rights, religious and minority|Committee on Equal Opportunities|Commission for privatization and management of state assets|Committee on research abuses, corruption and petitions}}
| voting_system1     = {{ubl|1992–2008; 2016–present: [[Closed list]], [[D'Hondt method]]|2008–2016: nominal vote, [[Mixed-member proportional representation|mixed member proportional]] representation}}
| last_election1     = [[2024 Romanian parliamentary election|1 December 2024]]
| next_election1     = [[2028 Romanian parliamentary election|2028]]
| meeting_place      = [[Palace of the Parliament]], [[Bucharest]]
| session_room2= Bucharest - Palace of the Parliament - Senate Chamber.jpg
| session_res2 = 240px
| meeting_place2=Glass ceiling
| website            = {{URL|http://www.senat.ro}}
}}

The '''Senate''' ({{langx|ro|Senat}}) is the [[upper house]] in the [[Bicameralism|bicameral]] [[Parliament of Romania]]. It has 136 seats (before the [[2016 Romanian parliamentary election|2016 parliamentary election]] the total number of elected representatives was 176),<ref name="ro2016">{{cite web |url=http://www.romanialibera.ro/politica/institutii/legea-algerilor-parlamentare-pe-liste--promulgata-de-iohannis-386442 |title=Legea ALEGERILOR PARLAMENTARE pe LISTE, promulgată de Iohannis |work=România Liberă |last=Filimon |first=Paul |date=20 July 2015 |language=ro}}</ref> to which members are elected by direct popular vote using [[party-list proportional representation]]<ref name="ro2016"/> in 43 electoral districts (the 41 [[Counties of Romania|counties]], the city of [[Bucharest]] plus 1 constituency for the [[Romanian diaspora|Romanians living abroad]]), to serve four-year terms.

==History==

=== First Senate (1859–1940) ===

The parliamentary history of Romania is seen as beginning in May 1831 in [[Wallachia]], where a constitution called [[Regulamentul Organic]] ("Organic Statute") was promulgated by the [[Russian Empire]] and adopted. In January 1832 it came into force in [[Moldavia]] also. This laid the foundations for the parliamentary institution in the two Romanian principalities. At the [[Congress of Paris (1856)|Congress of Paris of 1856]], Russia gave up to Moldavia the left bank of the mouth of the [[Danube]], including part of [[Bessarabia]], and also gave up its claim to be the protector of Christians in the [[Ottoman Empire]]. Moldavia and Wallachia, while remaining under the [[suzerainty]] of the Ottomans, were recognized as quasi-independent self-governing principalities under the protection of the other European Powers.

The Paris Convention of 19 August 1858 promulgated ''Statutul Dezvoltător'' ("Expanding Statute"), to introduce a [[Bicameralism|bicameral]] parliament, with an upper house named in [[Romanian language|Romanian]] ''Corpul Ponderator'' ("Moderating Body"). This was later renamed the ''Senat''. A [[Unification of Moldavia and Wallachia|formal Union]] of the two principalities came in 1859. On the initiative of [[Alexandru Ioan Cuza]], a [[Referendum|plebiscite]] in 1864 enlarged the principle of national representation.<ref>Radu Carp, ''Governmental responsibility and parliamentary irresponsibility in the Romanian constitutional tradition'', [http://www.crvp.org/book/Series04/IVA-22/chapter_v.htm by chapter 5] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061107094312/http://crvp.org/book/Series04/IVA-22/chapter_v.htm |date=7 November 2006 }}</ref>

The [[1866 Constitution of Romania]] proclaimed [[constitutional monarchy]] as Romania's form of government, on the basis of national sovereignty and the [[separation of powers]]. Legislative power was to be exercised by the new Prince ([[Carol I of Romania]]) and a bi-cameral parliament, with an Assembly of Deputies and a Senate.

On 9 May 1877, the Declaration of Romania's independence was read under the dome of the Romanian Parliament.

The [[1923 Constitution of Romania|1923 Constitution]], approved by both houses of parliament in May 1923, again entrusted legislative power to the Senate, the Assembly of Deputies, and the King. The constitution instituted the membership by right (''senator de drept'') in the Senate for:
* The heir to the [[Romanian royal family|throne]];
* [[Metropolitan bishop]]s and diocesan bishops of the Orthodox and Greek-Catholic churches;
* Heads of state-recognised religious bodies;
* The president of the [[Romanian Academy]];
* Former presidents of the Council of Ministers;
* Former ministers with at least six years' seniority;
* Former presidents of either legislative chamber who held this function for at least eight ordinary sessions;
* Former senators and deputies elected to at least ten legislatures, irrespective of their duration;
* Former presidents of the [[High Court of Cassation and Justice]];
* Reserve and retired generals;
* Former presidents of the National Assemblies at [[Chișinău]], [[Chernivtsi|Cernăuți]], and [[Alba Iulia]], which previously proclaimed their respective provinces' union with Romania in 1918 (''see [[Union of Transylvania with Romania]], [[Union of Bessarabia with Romania]]'').

