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National Liberal Party (Romania)
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The Partidul National Liberal (National Liberal Party) is a liberal party in Romania, the third largest party in parliament, being outrunned by the Democratic Liberal Party and the Social Democratic Party. Until April 2007, it was the largest member of the governing Justice and Truth alliance, which enjoyed a parliamentary majority due to an alliance between the Liberal Party, the Democratic Party, and the Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania. In April 2007, the current prime-minister, Calin Popescu-Tariceanu, who is also the party leader, formed a minority government only with Democratic Union of Hungarians.
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Encyclopedia
The Partidul National Liberal (National Liberal Party) is a liberal party in Romania, the third largest party in parliament, being outrunned by the Democratic Liberal Party and the Social Democratic Party. Until April 2007, it was the largest member of the governing Justice and Truth alliance, which enjoyed a parliamentary majority due to an alliance between the Liberal Party, the Democratic Party, and the Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania. In April 2007, the current prime-minister, Calin Popescu-Tariceanu, who is also the party leader, formed a minority government only with Democratic Union of Hungarians. After the 2008 legislative election it has entered opposition, winning 19.74% seats in the Parliament, while the new government coalition, formed by their former ally Democratic Liberal Party, and the Social Democratic Party, has 69.85%.
The party is a member of Liberal International and the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party.
Policy
The party adheres to the doctrine of liberalism, advocating both economic and social liberalisation. In recent years, it has focussed more on economic liberalism. For example, one of its main election promises for the 2004 legislative election was the introduction of a flat tax rate of 16% for personal income and corporate profits. Because the Liberal Party became part of the governing coalition, it managed to introduce this change, hence giving Romania one of the most liberal tax policies in Europe.
The National Liberal Party also supports the neutrality of the state in moral and religious issues, as well as the privatisation and denationalisation of the economy, a trend which is currently taking place quite rapidly in Romania, as in other post-communist economies.
Additionally, the party supports the introduction of a parliamentary system (where the president would be elected by the parliament rather than by the people) to replace Romania's current semi-presidential system, which is based on the French model. It also advocates a decentralisation of Romania's political structure, with greater autonomy given to the eight development regions.
With regard to EU politics, the National Liberal Party has adopted the following stances:
- Supports EU enlargement to the Western Balkans
- Supports EU membership for Turkey, as long as it satisfies membership criteria
- Supports the accession of Moldova to the EU, in the same wave as the Western Balkans
- Supports a reformed European Constitution
- Supports reform of the Common Agricultural Policy
- Opposes a common EU tax policy
- Opposes a common EU social policy
- Supports a common EU migration policy
- Supports a common EU defence and security policy
- Supports a partnership between the US and the EU, where the EU is an "equal and critical" partner.
Structure
- National Liberal Youth (Tineretul National Liberal [TNL])
- Liberal Student Clubs (Cluburile Studentesti Liberale [CSL])
- Liberal Women Organisation (Organizatia Femeilor Liberale [OFL])
- Liberal Collegial Group (Gruparea Colegiala Liberala [GCL])
Symbol
The Romanian Law of Parties requires all parties to present a permanent sign and a permanent electoral sign. The former is used to identify the party's buildings and press releases, and the latter to identify the party's electoral materials and the candidates on the elections ballot. Usually they differ slightly.
The main element of the party is a blue arrow pointing to the upper right corner of a yellow square, and the letters P, N, and L in blue, tilted to the right. The position of the PNL with respect to the arrow depends on the type of symbol, as shown bellow. Also one should note that the color scheme of both signs can be reversed from yellow-blue to blue-yellow, depending on the background it is placed on.
Notable members
Former members before November 1947, when the Romanian Communists dissolved the party:
- Ion C. Bratianu, Prime Minister of Romania
- Ion I. C. Bratianu, Prime Minister, son of Ion C. Bratianu
- Ion G. Duca, Prime Minister, assassinated by Iron Guard
- Ion Ghica, mathematician, diplomat, Prime Minister
- Mihail Kogalniceanu, lawyer, historian, publicist, Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Internal Affairs
- Pache Protopopescu, mayor of Bucharest
- C. A. Rosetti, publicist
Former members after 1989:
Current members:
- Crin Antonescu, Sen
- Radu Cāmpeanu, first leader of the party after the 1989 revolution
- Daniel Daianu, MEP
- Mihai Malaimare, MP, actor
- Teodor Melescanu, Minister of Foreign Affairs 2007-2008
- Norica Nicolai, MP
- Bogdan Olteanu, MP
- Ludovic Orban, Dep, Minister of Transport 2007-2008
- Dinu Patriciu, businessman
- Calin Popescu Tariceanu, leader of the party, Dep, Prime Minister of Romania 2004-2008
- Mihai Razvan Ungureanu, Minister of Foreign Affairs 2004-2007, head of Romanian Foreign Intelligence Service since 2007
- Varujan Vosganian, Sen, Minister of Economy and Finance 2007-2008
- Renate Weber, MEP
See also
External links
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