# 2019 European Parliament election in Romania

European Parliament elections were held in Romania on 26 May 2019.

## Background
### Social Democratic Party (PSD)

In April 2019, the Party of European Socialists (PES) announced on Wednesday that it would freeze relations with the Social Democrats (PSD) at least until June, citing concerns about the rule of law in the country. Since then the (PSD) moved further to Euroscepticism. Victor Ponta, who was expelled from the PSD in 2017, said "The PSD unfortunately has turned to a very populist, very nationalistic, demagogic party," he said.

### National Liberal Party (PNL)

Three days after the 2014 election, on 28 May 2014, National Liberal Party president Crin Antonescu announced that the party would change European affiliation from ALDE to EPP, and it has started negotiations for the merger with the Democratic Liberal Party. The newly created party would still be called National Liberal Party, and be a member of the EPP. Democratic Liberal Party president Vasile Blaga later that day confirmed the merger of the two parties. MEP Norica Nicolai, first candidate on the National Liberal Party list refused to join the European People's Party group, and continued to stay a member of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe group. After the 2014 presidential election, MEP Renate Weber, second candidate on the National Liberal Party list, resigned the European People's Party group, and joined the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe group. After the completion of the merger of the two parties, the two MEPs were given an ultimatum to join the European People's Party group or face party exclusion. They failed to fulfill the request and thus were expelled from the National Liberal Party, and currently stand with the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe group. Later, MEP Norica Nicolai joined the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats.
In late August 2017, MEP Ramona Mănescu, third candidate on the National Liberal Party list, resigned the party, but continued to stand with the European People's Party group.
In May 2018, People's Movement Party MEP Siegfried Mureșan, spokesman of the European People's Party, announced he is leaving the party to join the National Liberal Party.
Journalist Rareș Bogdan, formerly a staunch opponent to the liberals, was officially nominated as head of the PNL list for the European Parliament elections, which also contains, among others, former co-president of PNL Vasile Blaga, MEPs Siegfried Mureșan, Adina Vălean, Daniel Buda, Cristian Bușoi, Marian-Jean Marinescu and Mihai Țurcanu, and mayors Mircea Hava and Gheorghe Falcă.

### Democratic Liberal Party (PDL)

Three days after the 2014 election, on 28 May 2014, Democratic Liberal Party president Vasile Blaga confirmed the announcement made by National Liberal Party president Crin Antonescu, that the two parties were to merge into a new party, that would retain the name of the latter and international affiliation of the former. To express discontent with this decision, and the lack of a PDL candidate to the presidential election, MEP Monica Macovei, second candidate on the Democratic Liberal Party list resigned the party in September 2014, and competed in the 2014 presidential election as an independent. Following the presidential election, she joined, as an independent politician, the European Conservatives and Reformists.

### People's Movement Party (PMP)

In September 2014, following some declarations, Cristian Preda, first candidate on the People's Movement Party list, was expelled from the party. He continued to stand in the European People's Party group.
In 2016, the People's Movement Party merged with (absorbed) the National Union for the Progress of Romania, but the later's MEPs did not join the People's Movement Party.
In May 2018, MEP Siegfried Mureșan, spokesman of the European People's Party, announced he is leaving the People's Movement Party, to join the National Liberal Party. As a result, the People's Movement Party lost both its MEPs.

### Conservative Party (PC)

The Conservative Party ran with the National Union for the Progress of Romania on a common list headed by the Social Democratic Party at the previous election. This electoral alliance was supposed to be called "Social Democratic Union" ("Uniunea Social Democrată"), but, due to the Romanian legislation (this name was taken by a 1990s alliance between the Democratic Party and Romanian Social Democratic Party), they ran as "PSD-UNPR-PC". In 2015, the party merged with the Liberal Reformist Party, to form the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats Members displeased with this decision, headed by MEP Maria Grapini (first Conservative Party candidate, and fifth on the PSD-UNPR-PC list), founded a new party, Humanist Power Party (Social-Liberal) (Romanian: Partidul Puterii Umaniste (Social-Liberal)). She continues to stand with the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, as a member of PPU-SL. Laurențiu Rebega, second Conservative Party candidate and fourteenth on the PSD-UNPR-PC list, sat as an independent politician in the Non-Inscrits group, before joining PRO Romania and the ECR.

