National Liberal Party (Romania) facts for kids

The National Liberal Party (in Romanian: Partidul Național Liberal, or PNL) is a big political party in Romania. It's one of the largest parties in the country. The PNL was started again in January 1990, right after the big changes in Romania when communism ended. The party says it continues the work of an older party with the same name, which was active from 1875 to 1947. Because of this long history, the PNL often says it's the first official political party in Romania and one of the oldest liberal parties in Europe.

Quick facts for kids National Liberal Party Partidul Național Liberal
Abbreviation	PNL
President	Nicolae Ciucă
Secretary-General	Lucian Bode
Spokesman	Ionuț-Marian Stroe
First-Vice Presidents	Rareș Bogdan Lucian Bode Dan Motreanu Gheorghe Flutur Iulian Dumitrescu
Leader in the Senate	Cătălin-Daniel Fenechiu
Leader in the Chamber of Deputies	Florin Roman
Leader in the European Parliament	Rareș Bogdan
Founded	15 January 1990 (re-established after the Romanian Revolution)
Preceded by	National Liberal Party (1875–1947/1950)
Headquarters	Modrogan nr 1, Sector 1, Bucharest
Student wing	Liberal Student Clubs (CSL)
Youth wing	National Liberal Youth (TNL)
Women's wing	Liberal Women National Organisation (ONFL)
Membership (2023)	c. 182,000
Ideology	Liberal conservatism Conservative liberalism Christian democracy Economic patriotism Social conservatism
Political position	Centre-right
National affiliation	Romanian Democratic Convention (1991–1992; 1993–1999) Justice and Truth Alliance (2003–2007) Centre Right Alliance (2011–2013) Social Liberal Union (2011–2014) Christian Liberal Alliance (2014) National Coalition for Romania (2021–present)
European affiliation	European People's Party (EPP)
International affiliation	Centrist Democrat International (CDI) International Democracy Union (IDU)
European Parliament group	European People's Party (EPP)
Colours	Yellow      Blue
Slogan	Prin noi înșine! ("Through Ourselves!")
Anthem	"Verde-nrourat" "Dewy Green"
Senate	36 / 136
Chamber of Deputies	79 / 330
European Parliament	10 / 33
Mayors	1,248 / 3,176
County Presidents	17 / 41
County Councilors	489 / 1,340
Local Council Councilors	15,043 / 39,900
Ministers	9 / 18
Party flag
a. + a Deputy Prime Minister b. Previously a member of the Alliance for Europe of the Nations (until 2006) and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party (for the period 2007–2014)

The PNL's Journey in Recent Years

The PNL used to be part of a group called the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) until 2014. After that, most of its members in the European Parliament joined the European People's Party Group (EPP).

In September 2014, the PNL officially became a member of the European People's Party (EPP). They also joined forces with another party, the Democratic Liberal Party (PDL). The PNL is now the second-largest party in the Parliament of Romania. They have many seats in both the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. They also have the most members in the European Parliament from Romania.

At a local level, the PNL often works closely with the Democratic Forum of Germans in Romania (FDGR/DFDR) in some areas. They also used to work with the Christian Democratic National Peasants' Party (PNȚCD) in southern Romania.

After winning the 2020 Romanian local elections, the PNL became the leading party in regions like Transylvania and Banat. They formed new alliances with other parties, like USR PLUS. As of mid-2023, the PNL has the most county and local council members across Romania. This makes them very influential at the local level. However, the Social Democratic Party (PSD) has more mayors.

In late 2021, the PNL ended its alliance with USR PLUS. They then formed a new government with the UDMR/RMDSZ. This led to a political crisis in 2021. Eventually, the PNL made a deal with their old rivals, the PSD. They formed a large government together, known as the National Coalition for Romania (CNR). This led to the Ciucă Cabinet, led by Nicolae Ciucă, who is now the PNL leader.

In June 2023, Nicolae Ciucă stepped down as Prime Minister. This was part of an agreement between the PNL and PSD. Marcel Ciolacu, the PSD leader, became the new Prime Minister. The UDMR/RMDSZ left the government. The PNL is still the second-largest party in the new government.

