Chamber of Deputies (Romania)
Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox legislature
The Chamber of Deputies (Template:Langx) is the lower house in Romania's bicameral parliament. It has 312 regular seats to which deputies are elected by direct popular vote using party-list proportional representation<ref name="ro2016">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> to serve four-year terms.
Additionally, the organisation of each national ethnic minority is entitled to a seat in the Chamber (under the limitation that a national minority is to be represented by one organisation only). As of the 2024 election, there are 19 such additional seats.
Leadership and structure
Standing Bureau
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}}
The (Template:Langx) is the body elected by the deputies that rules the Chamber. Its president is the President of the Chamber, who is elected for a whole legislature (usually four years). All the other members are elected at the beginning of each parliamentary session.
The Chamber of Deputies in Romania is chosen through a democratic process, where all citizens have an equal opportunity to vote freely and privately. It serves as a forum for the exchange of diverse viewpoints on national matters.<ref name=ipex>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Its primary responsibilities, as outlined in the Constitution, revolve around legislating, overseeing the actions of the executive branch, and bolstering parliamentary diplomacy alongside traditional diplomatic endeavors.
There is one president, and four each of vice presidents, quaestors, and secretaries. The current composition is listed below.
Last President of Chamber Election: September 2024
| Position | Name | Political group | Incumbent since |
|---|---|---|---|
| President | Ciprian-Constantin Șerban | PSD | 23 December 2024 |
| Vice-presidents | Petre-Florin Manole | PSD | 2 September 2024 |
| Ştefan-Ovidiu Popa | PSD | 2 September 2024 | |
| Lucian Bode | PNL | February 2023 | |
| Oana Țoiu | USR | 2 September 2024 | |
| Secretaries | Eliza-Mădălina Peţa-Ştefănescu | PSD | 2 September 2024 |
| Cristian Buican | PNL | 21 December 2020 | |
| Gianina Şerban | AUR | February 2024 | |
| Ovidiu-Victor Ganț | Minorities (FDGR/DFDR) | 21 December 2020 | |
| Quaestors | Mitică-Marius Mărgărit | PSD | September 2021 |
| Alexandru Popa | PNL | 2 September 2024 | |
| Rareş Tudor Pop | USR | 2 September 2024 | |
| Dénes Seres | UDMR | December 2020 |
Committees of the Chamber
Standing committees and current leadership are listed below.
| Committee | President | Group | Incumbent since | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Committee for Economic Policy, Reform, and Privatisation (Template:Langx) |
citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
PSD<ref name="chamber committees 2020" /> | 22 December 2020<ref name="chamber committees 2020" /> |
| Committee for Budget, Finance and Banks (Template:Langx) |
Bogdan Huțucă<ref name="chamber committees 2020" /> | PNL<ref name="chamber committees 2020" /> | 22 December 2020<ref name="chamber committees 2020" /> | |
| Committee for Industries and Services (Template:Langx) |
Sándor Bende<ref name="chamber committees 2020" /> | UDMR<ref name="chamber committees 2020" /> | 22 December 2020<ref name="chamber committees 2020" /> | |
| Committee for Transport and Infrastructure (Template:Langx) |
Ciprian Constantin Șerban<ref name="chamber committees 2020" /> | PSD<ref name="chamber committees 2020" /> | 22 December 2020<ref name="chamber committees 2020" /> | |
| Committee for Agriculture, Forestry, Food Industry and Specific Services (Template:Langx) |
Adrian Chesnoiu<ref name="chamber committees 2020" /> | PSD<ref name="chamber committees 2020" /> | 22 December 2020<ref name="chamber committees 2020" /> | |
| Committee for Human Rights, Cults and National Minorities Issues (Template:Langx) |
Iusein Ibram<ref name="chamber committees 2020" /> | Minorities<ref name="chamber committees 2020" /> | 22 December 2020<ref name="chamber committees 2020" /> | |
| Committee for Public Administration and Territorial Planning (Template:Langx) |
Simona Bucura-Oprescu<ref name="chamber committees 2020" /> | PSD<ref name="chamber committees 2020" /> | 22 December 2020<ref name="chamber committees 2020" /> | |
| Committee for the Environment and Ecological Balance (Template:Langx) |
George Cătălin Stângă<ref name="chamber committees 2020" /> | PNL<ref name="chamber committees 2020" /> | 22 December 2020<ref name="chamber committees 2020" /> | |
| Committee for Labour and Social Protection (Template:Langx) |
Oana Țoiu<ref name="chamber committees 2020" /> | USR<ref name="chamber committees 2020" /> | 22 December 2020<ref name="chamber committees 2020" /> | |
| Committee for Health and Family (Template:Langx) |
Nelu Tătaru<ref name="chamber committees 2020" /> | PNL<ref name="chamber committees 2020" /> | 22 December 2020<ref name="chamber committees 2020" /> | |
| Committee for Teaching (Template:Langx) |
Natalia Intotero<ref name="chamber committees 2020" /> | PSD<ref name="chamber committees 2020" /> | 22 December 2020<ref name="chamber committees 2020" /> | |
| Committee for Culture, Arts, Mass Information Means (Template:Langx) |
Iulian Bulai<ref name="chamber committees 2020" /> | USR<ref name="chamber committees 2020" /> | 22 December 2020<ref name="chamber committees 2020" /> | |
| Committee for Legal Matters, Discipline and Immunities (Template:Langx) |
Mihai Badea<ref name="chamber committees 2020" /> | USR<ref name="chamber committees 2020" /> | 22 December 2020<ref name="chamber committees 2020" /> | |
| Committee for Defence, Public Order and National Security (Template:Langx) |
Constantin Șovăială<ref name="chamber committees 2020" /> | PNL<ref name="chamber committees 2020" /> | 22 December 2020<ref name="chamber committees 2020" /> | |
| Committee for Foreign Policy (Template:Langx) |
Rozália Biró<ref name="chamber committees 2020" /> | UDMR<ref name="chamber committees 2020" /> | 22 December 2020<ref name="chamber committees 2020" /> | |
