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Parliament name (generic / translated) Parlamentul României / Parliament of Romania More photos  >>> Structure of parliament Bicameral Chamber name (generic / translated) Senatul / Senate Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Camera Deputatilor / Chamber of Deputies Affiliation to the IPU Yes Affiliation date(s) 1891 - 1950 1954 - LEADERSHIP President Vasile Blaga (M)  Notes Elected on 28 Nov. 2011. Secretary General Ion Moraru (M)  COMPOSITION Members (statutory / current number) 137 / 136 PERCENTAGE OF WOMEN More statistics  >>> Women (current number) 8 (5.88%) Mode of designation directly elected 137 Term 4 years Last renewal dates 30 November 2008 (View details) CONTACT INFORMATION Address Senatul Calea 13 Septembrie, Nr. 1-3, Intrarea A1, Sector 5, 050711 BUCHAREST (Export mailing lists) Phone (40 21) 312 30 79 Fax (40 21) 312 11 84 E-mail webadmin@senat.ro Website http://www.senat.ro

Parliament name (generic / translated) Parlamentul României / Parliament of Romania Structure of parliament Bicameral Chamber name (generic / translated) Senatul / Senate Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Camera Deputatilor / Chamber of Deputies LEGAL FRAMEWORK Electoral law 15 July 1992 Mode of designation directly elected 137 Constituencies 137 single-member constituencies; there is one Senator for every 160,000 inhabitants. Voting system Mixed: Mixed system (mixed-member proportional - MMP) Each voter votes for a candidate. Majority system: The threshold to win parliamentary representation is 160,000 votes. Candidates who obtain over 50 per cent of the votes are elected. Proportional system: Votes for unelected candidates are tallied nationally. The remaining seats are distributed among political parties in proportion of their share of the vote. Vacancies arising between general elections are filled by unsuccessful candidates declared substitutes on the corresponding party-list. By-elections can be held in exceptional situations. Voting is not compulsory. Voter requirements - minimum age: 18 years - Romanian citizenship - disqualifications: persons with mental deficiencies, placed under interdiction and persons disenfranchised pursuant to a final court decision CANDIDATES Eligibility Qualified electors - minimum age: 33 years - Romanian citizenship - domicile in Romania Incompatibilities - Deputies - holders of public offices (except the members of the Government) - prefects, sub-prefects, heads of public services and other governmental authorities of territorial administrative units (in constituencies where exercising functions) - managers of trading companies, including banks, of publicly owned enterprises and of national companies - public offices entrusted by a foreign State, excepting those stipulated in the international agreements and conventions Romania is a party to - judges of the Constitutional Court - the Advocate of the People and his/her deputies - magistrates - members of the armed forces on active duty - policemen - other categories of civil servants established by organic law, who are not allowed to join political parties Candidacy requirements - candidatures proposed on separate list submitted only by legally constituted political parties and political alliances, as well as by electoral alliances - support by at least 5% of the total number of voters from the constituency, for independent candidates - nominations submitted no later than 30 days prior to the polling

Parliament name (generic / translated) Parlamentul României / Parliament of Romania Structure of parliament Bicameral Chamber name (generic / translated) Senatul / Senate Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Camera Deputatilor / Chamber of Deputies BACKGROUND Dates of election / renewal (from/to) 30 November 2008 Timing and scope of renewal Elections were held for all the seats in the Senate on the normal expiry of the members' term of office. The November 2008 elections were the first to be held following the country's accession to the European Union (EU) in January 2007. In the previous elections held in November 2004 in parallel with presidential elections, the Social Democratic Party (PSD)-Humanist Party of Romania (PUR) Alliance became the largest party in both chambers, winning 132 seats in the 332-member Chamber of Deputies and 57 seats in the 137-member Senate. The Justice and Truth Alliance, comprising the National Liberal Party (PNL) and the Democratic Party (PD), came in second, with 112 seats for the PNL and 49 for the PD. The Party of Greater Romania (PRM) took 48 seats in the lower house and 21 in the upper house. The Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania (UDMR) took the remainder. In the run-off presidential elections held in December 2004, Bucharest Mayor Traian Basescu (PD) defeated the outgoing Prime Minister Adrian Nastase (PSD). Mr. Basescu resigned as PD leader upon assuming