Additionally, the Senate included an elective element, chosen by [[Corporatism|corporatist]] electoral colleges, including the chambers of commerce, industry, and agriculture, as well as university professors.

In February 1938, amid the political crisis which soon led to the [[World War II|Second World War]], [[King of Romania|King]] [[Carol II of Romania|Carol II]] imposed a more authoritarian monarchy. Under the [[1938 Constitution of Romania|Constitution of 1938]], Parliament lost some of its main powers. The Senate was to be composed of members appointed by the King, members by right, and members elected in single-member electoral areas, in the same manner as Assembly members. The proportion of appointed and elected members was to be equal, while senators by right still had to meet the conditions set out in the 1923 Constitution.

=== Suspension and abolition (1940–1946) ===

In September 1940, after the abdication of King Carol, the [[National Legionary State]] suspended the parliament but itself lasted less than five months. It was succeeded by [[Ion Antonescu]]'s military dictatorship and the parliament remained suspended.

After the [[1944 Romanian coup d'état|royal coup]] of 23 August 1944, on 15 July 1946 the government controlled by the [[Romanian Communist Party]] (PCR) issued an electoral law that re-organized the parliament as a single legislative body, called the [[Chamber of Deputies (Romania)|Assembly of Deputies]], thus disestablishing the Senate. Under the 1948 constitution this became the [[Great National Assembly (Socialist Republic of Romania)|Great National Assembly]], a relatively impotent body subordinate to the power of the [[Romanian Communist Party]] (PCR).

===Second Senate (1990-present) ===

The [[Romanian Revolution of 1989]] opened the way to restoring [[Pluralism (political philosophy)|pluralistic]] [[representative democracy]]. Under the country's new post-communist [[Constitution of Romania|Constitution of 1991]], approved by a national referendum in 1991, Romania returned to a bicameral parliamentary system, in which the Senate is an elected body.

A [[2009 Romanian parliamentary reform referendum|referendum]] on modifying the size and structure of the Parliament from the current bicameral one with 137 senators and 334 deputies to a unicameral one with a maximum of 300 seats was held on 22 November 2009, at the same time as the first round of the [[2009 Romanian presidential election|2009 presidential election]]. The electors approved by a percentage of 77.78% (50.95% turnout) the adoption of a unicameral Parliament, however as of {{currentyear}} the necessary constitutional changes to achieve this have not been put into effect.

==Former locations==
The first Romanian Senate functioned between 1864 and 1869 in a small building, which still exists today on the Calea Șerban Vodă. Once the new building of the [[University of Bucharest]] was inaugurated, the Senate moved in a bigger hall in that building. Between 1929 and 1940, it was temporarily housed in a building on the Regina Elisabeta Boulevard, while a new Palace of the Senate was to be built in today's Națiunile Unite Square. This building was never finished.

After the [[Romanian Revolution]] of 1989, the Senate was housed in the "Palace of the Senate" ({{langx|ro|Palatul Senatului}}), located in [[Revolution Square, Bucharest|Revolution Square]]. That U-shaped structure was built from 1938 to 1941 under engineer {{ill|Emil Prager|ro}}'s coordination, following the plans of architect Emil Nădejde. It was built for, and has briefly housed the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and from 1958 to 1989 it was the headquarters of the Central Committee of the [[Romanian Communist Party]] (PCR). During the Revolution, Romanian President [[Nicolae Ceaușescu]] and his wife [[Elena Ceaușescu|Elena]] fled by helicopter from the roof of the building. In 2005, the senators moved into the [[Palace of the Parliament]], joining their colleagues from the [[Chamber of Deputies (Romania)|Chamber of Deputies]]. "Palatul Senatului" now houses the [[Ministry of Internal Affairs (Romania)|Ministry of Internal Affairs]].

