View source for Social Democratic Party (Romania)

{{short description|Romanian political party}}
{{use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{expand Romanian|topic=gov|Partidul Srbskiy Mare(România)|date=January 2022}}
{{Infobox political party
| native_name      = Partidul Social Democrat
| native_name_lang = ro
| logo             = Logo of the Social Democratic Party (Romania).svg
| colorcode        = {{Political party data|color}}
| abbreviation     = PSD
| founders         = '''FDSN:'''<ref>{{Cite web| title=Epoca Iliescu de la FDSN la PDSR | language=ro | trans-title=The Iliescu era from FDSN to PDSR  | url=https://www.ujmag.ro/drept/diverse/partidul-social-democrat-1992-2016-romania-postcomunista-o-istorie-a-partidelor-politice-in-interviuri-si-documente-volumul-ii/rasfoire/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240429185935/https://www.ujmag.ro/drept/diverse/partidul-social-democrat-1992-2016-romania-postcomunista-o-istorie-a-partidelor-politice-in-interviuri-si-documente-volumul-ii/rasfoire/ | archive-date=2024-04-29}}</ref>{{efn|The people who registered the party}}<br />{{Collapsible list
|Ion Iliescu
|[[Vasile Văcaru]]
|[[Ion Solcanu]]<br />[[Oliviu Gherman]]<br />[[Diodor Nicoară]]<br />[[Gheorghe Dumitrașcu (politician)|Gheorghe Dumitrașcu]]<br />[[Ion Tătar]]<br />[[Emanuil Cernescu]]<br />[[Ion Neagu]]<br />[[Gheorghe Damian]]<br />[[Vasile Secăreș]]<br />[[Vladimir Pasti]]<br />[[Petre Ninosu]]<br />[[Alexandru Albu (politician)|Alexandru Albu]]<br />[[Petre Ţurlea]]<br />[[Adrian Năstase]]<br />[[Șerban Nicolae]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-politic-24369258-serban-nicolae-dupa-demisionat-din-psd-candidez-pentru-nou-mandat-senator-din-partea-partidului-ecologist-roman.htm | title=Șerban Nicolae, după ce a demisionat din PSD: Candidez pentru un nou mandat de senator, din partea Partidului Ecologist Român - HotNews.ro | date=22 October 2020 }}</ref>
}}
'''PSD:'''<br />Adrian Năstase<br />[[Alexandru Athanasiu]]
| president        = [[Sorin Grindeanu]]
| secretary_general = [[Paul Stănescu]]
| leader1_title    = First Vice President
| leader1_name     = [[Daniel Băluță]]
| leader2_title    = Honorary President
| leader2_name     = [[Ion Iliescu]] †
| leader3_title    = Leader in the [[Senate of Romania|Senate]]
| leader3_name     = [[Daniel-Cătălin Zamfir]]
| leader4_title    = Leader in the [[Chamber of Deputies (Romania)|Chamber of Deputies]]
| leader4_name     = [[Ștefan-Ovidiu Popa]]
| leader5_title    = Leader in the [[European Parliament]]
| leader5_name     = [[Mihai Tudose]]
| founded          = {{Start date and age|1993|7|10|df=y}} (as PDSR) <br> {{Start date and age|2001|6|16|df=y}} (сurrent form)
| merger           = {{ublist
 | '''PDSR:'''
 | [[Democratic Front of National Salvation]]
 | [[Republican Party (Romania, 1990)|Republican Party]]
 | [[Romanian Socialist Democratic Party]]
 | [[Cooperative Party (Romania)|Cooperative Party]]
 | '''PSD:'''
 | [[Social Democratic Party (Romania)#History|Party of Social Democracy in Romania]]
 | [[Romanian Social Democratic Party (1990–2001)|Romanian Social Democratic Party]]
}}
| headquarters     = [[Șoseaua Kiseleff]] 10, [[Bucharest]]
| student_wing     = [[League of Social Democratic Students]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://renasterea.ro/liga-studentilor-psd-are-presedinte-din-timisoara/ | title=Liga Studenților PSD are președinte din Timișoara | date=24 June 2023 }}</ref>
| youth_wing       = [[Social Democratic Youth (Romania)|Social Democratic Youth]]
| womens_wing      = OFSD
| membership_year  = 2015
| membership       = 530,000{{update inline|date=September 2023}}
| ideology         = {{ubl|class=nowrap|
 | [[Social democracy]]
 | [[Social conservatism]]
 | [[Economic nationalism]]
 | [[Left-wing nationalism]]
 | [[Left-wing populism]]
}}
| position         = [[Centre-left politics|Centre-left]]{{cref|A}}
| national         = {{Collapsible list| title = Alliances
|[[Red Quadrilateral]] {{small|(1992–96)}}
|[[Social Democratic Pole of Romania]] {{small|(2000–04)}}
|[[National Union PSD+PUR]] {{small|(2004–05)}}
|[[Alliance PSD+PC]] {{small|(2008–09)}}
|[[Social Liberal Union]] {{small|(2011–14)}}
|[[Centre Left Alliance]] {{small|(2012–14)}}
|[[PSD–UNPR–ALDE Alliance|Social Democratic Union]] {{small|(2014–19)}}
|[[National Coalition for Romania]] {{small|(2021–25)}}
|[[Romania Forward Electoral Alliance|Romania Forward]] {{small|(2025)}}
}}
| european         = [[Party of European Socialists]]
| international    = [[Progressive Alliance]]<br />[[Socialist International]]
| europarl         = [[Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats]]
| colours          = {{colour box|{{party color|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}|border=darkgray}} [[Red (politics)|Red]]<br>{{color box|#FFFFFF|border=silver}} White
<!-- Values obtained from Wikidata; to edit, see https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q752435 -->
| seats1_title     = [[Senate of Romania|Senate]]
| seats1           = {{Political party data|seat composition bar|ms-upper-house}}
| seats2_title     = [[Chamber of Deputies (Romania)|Chamber of Deputies]]
| seats2           = {{Political party data|seat composition bar|ms-lower-house}}
| seats3_title     = [[European Parliament]]
| seats3           = {{Political party data|seat composition bar|EP}}
| seats4_title     = Mayors
| seats4           = {{composition bar|1362|3176|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}}}<ref name="2020 local election results">{{cite web|url=https://locale2020.bec.ro/rezultate/|title=Rezultate finale 27 Septembrie 2020|trans-title=Final results 27 September 2020|publisher=Central Election Bureau of Romania|language=ro|access-date=2 November 2021}}</ref>
| seats5_title     = [[Counties of Romania|County]] Presidents
| seats5           = {{composition bar|25|41|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}}}
| seats6_title     = [[Counties of Romania|County]] Councilors
| seats6           = {{composition bar|362|1340|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}}}<ref name="2020 local election results"/>
| seats7_title     = Local Council Councilors
| seats7           = {{composition bar|16499|39900|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}}}<ref name="2020 local election results"/>
| website          = {{Political party data|website}}
| country          = Romania
| flag             = Flag of the Social Democratic Party (Romania).svg{{!}}border
| seats8           = {{Composition bar|6|16|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}}}
| seats8_title     = [[Government of Romania|Ministers]]
| footnotes        = {{cnote|A|Also sometimes described as a [[big tent]] or catch-all party.}}
}}

The '''Social Democratic Party''' ({{langx|ro|Partidul Social Democrat}}, '''PSD''') is the largest political party in [[Romania]]. It is also the largest [[Social democracy|social democratic]]{{refn|<ref name="Nordsieck">{{cite web | last=Nordsieck | first=Wolfram | title=Parties and Elections in Europe | website=Parties and Elections in Europe | year=2020 | url=http://www.parties-and-elections.eu/romania.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180214140542/http://www.parties-and-elections.eu/romania.html | archive-date=14 February 2018 | url-status=live | access-date=18 December 2020}}</ref><ref name="Almeida">{{cite book|first=Dimitri|last=Almeida|year=2012|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oD7bKbo0FYEC|title=The Impact of European Integration on Political Parties: Beyond the Permissive Consensus|publisher=CRC Press|page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=oD7bKbo0FYEC&pg=PT71 71]|isbn=9781136340390|access-date=2 November 2021|via=Google Books}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://o.nsd.no/european_election_database/country/romania/parties.html|title=Romania – Political parties|website=European Election Database|publisher=Norwegian Centre for Research Data|access-date=17 October 2021|archive-date=23 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220123040453/https://o.nsd.no/european_election_database/country/romania/parties.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>}} [[List of political parties in Romania|political party in the country]].  It was founded by [[Ion Iliescu]], [[Romania]]'s first democratically elected president at the [[1990 Romanian general election]].<ref name="Hogea 16–30">{{cite journal|last=Hogea|first=Alina|title=Coming to Terms with the Communist Past in Romania: An Analysis of the Political and Media Discourse Concerning the Tismăneanu Report|url=http://publications.tlu.ee/index.php/stss/article/download/62/52|journal=Studies of Transition States and Societies|volume=2|pages=16–30}}</ref><ref name="Wilson Center">{{cite web | last=Tismăneanu | first=Vladimir | title=225. Romania's First Post-Communist Decade: From Iliescu to Iliescu | website=Wilson Center | date=7 July 2011 | url=https://www.wilsoncenter.org/publication/225-romanias-first-post-communist-decade-iliescu-to-iliescu | access-date=17 October 2019}}</ref><ref name="RFERL 2008">{{cite web | author=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty | title=Romania Clears Ex-President Of Murder Charges | website=RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty | date=13 October 2008 | url=https://www.rferl.org/a/Romania_Clears_ExPresident_Of_Murder_Charges/1329498.html | access-date=17 October 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-4785866|title=Ion Iliescu: Romania's ex-leader charged with crimes against humanity|work=BBC News|date=8 April 2019|accessdate=20 May 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Dosarul Revoluției, în care Ion Iliescu e acuzat de infracțiuni împotriva umanității, a fost restituit de ÎCCJ la Parchetul Militar |url=https://www.digi24.ro/stiri/actualitate/dosarul-revolutiei-in-care-ion-iliescu-e-acuzat-de-infractiuni-impotriva-umanitatii-a-fost-restituit-de-iccj-la-parchetul-militar-1537393 |access-date=27 August 2021 |work=www.digi24.ro |issue=22 June 2020 |language=ro}}</ref>

