Front of Socialist Unity and Democracy

Romania
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The Front of Socialist Unity and Democracy (Romanian: Frontul Democrației și Unității Socialiste, FDUS) was a political alliance in Romania during the communist era, dominated by the Romanian Communist Party (PCR).

History

The alliance was formed in 1968 as the Front of Socialist Unity (Frontul Unității Socialiste, FUS), and remamed the Front of Socialist Unity and Democracy in 1980.[1] It brought together all legal political parties in the country,[2][3] replacing the People's Democratic Front. Like its predecessor, it was organised and directed by the PCR. The minor parties in the front were completely subservient to the PCR, and had to accept its "leading role" as a condition of their continued existence.[4] No prospective candidate could run for office without the Front's approval--in effect, allowing the Front (and through it, the PCR) to predetermine the composition of the legislature. The general secretary of the PCR was also the chairman of the Front.[1][1]

Voters were presented with a single list of FUS/FDUS candidates in every election between 1969 and 1985. The Front therefore won all seats in the Great National Assembly in every election, claiming to have received at least 97 percent each time.[4] Each time, fewer than 400,000 people either rejected the list outright or spoiled their ballot papers.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Electoral system. Romania: A country study. Library of Congress Federal Research Division, December 1989.
  2. ↑ Romania: Elections held in 1975 IPU
  3. ↑ Romania: Elections held in 1980 IPU
  4. 1 2 Dieter Nohlen & Philip Stöver (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p1604–1605 ISBN 978-3-8329-5609-7
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