### National Union for the Progress of Romania (UNPR)

The National Union for the Progress of Romania ran with the Conservative Party on a common list headed by the Social Democratic Party at the previous election. This electoral alliance was supposed to be called "Social Democratic Union" ("Uniunea Social Democrată"), but, due to the Romanian legislation (this name was taken by a 1990s alliance between the Democratic Party and Romanian Social Democratic Party), they ran as "PSD-UNPR-PC". In 2016, the National Union for the Progress of Romania merged with (was absorbed by) the People's Movement Party, but the former's MEPs did not join the People's Movement Party. Both its two candidates continue to stand with the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats: Damian Drăghici (first National Union for the Progress of Romania candidate and sixth on the "PSD-UNPR-PC" list) as an independent member, and Doru Frunzulică (second National Union for the Progress of Romania candidate and thirteenth on the "PSD-UNPR-PC" list) joined the Social Democratic Party.

## Opinion polls

| Date | Polling Firm | PSD S&D | ALDE | PRO EDP | USR ALDE | PLUS - | UDMR EPP | PNL EPP | PMP EPP | Others | Lead |
| 2–20 May 2019 | IMAS | 21.1% | 9.8% | 9.9% | 19.6% | 19.6% | 3.8% | 28.5% | 6.2% | 1.1% | 7.4% |
| 14–19 May 2019 | Novel Research | 27.8% | 7.9% | 7.6% | 14.8% | 14.8% | 5% | 28.1% | 6.7% | 2.1% | 0.3% |
| 1–7 May 2019 | BCS | 31.5% | 6.6% | 7.8% | 14.5% | 14.5% | 5.1% | 26.1% | 6.1% | 2.3% | 5.4% |
| 12 April–3 May 2019 | INSCOP | 25.5% | 9.2% | 9.1% | 16.5% | 16.5% | 4.8% | 27.6% | 3.9% | 3.4% | 2.1% |
| April 2019 | PNL | 25% | — | — | — | — | — | 27% | — | 16% | 2% |
| April 2019 | D&D Research | 29.3% | 6.7% | 4.6% | 22.3% | 22.3% | 2.7% | 29.9% | 3.7% | 0.9% | 0.9% |
| 5–28 April 2019 | CURS | 32% | 10% | 9% | 12% | 12% | 5% | 25% | 5% | 2% | 7% |
| 12–25 April 2019 | IMAS | 21.7% | 12.2% | 11.7% | 16.4% | 16.4% | 5.6% | 25.6% | 5.6% | 1.1% | 3.9% |
| 18 March–3 April 2019 | IMAS | 21.2% | 12.7% | 11.2% | 17.7% | 17.7% | 5.1% | 25.2% | 4.7% | 1.9% | 4.0% |
| 15–20 March 2019 | BCS | 26.5% | 8.1% | 10.2% | 10.8% | 10.8% | 4.4% | 29.8% | 6.2% | 4% | 3.3% |
| 15–20 March 2019 | BCS | 25.8% | 7.9% | 6.7% | 11.7% | 11.7% | 4.6% | 31.5% | 5.9% | 3.1% | 5.7% |
| 5–13 March 2019 | INSCOP | 26.9% | 9.3% | 9.1% | 15.3% | 15.3% | 5% | 26.3% | 4.4% | 3.7% | 0.6% |
| February–March 2019 | PNL | 24.6% | 11.8% | 6.7% | 16% | 16% | — | 27.9% | — | 13% | 3.3% |
| 13–28 February 2019 | CURS | 31% | 12% | 10% | 13% | 13% | 5% | 23% | 5% | 1% | 8% |
| 1–21 February 2019 | IMAS | 22.7% | 12.5% | 13.4% | 17.9% | 17.9% | 4.7% | 22.6% | 4.4% | 1.8% | 0.1% |
| 21 January–6 February 2019 | CURS | 32% | 9% | 9% | 8% | 5% | 5% | 22% | 5% | 5% | 10% |
| 21 January–5 February 2019 | INSCOP | 27.8% | 9.2% | 6.6% | 10.0% | 7.0% | 5.1% | 26.7% | 4.4% | 3.2% | 1.1% |
| 11–30 January 2019 | IMAS | 24.6% | 12.9% | 9.0% | 13.1% | 7.3% | 5.6% | 23.3% | 2.5% | 1.6% | 1.3% |
| 12–20 January 2019 | BCS | 23.0% | 8.1% | 10.7% | 6.5% | 8.1% | 4.8% | 23.7% | 9.3% | 5.8% | 0.7% |
| December 2018 | PNL | 30.2% | 11.5% | 5.5% | 10.2% | 5% | 5.1% | 27.8% | 4.2% | 0.7% | 2.4% |
| 24 November–9 December 2018 | CURS | 33% | 9% | 9% | 7% | 5% | 6% | 20% | 5% | 6% | 13% |
| 26 October–12 November 2018 | CURS | 38% | 15% | 9% | 8% | 7% | — | 15% | 3% | 5% | 23% |
| 25 May 2014 | Election results | 37.6% | – | – | – | – | 6.3% | 29.8% | 6.2% | 20.0% | 22.6% |

## Candidates and Elected MEPs

The Central Electoral Bureau publishes the lists the latest in 24 hours after they have been registered by the parties.