the post of President. He nominated Mr. Calin Popescu-Tariceanu (PNL) as Prime Minister. The new government comprising the PNL, the PD, the PUR and the UDMR was approved by the parliament in late December. The PUR renamed itself the Conservative Party (PC) in May 2005 and left the coalition in December 2006. Both the President and the Prime Minister advocated free-market policies in view of the country's accession to the European Union (EU). Prime Minister Tariceanu implemented a series of reforms, in particular aimed at combating corruption. The annual inflation rate dropped to 7 per cent following a decade of double-digit rates. The economic growth rate surpassed 8 per cent, following the introduction of a flat rate of 16 per cent for income and corporate tax in January 2005. The country's economy was further boosted by the flow of remittances (totalling US$ 8.95 billion in 2007) from an estimated two million Romanians working abroad. However, the relationship between the President and the Prime Minister steadily worsened. In February 2007, the PSD and the PRM called for the suspension of the President for unconstitutional conduct. In early April, Prime Minister Tariceanu dismissed PD ministers and formed a minority government, arguing that the country needed a coherent government. The new government comprised the PNL and the UDMR, and enjoyed the conditional support of the PSD. President Basescu called for early elections (the President does not have the power to dissolve parliament and call elections unless parliament fails to approve the cabinet). Later the same month, parliament voted to suspend President Basescu, paving the way for a referendum to impeach him. In May, Romanians rejected the impeachment proposal by over 74 per cent of the vote. President Basescu was subsequently reinstated by the Constitutional Court. In January 2008, some PNL members joined the PD and formed the Democratic-Liberal Party (PD-L) under the leadership of Mr. Emil Boc. The power struggle between the Prime Minister and the President continued until the 2008 elections. Prior to the 2008 elections, the country was experiencing an economic slowdown due to the global financial crisis. On 27 August, the government set the election date for 30 November, and announced that it would increase pensions by 20 per cent starting from 1 November. On 29 September, however, the Chamber of Deputies passed a bill increasing teachers' salaries and pension grants by 50 per cent. Prime Mininster Tariceanu challenged the bill before the Constitutional Court, arguing that the government had insufficient funds to implement such drastic measures. The government postponed the pay rise for teachers by six months. On 27 October, President Basescu signed the bill on the pay rise into law. On 29 October, the PD-L filed a no-confidence motion against the government, challenging the government's decision to postpone the pay increase. The election campaign officially started on 31 October. In all 2,965 candidates (2,070 for the Chamber of Deputies and 895 for the Senate) were vying for seats in parliament in the 2008 elections. Following the revision of the electoral system in March 2008, citizens voted for individual candidates in single member constituencies instead of for political party lists. The main contenders were the PD-L, the PSD-PC alliance, and the PNL. Other contenders included the PRM, led by Mr. Corneliu Vadim Tudor, the UDMR of Mr. Marko Bela and the New Generation Party-Christian Democratic (PNGCD), led by a wealthy businessman, Mr. George Becali. The PD-L, which has close ties with President Basescu, enjoyed support among young urban Romanians. It promised to accelerate privatization; finalize the restitution of property confiscated under the communist regime within two years; maintain the flat tax rate; introduce the euro in 2014; and bring the average wage up to 900 euros. The PD-L also advocated a unicameral parliament of 300 members, arguing that Romania should use the European Parliament as a model. The PSD was led by Mr. Mircea-Dan Geoana, former foreign minister and a former Romanian ambassador to Washington. Mr. Geoana criticized the government for exposing the country to financial disaster. He called for more spending on welfare. The PSD promised to consider lowering income taxes for the poorest, while keeping the flat tax rate at 16 per cent for the rest of the population. It also promised to raise the minimum salary to 1,000 lei (about 280 euros); lower energy costs for the lowest-income earners; reduce the VAT on food to 5 per cent; and provide more free and compensated prescription medicine. Prime Minister Tariceanu's PNL called for voters' continuing support for the economic and judicial reforms. The PNL had been known for its pro-business policies, but had promoted more social protection policies during the minority government, which relied on the support of left-wing parties. In the 2008 