PNL's History After 1989

Re-founding and Early Years (1990–2000)

Flowchart showing liberal political groups that joined or left the PNL in the 1990s.

The National Liberal Party was re-established in January 1990. This was just a few days after the end of the Romanian Revolution. In the early 1990s, important leaders of the party were Radu Câmpeanu and Mircea Ionescu-Quintus. Both had been members of the older PNL.

In the 1990 Romanian general election, the PNL became the third-largest party. Radu Câmpeanu came second in the presidential election that year. The PNL later joined the Romanian Democratic Convention (CDR). This was an effort to create a strong opposition to the ruling National Salvation Front (FSN).

The main office of the PNL in Bucharest (September 2014).

Before the 1992 Romanian general election, Câmpeanu decided the PNL should leave the CDR. They ran alone, but didn't win enough votes to be in Parliament. This decision also caused some groups to leave the PNL.

However, after a change in leadership in 1995, the PNL joined the CDR again for the 1996 Romanian general election. These elections were important because they were the first peaceful transfer of power in Romania after 1989. The PNL, along with other parties, formed a government. The CDR's candidate, Emil Constantinescu, also won the presidency.

Time in Opposition and Back in Government (2000–2010)

Between 1996 and 2000, the PNL left the CDR again. They ran alone in the 2000 Romanian general election. They won seats in Parliament but couldn't form a government.

In the mid-2000s, starting in 2003, the PNL teamed up with the PD to form the Justice and Truth Alliance (DA). They ran in the 2004 Romanian general election against the ruling PSD. This alliance came in second and formed a new government. They also won the presidency that year.

Until April 2007, the PNL was the biggest part of the Justice and Truth Alliance government. In April 2007, the PNL Prime Minister, Călin Popescu-Tăriceanu, formed a smaller government with the UDMR/RMDSZ.

After the 2008 Romanian legislative election, the PNL came in third and became an opposition party. They stayed in opposition until 2012. In 2009, Klaus Iohannis was nominated twice by the PNL to be Prime Minister, but the President at the time, Traian Băsescu, rejected him.

New Alliances and Return to Power (2010–2020)

On February 5, 2011, the PNL formed a political alliance called the Social Liberal Union (USL) with the PSD and other parties. The PNL left the USL on February 25, 2014, and went back into opposition.

After the 2014 European elections, the PNL leader, Crin Antonescu, announced they wanted to join the European People's Party (EPP). They were accepted. In May 2014, the party decided to merge with the Democratic Liberal Party (PDL). Their goal was to have a joint candidate for the upcoming presidential election. This alliance was called the Christian Liberal Alliance (ACL).

On June 27, 2014, former PNL chairman Călin Popescu-Tăriceanu left to start a new liberal party. This new party was called the Liberal Reformist Party (PLR). The PNL and PDL merger kept the National Liberal Party name.

In the 2014 Romanian presidential election, the ACL candidate, Klaus Iohannis, won the election. He was the PNL party president and Mayor of Sibiu. In the 2016 Romanian local elections and 2016 Romanian legislative election, the PNL came in second. They remained in opposition until 2019, when they returned to power.

For the 2019 Romanian presidential election, the PNL supported Klaus Iohannis for a second term. In late 2019, the PNL formed a government led by Ludovic Orban. This government focused on dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic effects.

Recent Alliances and Government Changes (2020–Present)

An election banner for the PNL in Bucharest (November 2020).

The PNL worked with the 2020 USR-PLUS Alliance for the 2020 Romanian local elections. They won the mayor's office in Bucharest and many other cities. After the 2020 Romanian legislative election, the PNL formed a government with USR PLUS and UDMR/RMDSZ.

Ludovic Orban stepped down as Prime Minister in December 2020. Florin Cîțu became the new Prime Minister on December 23, 2020.

In September 2021, USR PLUS left the government. This caused a major government crisis. The PNL then formed a minority government with the UDMR/RMDSZ. Later, the PNL formed a new government with the PSD and UDMR/RMDSZ. This was called the National Coalition for Romania (CNR). Nicolae Ciucă became the Prime Minister.