It is a member of the [[Progressive Alliance]] (PA), which was founded in 2013,<ref>{{cite web|title=Parties & Organisations|url=http://progressive-alliance.info/network/parties-and-organisations/|publisher=Progressive Alliance|access-date=22 July 2019|archive-date=6 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170306042542/http://progressive-alliance.info/network/parties-and-organisations/|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Socialist International]] (SI),<ref name="SI">{{cite web|title=Full list of member parties and organisations |url=https://www.socialistinternational.org/about-us/members/|publisher=Socialist International|access-date=22 July 2019}}</ref> and the [[Party of European Socialists]] (PES).<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.pes.eu/en/members/parties-map/#214168d5-7e5a-11e6-b095-8cdcd4d4c346/080529e6-8576-11e6-aa40-9a82572148c5 |title=Parties Map |access-date=8 December 2020 |archive-date=18 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191218212123/https://www.pes.eu/en/members/parties-map/#214168d5-7e5a-11e6-b095-8cdcd4d4c346/080529e6-8576-11e6-aa40-9a82572148c5 |url-status=dead }}</ref> As of 2015, the PSD had 530,000 members.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.digi24.ro/stiri/actualitate/politica/alegeri-cu-un-singur-candidat-530-000-de-membri-psd-sunt-asteptati-la-urne-446564 | title=Alegeri cu un singur candidat. 530.000 de membri PSD sunt așteptați la urne | date=10 October 2015 }}</ref>{{update inline|date=September 2023}}

PSD traces its origins to the [[Democratic Front of National Salvation]] (FDSN), a leftist breakaway group established in 1992 from the centre-left [[National Salvation Front (Romania)|National Salvation Front]] (FSN) established after 1989. In 1993, this merged with three other parties to become the '''Party of Social Democracy in Romania''' ({{langx|ro|Partidul Democrației Sociale in România}}, '''PDSR'''), also translated as the '''Social Democracy Party of Romania'''.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.cdep.ro/pls/parlam/structura2015.fp?idp=1&cam=2&leg=2000&idl=5 | title=Social Democracy Party of Romania }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.okazii.ro/m3-c25-tematica-istorica-pdsr-partidul-democratiei-sociale-din-romania-a200498203 | title=M3 C25 - Tematica istorica - PDSR - Partidul democratiei sociale din Romania }}</ref> The present name was adopted after a merger with the smaller [[Romanian Social Democratic Party (1990–2001)|Romanian Social Democratic Party]] (PSDR) in 2001.<ref name=":0" />

Since its formation, it has always been one of the two dominant parties of the country. The PDSR governed Romania from 1992 to 1996, while the PSDR was a junior coalition partner between 1996 and 2000. The merged PSD was the senior party in the coalitions governing from 2000 to 2004, and from March 2014 to November 2015, as well as one of the main coalition partners between December 2008 and October 2009 (with the [[Democratic Liberal Party (Romania)|Democratic Liberal Party]], PDL) and again between May 2012 and March 2014 (as part of the [[Social Liberal Union]], USL). PSD left government after former prime minister, [[Victor Ponta]] resigned in November 2015, only for PSD to return as the senior governing party in January 2017, shortly after it achieved a major victory in the [[2016 Romanian legislative election]]. The party remained in power at governmental level until 2019, before being voted down in the parliament and then endorsing a PNL minority government between 2019 and 2020. Subsequently, it entered opposition between 2020 and 2021, before eventually returning to government within the CNR coalition in late 2021.

Party founder [[Ion Iliescu]] is the only PSD candidate to become [[President of Romania]], he served in office from the 1989 to 1996, and again from 2000 to 2004.

Currently, PSD remains the largest party in the [[Parliament of Romania]] with initially 36 seats in the [[Senate of Romania]] and 86 seats in the [[Chamber of Deputies (Romania)|Chamber of Deputies]] (as obtained at the [[2024 Romanian legislative election]]), it also has the largest number of mayors, as well as the second largest number of local and county councillors and county presidents (after PNL), remaining the biggest and most influential political force in the country to the present day.<ref name="Necsutu 2020" /><ref name="Necsutu 2021" />

== History ==

Following the 27–29 May 1992 Convention of the [[National Salvation Front (Romania)|National Salvation Front]] ({{langx|ro|Frontul Salvării Naționale}}, FSN) when [[Petre Roman]] became President of the Party, former Party Leader [[Ion Iliescu]] and his group of supporters withdrew from FSN and founded the [[Democratic National Salvation Front]] ({{langx|ro|Frontul Democrat al Salvării Naționale}}, FDSN) while the rest of FSN was renamed as the [[Democratic Party (Romania)|Democratic Party]] ([[Romanian language|Romanian]]: Partidul Democrat) in May 1993.<ref>{{Cite web |title=După '90 {{!}} FSN devine Partidul Democrat |url=https://dupa90.ro/timeline-events/28-29-mai-1993 |access-date=2023-02-03 |website=dupa90.ro |language=ro-RO}}</ref>

During its first National Conference on the 28th of June 1992, FDSN decided on endorsing Ion Iliescu in the [[1992 Romanian general election]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=După '90 {{!}} Convenția FDSN |url=https://dupa90.ro/timeline-events/27-28-iunie-1992 |access-date=2023-02-03 |website=dupa90.ro |language=ro-RO}}</ref> which they later won and went on to govern Romania until 1996.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Partidul Social Democrat - Partide - Politica Românească |url=http://www.politicaromaneasca.ro/partidul_social_democrat-285 |access-date=2023-02-03 |website=www.politicaromaneasca.ro}}</ref> On 10 July 1993, it took the name of Party of Social Democracy in Romania (PDSR) upon merger with the [[Romanian Socialist Democratic Party|Romanian Socialist Democratic Party]], the [[Republican Party (Romania, 1990)|Republican Party]], and the Cooperative Party.<ref>{{Cite web |title=După '90 {{!}} Conferința Națională a Frontului Democrat al Salvării Naționale |url=https://dupa90.ro/timeline-events/9-10-iulie-1993 |access-date=2023-02-03 |website=dupa90.ro |language=ro-RO}}</ref><ref name=":0" />

[[File:Party_of_Social_Democracy_in_Romania_logo.gif|thumb|The logo of the Party of Social Democracy in Romania]]

From 1992 to 1996, the PDSR ruled in coalition with the [[Romanian National Unity Party]] (PUNR) and [[Greater Romania Party]] (PRM), and the left-wing [[Socialist Party of Labour]] (PSM), nicknemed by the Press as the [[Red Quadrilateral]]. The PUNR had ministers in the cabinet chaired by [[Nicolae Văcăroiu]] from March 1992 to September 1996. The PRM was not present at the cabinet-level but was given some posts in the state administration but which it retracted when it left the coalition in 1995.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Arhiva |first=de |title=Un sfert de secol de la alegerile care au adus la Guvernare "patrulaterul roşu". POVESTEA UNEI FOTOGRAFII |url=https://evz.ro/sfert-de-secol-alegerile-patrulaterul-rosu.html |access-date=2023-02-03 |website=evz.ro |date=27 September 2017 |language=Romanian}}</ref>

PDSR went into opposition after the [[1996 Romanian general election]], which was won by the right-wing coalition [[Romanian Democratic Convention]] (CDR).<ref>{{Cite web |title=1996 Parliamentary Elections: Chamber of Deputies |url=http://www2.essex.ac.uk/elect/database/indexElections.asp?country=ROMANIA&election=ro96cd |access-date=2024-05-18 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614133919/http://www2.essex.ac.uk/elect/database/indexElections.asp?country=ROMANIA&election=ro96cd | archive-date=14 June 2011 }}</ref>