elections, however, the PNL once again campaigned on a pro-business platform, promising to revive the country's economy. It also pledged to introduce the euro by 2014. In all, 39.20 per cent of the 18.4 million registered voters turned out at the polls. The PD-L became the largest party in both chambers, winning 115 seats in the Chamber of Deputies and 51 seats in the Senate. The PSD-PC alliance followed closely with 114 and 49 seats respectively. The PNL won 65 and 28 seats each, while the UDMR took 22 and nine seats. The newly elected parliament held its first session on 15 December. On 19 December 2008, the Chamber of Deputies elected Ms. Roberta Alma Anastase (PD-L) as its new Speaker, while the Senate elected Mr. Mircea-Dan Geoana (PSD) as its new President. Negotiations began over the formation of a coalition government. President Basescu first nominated former senior World Bank official and deputy leader of PD-L, Mr. Theodor Stolojan, as Prime Minister. The latter subsequently withdrew apparently because of poor health but also because he thought a new generation should lead the new government. President Basescu then nominated the 42 year-old PD-L leader, Mr. Boc. On 22 December, Parliament endorsed Mr. Boc's coalition government comprising the PD-L and the PSD. It was the first government involving the two major political parties since the anti-communist uprising of December 1989. STATISTICS Voter turnout Round no 1 30 November 2008 Number of registered electors Voters Blank or invalid ballot papers Valid votes 18'464'274 7'238'871 (39.2%) 6'888'055 Notes Blank or invalid ballot papers: 349,101 Distribution of votes Round no 1 Political group Candidates Votes % of votes Democratic-Liberal Party (PD-L) 2'312'358 33.57 Political Alliance Social Democratic Party (PSD) - Conservative Party (PC) 2'352'968 34.16 National Liberal Party (PNL) 1'291'029 18.74 Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania (UDMR) 440'449 6.39 Distribution of seats Round no 1 Political Group Total of seats Democratic-Liberal Party (PD-L) 51 Political Alliance Social Democratic Party (PSD) - Conservative Party (PC) 49 National Liberal Party (PNL) 28 Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania (UDMR) 9 Distribution of seats according to sex Men Women Percent of women 129 8 5.84% Distribution of seats according to age 31 to 40 years 41 to 50 years 51 to 60 years 61 to 70 years Over 70 years 13 41 66 15 2 Distribution of seats according to profession Architect, surveyor, engineer Economist Legal profession Education profession Physician, dentist Agriculture/farming Writer, literary, artist Armed services/Police Social worker Journalism, broadcasting, media 43 25 23 19 11 9 3 2 1 1 Comments Sources: http://www.becparlamentare2008.ro/rezultate.html Parliament (17.12.2008, 18.02.2009, 05.01.2012)

Parliament name (generic / translated) Parlamentul României / Parliament of Romania Structure of parliament Bicameral Chamber name (generic / translated) Senatul / Senate Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Camera Deputatilor / Chamber of Deputies APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE Title President of the Senate Term - duration: 4 years (term of House), may be prolonged in the event of war or catastrophe - reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, disenfranchisement, incompatibility, death, suspension subsequently to grave acts infringing upon constitutional provisions while ensuring the interim as President of Romania, ( the dissolution does not automatically interrupt the status of President of the Senate), - term is prolonged until the newly elected Senate legally meets, upon request of the President of Romania and within 20 days from the date of the elections Appointment - elected by the Senate plenum after the legal constitution of the Senate - after 2/3 of the number of Senator's mandates have been validated Eligibility - any Senator whose mandate has been validated - in practice, each parliamentary group makes a proposal Voting system - formal vote by secret ballot at one or two rounds - the candidate who obtains a majority of votes shall be declared elected - if no candidate obtains the majority, a second ballot is held between the two candidates who obtained the largest number of votes Procedures / results - the oldest Senator -the senior Speaker- presides over the Senate during the voting - 4 Secretaries, who assist the senior Speaker, supervise the voting - one of the Secretaries announces the results - no procedure is foreseen for challenging the results STATUS Status - ranks second in the hierarchy of State, after the President of Romania, whom he replaces on a temporary basis, and before the President of the Chamber of Deputies (joint sittings of both Chambers are alternatively presided by the President of the Chamber of Deputies and the President of the Senate) - represents the Senate within internal and foreign relations - ensures the