Liberalism and radicalism in Romania

This article gives an overview of Liberalism and Radicalism in Romania. It is limited to liberal parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ denotes another party in this scheme. For inclusion in this scheme it is not necessary for a party to have actually labeled itself as a liberal party.

Background

Liberalism has always during democratic periods been of the major forces in Romania, mainly organized in the National Liberal Party. Often there were spin-offs of this party. At the moment the National Liberal Party ("Partidul Naţional Liberal", member LI, ELDR) is a right-wing liberal party.

History

Precursors

*1822: Ionică Tăutu, representing a group of low-ranking boyars in Moldavia, proposed a constitutional project with republican and liberal principles
*1834: Ion Câmpineanu leads the liberal opposition to Russian influence in Wallachia's National Assembly
*1840: Mitică Filipescu led a radical, "carbonari"-inspired conspiracy in Wallachia
*1840: Mihail Kogălniceanu published the short-lived "Dacia Literară", a Romantic nationalist and liberal magazine, engendering a literary society
*1843: Nicolae Bălcescu and others led the "Frăţia" radical conspiracy in Wallachia
*1845: Radical students from both Wallachia and Moldavia founded "Societatea Studenţilor Români" (the "Society of Romanian Students") in Paris
*1848: The unsuccessful Moldavian revolution, during which Moldavian liberals issued a "Petition-Proclamation"
*1848: The liberal-minded Blaj Assemblies in Transylvania, in the context of revolutions inside the Austrian Empire
*1848: The Wallachian revolution - liberals formed a Provisional Government in Bucharest, and were divided over the issue of land reform, with a radical current forming around Bălcescu
*1856: The liberal current formed the majority in "Partida Naţională", a loose group supporting the union of the Danubian Principalities
*1859: After the union, liberals formed a distinct faction in the Parliament of Romania
*1864: "Domnitor" Alexander John Cuza established a personal regime, in order to pass liberal legislation against mounting opposition
*1866: Mainstream liberals supported Cuza's removal from the throne; a faction of the liberal current opposed to the new constitution formed the Moldavian-based "Fracţiunea liberă şi independentă", influenced by Simion Bărnuţiu and led by Nicolae Ionescu

National Liberal Party

*1875: The liberal current organised itself in the National Liberal Party ("Partidul Naţional-Liberal"), led by Ion Brătianu
*1884: A faction formed the Radical Party, led by C.A. Rosetti and George Panu
*1899: The National Liberal Party absorbs the right-wing of the Romanian Social-Democratic Workers' Party
*1918: The Peasants' Party absorbs a left-wing tendency in the National Liberal Party formed around Constantin Stere
*1929: A faction formed the ⇒ National Liberal Party-Brătianu
*1931: A faction formed the Liberal Democratic Party, which remained unsuccessful. The same year a majority of the Brătianu party returned in the National Liberal Party
*1938: The rest of the Brătianu party returned in the National Liberal Party
*1938: The party is banned by King Carol II
*1944: The party resumed its activities
*1944: A faction formed the ⇒ National Liberal Party-Tătărescu
*1947: The party is banned by the communist regime
*1990: The party is refounded by Radu Câmpeanu
*1990: A youth faction of the National Liberal Party formed the ⇒ Liberal Party Youth Wing
*1991: A faction formed the ⇒ National Liberal Party-Democratic Convention
*1995: The ⇒ Liberal party 1993 merged into the National Liberal Party, the ⇒ National Liberal Party-Câmpeanu seceded from the party
*1998: The party absorbed the ⇒ Civic Alliance Party
*2002: The Alliance for Romania ("Alianţa pentru România") merged into the National Liberal Party
*2003: The Union of Right-Wing Forces ("Uniunea Forţelor de Dreapta") and the ⇒ National Liberal Party-Câmpeanu merged into the party

National Liberal Party-Brătianu

*1929: A faction of the ⇒ National Liberal Party formed the National Liberal Party-Brătianu ("Partidul Naţional-Liberal-Brătianu")
*1931: Most of the party returned to the National Liberal Party
*1938: The party reunited with the National Liberal Party

National Liberal Party-Tătărescu

*1944: A faction of the ⇒ National Liberal Party formed the National Liberal Party-Tătărescu ("Partidul Naţional-Liberal (Tătărescu)")
*1945: The party ran in elections with the Romanian Communist Party
*1947: The party is banned by the communist regime

From National Liberal Party Youth Wing to Liberal Party 1993

*1990: A youth faction of the ⇒ National Liberal Party formed the National Liberal Party Youth Wing ("Partidul Naţional-Liberal Aripa Tînără")
*1992: The party was renamed "Liberal Party" ("Partidul Liberal"), led by Horia Rusu
*1993: The Liberal Party merged with the ⇒ National Liberal Party-Democratic Convention and the Group for Moral and Political Reforms into the Liberal Party 1993 ("Partidul Liberal 1993"), joined by a faction of the ⇒ Civic Alliance Party
*1995: The party merged into the ⇒ National Liberal Party

Civic Alliance Party

*1991: A section of the Civic Alliance non-governmental organization established the Civic Alliance Party ("Partidul Alianţa Civică"), led by Nicolae Manolescu
*1993: A faction joined the ⇒ Liberal Party 1993
*1998: The party merged into the ⇒ National Liberal Party

National Liberal Party-Democratic Convention

*1991: A faction of the ⇒ National Liberal Party formed the National Liberal Party-Democratic Convention ("Partidul Naţional-Liberal-Convenţia Democrată")
*1993: The party merged into the ⇒ Liberal Party 1993

National Liberal Party-Câmpeanu

*1995: A faction of the ⇒ National Liberal Party formed the National Liberal Party-Câmpeanu ("Partidul Naţional-Liberal-Câmpeanu")
*2003: The party merged into the ⇒ National Liberal Party

PNL leaders

ee also

* History of Romania
* Politics of Romania
* List of political parties in Romania

External links

*ro icon [http://www.unibuc.ro/eBooks/istorie/istorie1918-1940/cap4.htm Ioan Scurtu, Theodora Stănescu-Stanciu, Georgiana Margareta Scurtu, "Istoria românilor între anii 1918-1940: IV. Partidele politice în primul deceniu interbelic"] (political programs of major parties in interwar Romania)