After four years of governmental turmoil and economic downfall, poorly managed by the crumbling CDR, saw PDSR making a fulminant comeback, winning the [[2000 Romanian general election]], this time in a coalition named the [[Social Democratic Pole of Romania]] (PDSR) along with the [[Romanian Social Democratic Party (1990–2001)|Romanian Social Democratic Party]] (PSDR, who was part of the government from 1996 to 2000, as a member of the [[Social Democratic Union (Romania)|Social Democratic Union]], now led by [[Alexandru Athanasiu]]) and the [[Conservative Party (Romania)|Romanian Humanist Party]] (PUR). The PSDR merged with PDSR on 16 June 2001, and the resulting party took the PSD name, with PDSR/PSD leader [[Adrian Năstase]] becoming prime minister. The centre-left [[Democratic Party (Romania)|Democratic Party]] (PD) was also invited by both Athanasiu and Năstase to join the new PSD, but PD president [[Traian Băsescu]] refused to take part in the merger.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://jurnalul.ro/editorial/pdl-decizia-de-auto-destructurare-671814.html | title=PDL -Decizia de auto-destructurare }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.ziaruldeiasi.ro/stiri/pdsr-ul-se-va-strecura-in-internationala-socialista-prin-portita-deschisa-de-psdr--1pqu.html | title=PDSR-ul se va strecura in Internationala Socialista prin portita deschisa de PSDR | date=12 February 2001 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.curentul.info/politic/psdr-si-pdsr-si-au-propus-sa-atraga-si-pd-in-viitorul-psd/ | title=PSDR si PDSR si-au propus sa atraga si PD in viitorul PSD | date=31 May 2001 }}</ref> A controversial figure due to the corruption scandals in which he and his party were involved, Năstase is still regarded by both admirers and rivals (including his archrival [[Traian Băsescu]]),<ref>{{cite web | url=https://ziare.com/adrian-nastase/traian-basescu/nastase-ironizeaza-pdl-dupa-ce-basescu-a-spus-ca-a-fost-cel-mai-bun-premier-1127387 | title=Nastase ironizeaza PDL dupa ce Basescu a spus ca a fost cel mai bun premier }}</ref> as the best and most efficient Romanian post-communist Prime Minister, being praised for his efforts of Euro-Atlantic integration of Romania and for the stabilization and modernization of the Romanian economy.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://evz.ro/el-insusi-arogantul-adrian-nastase-poreclele-fostului-premier-psd.html/amp | title="El însuși", "arogantul" Adrian Năstase. Poreclele primite de-a lungul timpului de fostul premier | date=22 August 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | title=Adrian Nastase, cel mai bun prim-ministru al Romaniei din ultimii 10 ani - Sondaj Ziare.com | url=https://ziare.com/politica/premier/adrian-nastase-cel-mai-bun-prim-ministru-al-romaniei-din-ultimii-10-ani-sondaj-ziare-com-1065242 | access-date=2024-12-25 | website=ziare.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-politic-24743328-anca-dragu-cel-mai-performant-guvern-fost-cel-condus-nastase-avut-continuitate.htm | title=Anca Dragu: Cel mai performant guvern a fost cel condus de Năstase, a avut continuitate / Președinta Senatului își nuanțează afirmația - UPDATE - HotNews.ro | date=18 April 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://adevarul.ro/stiri-interne/evenimente/inapoi-in-timp-cum-arata-romania-in-vremea-1502903.html#gal=5840705a-46da-4147-9fd2-d60a39d1a90d&gal_i=2&gal_fs=0 | title=Înapoi în timp. Cum arăta România în vremea "Atotputernicului" Adrian Năstase | date=6 January 2014 }}</ref>

[[File:2001-2006_PSD_Logo.jpg|thumb|The former blue and white PSD logo, used between 2001 and 2006]]

In November 2004, [[Adrian Năstase]], the PSD candidate and incumbent [[Prime Minister of Romania]], won the first round of the presidential elections but did not have a majority and had to go to a second round of voting, which he narrowly lost to [[Traian Băsescu]] of the opposition [[Justice and Truth Alliance]] (DA), who became Romania's 4th president. In the [[2004 Romanian general election]], the PSD gained the largest share of the vote but because it did not have a majority, the other parties that managed to enter parliament, UDMR/RMDSZ and PUR, abandoned their respective pre-electoral agreements with the PSD and joined the Justice and Truth Alliance (DA), mainly at the pressure of Băsescu. [[Mircea Geoană]] was elected president of the party in April 2005 by delegates at a PSD Party Congress held in Bucharest. His victory represented a surprise defeat for Iliescu, who was expected to defeat Geoană with ease. On 17 April 2008, the PSD and the PC announced they would form a political alliance for the [[2008 Romanian local elections]].<ref name="setimes.com 2008">{{cite web | title=Romania's PSD and PC form alliance (SETimes.com) | website=setimes.com | date=17 April 2008 | url=http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/newsbriefs/setimes/newsbriefs/2008/04/17/nb-04 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080607004256/http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/newsbriefs/setimes/newsbriefs/2008/04/17/nb-04 | archive-date=7 June 2008 | url-status=dead | access-date=17 October 2019}}</ref>

In February 2010, the Congress elected [[Victor Ponta]] as president after Geoană lost the [[2009 Romanian presidential election]]. On 5 February 2011, the PSD formed a [[political alliance]] known as the [[Social Liberal Union]] (USL) with the PC and the [[National Liberal Party (Romania)|National Liberal Party]] (PNL).<ref name="CRIENGLISH 2011">{{cite web | last=Zhang | title=Romanian Oppositions Form Alliance | website=CRIENGLISH | date=6 February 2011 | url=http://english.cri.cn/6966/2011/02/06/1461s619327.htm | archive-url=https://archive.today/20120629123421/http://english.cri.cn/6966/2011/02/06/1461s619327.htm | url-status=dead | archive-date=29 June 2012 | access-date=17 October 2019}}</ref><!-- irretrievably lost <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.focus-fen.net/index.php?id=n241429|title=FOCUS Information Agency|work=FOCUS Information Agency|access-date=10 June 2015}}</ref>--> The USL was disbanded on 25 February 2014 with exit of the PNL, which entered the opposition.<ref name="Author 2014">{{cite web | last=Bivol | first=Alex | title=Romania's Liberals to leave ruling coalition, government | website=The Sofia Globe | date=25 February 2014 | url=https://sofiaglobe.com/2014/02/25/romanias-liberals-to-leave-ruling-coalition-government/ | access-date=17 October 2019}}</ref>

In July 2015, [[Liviu Dragnea]] was elected by the Congress of the PSD as the new president of the party, with 97% of the votes from the members. He was elected as leader after the former prime minister [[Victor Ponta]] stepped down on 12 July 2015 following charges of corruption that were later dropped. On 12 April 2019, the PSD was suspended from the [[Party of European Socialists]] (PES) following concerns about judicial reforms of the [[Dăncilă Cabinet]].<ref name="Romania Insider 2019">{{cite web | title=European Socialists freeze relations with Romanian ruling party | website=Romania Insider | date=12 April 2019 | url=https://www.romania-insider.com/european-socialists-freeze-relations-psd | access-date=17 October 2019}}</ref> In May 2019, after [[Liviu Dragnea]]'s jailing, [[Viorica Dăncilă]] was elected by the Congress of the PSD as the new president of the party.

After being ousted from power in October 2019, the PSD also lost the [[2019 Romanian presidential election]]. Such decline sent shockwase across the [[European Union]] (EU), especially the PES, as it resulted in their loss of power within [[Von der Leyen Commission I|von der Leyen Commission]]. Nonetheless, Daniel Hegedüs posited that this could be a win for both the PES and the wider European left, as the PES would regain credibility because "mounting authoritarianism in Hungary and Poland has suffered under the burden of PSD's rule-of-law record". In addition, Hegedüs noted the fact that this could represent another chance for the PSD to reform itself and change its ways.<ref name="Hegedüs">{{cite web|last=Hegedüs|first=Daniel|date=2 December 2019|title=Loss for Romania's Social Democrats Is a Win for Europe's Left|url=https://balkaninsight.com/2019/12/02/loss-for-romanias-social-democrats-is-a-win-for-europes-left/|access-date=17 October 2021|website=Balkan Insight}}</ref>

In August 2020, [[Marcel Ciolacu]] became president of the party (after having previously served for this position only as ''ad interim'' between November 2019 and August 2020).<ref>{{cite web|last=Stroe|first=Daniel|date=24 August 2020|title=Romania: Ciolacu elected PSD President|url=https://balkaneu.com/romania-ciolacu-elected-psd-president/|access-date=5 November 2021|publisher=Independent Balkan News Agency|archive-date=5 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211105072020/https://balkaneu.com/romania-ciolacu-elected-psd-president/|url-status=dead}}</ref> During the same month, the PSD was willing to vote a [[motion of no confidence]] against the [[Second Orban Cabinet|second Orban cabinet]].<ref name="Necsutu 2020">{{cite web|last=Necșuțu|first=Mădălin|date=28 August 2020|url=https://balkaninsight.com/2020/08/28/romanian-government-to-be-tested-by-no-confidence-motion/|title=Romanian Government to be Tested by No-Confidence Motion|website=Balkan Insight|access-date=5 November 2021}}</ref> Shortly after December 2020, while still the largest party in the wake of the [[2020 Romanian legislative election]], the PSD suffered significant political capital losses (as they previously did in the [[2020 Romanian local elections]] as well) given the chaotic and negative governmental activity the party was responsible for during the former legislature (more specifically during the years 2017 and 2019), yet remained the biggest [[parliamentary opposition]] well up until the end of 2021.

During the [[2021 Romanian political crisis]], the PSD was again willing to have such a vote, this time against the [[Cîțu Cabinet]],<ref>{{cite web|date=3 September 2021|title=PSD, mesaj pentru USR PLUS: puteți bate câmpii oricât, vom vota orice moțiune de cenzură|trans-title=PSD, message for USR PLUS: you can beat the plains no matter how much, we will vote any no confidence motion|url=https://www.digi24.ro/stiri/actualitate/politica/psd-mesaj-pentru-usr-plus-puteti-bate-campii-oricat-vom-vota-orice-motiune-de-cenzura-1656441|access-date=17 October 2021|website=Digi24|language=ro}}</ref> which it subsequently did,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/competing-no-confidence-motions-filed-against-romanian-cabinet-2021-09-28/|title=Romania's centrist PM faces no-confidence vote on Oct. 5|work=Reuters|date=28 September 2021|access-date=5 November 2021}}</ref> thereby contributing to its final dismissal.<ref name="Necsutu 2021">{{cite web|last=Necșuțu|first=Mădălin|date=5 October 2021|url=https://balkaninsight.com/2021/10/05/romanian-government-ousted-by-no-confidence-vote/|title=Romanian Government Ousted by No-Confidence Vote|website=Balkan Insight|access-date=5 November 2021}}</ref> In November 2021, successful negotiations with the PNL led the PSD closer to returning government in the incumbent [[Ciucă Cabinet]] within a [[grand coalition]] government known as the ''[[National Coalition for Romania]]'' (or ''CNR'' for short).<ref>{{cite web|last=Duțulescu|first=Adriana|date=4 November 2021|url=https://www.digi24.ro/stiri/actualitate/politica/surse-ce-au-discutat-liderii-pnl-si-psd-si-cum-au-ajuns-aproape-sa-bata-palma-pentru-o-guvernare-de-7-ani-1724929|title=Surse: Ce au discutat liderii PNL și PSD și cum au ajuns aproape să bată palma pentru o guvernare de 7 ani|trans-title=Sources: What the PNL and PSD leaders discussed and how they came close for a 7-year government agreement|website=Digi24|language=ro|access-date=5 November 2021}}</ref> The PSD is still governing Romania as of early 2022, albeit with major tensions in the said grand coalition. The coalition has been described as [[Authoritarian conservatism|authoritarian conservative]].<ref name="Authoritarian conservative 1">{{cite web | url=https://www.fanatik.ro/pnl-si-psd-imping-romania-catre-un-regim-autoritar-amendamentul-surpriza-din-legea-anti-ong-folosit-impotriva-presei-ne-ducem-intr-o-directie-foarte-periculoasa-20316603 | title=PNL și PSD împing România către un regim autoritar. Amendamentul surpriză din legea anti-ONG, folosit împotriva presei. "Ne ducem într-o direcție foarte periculoasă" | date=20 February 2023 }}</ref><ref name="Authoritarian conservative 2">{{cite web | url=https://www.g4media.ro/degradare-accelerata-si-fara-precedent-a-democratiei-in-regimul-iohannis-ciuca-romania-e-redusa-la-tacere-pnl-se-psd-izeaza-rapid.html | title=Degradare accelerată și fără precedent a democrației în regimul Iohannis-Ciucă. România e redusă la tăcere, PNL se PSD-izează rapid | date=29 June 2022 }}</ref>