| Committee for the Investigation of Abuses, Corrupt Practices and for Petitions (Template:Langx) |
Steluța Cătăniciu<ref name="chamber committees 2020" /> | PSD<ref name="chamber committees 2020" /> | 22 December 2020<ref name="chamber committees 2020" /> | |
| Committee for Standing Orders (Template:Langx) |
Gheorghe Șimon<ref name="chamber committees 2020" /> | PSD<ref name="chamber committees 2020" /> | 22 December 2020<ref name="chamber committees 2020" /> | |
| Committee for Information Technology and Communications (Template:Langx) |
Ioan-Sabin Sărmaș<ref name="chamber committees 2020" /> | PNL<ref name="chamber committees 2020" /> | 22 December 2020<ref name="chamber committees 2020" /> | |
| Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men (Template:Langx) |
Dan Tanasă<ref name="AUR Chamber">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
AUR<ref name="AUR Chamber" /> | February 2021<ref name="AUR Chamber" /> |
| Committee for the Romanian Communities from Outside the Borders of the Country (Template:Langx) |
Gigel Știrbu<ref name="chamber committees 2020" /> | PNL<ref name="chamber committees 2020" /> | 22 December 2020<ref name="chamber committees 2020" /> | |
| Committee for European Affairs (Template:Langx) |
Ștefan Mușoiu<ref name="chamber committees 2020" /> | PSD<ref name="chamber committees 2020" /> | 22 December 2020<ref name="chamber committees 2020" /> | |
| Committee for Constitutionality (Template:Langx) |
Ringo Dămureanu<ref name="AUR Chamber" /> | AUR<ref name="AUR Chamber" /> | February 2021<ref name="AUR Chamber" /> | |
| Committee for Science and Technology (Template:Langx) |
Dragoș Zisopol<ref name="chamber committees 2020" /> | Minorities<ref name="chamber committees 2020" /> | 22 December 2020<ref name="chamber committees 2020" /> | |
| Committee for Youth and Sport (Template:Langx) |
Tudor Pop<ref name="chamber committees 2020" /> | USR<ref name="chamber committees 2020" /> | 22 December 2020<ref name="chamber committees 2020" /> |
Party composition
Template:Sidebar with collapsible lists
2020–2024
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}}
Template:Election table |- ! style="text-align:center;" colspan=2 rowspan=2 | Party ! style="text-align:center;" colspan=2 | Election seating ! style="text-align:center;" rowspan=2 | Lost ! style="text-align:center;" rowspan=2 | Won ! style="text-align:center;" colspan=2 | Present seating |- ! style="text-align:center;" | Seats ! style="text-align:center;" | % ! style="text-align:center;" | Seats ! style="text-align:center;" | % |- | Template:Party color cell | style="text-align:left;" | Social Democratic Party | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 110 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 33.33% | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 6 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 3 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 107 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 32.42% |- | Template:Party color cell | style="text-align:left;" | National Liberal Party | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 93 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 28.18% | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 16 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 4 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 81 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 24.54% |- | ! style="background-color: #00AAE7" | | style="text-align:left;" | Save Romania UnionTemplate:Efn | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 55 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 16.66% | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 13 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 0 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 42 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 12.72% |- | ! style="background-color: Template:Party color" | | style="text-align:left;" | Alliance for the Union of Romanians | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 33 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 10.00% | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 11 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 1 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 23 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 6.96% |- | Template:Party color cell | style="text-align:left;" | Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 21 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 6.36% | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 1 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 0 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 20 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 6.06% |- | ! style="background-color: #000000" | | style="text-align:left;" | Parties of ethnic minorities | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 18 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 5.45% | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 1 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 1 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 18 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 5.45% |- | Template:Party color cell | style="text-align:left;" | Force of the Right | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | — | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | — | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 1 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 17 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 16 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 4.84% |- | ! style="background-color: #c40075" | | style="text-align:left;" | Renewing Romania's European Project | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | — | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | — | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 0 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 