==Composition==

=== 2024–2028 ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! colspan="2" rowspan="2" |Party
! colspan="2" |[[2024 Romanian parliamentary election#Senate|Election seating]]
!+/–
! colspan="2" |Present seating
|-
!Seats
!%{{Efn|Excluding vacant seats|name=percentage}}
!
!Seats
!%{{Efn|name=percentage}}
|-
|bgcolor={{Party color|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}|
|[[Social Democratic Party (Romania)|Social Democratic Party]]
|36
|style=text-align:right|26.87%
| +2
|38
|style=text-align:right|28.36%
|-
|bgcolor={{Party color|Alliance for the Union of Romanians}}|
|[[Alliance for the Union of Romanians]]
|28
|style=text-align:right|20.90%
|style=text-align:center|—
|28
|style=text-align:right|20.90%
|-
|bgcolor={{Party color|National Liberal Party (Romania)}}|
|[[National Liberal Party (Romania)|National Liberal Party]]
|22
|style=text-align:right|16.42%
|style=text-align:center|—
|22
|style=text-align:right|16.42%
|-
|bgcolor={{Party color|Save Romania Union (2022)}}|
|[[Save Romania Union]]
|19
|style=text-align:right|14.18%
|style=text-align:center|—
|19
|style=text-align:right|14.18%
|-
|bgcolor={{Party color|S.O.S. Romania}}|
|[[S.O.S. Romania]]
|12
|style=text-align:right|8.96%
|–11
|1{{Efn|Sitting as unaffiliated senators|name=unaffiliated}}
|style=text-align:right|0.75%
|-
|bgcolor={{Party color|Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania}}|
|[[Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania|Democratic Union of Hungarians]]
|10
|style=text-align:right|7.46%
|style=text-align:center|—
|10
|style=text-align:right|7.46%
|-
|bgcolor={{Party color|Party of Young People}}|
|[[Party of Young People]]
|7
|style=text-align:right|5.22%
|–2
|5{{Efn|name=unaffiliated}}
|style=text-align:right|3.73%
|-
|bgcolor=#3cd1bb|
|[[PEACE – Romania First]]
|style=text-align:center|—
|style=text-align:center|—
| +11
|11
|style=text-align:right|8.21%
|-
|bgcolor=White|
|''Vacant''
| colspan="2" |2
|style=text-align:center|—
| colspan="2" |2
|-
! colspan="2" |TOTAL
! colspan="2" |134 (+2 vacant)
!—
! colspan="2" |134 (+2 vacant)
|}

=== 2020–2024 ===

{{Main|2020–2024 legislature of the Romanian Parliament}}

{{election table|title=Seats in the Senate of Romania}}
|- 
! style="text-align:center;" colspan=2 rowspan=2 | Party
! style="text-align:center;" colspan=2 | [[2020 Romanian parliamentary election|Election seating]]
! style="text-align:center;" rowspan=2 | Lost
! style="text-align:center;" rowspan=2 | Won
! style="text-align:center;" colspan=2 | Present seating
|-
! style="text-align:center;" | Seats
! style="text-align:center;" | %
! style="text-align:center;" | Seats
! style="text-align:center;" | %
|-
| {{party color cell|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}&nbsp;
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Social Democratic Party (Romania)|Social Democratic Party]]
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 47
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 34.55%
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 1
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 1
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 46
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 33.82%
|-
| {{party color cell|National Liberal Party (Romania)}}&nbsp;
| style="text-align:left;" | [[National Liberal Party (Romania)|National Liberal Party]]
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 41
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 30.14%
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 4
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 2
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 39
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 28.67%
|-
| ! style="background-color: {{party color|Save Romania Union}}" | 
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Save Romania Union]]
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 25
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 18.38%
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 3
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 0
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 22
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 16.17%
|- 
| ! style="background-color: {{party color|Alliance for the Union of Romanians}}" | 
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Alliance for the Union of Romanians]]
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 14
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 10.29%
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 2
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 0
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 12
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 8.82%
|-
| {{party color cell|Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania}}&nbsp;
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania]]
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 9
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 6.61%
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 0
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 0
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 9
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 6.61%
|-
| {{party color cell|Force of the Right}}&nbsp;
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Force of the Right]]
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | —
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | —
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 0
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 3
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 3
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 2.20%
|-
| ! style="background-color: {{party color|Social Liberal Humanist Party}}" |&nbsp;
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Social Liberal Humanist Party]]
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | —
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | —
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 0
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 1
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 1
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 0.73%
|- 
| ! style="background-color: {{party color|Romanian Nationhood Party}}" | 
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Romanian Nationhood Party]]
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | —
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | —
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 0
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 1
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 1
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 0.73%
|-
| {{party color cell|Independent}}&nbsp;
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Independent politician|Independents]]
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | —
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | —
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 4
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 4
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 2
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 1.47%
|-
| {{party color cell|white}}&nbsp;
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Casual vacancy|Vacant]]
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | —
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | —
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 0
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 1
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 1
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 0.73%
|-
! align=left colspan=2|Total
! 136
! 100
! colspan=2 | —
! 136
! 100
|}