link between the Senate and the President of Romania, the Chamber of Deputies, the Government, the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court of Justice - in the Speaker's absence , the Deputy Speakers accomplish the Speaker's duties , in the order established by the Standing Bureau Board - the Standing Bureau of the Senate is composed of 11 persons (1 Président, 4 Deputy Chairmen, 4 Secretaries and 2 Questors ) elected from the nominees made by the leaders of the parliamentary groups, according to the political configuration of the Senate, as resulted from elections - meets every week at the initiative of the President of the Senate - its main powers cover the conduct of parliamentary proceedings and the organization of the services of the Senate Material facilities - monthly allowance of 1,000,500 lei (April 1995) - official residence - official car - secretariat - physical and military protection FUNCTIONS Organization of parliamentary business - convenes sessions - organizes the debates and sets speaking time The Standing Bureau: - establishes and modifies the agenda Chairing of public sittings - can open, adjourn and close sittings - ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders - makes announcements concerning the Assembly - according the importance, these are done by one of the Secretaries - takes disciplinary measures in the event of disturbance, and lifts such measures - gives and withdraws permission to speak, Secretaries establishe the list of speakers, - calls for a vote, decides how it is to be carried out, verifies the voting procedure and cancels a vote in the event of irregularities - precises, before the beginning of the proceedings , if there is a legal quorum - authenticates the adopted texts and the records of debates Special powers - proposes the Clerk who is appointed by the Senate plenum (the Quaestors and the Secretary General draw up the Senate's budget, the Standing Bureau and the Secretary General are in charge of the staff and the Standing Bureau checks over the services of the Senate) Others powers : - is responsible of the relations with forein Parliaments - is responsible for safety, and in this capacity, can call the police in the event of disturbance in the Chamber Speaking and voting rights, other functions - takes the floor in legislative debates - proposes bills or amendments - takes part in voting - intervenes in the case of interpellation - signs laws before transmitting them to the President of the Republic for promulgation - has the right to intimate the Constitutional Court with regard to the constitutionality of laws - must be consulted in certain circumstances (dissolution...)

Parliament name (generic / translated) Parlamentul României / Parliament of Romania Structure of parliament Bicameral Chamber name (generic / translated) Senatul / Senate Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Camera Deputatilor / Chamber of Deputies NATURE Nature of the mandate · Free representation (Art. 66 of the Constitution of 08.12.1991) Start of the mandate · When the Senate holds its constituent meeting, subject to the validation of mandates (Art. 67 (1) of the Constitution, Art. 160 of the Standing Orders of the Senate) Validation of mandates · Validation by the Senate, on a proposal by a Validation Committee [references, texts or comments]· Procedure End of the mandate · On the first day when the newly elected Parliament meets (Art. 67 (2) of the Constitution) Can MPs resign? Yes · Yes, of their own free will (Art. 171 of the Standing Orders of the Senate) · Procedure (Art. 67 (2) of the Constitution, Art. 171 of the Standing Orders of the Senate) · Authority competent to accept the resignation: the President of the Senate Can MPs lose their mandate ? Yes (a) Loss of electoral rights (Art. 67 (2) of the Constitution) (b) Loss of mandate for incompatibility (Art. 67 (2) and 68 of the Constitution ; also for assets not accounted for, see Consequences of the obligation to declare personal assets) (c) Death (Art. 67 (2) of the Constitution) STATUS OF MEMBERS Rank in hierarchy · Within Parliament (Law on the allowances and other pecuniary rights of senators and deputies).: 1. The President 2. The Vice-Presidents of the Standing Board 3. The Secretaries and Questors of the Standing Board, the Chairpersons of standing committees and the leaders of parliamentary groups 4. The Vice-Chairpersons and Secretaries of standing committees 5. The other Senators · Outside Parliament (Art. 97 of the Constitution) : the official order of precedence ranks the President of the Senate in the 2nd position. Indemnities, facilities and services · Diplomatic passport · Basic salary (Art. 71 of the Constitution): ROL 2 million/month + Sitting allowance: 2% of the basic salary per day of presence in parliamentary activities + Specific allowances for senators who fulfil functions on the Board, the standing committees, and for leaders of parliamentary