9 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 9 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 2.72% |- | ! style="background-color: #0066B6" | | style="text-align:left;" | Social Liberal Humanist Party | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | — | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | — | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 0 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 4 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 4 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 1.21% |- | ! style="background-color: Template:Party color" | | style="text-align:left;" | Romanian Nationhood Party | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | — | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | — | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 0 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 4 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 4 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 1.21% |- | ! style="background-color: Template:Party color" | | style="text-align:left;" | The Right Alternative | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | — | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | — | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 0 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 3 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 3 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 0.90% |- | ! style="background-color: Template:Party color" | | style="text-align:left;" | Alliance for the Homeland | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | — | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | — | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 0 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 1 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 1 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 0.30% |- | ! style="background-color: Template:Party color" | | style="text-align:left;" | Association of Italians of Romania | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | — | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | — | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 0 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 1 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 1 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 0.30% |- | Template:Party color cell | style="text-align:left;" | Independents | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | — | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | — | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 12 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 15 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 3 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 0.90% |- ! align=left colspan=2|Total ! 330 ! 100 ! colspan=2 | — ! 330 ! 100 |}
2016–2020
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}}
Template:Election table |- ! style="text-align:center;" colspan=2 rowspan=2 | Party ! style="text-align:center;" colspan=2 | Election seating ! style="text-align:center;" rowspan=2 | Lost ! style="text-align:center;" rowspan=2 | Won ! style="text-align:center;" colspan=2 | End seating |- ! style="text-align:center;" | Seats ! style="text-align:center;" | % ! style="text-align:center;" | Seats ! style="text-align:center;" | % |- | Template:Party color cell | style="text-align:left;" | Social Democratic Party | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 154 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 46.8% | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 65 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 28 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 117 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 35.56% |- | Template:Party color cell | style="text-align:left;" | National Liberal Party | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 69 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 20.97% | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 6 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 3 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 66 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 20.06% |- | Template:Party color cell | style="text-align:left;" | Save Romania Union | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 30 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 9.11% | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 11 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 6 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 25 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 7.59% |- | Template:Party color cell | style="text-align:left;" | Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 21 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 6.38% | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 1 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 0 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 20 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 6.07% |- | Template:Party color cell | style="text-align:left;" | Alliance of Liberals and Democrats | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 20 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 6.07% | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 10 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 4 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 14 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 4.26% |- | Template:Party color cell | style="text-align:left;" | People's Movement Party | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 18 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 5.47% | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 9 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 6 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 15 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 4.55% |- | ! style="background-color: #000000" | | style="text-align:left;" | Parties