===2016–2020===

{{election table|title=Seats in the Senate of Romania}}
|- 
! style="text-align:center;" colspan=2 rowspan=2 | Party
! style="text-align:center;" colspan=2 | [[2016 Romanian parliamentary election|Election seating]]
! style="text-align:center;" rowspan=2 | Lost
! style="text-align:center;" rowspan=2 | Won
! style="text-align:center;" colspan=2 | End seating
|-
! style="text-align:center;" | Seats
! style="text-align:center;" | %
! style="text-align:center;" | Seats
! style="text-align:center;" | %
|-
| {{party color cell|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}&nbsp;
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Social Democratic Party (Romania)|Social Democratic Party]]
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 67
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 49.26%
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 10
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 2
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 59
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 43.38%
|-
| {{party color cell|National Liberal Party (Romania)}}&nbsp;
| style="text-align:left;" | [[National Liberal Party (Romania)|National Liberal Party]]
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 30
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 22.05%
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 4
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 0
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 26
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 19.11%
|-
| {{party color cell|Save Romania Union}}&nbsp;
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Save Romania Union]]
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 13
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 9.55%
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 0
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 0
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 13
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 9.55%
|-
| {{party color cell|Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania}}&nbsp;
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania]]
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 9
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 6.61%
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 1
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 1
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 9
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 6.61%
|-
| {{party color cell|Alliance of Liberals and Democrats (Romania)}}&nbsp;
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Alliance of Liberals and Democrats (Romania)|Alliance of Liberals and Democrats]]
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 9
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 6.61%
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 5
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 3
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 7
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 5.14%
|-
| {{party color cell|People's Movement Party}}&nbsp;
| style="text-align:left;" | [[People's Movement Party]]
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 8
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 5.88%
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 4
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 1
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 5
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 3.67%
|-
| ! style="background-color: {{party color|Social Liberal Humanist Party}}" |&nbsp;
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Social Liberal Humanist Party|Humanist Power Party]]
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | —
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | —
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 0
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 2
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 2
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 1.47%
|-
| {{party color cell|Independent}}&nbsp;
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Independent politician|Independents]]
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | —
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | —
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 0
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 15
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 15
| style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 11.02%
|-
! align=left colspan=2|Total
! 136
! 100
! colspan=2 | —
! 136
! 100
|}

===2012–2016===
{{Empty section|date=March 2022}}

===2008–2012===
{{Main|2008–2012 legislature of the Romanian Parliament}}
In December 2008, the [[Democratic Liberal Party (Romania)|Democratic Liberal Party]] (PDL) and the [[Alliance PSD+PC|political alliance]] established between the [[Social Democratic Party of Romania|Social Democratic Party]] (PSD) and [[Conservative Party (Romania)|Conservative Party]] (PC) formed a coalition government.
{{#section:2008–2012 legislature of the Romanian Parliament|Senate}}

===2004–2008===
{{Main|2004–2008 legislature of the Romanian Parliament}}

In the [[2004 Romanian general election]], held on 28 November 2004, the [[Justice and Truth Alliance]] (DA) won the greatest number of seats, even though no party won an outright majority. The President of the Senate for this legislature was [[Nicolae Văcăroiu]], who was elected on 20 December 2004. Following his ''ad interim'' presidency of Romania, he delegated his attributions to the vice president [[Doru Ioan Tărăcilă]]. After Văcăroiu was sworn in as president of the Court of Accounts, Ilie Sârbu was elected as the new [[President of the Senate of Romania|President of the Senate]].

Until April 2007, the Justice and Truth Alliance governed in coalition with other minor parties. In April 2007, after the break-up of the Justice and Truth Alliance, the National Liberal Party (PNL) and the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians (UDMR/RMDSZ) formed a minority government coalition (highlighted in '''bold''' in the table below).

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan=2 | Party
! % of seats
! Seats
|-
| {{party color cell|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}&nbsp;
| [[Social Democratic Party (Romania)|Social Democratic Party]]
| 31.4
| 43
|-
| {{party color cell|National Liberal Party (Romania)}}&nbsp;
|'''[[National Liberal Party (Romania)|National Liberal Party]]'''
| 16
| 22
|-
| {{party color cell|Democratic Party (Romania)}}&nbsp;
| [[Democratic Party (Romania)|Democratic Party]]
| 15.4
| 21
|-
| {{party color cell|Greater Romania Party}}&nbsp;
| [[Greater Romania Party]]
| 13.1
| 18
|-
| {{party color cell|Conservative Party (Romania)}}&nbsp;
| [[Conservative Party (Romania)|Conservative Party]]
| 8.0
| 11
|-
| {{party color cell|Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania}}&nbsp;
| '''[[Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania]]'''
| 7.3
| 10
|-
| {{party color cell|Independent}}&nbsp;
| [[Independent politician|Independents]]
| 8.8
| 12
|-
|colspan=2|'''Total'''
| '''100'''
| '''137'''
|}

