2012 Romanian parliamentary election

2012 Romanian parliamentary election

9 December 2012 (2012-12-09)

All 176 seats in the Senate
All 412 seats in the Chamber of Deputies
89 S and 207 D seats needed for a majority
Turnout41.76% ( 2.56pp)
  First party Second party Third party
 
Leader Victor Ponta Vasile Blaga Dan Diaconescu
Party USL ARD PP–DD
Leader's seat DDolj STimiș Was not elected
Last election 49+28 S / 114+65 D 51 S / 115 D New party
Seats won 122 S / 273 D 24 S / 56 D 21 S / 47 D
Seat change 45 S / 94 D 27 S / 59 D 21 S / 47 D
Popular vote 4,344,288 D 1,223,189 D 1,036,730 D
Percentage 58.63% D 16.51% D 13.99% D

  Fourth party Fifth party
 
Leader Hunor Kelemen Varujan Pambuccian
Party UDMR Romanian ethnic minority parties
Leader's seat DHarghita D - Nationwide
Last election 9 S / 22 D 0 S / 18 D
Seats won 9 S / 18 D 0 S / 18 D
Seat change 0 S / 4 D 0 S / 0 D
Popular vote 380,656 D 161,836 D
Percentage 5.14% D 2.18% D

The results for the Chamber of Deputies and for the Senate

Prime Minister before election

Victor Ponta
USL (PSD)

Elected Prime Minister

Victor Ponta
USL (PSD)

Parliamentary elections were held in Romania on 9 December 2012. The Social Liberal Union (USL) co-led by former Prime Minister Victor Ponta won an absolute majority in both the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. At the time of the elections, despite the severe weather in several parts of the country, the turnout was approximately 42%, slightly higher than the last parliamentary elections held in 2008 which saw a turnout of 39%.

The Social Liberal Union (USL) obtained a huge majority in both the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, with 60% and 59% respectively of the votes and in MP mandates, namely a record number of 395 seats. Far behind, the Right Romania Alliance (ARD) came in second place with only 17% of the vote and 80 seats, losing about half of what they won as the Democratic Liberal Party (PDL) in 2008.

The ARD was officially dissolved after the elections. People's Party – Dan Diaconescu (PP–DD) and the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR/RMDSZ) were the only other political groups that won seats in the Senate. Several parties of ethnic minorities also received individual seats in the Chamber of Deputies.