Conservative Party (Romania)
- This article refers to the current Conservative Party in Romania. For the Romanian Conservative Party that existed between 1880 and 1918, see Conservative Party (Romania, 1880-1918).
The Conservative Party (formerly the Romanian Humanist Party). The Party itself is not known to hold any particular ideology or principles. It does not play a major role on Romanian politics. As of 2005, the Party is a small member of the ruling coalition. The Conservative Party was formed in May 2005, after it changed its name from the Romanian Humanist Party.
History
The Conservative Party was founded as the Romanian Humanist Party in December 1991. It changed its name to reflect a shift in its ideology from centrist politics to more conservative, right-wing politics. The party is currently led by Dan Voiculescu, a controversial businessman. Voiculescu also owns an important media chain comprising top-ranking TV channel Antena 1 and the newspapers Jurnalul Naţional and Gazeta Sporturilor.
As a result of the 2004 legislative election, the Romanian Humanist Party (PUR) entered the Parliament thanks to its electoral alliance with PSD, the governing social-democratic party. Up to the 2004 elections, the two parties were part of the same parliamentary group, despite PUR's contestation of PSD's policies. In the local elections of June 2004, PUR managed to win in one important city (Bacău), though the mayor later switched to the PNL.
Despite having entered the Parliament in an alliance with PSD, PUR later joined the new Romanian government headed by Călin Popescu Tăriceanu of the opposing Justice and Truth alliance.
PUR has gained a reputation for ruthlessness and lack of loyalty on the political scene. Their media outlets, Antena 1 and Jurnalul Naţional, were used several times to praise their allies, or to thrash their opponents (whoever they were at that particular moment), especially in the months leading to the 2004 local, legislative and presidential elections.
Notable members
- Dan Voiculescu - founder and president
- Codruţ Şereş
- George Copos
External links
| Political parties of Romania | Missing image Romania_flag_300.png Flag of Romania |
|---|---|
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Represented in parliament: Justice and Truth (PNL+PD) | Social Democratic Party | Great Romania People's Party | | |
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Not represented in parliament: Christian-Democratic People's Party | People's Action | Socialist Alliance Party | |