=== 2000–2004 ===

Elections to the Senate were held on 26 November 2000, in which the [[Social Democratic Party (Romania)|Social Democratic Party]] (then abbreviated PDSR) won an overall majority. Then [[President of the Senate of Romania]] was former [[Prime Minister of Romania|Prime Minister]] (between 1992 and 1996) [[Nicolae Văcăroiu]], who was elected in December 2000. The allocation of seats was as follows:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan=2 | Party
! align=center | % of seats
! align=center | Seats
|-
| {{party color cell|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}&nbsp;
| align=left | [[Social Democratic Party (Romania)|Social Democratic Party]]
| align=right | 46.43
| align=right | 65
|-
| {{party color cell|Greater Romania Party}}&nbsp;
| align=left | [[Greater Romania Party]]
| align=right | 26.43
| align=right | 37
|-
| {{party color cell|National Liberal Party (Romania)}}&nbsp;
| align=left | [[National Liberal Party (Romania)|National Liberal Party]]
| align=right | 9.29
| align=right | 13
|-
| {{party color cell|Democratic Party (Romania)}}&nbsp;
| align=left | [[Democratic Party (Romania)|Democratic Party]]
| align=right | 9.29
| align=right | 13
|-
| {{party color cell|Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania}}&nbsp;
| align=left | [[Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania]]
| align=right | 8.57
| align=right | 12
|-
|colspan=2|'''Total'''
|align=right| '''100'''
|align=right|'''140'''
|}

===1996–2000===
{{Expand section|date=January 2022}}

===1992–1996===
{{Expand section|date=January 2022}}

===1990–1992===
{{Expand section|date=January 2022}}

== Presidents of the Senate (1990–present) ==
{{main|President of the Senate of Romania}}

<small>Last election of the President of Senate: [[2021 President of the Senate of Romania election|November 2021]]</small>

The [[Standing Bureau of the Senate of Romania|Standing Bureau]] of the Senate consists of the [[President of the Senate]], four vice-presidents, four secretaries, and four quaestors. The President of the Standing Bureau also serves as the [[President of the Senate of Romania|President of the Senate]]. The President is elected, by secret ballot, for the duration of the legislative period.<ref>[http://www.senat.ro/PaginaPrincipala.aspx?tdID=41&divID=14&b=0&adr=%2fpagini%2fengleza%2fRegulamentul+Senatului+engleza.pdf Pagina oficiala a Senatului României] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080216065104/http://www.senat.ro/PaginaPrincipala.aspx?tdID=41&divID=14&b=0&adr=%2fpagini%2fengleza%2fRegulamentul+Senatului+engleza.pdf |date=16 February 2008 }}</ref>

The political stance of the presidents of the upper house of the Parliament of Romania (after the development of a modern party system) is given by the following legend table:

{|
| {{color box|#FFF89D}} PNL = [[National Liberal Party (Romania)|National Liberal Party]] <br />
(formerly the historical [[National Liberal Party (Romania, 1875)|National Liberal Party]] between 1875 and 1947)
|-
| {{color box|#E6E6AA}} PNȚCD = [[Christian Democratic National Peasants' Party]] <br />
(formerly the historical [[National Peasants' Party]] - PNȚ between 1926 and 1947)
|-
| {{color box|{{party color|National Salvation Front (Romania)}}}} FSN = [[National Salvation Front (Romania)|National Salvation Front]]
|-
| {{color box|#FFDDAA}} PD/PDL = [[Democratic Party (Romania)|Democratic Party]]/[[Democratic Liberal Party (Romania)|Democratic Liberal Party]]
|-
| {{color box|#FFAEA5}} PSD = [[Social Democratic Party (Romania)|Social Democratic Party]] <br />
(until 1992 [[National Salvation Front (Romania)|National Salvation Front]] - FSN; until 1993 [[Democratic National Salvation Front]] - FDSN; until 2001 Party of Social Democracy in Romania - PDSR)
|-
| {{color box|#1A8ABA}} ALDE = [[Alliance of Liberals and Democrats (Romania)|Alliance of Liberals and Democrats]] <br />
(until 2015 [[Liberal Reformist Party (Romania)|Liberal Reformist Party]] - PLR)
|-
| {{color box|#00AAE7}} [[USR PLUS]]{{efn|Also known as the 2020 USR-PLUS Alliance and initially written as USR-PLUS}}/USR = Save Romania Union-[[Freedom, Unity and Solidarity Party]]/[[Save Romania Union]]
|}

Ad interim ([[acting (law)|acting]]) officeholders are denoted by ''italics''. The Rule of the Senate states that at the first standing of the house, the meeting is headed by the eldest senator and helped by the youngest senator. Those bear the title of ''Interim President of the Senate'', and, as their term is very short (one or two days) are not listed. The interim officeholders listed have hold the office in different circumstances and for a longer time (i.e. for more than one or two days).