### National Liberal Party (PNL)

* Rareș Bogdan
* Mircea Hava
* Siegfried Mureșan
* Vasile Blaga
* Adina Vălean
* Daniel Buda
* Dan Motreanu
* Gheorghe Falcă
* Cristian Bușoi
* Marian Jean Marinescu
* Vlad Nistor
* Mihai Țurcanu
* Violeta Alexandru
* Ligia Popescu
* Ana Dimitriu
* Mădălin Teodosescu
* Alexandru Epure
* Ciprian Ciucu
* Aleodor Frâncu
* Claudia Benchescu
* Adrian Dupu
* Dragoș Soare
* Ionel Palăr
* Tudor Polak
* Emanuel Soare
* Marius Minea
* Alexandru Șerban
* Claudiu Chira
* Alexandru Salup-Rusu
* Ilie Cotinescu
* Cosmina Neamțu
* Alexandru Părduț
* Costel Stanca
* Gheorghe Firon
* Cristina Chivu
* Sorina Marin
* Daniel Grosu
* Alexandru Țoncu
* Viorica Mihai
* Adrian Dabarac
* Larissa Bîrsan
* Ioan Chirteș
* Ion Vela

### Social Democratic Party (PSD)

* Rovana Plumb
* Carmen Avram
* Claudiu Manda
* Cristian Terheș
* Dan Nica
* Maria Grapini
* Tudor Ciuhodaru
* Dragos Benea
* Victor Negrescu
* Andi Cristea
* Natalia Intotero
* Gabriela Zoană
* Bianca Gavriliţă
* Emilian Pavel
* Doina Pană
* Crina-Fiorela Chilat
* Mariana Bălănică
* Răzvan Popa
* Luminița Jivan
* Alin Pavelescu
* Augustin Ioan
* Cătălin Grigore
* Roxana Pațurcă
* Oana Florea
* Dragoș Cristian
* Mihai Ion Macaveiu
* Liviu Brăiloiu
* Florin Manole
* Ion Voinea
* Horia Grama
* Alexandru Popa
* Aida Căruceru
* Gheorghe Tomoioagă
* Anca Daniela Raiciu
* Mitică Marius Mărgărit
* Nasi Calențaru
* Cristina Tăteață
* Petru Moț
* Luminița Țundrea
* Emanuel Iacob
* Cătălin Unciuleanu
* Gabriel Bogdan Răducan
* Andrei Sima

### 2020 USR-PLUS Alliance (USR PLUS)

* Dacian Cioloș (PLUS)
* Cristian Ghinea (USR)
* Dragos Nicolae Pîslaru (PLUS)
* Clotilde Armand (USR)
* Ioan Dragoș Tudorache (PLUS)
* Nicolae Ștefănuță (USR)
* Vlad Botoș (USR)
* Ramona Victoria Strugariu (PLUS)
* Vlad Gheorghe (USR)
* Alin Cristian Mituța (PLUS)
* Naomi Reniuț Ursoiu (USR)
* Oana Țoiu (PLUS)
* Radu Ghelmez (USR)
* Liviu Iolu (PLUS)
* Radu Mihaiu (USR)
* Iulian Lorincz (USR)
* Adriana Cristian (USR)
* Camelia Crișan (USR)
* Anca Majaru (PLUS)
* George Țăranu (USR)
* Bogdan Deleanu (PLUS)
* Ștefan Pălărie (PLUS)
* Silviu Gurlui (USR)
* Alexandru Grigorescu Negri (PLUS)
* Teodora Stoian (USR)
* George Gima (PLUS)
* Alexandru Vărzaru (USR)
* Raluca Amariei (USR)
* Anca Radu (PLUS)
* Miroslav Tașcu Stavre (USR)
* Gabriela Maria Mirescu Gruber (PLUS)
* Florin Andrei (USR)
* Cătălina-Teodora Sofron (PLUS)
* Sorin Dan Clinci (PLUS)
* Emanuel Stoica (USR)
* Iulian Crăciun (PLUS)
* Octavian Berceanu (USR)
* Daniela Șerban (PLUS)
* Cristina Iurișniți (USR)
* Elena Uram (USR)