In November 2022, the PSD agreed with the Moldovan [[European Social Democratic Party]] (PSDE) to begin a strategic partnership.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.rfi.ro/politica-150738-pdm-ul-lui-plahotniuc-ajuns-psde-ciolacuaici-este-resursa-cea-mai-importanta-care | title=PDM-ul lui Plahotniuc a ajuns PSDE. Ciolacu:"Aici este resursa cea mai importantă care face puntea dintre DVS și români" | date=21 November 2022 | access-date=23 December 2022 | archive-date=28 September 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230928012108/https://www.rfi.ro/politica-150738-pdm-ul-lui-plahotniuc-ajuns-psde-ciolacuaici-este-resursa-cea-mai-importanta-care | url-status=dead }}</ref>

== Predecessors and successors ==
[[File:PSD (Romania) Diagram.png|thumb|350px|Flowchart denoting the political evolution of PSD, from its origins in the FSN in 1990 until the year 2010, with political groups which were both integrated and seceded from the party throughout the passing of time.]]

=== Party splits ===
* [[Alliance for Romania]] (1997)
* [[National Union for the Progress of Romania]] (2010)
* [[Romanian Social Party]] (2015), Succeeded by Prahova in Action Party (2020), then by [[Romania in Action Party]] (2023)
* [[United Romania Party]] (2015)
* [[PRO Romania]] (2018)
* [[Romanian Nationhood Party]] (2019)
* [[Alliance for the Homeland]] (2023)

=== Absorbed parties ===
* [[Republican Party (Romania, 1990)|Republican Party]] (1993)<sup>1</sup>
* Cooperative Party (1993)<sup>1</sup>
* [[Romanian Socialist Democratic Party]] (1993)<sup>1</sup>
* [[Romanian Social Democratic Party (1990–2001)|Romanian Social Democratic Party]] (2001)<sup>2</sup>
* [[Socialist Party of Labour]] (2003)
* [[:ro:Partidul Socialist al Renașterii Naționale|Socialist Party of National Renaissance]] (2003)

; Notes
<sup>1</sup> After the merger, the party changed its name from the [[Democratic National Salvation Front]] (FDSN) to the Party of Social Democracy in Romania (PDSR).

<sup>2</sup> After the merger, the party changed its name from the Party of Social Democracy in Romania (PDSR) to the Social Democratic Party (PSD).