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! Elections
! #
! Name
! Portrait
! Born-Died
! Took office
! Left office
! Party
|-
| colspan = 8 | '''Senate''' <br /> since 1990
|-
| [[1990 Romanian general election|1990]]
| bgcolor={{party color|National Salvation Front (Romania)}} | 36
| bgcolor={{party color|National Salvation Front (Romania)}} | [[Alexandru Bârlădeanu]]
| bgcolor={{party color|National Salvation Front (Romania)}} | [[File:Alexandru Barladeanu.jpg|60px]]
| bgcolor={{party color|National Salvation Front (Romania)}} | 1911–1997
| bgcolor={{party color|National Salvation Front (Romania)}} | 18 June 1990
| bgcolor={{party color|National Salvation Front (Romania)}} | 16 October 1992
| bgcolor={{party color|National Salvation Front (Romania)}} | [[National Salvation Front (Romania)|FSN]]
|-
| [[1992 Romanian general election|1992]]
| bgcolor=#FFAEA5 | 37
| bgcolor=#FFAEA5 | [[Oliviu Gherman]]
| bgcolor=#FFAEA5 | [[File:No image.svg|60px]]
| bgcolor=#FFAEA5 | 1930–2020
| bgcolor=#FFAEA5 | 22 October 1992
| bgcolor=#FFAEA5 | 22 November 1996
| bgcolor=#FFAEA5 | [[Democratic National Salvation Front|FDSN]]/[[Social Democratic Party (Romania)|PDSR]]
|-
| rowspan = 2 | [[1996 Romanian general election|1996]]
| bgcolor=#FFDDAA | 38
| bgcolor=#FFDDAA | [[Petre Roman]]
| bgcolor=#FFDDAA | [[File:Petre Roman EP (cropped).jpg|60px]]
| bgcolor=#FFDDAA | 1946–
| bgcolor=#FFDDAA | 27 November 1996
| bgcolor=#FFDDAA | 22 December 1999
| bgcolor=#FFDDAA | [[Democratic Party (Romania)|PD]]
|-
| bgcolor=#FFF89D | 39
| bgcolor=#FFF89D | [[Mircea Ionescu-Quintus]]
| bgcolor=#FFF89D | [[File:Mircea Ionescu-Quintus.01.jpg|60px]]
| bgcolor=#FFF89D | 1917–2017
| bgcolor=#FFF89D | 4 February 2000
| bgcolor=#FFF89D | 30 November 2000
| bgcolor=#FFF89D | [[National Liberal Party (Romania)|PNL]]
|-
| [[2000 Romanian general election|2000]]
| bgcolor=#FFAEA5 rowspan = 2 | 40
| bgcolor=#FFAEA5 rowspan = 2 | [[Nicolae Văcăroiu]]
| bgcolor=#FFAEA5 rowspan = 2 | [[File:Nicolae Văcăroiu.jpg|60px]]
| bgcolor=#FFAEA5 rowspan = 2 | 1943–
| bgcolor=#FFAEA5 | 15 December 2000
| bgcolor=#FFAEA5 | 30 November 2004
| bgcolor=#FFAEA5 | [[Social Democratic Party (Romania)|PDSR]]/[[Social Democratic Party (Romania)|PSD]]
|-
| rowspan = 3 | [[2004 Romanian general election|2004]]
| bgcolor=#FFAEA5 | 30 November 2000
| bgcolor=#FFAEA5 | 14 October 2008
| bgcolor=#FFAEA5 | [[Social Democratic Party (Romania)|PSD]]
|-
| bgcolor=#FFAEA5 | —
| bgcolor=#FFAEA5 | ''[[Doru-Ioan Tărăcilă]]'' <br /> <small>([[acting (law)|acting]])</small>
| bgcolor=#FFAEA5 | [[File:No image.svg|60px]]
| bgcolor=#FFAEA5 | 1951–
| bgcolor=#FFAEA5 | 14 October 2008
| bgcolor=#FFAEA5 | 28 October 2008
| bgcolor=#FFAEA5 | [[Social Democratic Party (Romania)|PSD]]
|-
| bgcolor=#FFAEA5 | 41
| bgcolor=#FFAEA5 | [[Ilie Sârbu]]
| bgcolor=#FFAEA5 | [[File:Ilie Sarbu.jpg|60px]]
| bgcolor=#FFAEA5 | 1950–
| bgcolor=#FFAEA5 | 28 October 2008