groups · No exemption from tax · No special pension scheme · Other facilities: (a) Secretariat/assistants (b) Official housing (c) Security guards for the President and Vice-Presidents of the Senate; upon request also for the other senators with the approval of the country’s Supreme Defence Council (d) Postal and telephone services: expenses reimbursed (e) Travel and transport Obligation to declare personal assets Yes Parliamentary immunity - parliamentary non-accountability · The concept exists. · Parliamentary non-accountability applies to words spoken and written by MPs both within and outside Parliament. · Derogations: · Non-accountability takes effect on the day when the mandate begins and offers, after the expiry of the mandate, protection against prosecution for opinions expressed during the exercise of the mandate. Parliamentary immunity - parliamentary inviolability · The concept exists (Art. 69 of the Constitution). · It applies only to criminal proceedings, covers all offences and protects MPs from arrest and from being held in preventive custody, from the opening of judicial proceedings against them and from their homes being searched. · Derogations: in cases of flagrante delicto, senators may be detained and subjected to a search. The Minister of Justice shall immediately inform the President of the Senate accordingly. Should the Senate note that the detention is not grounded, it shall immediately move that this measure be revoked (Art. 69 (2) of the Constitution). · Parliamentary inviolability does not prevent MPs from being called as witnesses before a judge or tribunal. · Protection is provided from the start to the end of the mandate and also covers judicial proceedings instituted against MPs before their election. · Parliamentary immunity (inviolability) can be lifted (Art. 69 (1) of the Constitution) : - Competent authority: the Senate - Procedure (Art. 69 (1) of the Constitution, Art. 149 and 152 of the Standing Orders of the Senate. In this case, MPs has to be heard (Art. 69 (1) of the Constitution). They do not have means of appeal. · Parliament cannot subject the prosecution and/or detention to certain conditions. · Parliament cannot suspend the prosecution and/or detention of one of its members. · In the event of preventive custody or imprisonment, the MPs concerned cannot be authorised to attend sittings of Parliament. EXERCISE OF THE MANDATE Training · There is a training/initiation process on parliamentary practices and procedures for MPs. · It is provided by the political parties and by civil society. · Handbooks of parliamentary procedure: Participation in the work of the Parliament · It is compulsory for MPs to be present at plenary sittings and committee meetings (Art. 168 of the Standing Orders of the Senate). · Penalties foreseen in case of failure to fulfil this obligation: reduction of the monthly allowance and the sitting allowance · Body competent to judge such cases/to impose penalties: the Standing Board, on a proposal by the Committee on Legal Affairs, Appointments, Discipline, Immunities and Validations Discipline · The rules governing discipline within Parliament are contained in the IVth chapter, 5th section of the Standing Orders, and in the 1994 Decision on certain rules governing parliamentary polemics. · Disciplinary measures foreseen [references, texts or comments]: - Warning [references, texts or comments] - Call to order [references, texts or comments] - Prohibition on taking the floor [references, texts or comments] - Exclusion from the room for the remainder of the sitting [references, texts or comments] - Ban on taking part in the work of the Senate for 30 days maximum [references, texts or comments] · Specific cases: - Offence or insult (1994 Decision on certain rules governing parliamentary polemics) : all penalties foreseen · Competent body to judge such cases/to impose penalties: - Warning, call to order, ban on taking the floor, exclusion from the room for the remainder of the sitting, offence or insult: the Chairperson of the sitting/the committee - Ban on taking part in the work of the Senate for 30 days maximum, offence or insult: the Board, on a proposal by the Committee on Legal Affairs, Appointments, Discipline, Immunities and Validations · Procedure : - Warning, call to order, ban on taking the floor, exclusion from the room for the remainder of the sitting, ban on taking part in the work of the Senate for 30 days maximum - Offence or insult (1994 Decision on certain rules governing parliamentary polemics Code (rules) of conduct · This concept does not exist in the country's juridical system. For loss of mandate for incompatibility, see Loss of mandate; for declaration of personal assets, see Obligation to declare personal assets. Relations between MPs and pressure group · There are no legal provisions in this field.

This page was last updated on 8 February 2012
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