== Ideology and platform ==
{{Social democracy sidebar}}
Like its counterpart national-level members of the [[Party of European Socialists]] (PES), the PSD has a [[centre-left politics|centre-left]] outlook and has been described as governing as centre-left,{{refn|<ref>{{cite web | url=https://politpro.eu/en/romania/parties | title=Romania: Parties at a glance }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://dexonline.ro/definitie/partidul%20social-democrat/696621 | title=PARTIDUL SOCIAL-DEMOCRAT (P.S.D.) }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-politic-12786753-psd-unpr-semnat-alianta-centru-stanga.htm | title= PSD si UNPR vor forma o alianta politica de centru-stanga | date= 13 July 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.caleaeuropeana.ro/presedintele-psd-liviu-dragnea-psd-este-cel-mai-mare-partid-de-stanga-din-europa-se-doreste-o-contraofensiva-la-ungaria-cu-o-tara-unde-guvernul-e-de-stanga/|title=Președintele PSD Liviu Dragnea: "PSD este cel mai mare partid de stânga din Europa. Se dorește o contraofensivă la Ungaria cu o țară unde guvernul e de stânga"|date=24 September 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.g4media.ro/partidul-lui-dacian-ciolos-se-pozitioneaza-la-centru-stanga-e-prima-provocare-pentru-electoratul-clasic-al-psd.html|title=Partidul lui Dacian Cioloş se poziţionează la centru-stânga. E prima provocare pentru electoratul clasic al PSD|date=31 March 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thenewfederalist.eu/top-30-partide-politice-din-romania|title = Top 30 partide politice din România|date = 10 October 2021}}</ref>}} but has also been described as pragmatic,<ref name="Carmen Paun"/> owing to its [[syncretic politics]].<ref name="Carmen Paun">{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/pragmatism-is-a-winner-for-romanian-left-social-democrats-psd-corruption-scandal-liviu-dragnea-victor-ponta-elections/ |title=Pragmatism is a winner for Romanian Left |work=Politico |first=Carmen|last=Păun |date=13 December 2016|access-date=16 February 2019}}</ref><ref name="DUV"/> The party has been described as [[social democratic]],<ref name="openDemocracy 2016"/><ref name="Melenciuc 2018">{{cite web | last=Melenciuc | first=Sorin | title=BR Analysis. Money to spend only on wages and pensions? Romania's social spending enters danger zone above 60 pct of total budget, limiting room for response in case of economic downturn | website=Business Review | date=30 May 2018 | url=http://business-review.eu/br-exclusive/money-to-spend-only-for-wages-and-pensions-romanias-public-social-spending-reached-a-dangerous-zone-above-60-pct-of-total-budget-limiting-the-room-for-response-in-case-of-economic-downturn-171364 | access-date=17 October 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=2018 budget: Romania's Govt. plans to increase spending by 12% next year | website=Romania Insider | date=4 December 2017 | url=https://www.romania-insider.com/2018-budget-romania-increase-spending-2018 | access-date=17 October 2019}}</ref> [[social conservative]],{{refn|<ref name="Carmen Paun"/><ref name="openDemocracy 2016">{{cite web | first=Cornel | last=Ban | title=Romania: a social democratic anomaly in eastern Europe? | website=openDemocracy | date=12 December 2016 | url=https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/can-europe-make-it/romania-social-democratic-anomaly-in-eastern-europe/ | access-date=17 October 2019}}</ref><ref name="Dąborowski 2016">{{cite web | last=Dąborowski | first=Tomasz | title=The Social Democrats' triumph in Romania | website=OSW | date=14 December 2016 | url=https://www.osw.waw.pl/en/publikacje/analyses/2016-12-14/social-democrats-triumph-romania | access-date=17 October 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.revista22.ro/biserica-ortodoxa-romana-agent-electoral-al-psd-decaderea-morala-a-bisericii-conduse-de-patriarhul-daniel-50016.html |title=Biserica Ortodoxa Romana, AGENT ELECTORAL AL PSD. Decaderea morala a bisericii conduse de Patriarhul Daniel |website=www.revista22.ro |access-date=12 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909150510/https://www.revista22.ro/biserica-ortodoxa-romana-agent-electoral-al-psd-decaderea-morala-a-bisericii-conduse-de-patriarhul-daniel-50016.html |archive-date=9 September 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gandul.info/stiri/alianta-bor-psd-operatiunea-bani-si-imobile-pentru-biserica-contra-voturi-pro-ponta-13532077|title = ALIANȚA BOR - PSD. Operațiunea bani și imobile pentru Biserică contra voturi pro Ponta|date = 13 November 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://b1.ro/stiri/politica/biserica-ortodoxa-se-implica-in-campania-electorala-mitropolitul-ardealului-indeamna-enoriasii-sa-voteze-doar-cu-psd-sau-alde-video-169763.html|title = Biserica Ortodoxă se implică în campania electorală: Mitropolitul Ardealului îndeamnă enoriașii să voteze doar cu PSD sau ALDE (VIDEO)|date = December 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mediafax.ro/politic/dragnea-despre-impozitarea-veniturilor-bisericii-nu-sustin-cel-putin-sa-le-ajutam-sa-existe-gandul-sfantul-profit-al-bisericii-ortodoxe-ce-excedent-au-declarat-la-finante-eparhiile-bor-16587028|title=Dragnea, despre impozitarea veniturilor Bisericii: Nu susţin; Cel puţin să le ajutăm să existe/ Gândul: Sfântul profit al Bisericii Ortodoxe. Ce excedent au declarat la Finanţe eparhiile BOR|website=Mediafax.ro}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ziare.com/gabriela-firea/primar-bucuresti/firea-da-inca-10-milioane-de-lei-pentru-catedrala-mantuirii-neamului-vezi-de-unde-se-iau-bani-la-rectificarea-bugetara-si-unde-se-duc-1522309|title=Firea da inca 10 milioane de lei pentru Catedrala Mantuirii Neamului: Vezi de unde se iau bani la rectificarea bugetara si unde se duc|website=Ziare.com}}</ref>}} [[economic nationalist]],{{refn|<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.digi24.ro/stiri/actualitate/politica/ciolacu-as-vrea-o-tendinta-mai-mare-catre-un-patriotism-economic-in-urmatorul-program-de-guvernare-2295693 | title=Ciolacu: Aș vrea o tendință mai mare către un patriotism economic în următorul program de guvernare | date=26 March 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.gandul.ro/politica/marcel-ciolacu-explica-ce-este-patriotismul-economic-propus-de-psd-19949799 | title=Marcel Ciolacu explică ce este "patriotismul economic" propus de PSD | date=27 March 2023 }}</ref>}} [[left-wing nationalist]],{{refn|<ref name="DUV">{{cite book|last1=Leiße|first1=Olaf|last2=Leiße|first2=Utta-Kristin|last3=Richter|first3=Alexander|title=Beitrittsbarometer Rumänien. Grundprobleme des Landes und Einstellungen rumänischer Jugendlicher auf dem Weg in die Europäische Union|publisher=Deutscher UniversitätsVerlag|location=Wiesbaden|orig-year=2004|year=2013|isbn=978-3322813206|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tQYlBgAAQBAJ&q=PSD+links-&pg=PP1|chapter=3.3 ''Parteien und politische Entwicklung''|language=de|page=51}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.dw.com/de/rum%C3%A4nien-f%C3%BChrt-steuer-gegen-gier-ein/a-46837523|title=Rumänien führt 'Steuer gegen Gier' ein |work=[[Deutsche Welle]]|date=22 December 2018|access-date=18 February 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.dw.com/de/rum%C3%A4nien-f%C3%BChrt-steuer-gegen-gier-ein/a-46837523|title=Rumänien führt "Steuer gegen Gier" ein |work=[[Deutsche Welle]]|date=22 December 2018|access-date=18 February 2019}}</ref><ref name="national populist">{{cite web|first=Daniel|last=Mihăilescu|url=https://diepresse.com/home/ausland/aussenpolitik/5552116/Rumaenien-startet-EURatsvorsitz-mit-neuer-Attacke-gegen-Justizsystem|title=Rumänien startet EU-Ratsvorsitz mit neuer Attacke gegen Justizsystem|website=[[Die Presse]]|year=2019|access-date=19 February 2019}}</ref>}}, and left-wing populist.{{refn|<ref name="Bossart Bossart 2018">{{cite news | last1=Bossart | first1=Marco Kauffmann | title=Rumäniens Justiz im Belagerungszustand | newspaper=[[Neue Zürcher Zeitung]] | date=21 February 2018 | url=https://www.nzz.ch/international/rumaeniens-justiz-im-belagerungszustand-ld.1357693 | language=de | access-date=17 October 2019}}</ref><ref name="DUV1">{{cite book|last1=Beichelt|first1=Timm|title=Demokratische Konsolidierung im postsozialistischen Europa: Die Rolle der politischen Institutionen|publisher=Springer-Verlag|orig-year=2001|year=2013|isbn=978-3322813206|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-1byBQAAQBAJ&q=linkspopulistisch+rum%C3%A4nien&pg=PA299|chapter=6.1.1 ''Strukturelle Kontextbindungen''|language=de|page=299}}</ref><ref name="national populist"/><ref name="Krökel 2017">{{cite web | last=Krökel | first=Ulrich | title=Aufgefallen: Der stille Anführer | website=Publik-Forum.de | date=10 March 2017 | url=https://www.publik-forum.de/Publik-Forum-05-2017/der-stille-anfuehrer | language=de | access-date=17 October 2019}}</ref>}} The PSD was formed as a result of the merger of the [[Romanian Social Democratic Party (1990–2001)|Romanian Social Democratic Party]] (PSDR), which had an internationalist social-democratic ideology, with the [[Party of Social Democracy in Romania]] (PDSR), whose governance was marked by a combination of [[social democracy]], [[democratic socialism]], [[Labour movement|labourism]], pragmatism, [[left-wing populism]], and nationalism.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Partiti, elezioni e mobilitazione politica nella romania post-comunista (1989-2000) |url=http://www.regione.toscana.it/documents/10180/452241/partiti%20elezioni%20-%20Q50/9bd72f76-8f3b-4cd5-9931-5deeb1fc3154 |website=Regione Toscana}}</ref> The 2003 absorption of the [[Socialist Party of Labour]] (PSM) and the Socialist Party of the National Renaissance (PSRN) led to the strengthening of the [[left-wing nationalism]] component within the party.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://adevarul.ro/news/politica/psd-fuzioneaza-psm-1_50abb4537c42d5a6637eeaa6/index.html|title = PSD fuzioneaza cu PSM| date=5 July 2003 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.evz.ro/detalii/stiri/tovarasii-string-rindurile-621604.html#selection-1123.0-1123.26 |title=Tovarasii string rindurile > EVZ.ro |website=www.evz.ro |access-date=3 February 2022 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130705233635/http://www.evz.ro/detalii/stiri/tovarasii-string-rindurile-621604.html#selection-1123.0-1123.26 |archive-date=5 July 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Until 2021<ref name="Gurzu 2019"/><ref name="Europe Elects 2018">{{cite web | title=Romania | website=[[Europe Elects]] | date=17 May 2018 | url=https://europeelects.eu/european-union/romania/ | access-date=17 October 2019}}</ref><ref name="The New York Times 2018">{{cite web | first=Kit | last=Gilet | title=Romania, Fighting the E.U., Prepares to Lead It | website=The New York Times | date=30 December 2018 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/30/world/europe/eu-presidency-romania.html | access-date=17 October 2019}}</ref><ref name="Europa Nu"/> unlike the majority of Western European PES party members and as other like-minded centre-left, social democratic parties in Central and Eastern European [[Post-communism|post-communism]], it has taken a more [[soft Eurosceptic]]<ref name="Gurzu 2019">{{cite web | last=Gurzu | first=Anca | title=Romania's rulers take Euroskeptic turn | website=Politico | date=13 March 2019 | url=https://www.politico.eu/article/romanias-rulers-take-euroskeptic-turn/ | access-date=17 October 2019}}</ref> outlook,<ref name="The New York Times 2018"/><ref name="Europa Nu">{{cite web | first= Sergiu | last=Gherghina | title=Friends or Foes? Romania and the Council Presidency | date=25 February 2019 | website=Europa Nu | url=https://www.europa-nu.nl/id/vkw8cuqf4jqw/nieuws/friends_or_foes_romania_and_the_council | access-date=17 October 2019}}</ref><ref name="Digi24 2019">{{cite web | title=Val de atacuri ale lui Dragnea la adresa UE: Noi nu am fost coloniști. Problema e că vin peste noi | website=Digi24 | date=12 April 2019 | url=https://www.digi24.ro/stiri/actualitate/politica/val-de-atacuri-ale-lui-dragnea-la-adresa-ue-noi-nu-am-fost-colonisti-problema-e-ca-vin-peste-noi-1112298 | language=ro | access-date=17 October 2019}}</ref> though it is neutral in regards to [[European integration]].<ref name="Europe Elects 2021">{{cite web | title=Romania | website=[[Europe Elects]] | date=2021 | url=https://europeelects.eu/european-union/romania/ | access-date=23 October 2021}}</ref> PSD stated that it endorses EU and NATO membership.<ref name="inpolitics.ro">{{Cite web|url=https://inpolitics.ro/familia-politica-traditionala-sau-un-referendum-pentru-rebranduirea-psd-si-pnl_18440554.html|title=Familia (Politica) traditionala sau un referendum pentru rebranduirea PSD si PNL|date=30 September 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.caleaeuropeana.ro/exclusiv-adrian-nastase-cum-a-intrat-romania-in-nato-si-ue-fara-sa-supere-rusia-ce-avantaje-am-ratat-la-zece-ani-de-la-tratatul-de-aderare-la-ue/|title = Exclusiv Adrian Năstase: Cum a Intrat România În Nato Și Ue Fără Să Supere Rusia. Ce Avantaje Am Ratat la Zece Ani de la Tratatul de Aderare la Ue?|date = 28 April 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/romanian/040130150104.shtml|title = BBC în limba română &#124; Forum &#124; //}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.caleaeuropeana.ro/fostul-presedinte-ion-iliescu-uniunea-europeana-nu-poate-fi-tap-ispasitor-pentru-egoismul-si-iresponsabilitatea-unor-lideri-politici-de-la-bucuresti-sau-de-la-bruxelles/|title = Fostul președinte Ion Iliescu: "Uniunea Europeană nu poate fi țap ispășitor pentru egoismul şi iresponsabilitatea unor lideri politici de la București sau de la Bruxelles"|date = 13 January 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.digi24.ro/stiri/actualitate/politica/10-ani-in-ue-ion-iliescu-succesul-ue-vital-pentru-reducerea-decalajelor-care-separa-romania-de-occident-641836|title=10 ani în UE &#124; Ion Iliescu: Succesul UE, vital pentru reducerea decalajelor care separă România de Occident|website=www.digi24.ro|date=January 2017 }}</ref> The party is more conservative than PES when it comes to social issues,<ref name="Dąborowski 2016"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.romania-insider.com/senate-referendum-traditional-family|title=Romanian Senate adopts referendum for traditional family|website=Romania Insider|date=12 September 2018|access-date=23 October 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://ziaristii.com/psd-aduce-artileria-grea-biserica-ortodoxa-e-aruncata-lupta-electorala-cu-nicio-luna-inaintea-alegerilor-prelatii-publica-un-decalog-pentru-enoriasi/|title=PSD aduce artileria grea: Biserica Ortodoxă e aruncată în lupta electorală. 'Decalog' pentru enoriașii alegători|website=Ziaristii|language=ro|date=10 November 2020|access-date=23 October 2021}}</ref> reflecting the country's social-conservative outlook,<ref>{{cite web|last=Ciobanu|first=Claudia|date=6 October 2017|url=http://www.politico.eu/article/romania-gay-marriage-turns-illiberal-with-moves-against/|title=Romania 'turns illiberal' with moves against gay marriage|website=Politico|access-date=23 October 2021}}</ref> including in its [[centre-right politics|centre-right]] counterpart, the [[National Liberal Party (Romania)|National Liberal Party]] (PNL).<ref name="openDemocracy 2016"/>