### PRO Romania (PRO)

* Victor Ponta
* Corina Crețu
* Mihai Tudose
* Iurie Leancă
* Geanina Puşcaşu
* Gabriela Podască
* Cristian Cosmin
* Ioana Petrescu
* Mihai Sturzu
* Ionela Danciu

### Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR/RMDSZ)

* Iuliu Winkler
* Loránt Vincze
* Csilla Hegedüs
* Csongor Oltean
* Csaba Sógor
* Irénke Kovács
* Attila Cseke
* Erika Benkő
* Csaba Pataki
* Zsombor Ambrus
* Ildikó Szőcs
* Péter Faragó
* Izabella Ambrus
* Mária Búzás-Fekete
* Attila-Zoltán Csibi
* Márta Máté
* Gábor Kereskényi
* Dalma Pető
* Róbert István Szilágyi
* Ildikó Tripon
* Atilla Lehel Décsei
* Anna Bogya
* István-Balázs Birtalan
* Vilmos Meleg
* Ida Marina
* Hunor Jenő András
* László Derzsi
* Imelda Tóásó
* Károly Kolcsár
* Béla Bors
* Emőke Kerekes
* Botond Balázs
* Róbert Kiss
* Hunor Mákszem
* Éva Hudácsek
* Lajos Papp
* Orsolya Béres
* Gábor Imre
* Tímea Orbán
* Géza Antal
* Mária Gorbai
* Levente Erős
* Hunor Kelemen

### People's Movement Party (PMP)

* Traian Băsescu
* Eugen Tomac
* Ioana Constantin
* Marius Paşcan
* Simona Vlădica
* Robert Turcescu
* Teodora Desagă
* Petru Movilă
* Cătălina Bozianu
* Cătălin Bulf

### Parties and candidates that did not pass the threshold

* Alliance of Liberals and Democrats (ALDE)
* Peter Costea (independent candidate)
* George Simion (independent candidate)
* Gregoriana Carmen Tudoran (independent candidate)
* National Union for the Progress of Romania (UNPR)
* Prodemo Party
* United Romania Party (PRO)
* Romanian Socialist Party
* Independent Social Democratic Party
* National Unity Block - NUB

### Rejected candidates and lists

* Octavian-Iulian Tiron
* Freemen's Party
* Ana Daniela Dobre
* Party of Democracy and Solidarity - Demos
* Pensioners' Force Party
* Communitarian Party of Romania
* Greater Romania Party
* Gabriela-Ștefania Nuț
* Ilie Rotaru
* Sevastița Dumitrache
* Luminița Velciu
* Alexandra Ana Maria Gafița (Prodemo Party)
* Romanian Nationhood Party
* Our Romania Party
* New Romania Party
* Liberal Right
* The Right Alternative

## Results

| Party | Party | Votes | % | Seats | +/– |
| | National Liberal Party | 2,449,068 | 27.00 | 10 | –1 |
| | Social Democratic Party | 2,040,765 | 22.50 | 9 | –3 |
| | 2020 USR-PLUS Alliance | 2,028,236 | 22.36 | 8 | New |
| | PRO Romania | 583,916 | 6.44 | 2 | New |
| | People's Movement Party | 522,104 | 5.76 | 2 | 0 |
| | Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania | 476,777 | 5.26 | 2 | 0 |
| | Alliance of Liberals and Democrats | 372,760 | 4.11 | 0 | –2 |
| | National Union for the Progress of Romania | 54,942 | 0.61 | 0 | –2 |
| | Prodemo Party | 53,351 | 0.59 | 0 | New |
| | United Romania Party | 51,787 | 0.57 | 0 | New |
| | Romanian Socialist Party | 40,435 | 0.45 | 0 | 0 |
| | Independent Social Democratic Party | 26,439 | 0.29 | 0 | New |
| | National Unity Block | 20,411 | 0.23 | 0 | New |
| | Independents | 348,831 | 3.85 | 0 | –1 |
| Total | Total | 9,069,822 | 100.00 | 33 | +1 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | 9,069,822 | 97.06 | | |
| Invalid/blank votes | Invalid/blank votes | 274,415 | 2.94 | | |
| Total votes | Total votes | 9,344,237 | 100.00 | | |
| Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | 18,267,256 | 51.15 | | |
| Source: BEC ||||||

### MEP's gender balance

Romania's constitutive session for the year 2019 was represented by 29% women and 71% men.

### Gallery

* Electoral map of the counties by winning political party in the 2019 European Parliament election in Romania