of ethnic minorities | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 17 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 5.17% | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 0 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 0 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 17 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 5.17% |- | ! style="background-color: Template:Party color | | style="text-align:left;" | PRO Romania | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | — | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | — | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 0 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 21 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 21 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 6.38% |- | ! style="background-color: Template:Party color | | style="text-align:left;" | Humanist Power Party | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | — | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | — | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 0 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 7 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 7 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 2.12% |- | Template:Party color cell | style="text-align:left;" | Independents | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | — | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | — | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 11 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 38 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 27 | style="text-align:right;vertical-align:top;" | 10.94% |- ! align=left colspan=2|Total ! 329 ! 100 ! colspan=2 | — ! 329 ! 100 |}
2012–2016
2008–2012
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}}
{{#section:2008–2012 legislature of the Romanian Parliament|Chamber of Deputies}}
2004–2008
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}}
In Romania's 2004 legislative election, held on 28 November, no party won an outright majority. The Social Democratic Party (PSD) won the largest number of seats but is currently in opposition because the Justice and Truth Alliance (DA), the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR/RMDSZ), the Romanian Humanist Party (which later became the Conservative Party), and the National Minorities formed a governing coalition, giving it 177 seats in the Chamber of Deputies (47.9% of the total). The Conservative Party (PC) withdrew in December 2006, meaning that the government lost the majority in the Chamber of Deputies.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In April 2007, then national liberal Prime Minister, Călin Popescu-Tăriceanu, dismissed the Democratic Party ministers from the government and formed a minority government with the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania, marking the end of the Justice and Truth Alliance.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
During the 2004–2008 legislature, the president of the Chamber of Deputies was Bogdan Olteanu from the National Liberal Party (PNL), who was elected on 20 March 2006, after the Chamber's former president, Adrian Năstase, was forced by his own party (the Social Democratic Party, PSD) to step down amidst corruption allegations.
After the 2004 elections, several deputies from the PSD switched to other parties (including the governing Justice and Truth Alliance) or became independents, with the total number of PSD seats being reduced from 113 to 105. The number of Justice and Truth Alliance (DA) deputies also increased from 112 to 118, making it the largest formation in parliament as of October 2006. This changed again in December 2006, leaving the PSD with 107 seats and the Justice and Truth Alliance (DA) with 101. Since April 2007 the Justice and Truth Alliance (DA) has split leaving the two former members with 51 respectively 50 members. Deputies elected to the European Parliament in the 2007 election resigned, thus reducing the number of deputies to 314 as of 4 December 2007.
A new election was held in 2008. The table below gives the state of play before the 2008 election; parties in bold were part of the governing coalition. That coalition was tacitly supported by the PSD.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
| Party | % of seats | Seats | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Template:Party color cell | Social Democratic Party | 32.31 | 105 |
| Template:Party color cell | Democratic Liberal Party | 20.62 | 67 |
| Template:Party color cell | National Liberal Party | 18.15 | 59 |
| Template:Party color cell | Greater Romania Party | 6.77 | 22 |
| Template:Party color cell | Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania | 6.77 | 22 |
| Template:Party color cell | Conservative Party | 5.85 | 19 |
| Template:Party color cell | Ethnic minority parties | 5.54 | 18 |
| Template:Party color cell | Independents | 4.00 | 13 |
| Total | 100 | 325 | |
2000–2004
Elections to the Chamber of Deputies were held on 26 November 2000, in which the Social Democratic Party of Romania (PSD) won plurality. The governing majority was formed from the PSD and the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR/RMDSZ), which, with 182 members, made up 54.8% of seats. The president of the Chamber of Deputies during this period was Valer Dorneanu, who was elected on 15 December 2000. The distribution of seats was as follows:
| Party | % of seats | Seats | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Template:Party color cell | Social Democratic Party | 44.93 | 155 |
| Template:Party color cell | Greater Romania Party | 24.35 | 84 |
| Template:Party color cell | Democratic Party | 8.99 | 31 |
| Template:Party color cell | National Liberal Party | 8.70 | 30 |
| Template:Party color cell | Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania | 7.83 | 27 |
| Template:Party color cell | Ethnic minority parties | 5.22 | 18 |
| Total | 100 | 345 | |