The party has been described as having [[centre-left politics|centre-left]] rhetoric and economic policies, while being more conservative on personal and ethical matters. According to Florin Poenaru, "the movement led by Ion Iliescu was from the very beginning the party of local capitalists and not of the industrial proletariat. ... PSD was the party that aggregated the interests of the autochthonous capitalists, but whose electoral basis was the former industrial proletariat."<ref name="Poenaru">{{cite book|first=Florin|last=Poenaru|title=Locuri comune: clasă, anticomunism, stânga|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=obWJswEACAAJ|year=2017|publisher=Editura Tact|isbn=978-606-8437-84-2}} apud {{cite web | first = Alex |last = Cistelecan | title= Materialismul evanescent | website = revistavatra.org | date=29 May 2017 | url=https://revistavatra.org/2017/05/29/alex-cistelecan-materialismul-evanescent/ | language=ro | access-date=4 December 2018}}</ref> Poenaru states that PSD never said no to the [[neoliberalism|neoliberal]] agenda but applied it rather slowly.<ref name="Poenaru"/> [[Andrei Pleșu]] once stated that the main [[Post-communism|post-communist]] Romanian parties do not act according to some ideology or doctrine.<ref>{{cite journal | first1=Andrei | last1=Pleșu | first2=Cristian | last2=Pătrășconiu | journal=Revista 22 PLUS | issue=301 | title=Orice doctrină devine periculoasă când se transformă în ideologie | date=31 August 2010 | url=https://revista22.ro/supliment/22-plus-nr-301-orice-doctrin259-devine-periculoas259-cand-se-transform259-in-ideologie | language=ro | access-date=17 October 2019}}</ref>

Political analyst Radu Magdin said that the PSD is "a catch-all party: its values are conservative, its economic policy is liberal and it has a social, left-leaning rhetoric when it comes to public policies." An example is their calls for both tax cuts and pensions and wages increase in 2016.<ref name="Carmen Paun"/> Its more conservative outlook is owed to the social-conservative nature of [[post-Communism|post-communist]] countries, and has been adopted by both the centre-left (PSD) and the [[centre-right politics|centre-right]] ([[National Liberal Party (Romania)|PNL]]).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mediafax.ro/politic/ion-cristoiu-iohannis-a-impus-o-atitudine-de-ura-fata-de-biserica-pentru-a-castiga-din-electoratul-usrplus-19764059|title=Ion Cristoiu: Iohannis a impus o atitudine de ură faţă de Biserică pentru a câştiga din electoratul USRPLUS|website=Mediafax.ro}}</ref> For Cornel Ban, Assistant Professor of International Relations at the Pardee School of Boston University, the PSD is an anomaly in Eastern Europe in that it was an ideal playground for [[right-wing populism|right-wing populist]] parties but has seen the [[left-wing politics|political left]] routinely win; this was in part because the [[right-wing politics|political right]] and [[far-right politics|far-right]] were in government, including at the local level, during the post-communist slumps which remained in the mind of many voters.<ref name="openDemocracy 2016"/> Journalist Jean-Baptiste Chastand said that the PSD-led [[Pro-Europeanism|pro-European]] government in Romania took a [[national conservatism|national conservative]] turn.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.lemonde.fr/international/article/2018/12/31/la-roumanie-sur-la-voie-de-la-hongrie-et-de-la-pologne_5403800_3210.html|title = La Roumanie sur la voie de la Hongrie et de la Pologne|newspaper = Le Monde.fr|date = 31 December 2018}}</ref> The historian [[:ro:Ioan Stanomir|Ioan Stanomir]] stated that PSD is a conservative party, that has nothing to do with the left,<ref>{{cite news| url = https://www.la-croix.com/Monde/Europe/Ioan-Stanomir-La-Roumanie-grand-probleme-damnesie-2017-03-09-1200830689| title = Ioan Stanomir : " La Roumanie a un grand problème d'amnésie "| newspaper = La Croix| date = 9 March 2017}}</ref> while journalist Bogdan Tiberiu Iacob described the party as [[progressive conservatism|progressive-conservative]].<ref name="inpolitics.ro"/> PSD also [[Anti-immigration|opposed]] the mandatory [[European refugee crisis|refugee quotas]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.digi24.ro/stiri/externe/mapamond/sef-psd-diaspora-nu-trebuie-sa-primim-refugiati-436253|title=Şef PSD Diaspora: Nu trebuie să primim refugiaţi|website=www.digi24.ro|date=9 September 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.rfi.ro/politica-81133-ana-birchall-psd-cotele-obligatorii-de-distribuire-imigrantilor-ar-fi-o-mare-greseala|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150919184109/http://www.rfi.ro/politica-81133-ana-birchall-psd-cotele-obligatorii-de-distribuire-imigrantilor-ar-fi-o-mare-greseala|url-status = dead|archive-date = 19 September 2015|title = Ana Birchall (PSD): Cotele obligatorii de distribuire a imigranţilor ar fi o mare greşeală|date = 8 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ziare.com/liviu-dragnea/psd/dragnea-parca-nu-as-vrea-sa-vad-mii-de-imigranti-pe-strazile-bucurestiului-1381289|title = Dragnea: Parca nu as vrea sa vad mii de imigranti pe strazile Bucurestiului}}</ref> Journalist Daniel Mihăilescu labeled the party as [[right-wing populism|national populist]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.diepresse.com/5552116/rumaenien-startet-eu-ratsvorsitz-mit-neuer-attacke-gegen-justizsystem|title = Rumänien startet EU-Ratsvorsitz mit neuer Attacke gegen Justizsystem|date = 27 December 2018}}</ref> [[Deutsche Welle]] stated that, unlike most European Social-democratic parties, PSD is against [[social progressivism]] and is strongly conservative.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.dw.com/ro/ciolacu-%C3%AEntre-patriotismul-economic-%C8%99i-ajutorul-divin/a-65904409 | title=Ciolacu între "patriotismul economic" și "ajutorul divin" – DW – 13.06.2023 | website=[[Deutsche Welle]] }}</ref> Journalist and philosipher [[:ro:Andrei Cornea|Andrei Cornea]] also stated that PSD is not a social-democratic party, but a patrimonial-conservative one, structured around vassalism and clientelism, whose essential electoral pool is formed by a poor, ignorant and especially devoid of civic conscience.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://revista22.ro/opinii/andrei-cornea/este-psd-un-partid-social-democrat | title=Este PSD un partid social-democrat? &#124; Revista 22 | date=4 April 2017 }}</ref> PSD has also [[ethno-nationalist]] factions.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://emerging-europe.com/from-the-editor/romanias-wake-up-call/ | title=What's behind the sudden rise of a far-right party in Romania? | date=8 December 2020 }}</ref> Under Dragnea's leadership, PSD has been described as [[national populism|national populist]] and [[sovereigntism|sovereigntist]].<ref>{{cite news | url=https://romania.europalibera.org/a/psd-se-inscrie-in-randul-populistilor-europeni-de-la-vorbele-din-discurs-la-faptele-transpuse-in-legi/29941786.html | title=PSD se înscrie între populiștii suveraniști europeni. De la vorbele din discurs la faptele transpuse în legi | newspaper=Europa Liberă România | date=15 May 2019 | last1=Rădulescu | first1=Adelina }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=https://moldova.europalibera.org/a/de-ce-nu-este-psd-un-partid-de-st%C3%A2nga/29414714.html | title=De ce nu este PSD un partid de stânga? | language=ro | trans-title=Why is PSD not a left-wing party? | website=moldova.europalibera.org}}</ref> [[The PopuList]] labeled PSD under [[Victor Ponta]] and [[Liviu Dragnea]] as "nationalist, [[Economic liberalism|economically liberal]], socially conservative".<ref>{{Cite web | title=Analiză {{!}} Fragilizarea democrației. Extremismul și populismul pe cai mari în Europa. Riscul AUR pentru România | url=https://romania.europalibera.org/a/analiz%C4%83-fragilizarea-democra%C8%9Biei-extremismul-%C8%99i-populismul-pe-cai-mari-%C3%AEn-europa-riscul-aur-pentru-rom%C3%A2nia/32710955.html | access-date=2024-12-25 | website=romania.europalibera.org}}</ref>

