RRI Live!

Listen to Radio Romania International Live

The Liberals after the parliamentary elections

After Sundays parliamentary elections in Romania, the Liberal Party is in a difficult situation.

The Liberals after the parliamentary elections
The Liberals after the parliamentary elections

, 14.12.2016, 13:45

In the last two years, after their candidate Klaus Iohannis won the presidential elections of 2014, the Romanian Liberals have managed to waste much of the electoral support and public trust that had brought them to that performance. One of Romanias historical parties, going back more than 140 years, the National Liberal Party has not managed to prove that their semi-failure in the local elections last summer was a one-off episode.



Their dip in the polls was confirmed at Sundays parliamentary elections when the party won only 20% of the votes, lagging behind their main rival, the leftist Social Democratic Party, by a huge 25%. This result, unexpectedly bad even for the most pessimistic of Liberals, has troubled the waters at the top.



Alina Gorghiu, the partys sole leader after co-president Vasile Blaga stepped down due to his run-in with the law, has also resigned. This is by all accounts a normal decision, despite being so rare in Romanian politics, and one that many political commentators ironically describe as the only inspired decision she ever made during her tenure.



In an emergency meeting on Tuesday, Raluca Turcan, the leader of the Liberal Partys Sibiu branch that won the highest score in the latest elections, was unanimously elected interim president of the party. She pointed out that her mandate is for three months only, until the National Convention elects a new leadership.



Raluca Turcan: “We will hold elections from the bottom up, so that we can truly choose the best people. And I believe that the National Liberal Party does have people with authority, with achievements and with expertise who must play a role in our political decisions.



Turcan, who says she is not considering standing for president of the party, also announced her number one priority:



Raluca Turcan: “Im not chasing any position. I only want to support the reconstruction of the National Liberal Party, which people see as the representative of the Romanian right wing.



Former justice minister Catalin Predoiu is the only one to have confirmed his intention to run for president of the National Liberal Party. Having kept a low profile in recent months, after the disastrous results in the local elections for his Bucharest branch, Predoiu is seen by many observers as a solution, albeit not the perfect one. In any case, interesting times are ahead for the National Liberal Party, who is now forced to fight hard to earn back its former standing.

Photo: facebook.com/departamenturgente
Today in the News Monday, 10 March 2025

The danger of wildfires

The severe wildfires in recent days, affecting a large area of ​​Romania, have led to the death and injury of several people. Dozens of violent...

The danger of wildfires
Photo: pixabay.com
Today in the News Monday, 10 March 2025

European gold for Romanian athletics

  Every two years in early spring, European athletics begins its competition season with the continental indoor championships. This is where we get...

European gold for Romanian athletics
Ilie Bolojan (Photo: presidency.ro)
Today in the News Friday, 07 March 2025

Summit for Europe

European leaders met in Brussels on Thursday for an emergency summit, where they agreed on an arms plan meant to bolster defenses on the eastern...

Summit for Europe
The Direction for Investigating International Crime and Terrorism
Today in the News Friday, 07 March 2025

Treason Allegations in Romania

On Thursday morning prosecutors with the Direction for Investigating International Crime and Terrorism, known as DIICOT, announced that six people...

Treason Allegations in Romania
Today in the News Thursday, 06 March 2025

The benefits of Romania’s belonging in the EU

In January Romania marked 17 years of EU membership. In the same month an INSCOP poll showed that 9 out of 10 Romanians are against the idea that...

The benefits of Romania’s belonging in the EU
Today in the News Thursday, 06 March 2025

Romania’s tourist attractions

The number of nights spent in tourist accommodation units in the European Union exceeded three billion in 2024, making it the best year for European...

Romania’s tourist attractions
Today in the News Wednesday, 05 March 2025

ReArm Europe Plan

With an increasingly aggressive Russia to the east and an increasingly distant America across the Atlantic, Europe is going through a period of...

ReArm Europe Plan
Today in the News Wednesday, 05 March 2025

Romania reacts to allegations by Russian intelligence service

The Romanian authorities have categorically denied statements by Russia’s foreign intelligence service that the European Union blackmailed Romania...

Romania reacts to allegations by Russian intelligence service

Partners

Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român
Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS
Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online
Institului European din România Institului European din România
Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti
Muzeul Național de Artă al României Muzeul Național de Artă al României
Le petit Journal Le petit Journal
Radio Prague International Radio Prague International
Muzeul Național de Istorie a României Muzeul Național de Istorie a României
ARCUB ARCUB
Radio Canada International Radio Canada International
Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti” Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti”
SWI swissinfo.ch SWI swissinfo.ch
UBB Radio ONLINE UBB Radio ONLINE
Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl
creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti
italradio italradio
Institutul Confucius Institutul Confucius
BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți

Affiliates

Euranet Plus Euranet Plus
AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters
Digital Radio Mondiale Digital Radio Mondiale
News and current affairs from Germany and around the world News and current affairs from Germany and around the world
Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona

Providers

RADIOCOM RADIOCOM
Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company