In April 2022, Florin Cîțu resigned as PNL president. Nicolae Ciucă was then elected the new president of the PNL. He was the first military leader in the party's history. His main goal was to keep the CNR government together. In June 2023, Ciucă resigned as Prime Minister. The PNL then continued the CNR government with the PSD, but without the UDMR/RMDSZ.

PNL's Beliefs

The PNL believes in liberalism, especially conservative liberalism and liberal conservatism. This means they support both economic and social freedom. They are also very supportive of the European Union. In recent years, they have focused more on making the economy more free. They also support conservative ideas and policies, and they want to sell off state-owned businesses.

Unlike some other liberal parties in Western countries, the PNL is more nationalist and traditional on social issues. For example, they do not support same-sex marriage or civil unions.

The party has different groups within it that support ideas like Christian democracy, national liberalism, and neoliberalism. Some people have called the party "populist," but former president Florin Cîțu disagreed. After joining the EPP, the party became more conservative. Some say it is "liberal only in the name."

When it comes to the economy, the PNL believes that taxes should be lower. They also think that private businesses should be helped to grow. They want to decentralize Romania's political system. This would give more power to the different regions of the country. However, under Ciucă's leadership, the party also started to focus more on protecting the national economy.

How the PNL is Organized

The PNL has several important groups that lead the party:

Congress

The Congress is the highest authority in the party. It makes important decisions for the whole country. Its members are chosen by local groups. The Congress meets every four years, or whenever needed. It elects the President of the PNL and other important leaders. The last Congress was in September 2021, when Florin Cîțu was elected president.

Permanent Delegation

The Permanent Delegation (DP) leads the party between Congress meetings. It meets every month. Its members include the President of the PNL, members of the Central Political Bureau, and leaders from Parliament and other party groups.

National Political Bureau

The National Political Bureau (BPN) suggests the party's policies and makes sure they are followed. It manages the party's daily activities. It includes the party President and Vice-Presidents. The BPN meets every week. It helps coordinate election campaigns and proposes candidates for important positions.

National Council

The National Council (CN) is a place for discussion within the party. It meets twice a year or when needed. Its members include the Permanent Delegation, government officials, and local leaders. The CN helps carry out the decisions of the Congress. It also adopts the party's programs and policies. It chooses the PNL's candidate for the Romanian Presidency.

President

The President of the National Liberal Party is responsible for the party's goals and making sure the rules are followed. The President also works to keep the party united and respected.

Secretary-General

The Secretary-General helps with communication between the central and local party groups. This role also manages the party's resources and information.

Other National Groups

• The Senate of the party: This group advises the president on the party's traditions and ideas.
• Court of Honor and Arbitration: This is the party's highest court.
• Central Committee of Censors: This group checks how the party's money is managed.
• Ethics Commission: This group reviews candidates for elections and government jobs.
• National Liberal Youth: This group organizes activities for young people in the party.
• League of the Local Elected Officeholders: This group helps PNL members who work in local government.
• Liberal Women Organisation: This group coordinates activities for women in the party.
• Liberal Student Clubs: This group promotes liberal ideas among students.

Local Leading Groups

The local groups of the PNL include:

• The General Assembly of the Members: This group applies the party's plans at a local level.
• The Standing Bureau of the organization: This group leads the local organization between General Assemblies.

PNL's Symbol

Romanian law requires political parties to have a permanent symbol and an election symbol. These symbols help people recognize the party.

The PNL's main symbol is a blue arrow pointing up and to the right inside a yellow square. The letters P, N, and L are in blue and tilted. The way the letters are placed depends on the type of symbol.