In regards to [[LGBT rights in Romania|LGBT rights]], in general, PSD opposes the [[Recognition of same-sex unions in Romania|recognition of same-sex marriages and civil partnerships]]. However, in 2018, then PSD president [[Liviu Dragnea]] hinted that PSD could support the recognition of [[civil partnerships]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-politic-22363666-dragnea-vrea-lanseze-dezbatere-despre-legiferarea-parteneriatului-civil-minoritate-care-nu-putem-face-nu-vedem-sau-nu-exista.htm | title=Dragnea vrea să lanseze o dezbatere despre legiferarea parteneriatului civil: E o minoritate pe care nu ne putem face că nu o vedem sau că nu există | date=26 March 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://stirileprotv.ro/stiri/politic/dragnea-despre-proiectul-legii-pentru-parteneriatul-civil-eventual-facem-referendum.html | title=Dragnea, despre proiectul Legii pentru parteneriatul civil. "Eventual facem referendum" }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://moldova.europalibera.org/a/29213280.html | title=Liviu Dragnea: Parteneriatul civil între persoanele de același sex trebuie legiferat în România | newspaper=Radio Europa Liberă | date=7 May 2018 | last1=Moldova | first1=Europa Liberă }}</ref> Also, in January 2001, it was the PSD-dominated [[Adrian Năstase]]'s government that adopted the Emergency Ordinance no. 89/2001,<ref>{{in lang|ro}} [http://lege5.ro/Gratuit/gmzdanrr/ordonanta-de-urgenta-nr-89-2001-pentru-modificarea-si-completarea-unor-dispozitii-din-codul-penal-referitoare-la-infractiuni-privind-viata-sexuala Ordonanța de urgență nr. 89/2001 pentru modificarea și completarea unor dispoziții din Codul penal referitoare la infracțiuni privind viața sexuală] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181220205108/https://lege5.ro/Gratuit/gmzdanrr/ordonanta-de-urgenta-nr-89-2001-pentru-modificarea-si-completarea-unor-dispozitii-din-codul-penal-referitoare-la-infractiuni-privind-viata-sexuala |date=20 December 2018 }}, text published in the Official Gazette of Romania</ref> which eliminated Art. 200 of the Penal Code and adjusted other articles referring to sex offences to avoid discriminatory treatment of offenders, thus legalising same-sex relations.<ref>{{cite book |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-3ihAwAAQBAJ&q=lgbt+rights+in+romania&pg=PA58 |chapter=Hierarchies of Difference: National Identity, Gay and Lesbian Rights, and the Church in Postcommunist Romania |title=Sexuality and Gender in Postcommunist Eastern Europe and Russia |author=Voichița Năchescu |publisher=Routledge |date=22 May 2014 |page=58 |isbn=978-1-317-95559-7}}</ref> This ordinance came into force in January 2002, after President [[Ion Iliescu]] (the founder of PSD) signed the new law.<ref>{{Cite web| title=From legal tolerance to social acceptance: predictors of heterosexism in Romania | first=Viviana | last=Andreescu | url=http://www.revistadesociologie.ro/pdf-uri/nr3-4-2011/02-VAndreescu.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160808212340/http://www.revistadesociologie.ro/pdf-uri/nr3-4-2011/02-VAndreescu.pdf | archive-date=2016-08-08}}</ref> However, the former president of the Social Democrats, [[Marcel Ciolacu]], was a strong opponent to the recognition of same-sex marriage and the civil partnership.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.g4media.ro/marcel-ciolacu-despre-decizia-cedo-referitoare-la-parteneriatul-civil-nu-este-pregatita-societatea-romaneasca-europa-fm.html | title=Marcel Ciolacu, despre decizia CEDO referitoare la parteneriatul civil: Nu este pregătită societatea românească - Europa FM | date=23 November 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.news.ro/social/ciolacu-despre-decizia-cedo-referitoare-la-parteneriatul-civil-intre-persoane-de-acelasi-sex-societatea-romaneasca-inca-nu-e-pregatita-nu-este-nici-prima-nici-ultima-care-condamna-1922400623002023111921396670 | title=Ciolacu, despre decizia CEDO referitoare la parteneriatul civil între persoane de acelaşi sex: Societatea românească încă nu e pregătită. Nu este nici prima, nici ultima care condamnă | date=23 November 2023 }}</ref>

The party has strong connections with the [[Romanian Orthodox Church]] (BOR), reflecting the party's [[social conservatism]].

== Structure ==
=== President ===
The president of the party conducts the general activity of the party, the activity of the National Executive Committee and the National Permanent Bureau and responds to the Congress on the general work of the PSD. The president is elected by secret vote by the Congress for a four-year mandate and represents the party in the Romanian society, in relations with the central and local public authorities, as well as with other parties or organizations in the country or abroad.

=== Honorary President ===
PSD Honorary President is nominated by Congress for the four-year mandate of the party's recognized personalities. The Honorary President of the PSD participates with the right to vote in the work of the national governing bodies.

=== Secretary-General ===
The Secretary-General manages the functional services at the central level and the relationship with the county and Bucharest organizations. It coordinates the Executive Secretariat of the PSD with 7 to 9 executive secretaries. Executive secretaries shall be appointed by the National Executive Committee, on a proposal from the chair, after consulting the Secretary-General.

=== Permanent National Bureau ===
The Permanent National Bureau is the operative body for analyzing and deciding the party. It has the following composition: PSD President, PSD Honorary President, PSD Secretary General, PSD Deputy Chairpersons. At the National Permanent Bureau, the chairman of the National Council, the leaders of the parliamentary groups, the presidents of women and youth organizations, the treasurer, the director of the Social Democratic Institute, the representative of the county administrative council presidents, the mayors of municipalities and the representative of the National League of Mayors and PSD Councilors participate. The National Permanent Bureau meets weekly, usually Monday.

The Permanent National Bureau have the following duties:
* To organize and direct the entire activity of the party according to the decisions adopted as appropriate by the Congress, the National Council, and the National Executive Committee.
* Drafts draft decisions that it submits to the debate and adoption of the National Executive Committee.
* Orientates the work of parliamentary groups.
* Establishes and coordinates working committees on doctrine, electoral programs, and strategies.
* Establishes and co-ordinates political analysis groups of the economic, social, domestic and international situation.
* Manages the party's patrimony.

=== National Executive Committee ===
Coordinates the entire activity of the party between the meetings of the National Council. The PSD National Executive Committee analyzes, debates and decides on the fundamental issues of the Party's work on: the program, the electoral strategy, the political and electoral alliances, the governing program, the structure and the nominal composition of the Government, the validation of the party's preliminary election for the nomination of candidates for senators, MEPs, MEPs, and elected local, merging by absorption or merging with other parties; PSD collaboration agreements with trade unions and employers' confederations; the strategy of selecting, preparing, training and promoting the party's human resources, organizing and conducting internal party choices, coordinating the activities of the Youth Organization and the Women's Organization.

The adopted decisions are validated by the National Council. The National Executive Committee consists of PSD President, PSD Honorary President, PSD Secretary General, PSD Vice Presidents, President of the National Council, Presidents of County Organizations, Sectors and the Bucharest Municipality Organization, the president of the Women's Organization and the president of the Youth Organization.

=== National Council ===
[[File:Adrian Nastase la Consiliul National al PSD (10776937183).jpg|thumb|200px|[[Adrian Năstase]] during a meeting of the National Council in November 2013]]
The National Council is the governing body of the party in the interval between two congresses. It consists of a maximum of 751 members elected from the candidates nominated by the County and Bucharest Conferences, or proposed by the Congress. The National Council elects and revokes by secret vote the president of the National Council and the treasurer, validates the composition of the National Executive Committee and The Permanent National Bureau; decides to conclude political alliances as well as merge by merging or absorbing with other political parties or political parties; to hear the activity reports submitted by members of the Permanent National Bureau, by the Chairman of the Commission for Arbitration and Moral Integrity, by the president of the National Commission for Financial Control and Treasurer and decides accordingly on the basis of the mandate given by the Congress, according to the provisions of the Statute; is responsible for organizing presidential, parliamentary, euro-parliamentary and local electoral campaigns; analyzes the work of parliamentary groups, women's and youth organizations, the National League of Mayors and PSD Councilors; validates the decisions of the National Executive Committee on the Governance Program and confirms the proposals of members of the Government; resolve the appeals lodged against the decisions of the councils of the county organizations or of the Bucharest municipality; resolves the divergences between the Councils of the County Organizations, respectively the Bucharest Municipality Organization and the National Executive Committee in connection with the nomination of the candidates for the legislative elections, if they persist; approves the party's annual revenue and expenditure budget, decides on its execution.

The PSD National Council meets annually and whenever needed. Deputies, senators and MEPs who are not members of the National Council participate in its meetings without the right to vote. The National Council may decide, on a proposal from the Permanent National Bureau, to organize forums, leagues, associations, clubs and other such bodies for the promotion of strategies in the PSD Political Program, in the Romanian society and in partnership with the trade unions. The party-union relationship as well as the concrete ways of collaboration will be established by the National Permanent Bureau. Within the PSD there are: the National Workers' Forum; National Farmers Forum; National Ecologists' Forum; The National Forum of Scientists, Culture and Art and the Pensioners' League. In order to develop PSD programs and strategies in the field of party life, consultative councils can be set up on: political analysis, image and relations with the media; organization and human resources. The Consultative Council for the Problems of National Minorities of the PSD carries out activities to identify the specific problems faced by national minorities in Romania and develops appropriate solutions and proposals for their resolution.

=== Congress ===
The supreme governing party of the Social Democratic Party is the Congress, which is convened every four years or in extraordinary cases. The PSD Congress is made up of elected delegates by secret ballot by the County Conferences and the Bucharest Municipality and has the following attributions: adopting or modifying the PSD Statute and the Political Program of the Party; sets out the party's guidelines, strategy and tactics for the period between two congresses; elects the party chairman, the vice-presidents, the general secretary, the other members of the National Council, the National Commission for Arbitration and Moral Integrity and the National Commission for Financial Control; appoints the PSD candidate to the position of President of Romania and the prime minister in the event of winning the elections; resolves possible appeals against decisions of other PSD central bodies.