| bgcolor=#FFAEA5 | 13 December 2008
| bgcolor=#FFAEA5 | [[Social Democratic Party (Romania)|PSD]]
|-
| rowspan=4 | [[2008 Romanian parliamentary election|2008]]
| bgcolor=#FFAEA5 | 42
| bgcolor=#FFAEA5 | [[Mircea Geoană]]
| bgcolor=#FFAEA5 | [[File:Mircea Geoană - Feb 2024.jpg|60px]]
| bgcolor=#FFAEA5 | 1958–
| bgcolor=#FFAEA5 | 19 December 2008
| bgcolor=#FFAEA5 | 23 November 2011
| bgcolor=#FFAEA5 | [[Social Democratic Party (Romania)|PSD]]
|-
| bgcolor=#FFDDAA | —
| bgcolor=#FFDDAA | ''[[Petru Filip]]'' <br /> <small>([[acting (law)|acting]])</small>
| bgcolor=#FFDDAA | [[File:No image.svg|60px]]
| bgcolor=#FFDDAA | 1955–
| bgcolor=#FFDDAA | 23 November 2011
| bgcolor=#FFDDAA | 28 November 2011
| bgcolor=#FFDDAA | [[Democratic Liberal Party (Romania)|PDL]]
|-
| bgcolor=#FFDDAA | 43
| bgcolor=#FFDDAA | [[Vasile Blaga]]
| bgcolor=#FFDDAA | [[File:Conventia PD-L 2013 - Vasile Blaga (2) (cropped).jpg|60px]]
| bgcolor=#FFDDAA | 1956–
| bgcolor=#FFDDAA | 28 November 2011
| bgcolor=#FFDDAA | 3 July 2012
| bgcolor=#FFDDAA | [[Democratic Liberal Party (Romania)|PDL]]
|-
| rowspan=2 bgcolor=#FFF89D | 44
| rowspan=2 bgcolor=#FFF89D | [[Crin Antonescu]]
| rowspan=2 bgcolor=#FFF89D | [[File:Crin Antonescu - 24 February 2025 (cropped).jpg|60px]]
| rowspan=2 bgcolor=#FFF89D | 1959–
| bgcolor=#FFF89D | 3 July 2012
| bgcolor=#FFF89D | 19 December 2012
| rowspan=2 bgcolor=#FFF89D | [[National Liberal Party (Romania)|PNL]]
|-
| rowspan=3 | [[2012 Romanian parliamentary election|2012]]
| bgcolor=#FFF89D | 19 December 2012
| bgcolor=#FFF89D | 4 March 2014
|-
| bgcolor=#FFAEA5 | —
| bgcolor=#FFAEA5 | ''[[Cristian Dumitrescu]]'' <br /> <small>([[acting (law)|acting]])</small> 
| bgcolor=#FFAEA5 | [[File:Cristian Dumitrescu.jpg|60px]]
| bgcolor=#FFAEA5 | 1955– 
| bgcolor=#FFAEA5 | 5 March 2014
| bgcolor=#FFAEA5 | 10 March 2014
| bgcolor=#FFAEA5 | [[Social Democratic Party (Romania)|PSD]]
|-
| rowspan=2 bgcolor=#1A8ABA | 45
| rowspan=2 bgcolor=#1A8ABA | [[Călin Popescu-Tăriceanu]]
| rowspan=2 bgcolor=#1A8ABA | [[File:Călin Popescu-Tăriceanu.jpg|60px]]
| rowspan=2 bgcolor=#1A8ABA | 1952–
| bgcolor=#1A8ABA | 10 March 2014
| bgcolor=#1A8ABA | 21 December 2016
| bgcolor=#1A8ABA | [[Independent politician|Ind.]]/[[Liberal Reformist Party (Romania)|PLR]]/[[Alliance of Liberals and Democrats (Romania)|ALDE]]
|-
| rowspan=5 | [[2016 Romanian parliamentary election|2016]]
| bgcolor=#1A8ABA | 21 December 2016
| bgcolor=#1A8ABA | 2 September 2019
| bgcolor=#1A8ABA | [[Alliance of Liberals and Democrats (Romania)|ALDE]]
|-
| bgcolor=#FFAEA5 | —
| bgcolor=#FFAEA5 | ''[[Șerban Valeca]]'' <br /> <small>([[acting (law)|acting]])</small>
| bgcolor=#FFAEA5 | 
| bgcolor=#FFAEA5 | 1956–2022
| bgcolor=#FFAEA5 | 2 September 2019
| bgcolor=#FFAEA5 | 10 September 2019
| bgcolor=#FFAEA5 | [[Social Democratic Party (Romania)|PSD]]
|-
| 46
| [[Teodor Meleșcanu]]
| [[File:Teodor Meleșcanu in 2017.jpg|60px]]
| 1941–
| 10 September 2019
| 3 February 2020