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  Current and official PNL logo (since 2014)

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  Alternative official PNL logo with inverted colors (since 2018)

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  Former election symbol (before 2014)

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  Former permanent symbol (before 2014)

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  The flag of PNL (still in use)

PNL Leaders

     Also served as state vice president in the Provisional Council of National Unity (Romanian: Consiliul Provizoriu de Uniune Națională) during the early 1990s      Also served as ad interim (i.e. acting) President      Also served as President      Also served as Prime Minister      Also served as Senate President      Also served (and currently serving) as County council President

Nº	Name Born - Died	Portrait	Term start	Term end	Duration
1	Radu Câmpeanu1 (1922–2016)		15 January 1990	28 February 1993	3 years, 1 month and 13 days
2	Mircea Ionescu-Quintus2 (1917–2017)		28 February 1993	18 February 2001	7 years, 11 months and 21 days
3	Valeriu Stoica (1953–		18 February 2001	24 August 2002	1 year, 6 months and 6 days
4	Theodor Stolojan (1943–		24 August 2002	2 October 2004	2 years, 1 month and 8 days
5	Călin Popescu-Tăriceanu3 (1952–		2 October 2004	20 March 2009	4 years, 5 months and 18 days
6	Crin Antonescu4 (1959–		20 March 2009	2 June 2014	5 years, 2 months and 13 days
7	Klaus Iohannis (1959–		28 June 2014	18 December 2014	6 months and 16 days
8	Vasile Blaga5 (1956–		18 December 2014	28 September 2016	1 year, 9 months and 10 days
	Alina Gorghiu6 (1978–		18 December 2014	12 December 2016	1 year, 11 months and 24 days
—	Raluca Turcan (acting) (1976–		13 December 2016	17 June 2017	6 months and 4 days
9	Ludovic Orban7 (1963–		17 June 2017	25 September 2021	4 years, 3 months and 8 days
10	Florin Cîțu8 (1972–		25 September 2021	2 April 2022	6 months and 8 days
—	Gheorghe Flutur (acting) (1960–		2 April 2022	10 April 2022	8 days
11	Nicolae Ciucă9 (1967–		10 April 2022	Incumbent	3 years, 2 months and 8 days

Notes:

¹ Câmpeanu also served as Honorary Founding President until his death.
² Ionescu-Quintus also served as Honorary President after Câmpeanu's death.
³ Popescu-Tăriceanu also served as Senate President from 2014 to 2019.
⁴ Antonescu also served as Senate President from 2012 to 2014.
⁵ Co-president with Alina Gorghiu until September 28, 2016, when he resigned.
⁶ Co-president with Vasile Blaga until September 28, 2016. Then sole party leader. She also served as acting Senate President from June 29, 2022, to June 13, 2023.
⁷ Orban also served as Chamber President from December 2020 to October 2021.
⁸ Cîțu also served as Senate President from November 23, 2021, to June 29, 2022.
⁹ Ciucă is the first military leader of the party. He has been serving as President of the Senate since June 13, 2023.

Presidency Span (1990–Present)

Notable Members of the PNL

Current Notable Members

Former Notable Members

How the PNL Has Done in Elections

Parliamentary Elections

Notes:

¹ The PNL was part of the CDR alliance.
² The PNL was part of the Justice and Truth Alliance (DA) alliance.
³ The PNL was part of the Social Liberal Union (USL) alliance.

Local Elections

National Results

Mayor of Bucharest

Presidential Elections

Notes:

¹ Emil Constantinescu was a candidate supported by the PNL as part of the Romanian Democratic Convention (CDR).
² Traian Băsescu was a candidate supported by the PNL as part of the Justice and Truth Alliance (DA).
³ Klaus Iohannis was a candidate supported by the PNL as part of the Christian Liberal Alliance (ACL).

European Parliament Elections

Election	Votes	Percentage	MEPs	Position	EU Party	EP Group
Jan. 2007	N/A	20.0%	7 / 35	2nd	ALDE	ALDE Group1
Nov. 2007	688,859	13.4%	6 / 35	3rd	ALDE	ALDE Group
2009	702,974	14.5%	5 / 33	3rd	ALDE	ALDE Group
2014	835,531	15.0%	6 / 32	2nd	ALDE2	EPP Group
2019	2,449,068	27.0%	10 / 32	1st	EPP	EPP Group
2024	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD	EPP	EPP Group

Notes:

¹ The PNL sent 7 delegates to the European Parliament in 2007.
² The PNL later joined the European People's Party (EPP).

See Also

In Spanish: Partido Nacional Liberal (Rumania) para niños

• National Liberal Party (PNL; a similar party in Moldova)
• List of political parties in Romania