President of Romania facts for kids

Quick facts for kids President of Romania
Standard of the president of Romania
Incumbent Nicușor Dan since 26 May 2025
Style	Mr. President (informal)
Member of	Supreme Council of National Defence European Council
Residence	Cotroceni Palace
Appointer	Popular vote
Term length	Five years, renewable once
Constituting instrument	Constitution of Romania (1991)
Inaugural holder	Nicolae Ceaușescu (communist; first established) Ion Iliescu (current constitution)
Formation	28 March 1974; 51 years ago (1974-03-28) 8 December 1991; 33 years ago (1991-12-08) (current form)
Deputy	President of the Senate
Salary	324,000 lei annually (2015)
Website	Președintele României

The President of Romania (Romanian: Președintele României) is the head of state for Romania. This means they are the top leader and symbol of the country. People directly vote for the president in an election that often has two rounds. Once elected, the president serves for five years. They can be re-elected for a second term right after their first.

While in office, the president cannot officially be a member of a political party. The president of Romania is also the supreme commander of the Romanian Armed Forces. This means they are in charge of the country's military.

The role of president was first created in 1974. This happened when the communist leader Nicolae Ceaușescu made the position more powerful. The job as we know it today fully developed after the Romanian Revolution. This led to Romania's current constitution in 1991.

Ilie Bolojan served as acting president from February 12, 2025, after Klaus Iohannis resigned. Then, on May 18, 2025, Nicușor Dan was elected as the new President. The Constitutional Court of Romania officially confirmed his presidency on May 22, 2025.

A Look Back: The President in the Communist Era

During the Communist era, the president was chosen for a five-year term. The Great National Assembly (GNA) elected them. This was based on suggestions from the Romanian Communist Party. There were no limits on how many terms a president could serve.

Nicolae Ceaușescu was the only person to hold this office under that system. He was elected in 1974 and again in 1980 and 1985. He always ran unopposed. Ceaușescu created this powerful role to be the main decision-maker for the country.

Taking the Oath: What the President Promises

After the Constitutional Court confirms the election is legal, the Houses of Parliament meet. The newly elected president then takes an important oath. This promise is written in Article 82 of the Constitution.

Romanian: Jur să-mi dăruiesc toată puterea și priceperea pentru propășirea spirituală și materială a poporului român, să respect Constituția și legile țării, să apăr democrația, drepturile și libertățile fundamentale ale cetățenilor, suveranitatea, independența, unitatea și integritatea teritorială a României. Așa să-mi ajute Dumnezeu!

I solemnly swear that I will dedicate all my strength and the best of my ability to the spiritual and material welfare of the Romanian people, to abide by the Constitution and laws of the country, to defend democracy, the fundamental rights and freedoms of my fellow-citizens, Romania's sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity. So help me God!

This oath means the president promises to use all their effort to help the Romanian people. They also promise to follow the Constitution and laws. They will protect democracy, people's rights, and Romania's independence and unity.

What the President Does: Powers and Duties

The 1991 Constitution, updated in 2003, outlines the president's responsibilities. Even though the powers are less than in the communist era, the president still has a lot of influence. Romania has a "semi-presidential" system of government.

The president's main duties are found in the Constitution. Other laws also add to these duties.

Leading the Country: Home Affairs

• Represents the State: The president is the symbol of Romania. They protect its independence, unity, and borders.
• Upholds the Constitution: They make sure the Constitution is followed. They also ensure public authorities work correctly.
• Appoints the Prime Minister: The president chooses the prime minister. Parliament must approve this choice. The president cannot fire the prime minister.
• Appoints Ministers: The president appoints and removes government ministers. They do this based on the prime minister's advice.
• Consults the Government: They talk with the government about important national policies.
• Chairs Government Meetings: The president leads government meetings when important topics are discussed. These include foreign policy, national defense, or public order.
• Addresses Parliament: The president can speak to Parliament about important national issues.
• Approves Laws: The president must agree to new laws. They can ask Parliament to rethink a law once.
• Checks Laws with Constitutional Court: Before approving a law, the president can ask the Constitutional Court to review it.
• Calls Parliament Sessions: After an election, the president calls Parliament to meet. They can also ask for special Parliament sessions.
• Dissolves Parliament: The president can dissolve Parliament in certain situations. This happens if a government cannot be formed after several attempts.
• Calls Referendums: The president can call for public votes (referendums). They must talk with Parliament first. These votes advise the government. If a referendum is valid, Parliament cannot make laws against its result.

