# Social Liberal Humanist Party

The Social Liberal Humanist Party (Romanian: Partidul Umanist Social Liberal, PUSL), formerly Humanist Power Party (Social-Liberal) (Romanian: Partidul Puterii Umaniste (social-liberal), PPU-SL) is a centrist political party in Romania. It was founded in 2015 by members of the Conservative Party (PC) who did not want to merge with the Liberal Reformist Party (PLR), led by Călin Popescu-Tăriceanu.

## History

In the summer of 2015, the Conservative Party (PC), led by Daniel Constantin, merged with the Liberal Reformist Party (PLR), creating the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats (ALDE). At the same time, PC MEP Maria Grapini opposed this decision, criticizing the disappearance of the party's ideology and announced that she would join a new group, the Party of Humanist Power (PPU).

## Ideology

When it launched in 2015, the party claimed to have a centre-right political doctrine. Later, the party began to reject the left-right political spectrum, promoting conservative humanism and traditional values as the third way. The departure of several people from the People's Movement Party into the Social Liberal Humanist Party strengthened the conservative outlook of the party.
The party also has populist rhetoric centered around its leader, Cristian Popescu Piedone.
PUSL member Nicolae Păun claimed that the party promotes humanist, socialist and liberal values.

## Notable members

* Dan Voiculescu
* Lavinia Șandru
* Cristian Popescu Piedone
* Vlad Popescu
* Maria Grapini
* Liviu Pop
* Mugur Ciuvică
* Nicolae Păun
* Liviu Negoiță
* Gheorghe Ștefan
* Teodor Meleșcanu

## Controversy

In 2018, former Sector 4 mayor, Cristian Popescu Piedone join PPU and reentered politics, having previously been prosecuted for the Colectiv nightclub fire back in 2015. He was accounted responsible and in 2019 sentenced to 8 years in prison, but the sentence was not decisive and was attacked by the Bucharest Court of Appeal. With all the legal problems and controversy surrounding Piedone, PPU still endorsed him as candidate in the 2016 Romanian local elections for mayor of Sector 4 as well as in the 2020 Romanian local elections for mayor of Sector 5, winning the latter.
PUSL has also been labeled by the press as Dan Voiculescu's personal party, who has been described as the de facto leader of the party.

## Electoral history
### Legislative elections

| Election | Chamber | Chamber | Chamber | Senate | Senate | Senate | Position | Aftermath |
| Election | Votes | % | Seats | Votes | % | Seats | Position | Aftermath |
| 2016$^1$ | 2,599 | 0.04 | 7 / 329 | 3,066 | 0.04 | 2 / 136 | 12th | Extra-parliamentary endorsement for PSD-ALDE government (2017–2019) |
| 2016$^1$ | 2,599 | 0.04 | 7 / 329 | 3,066 | 0.04 | 2 / 136 | Extra-parliamentary endorsement for PSD minority government (2019) |
| 2016$^1$ | 2,599 | 0.04 | 7 / 329 | 3,066 | 0.04 | 2 / 136 | Extra-parliamentary opposition to PNL minority government (2019–2020) |
| 2016$^1$ | 2,599 | 0.04 | 7 / 329 | 3,066 | 0.04 | 2 / 136 | Opposition to PNL minority government (2020) |
| 2020$^2$ | 70,536 | 1.19 | 4 / 330 | 59,465 | 1.01 | 1 / 136 | 9th | Extra-parliamentary opposition to PNL-USR PLUS-UDMR government (2020–2021) |
| 2020$^2$ | 70,536 | 1.19 | 4 / 330 | 59,465 | 1.01 | 1 / 136 | Opposition to PNL-USR PLUS-UDMR government (2021) |
| 2020$^2$ | 70,536 | 1.19 | 4 / 330 | 59,465 | 1.01 | 1 / 136 | Opposition to PNL-UDMR minority government (2021) |
| 2020$^2$ | 70,536 | 1.19 | 4 / 330 | 59,465 | 1.01 | 1 / 136 | Endorsing CNR government (2021–2024) |
Notes:
$^1$ The MPs were elected on the PSD and ALDE lists.
$^2$ The MPs were elected on the PSD list.

### Local elections
#### National results

| Election | County Councilors (CJ) | County Councilors (CJ) | County Councilors (CJ) | Mayors | Mayors | Mayors | Local Councilors (CL) | Local Councilors (CL) | Local Councilors (CL) | Popular vote | % | Position |
| Election | Votes | % | Seats | Votes | % | Seats | Votes | % | Seats | Popular vote | % | Position |
| 2016 | 21,916 | 0.26 | 0 / 1,434 | — | — | 0 / 3,186 | — | — | 0 / 40,067 | — | — | — |
| 2020 | 64,232 | 0.79 | 0 / 1,340 | 58,680 | 0.73 | 3 / 3,176 | 48,578 | 0.68 | 170 / 39,900 | 64,232 | 0.79 | 10th |

#### Mayor of Bucharest

| Election | Candidate | First round | First round | First round |
| Election | Candidate | Votes | Percentage | Position |
| 2020 | Gabriela Firea$^1$ | 250,690 | 37.97% | 2nd |
| 2024 | Cristian Popescu Piedone | 111.411 | 15.14% | 3rd |
Note: $^1$ Gabriela Firea (PSD candidate) was endorsed by PPU.

### Presidential elections

| Election | Candidate | First round | First round | First round | Second round | Second round | Second round |
| Election | Candidate | Votes | Percentage | Position | Votes | Percentage | Position |
| 2019 | Ramona Bruynseels | 244,275 | 2.65% | 7th | not qualified | not qualified | not qualified |

### European elections

| Election | Votes | % | MEPs | Position | EU Party | EP Group |
| 2024 | 132,402 | 1.48 | 0 / 33 | 8th | | S&D |