| [[Independent politician|Ind.]] with<br />[[Social Democratic Party (Romania)|PSD]] support
|- bgcolor=#FFAEA5
| —
| ''[[Titus Corlățean]]'' <br /> <small>([[acting (law)|acting]])</small>
| [[File:Titus Corlatean.jpg|60px]]
| 1968– 
| 3 February 2020
| 9 April 2020
| [[Social Democratic Party (Romania)|PSD]]
|-
|- bgcolor=#FFAEA5
| —
| ''[[Robert Cazanciuc]]'' <br /> <small>([[acting (law)|acting]])</small>
|
| 1971–
| 9 April 2020
| 21 December 2020
| [[Social Democratic Party (Romania)|PSD]]
|-
| rowspan="4" | [[2020 Romanian parliamentary election|2020]]
| bgcolor=#33ccff | 47
| bgcolor=#33ccff | [[Anca Dragu]]
| bgcolor=#33ccff | [[File:Anca-paliu-dragu (cropped).jpg|80x80px]]
| bgcolor=#33ccff | 1972–
| - bgcolor=#33ccff | 21 December 2020
| bgcolor=#33ccff | [[2021 President of the Senate of Romania election|23 November 2021]]
| bgcolor=#33ccff | [[USR PLUS]]{{efn|[[Freedom, Unity and Solidarity Party|PLUS]] member}}/[[Save Romania Union|USR]]
|-
|bgcolor=#FFF89D| 48
|bgcolor=#FFF89D| [[Florin Cîțu]]
|bgcolor=#FFF89D| [[File:Florin Cîțu - jan 2020 (cropped).jpg|85x85px]]
|bgcolor=#FFF89D| 1972–
|bgcolor=#FFF89D| [[2021 President of the Senate of Romania election|23 November 2021]]
|bgcolor=#FFF89D| 29 June 2022
|bgcolor=#FFF89D| [[National Liberal Party (Romania)|PNL]]
|-
|bgcolor=#FFF89D| —
|bgcolor=#FFF89D| ''[[Alina Gorghiu]]'' <br /> <small>([[acting (law)|acting]])</small>
|bgcolor=#FFF89D| [[File:Alina Gorghiu 44 (cropped).jpg|80x80px]]
|bgcolor=#FFF89D| 1978–
|bgcolor=#FFF89D| 29 June 2022
|bgcolor=#FFF89D| 13 June 2023
|bgcolor=#FFF89D| [[National Liberal Party (Romania)|PNL]]
|-
|bgcolor=#FFF89D| 49
|bgcolor=#FFF89D| [[Nicolae Ciucă]]
|bgcolor=#FFF89D| [[File:NicolaeCiuca.jpg|80x80px]]
|bgcolor=#FFF89D| 1967–
|bgcolor=#FFF89D| 13 June 2023
|bgcolor=#FFF89D| 23 December 2024
|bgcolor=#FFF89D| [[National Liberal Party (Romania)|PNL]]
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[2024 Romanian parliamentary election|2020]]
|bgcolor=#FFF89D| 50
|bgcolor=#FFF89D| [[Ilie Bolojan]]
|bgcolor=#FFF89D| [[File:Ilie Bolojan official portrait (cropped).jpg|80x80px]]
|bgcolor=#FFF89D| 1969-
|bgcolor=#FFF89D| 23 December 2024
|bgcolor=#FFF89D| 
23 June 2025
|bgcolor=#FFF89D| [[National Liberal Party (Romania)|PNL]]
|-
|}

{{Further|Lifespan timeline of presidents of the Senate of Romania}}

== Notable senators ==

* [[Michael I of Romania]] (November 1939 to September 1940), before becoming [[King of Romania|King]] and thereby acceding to the throne of the [[Kingdom of Romania]] for the second time during his second and last short-lived reign.

== Notes ==

{{notelist}}

== References ==

{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Commons category-inline}}
*{{Official website|http://www.senat.ro}}

{{National upper houses}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Senate of Romania| ]]
[[Category:National upper houses|Romania]]
[[Category:Parliament of Romania|Senate]]