Working with Other Countries: Foreign Affairs

• Travels Abroad: The president makes official visits to other countries.
• Signs Treaties: They sign international agreements that the government has worked out. Parliament must then approve these treaties.
• Appoints Ambassadors: The president chooses and recalls ambassadors and diplomats. They do this based on advice from the prime minister and foreign minister.
• Receives Foreign Diplomats: They welcome diplomats from other countries.
• Approves Diplomatic Missions: The president approves new embassies or changes to existing ones.

Protecting the Nation: Defense Issues

• Commander-in-Chief: The president is the top leader of the Armed Forces.
• Leads Defense Council: They lead the Supreme Council of National Defence.
• Declares Mobilization: They can order the military to prepare for action. Parliament usually needs to approve this first.
• Responds to Attacks: The president acts to defend Romania if it is attacked.
• Declares State of Emergency: They can declare a state of siege or emergency across the country or in a specific area. Parliament must approve this later.

Other Important Duties

• Gives Awards: The president gives out decorations and titles of honor.
• Appoints Military Ranks: They appoint people to high military positions.
• Appoints Public Officials: They make appointments to other public jobs as required by law.
• Grants Pardons: The president can grant individual pardons.

The president issues official orders called decrees. Some of these decrees must also be signed by the Prime Minister to become official.

When Things Go Wrong: Impeachment

If a president seriously breaks the Constitution, Parliament can vote to suspend them. If this vote passes, a public vote (referendum) is held within 30 days. This referendum asks the people if the president should be removed from office.

If both the Senate and Chamber of Deputies accuse the president of high treason, the president is immediately suspended. The High Court then judges the accusations. If found guilty, the president is removed from office.

Past Impeachment Attempts

The process of suspending and potentially removing a president has happened three times in Romania's history.

The first attempt was in 1995 against President Ion Iliescu. This attempt did not get enough votes in Parliament.

The second attempt was successful in suspending President Traian Băsescu in April 2007. He was the first president to face a public vote for removal. The vote happened on May 19, 2007. People voted against removing him, so he stayed in office.

The third attempt also led to a suspension of Traian Băsescu in July 2012. A referendum was held on July 29, 2012. Most people voted to remove him, but not enough people voted overall for the result to be valid. The Constitutional Court decided the referendum was not valid. So, Băsescu remained president again.

A fourth attempt was proposed against Klaus Iohannis. However, he resigned as President on February 12, 2025. He stated he did not want to "create a divided Romania."

Who Takes Over: Presidential Succession

If the president's office becomes empty, for example, if they resign, are removed, cannot do their job, or pass away, someone else steps in. The president of the Senate takes over first. If they cannot, then the president of the Chamber of Deputies steps in. They become the Ad Interim President of Romania (Romanian: Președinte Interimar al României).

They keep their original job as head of their legislative house. An acting president cannot speak to Parliament, dissolve Parliament, or call for a referendum (except for an impeachment referendum). The office cannot be empty for more than three months. If the president is just suspended, the office is not considered empty.

List of Presidents

Latest Election Results

This chart shows how candidates from the     PSD,     PNL and     PD/PDL did in the first round of Romanian presidential elections from 2000 to 2024.

See also

In Spanish: Presidente de Rumania para niños

• Lifespan timeline of heads of state of Romania
• List of heads of state of Romania
• List of presidents of Romania
• List of heads of government of Romania
• List of presidents of Romania by time in office
• Government of Romania