National Union for the Progress of Romania

National Union for the Progress of Romania
Uniunea Națională pentru Progresul României
President Valeriu Steriu
Spokesperson Luminiţa Adam
Senate leader Ilie Sârbu (part of PSD group)
Chamber leader Marian Neacșu (part of PSD group)
Founded March 2010
Dissolved July 2016
Split from Social Democratic Party[1]
Merged into People's Movement Party
Headquarters Bucharest, Romania
Youth wing UNPR's Young
Membership (2013) 350,000[2]
Ideology Social democracy,[3]
Progressivism,
Pro-Europeanism
Political position Centre-left[4]
Colours Red
Senate
0 / 168
Chamber of Deputies
0 / 398
[5]
European Parliament
2 / 32
County Council Presidents
1 / 41
County Councilors
13 / 1,393
Mayors
25 / 3,186
Website
www.unpr.eu

The National Union for the Progress of Romania (Romanian: Uniunea Națională pentru Progresul României, UNPR) was a political party of Romania. The party was formed in March 2010 by independents who had broken away from the Social Democratic Party (PSD) and National Liberal Party (PNL) to support President Traian Băsescu. Tension began soon after the party's formation between former PSD and PNL members over the distribution of leadership positions and the political direction of the new party, with former PSD members dominating. The first party congress to elect its leaders was on 1 May 2010.[1]

On 12 July 2016, former President Traian Băsescu announced that UNPR would merge with his People's Movement Party on 20 July 2016.[6]

History

In 2009, parliamentarians from PSD, PNL, and other organizations left their political parties to support President Traian Băsescu. They formed the parliamentary group of independents, led by Senator Gabriel Oprea. Afterward, Oprea was named Minister of Administration and Interior.

In 2010, the majority of the group formed UNPR. On 1 May 2010, the new party elected its leaders, by Congress. Allied with the PDL and UDMR, UNPR participated in government until 2012. At the first party congress held in May 2010, Marian Sârbu was elected president. In 2011, the National Initiative Party (PIN) merged into the Union. PIN's president, Lavinia Șandru, became UNPR's vice-president but later resigned from the party citing its lack of support for her ecologist policies.

In 2012, the government led by Mihai Răzvan Ungureanu was dismissed by motion of censure and UNPR passed in opposition. On 28 May 2012, Sârbu stepped down as party leader. Following Sârbu's resignation, Gabriel Oprea was elected UNPR president. UNPR later formed with PSD, with the Center-Left Alliance (ACS) included in the Social Liberal Union.

Cristian Diaconescu, a founding member of UNPR, honorary president and former Minister of External Affairs, resigned from the union after the party changed sides and entered the Social Liberal Union. He is an independent with close ties to the right-wing conservative former President of Romania, Traian Băsescu, who appointed him as leader of the Presidential Chancellery in March 2012.

In the Romanian Parliamentary elections of December 2012, UNPR won in alliance with PSD, PNL, and PC with 10 seats in the House of Deputies and five in the Senate. Because the party lacks the necessary number of seats to form a distinct parliamentary group (12 deputies, seven senators), their parliamentarians joined the group of the Social Democratic Party (PSD). They voted for the government led by Prime Minister Victor Ponta. Oprea has served as deputy prime minister since 2013.

On 29 June 2015, the party absorbed the People's Party – Dan Diaconescu (PP-DD).[7]

Doctrine

UNPR's doctrine is social-democratic with shades of progressivism. The union is against right wing policies, conservative and net-conservative. The union's self reported doctrine is "progressive left-wing" with social-democratic orientation. UNPR believes in a new political and economic order, based on consolidation of the market economy, in an "active state" that protects citizens and human rights. The union considers itself a progressive party. UNPR strongly supports significant wealth tax and fair taxes. UNPR's platform also includes the decentralization of Romania. The union supports public order.

Structure

The president acts as the union's governing body; he represents the party in political conversations and parliament. The president has large powers in the union and is helped by the standing Bureau of the Union.

Leadership

  • Gabriel Oprea - president (senator, vice-prime-minister)
  • Șerban Mihăilescu - vice-president (senator)
  • Neculai Onțanu - secretary general (mayor of the 2nd sector, Bucharest)

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "New Romanian party elects leaders", SETimes, 2 May 2010, retrieved 6 November 2012
  2. ↑ "Cati membri au partidele din Romania. Ce partid a pierdut din adepti". Retrieved 18 November 2014.
  3. ↑ Nordsieck, Wolfram, "Romania", Parties and Elections in Europe, retrieved 6 November 2012
  4. ↑ Dąborowski, Tomasz (23 May 2012), "A majority electoral system is introduced in Romania", CeWeekly, OSW Centre for Eastern Studies, retrieved 6 November 2012
  5. ↑ Structuri parlamentare Legislatura 2016-prezent
  6. ↑ "UNPR fuzionează prin absorbţie cu PMP/ Băsescu: Gabriel Oprea rămâne doar cu onoarea, partidul nu mai e după fuziune. Partidul se va numi Partidul Mişcarea Populară" (in Romanian). Mediafax. 12 July 2016. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  7. ↑ "Oprea: Am încheiat o fuziune prin absobţie cu PP-DD. Suntem un partid al uşilor deschise". Mediafax.ro. Retrieved 2017-03-31.
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