== Party leadership ==

{{legend|red|Also served as [[President of Romania]]|outline=silver}}
{{legend|#FA8072|Also served as [[Prime Minister of Romania|Prime Minister]]|outline=silver}}
{{legend|#FF6347|Also served as [[Chamber of Deputies (Romania)|Chamber]] [[President of the Chamber of Deputies of Romania|President]]|outline=silver}}
{{legend|#F08080|Also served as [[Senate of Romania|Senate]] [[President of the Senate of Romania|President]]|outline=silver}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! style="background:#ccc;"| Nº
! style="background:#ccc;"| Name<br />{{small|Birth–Death}}
! style="background:#ccc;"| Portrait
! style="background:#ccc;"| Term start
! style="background:#ccc;"| Term end
! style="background:#ccc;"| Duration
|- style="background:red"
! 1
| [[Ion Iliescu]]<br />{{small|(1930–2025)}}
| [[File:Ion Iliescu - Sep 2003.jpg|60px]]
| 7 April 1992
| 11 October 1992
| {{nowrap|{{age in years, months and days|1992|4|7|1992|10|11}}}}
|- style="background:#F08080"
! 2
| [[Oliviu Gherman]]<br />{{small|(1930–2020)}}
|
| 11 October 1992
| January 1997
| {{circa}} 4 years and 2 months
|- style="background:red"
! (1)
| [[Ion Iliescu]]<br />{{small|(1930–2025)}}
| [[File:Ion Iliescu - Sep 2003.jpg|60px]]
| January 1997
| 20 December 2000
| {{circa}} 4 years
|- style="background:#FA8072"
! 3
| [[Adrian Năstase]]<sup>1</sup><br />{{small|(1950– )}}
| [[File:Adrian Năstase3.jpg|60px]]
| 20 December 2000
| 21 January 2005
| {{nowrap|{{age in years, months and days|2000|12|20|2005|1|21}}}}
|- style="background:#F08080"
! 4
| [[Mircea Geoană]]<br />{{small|(1958– }}
| [[File:Mircea Geoană - Feb 2024.jpg|60px]]
| 2005
| 2010
| {{circa}} 5 years
|- style="background:#FA8072"
! 5
| [[Victor Ponta]]<br />{{small|(1972– }}
| [[File:Victor Ponta debate November 2014.jpg|60px]]
| 21 February 2010
| 12 July 2015
| {{nowrap|{{age in years, months and days|2010|2|21|2015|7|12}}}}
|-
! —
| [[Rovana Plumb]]<br />{{small|''([[acting (law)|acting]])''}}<br />{{small|(1960– }}
| [[File:Mitingul Electoral al Aliantei PSD-UNPR-PC, Galati - 10.05 (14) (14278213368).jpg|60px]]
| 24 June 2015
| 22 July 2015
| {{nowrap|{{age in years, months and days|2015|6|24|2015|7|22}}}}
|- style="background:#FF6347"
! —
| [[Liviu Dragnea]]<br />{{small|''([[acting (law)|acting]])''}}<br /><small>(1962– )</small>
| rowspan="2" | [[File:Victor Ponta la semnarea declaratiei politice privind infiintarea USL 2.0 - 14.11 (3) (15621867427) (cropped).jpg|60px]]
| 22 July 2015
| 12 October 2015
| {{nowrap|{{age in years, months and days|2015|7|22|2015|10|12}}}}
|- style="background:#FF6347"
! 6
| [[Liviu Dragnea]] <br /><small>(1962– )</small>
| 12 October 2015
| 27 May 2019
| {{nowrap|{{age in years, months and days|2015|10|12|2019|5|27}}}}
|-
|- style="background:#FA8072"
! 7
| [[Viorica Dăncilă]] <br /><small>(1963– </small>
| [[File:Viorica Dăncilă June 2019.jpg|60px]]
| 27 May 2019
| 26 November 2019
| {{nowrap|{{age in years, months and days|2019|5|27|2019|11|26}}}}
|- style="background:#FA8072"
! —
| [[Marcel Ciolacu]]<br />{{small|''([[acting (law)|acting]])''}}<br />{{small|(1967– }}
| rowspan="2" | [[File:Original govr4457 (cropped).jpg|60px]]
| 26 November 2019
| 22 August 2020
| {{nowrap|{{age in years, months and days|2019|11|26|2020|8|22}}}}
|- style="background:#FA8072"
! 8
| [[Marcel Ciolacu]] <br />{{small|(1967– }}
| 22 August 2020
| 25 November 2024
| {{nowrap|{{age in years, months and days|2020|8|22|2024|11|25}}}}
|-
! —
| [[Victor Negrescu]]<br />{{small|''([[acting (law)|acting]])''}}<br />{{small|(1985– }}
| [[File:1649591689427 20200203 NEGRESCU Victor RO 009.jpg|60px]]
| 25 November 2024
| 3 December 2024
| {{nowrap|{{age in years, months and days|2024|11|24|2024|12|3}}}}
|-style="background:#FA8072"
!(8)
| [[Marcel Ciolacu]] <br />{{small|(1967– }}
| [[File:Original govr4457 (cropped).jpg|60px]]
| 3 December 2024
| 20 May 2025
| {{nowrap|{{age in years, months and days|2024|12|3|2025|5|20}}}}
|-
|- style="background:#FA8072"
! —
| [[Sorin Grindeanu]] <br />{{small|''([[acting (law)|acting]])''}}<br />{{small|(1973– }}
| rowspan="2" | [[File:Sorin Grindeanu in Geneva - 2018 (25019917997) (cropped).jpg|60px]]
| 20 May 2025
| 7 November 2025
| {{nowrap|{{age in years, months and days|2025|5|20|2025|11|7}}}}
|-
|- style="background:#FA8072"
!9
|[[Sorin Grindeanu]] <br />{{small|(1973– }}
|7 November 2025
|''present''
|{{age in years, months and days|2025|11|7}}
|}

; Notes
<sup>1</sup> Năstase served twice as [[President of the Chamber of Deputies of Romania|Chamber President]], the first term from March 1992 to May 1996, while the second from December 2004 to March 2006.

=== Presidents ===

* [[Oliviu Gherman]]: 1992–1996 (FDSN/PDSR);
* [[Ion Iliescu]]: 1992, 1997–2000 (PDSR);
* [[Adrian Năstase]]: 2000–2005 ([[acting (law)|acting]]/ad interim until 2001) (PDSR/PSD);
* [[Mircea Geoană]]: 2005–2010 (PSD);
* [[Victor Ponta]]: 2010–2015 (PSD);
* ''[[Rovana Plumb]]'': 2015 ([[acting (law)|acting]]/ad interim) (PSD);
* [[Liviu Dragnea]]: 2015–2019 (PSD);
* [[Viorica Dăncilă]]: 2019 (PSD);
* [[Marcel Ciolacu]]: 2019–2025 ([[acting (law)|acting]]/ad interim until 2020) (PSD).
* ''[[Sorin Grindeanu]]'': 2025-present ([[Acting (law)|acting/ad interim]]) (PSD).

=== Executive presidents ===

* [[Adrian Năstase]]: 1993–1997;
* ''position abolished'' 1997–2003;
* [[Octav Cozmâncă]]: 2003–2005;
* [[Adrian Năstase]]: 2005–2006;
* {{ill|Dan Mircea Popescu|ro}}: 2005–2006, when the office was dissolved (nominated [[acting (law)|acting]]/ad interim after the resignation of [[Adrian Năstase]] from the office);
* ''position abolished'' 2006–2013;
* [[Liviu Dragnea]]: 2013–2015;
* [[Valeriu Zgonea]]: 2015–2016;
* {{ill|Niculae Bădălău|ro}}: 2016–2018;
* [[Viorica Dăncilă]]: 2018–2019;
* ''[[Paul Stănescu]]'': 2019 ([[acting (law)|acting]]/ad interim);
* [[Eugen Teodorovici]]: 2019;
* ''position abolished'': 2019–present.

== Notable members ==

=== Current notable members ===

* [[Nicolae Văcăroiu]], former prime minister of Romania;
* [[Alexandru Athanasiu]], former acting prime minister;
* [[Viorel Hrebenciuc]], former deputy;
* [[Eugen Bejinariu]], former acting prime minister;
* [[Ilie Sârbu]], former president of the Senate;
* [[Paul Stănescu]], former deputy prime minister as well as Minister of Regional Development;
* [[Ecaterina Andronescu]], former Minister of Education;
* [[Marcel Ciolacu]], former prime minister of Romania;
* [[Gabriela Firea]], former mayor of Bucharest;
* [[Rovana Plumb]], MEP, Minister of Environment, Minister of Labour;
* [[Mihai Tudose]], former prime minister of Romania;
* [[Sorin Grindeanu]], former prime minister of Romania;
* [[Mihai Fifor]], former acting prime minister of Romania;
* [[Dan Nica]], former deputy and current MEP;
* [[Lia Olguța Vasilescu]], Mayor of Craiova, Minister of Labour;
* [[Alexandru Rafila]], current Health Minister.

=== Former notable members ===

* Titus Corlățean, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, former Minister of Justice;
* [[Gabriel Oprea]], former army general (now general in army reserves), former Minister of National Defence, former deputy prime minister of Romania, former Minister of Internal Affairs, former acting prime minister of Romania;
* [[Ion Iliescu]], founder of the party the party FDSN which then became PDSR and ultimately as PSD, former president of Romania, and Honorary President of PSD;
* [[Corina Crețu]], former [[European Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms]];
* [[Viorica Dăncilă]], former president of the party, former prime minister of Romania;
* [[Adrian Năstase]], former president of the party, former prime minister of Romania as well as former Minister of Foreign Affairs;
* [[Ilie Năstase]], former [[List of ATP number 1 ranked players|No. 1]] [[tennis player]]
* [[Teodor Meleșcanu]], former Minister of Defence, former acting Minister of Justice, former Director of the Foreign Intelligence; Service (SRI), former Minister of Foreign Affairs three times, former president of the Senate;
* [[Robert Negoiță]], former mayor of the [[Sector 3 (Bucharest)|3rd Sector]] of Bucharest;
* [[Mircea Geoană]], former president of the party, former president of the Senate as well as former Minister of Foreign Affairs;
* [[Sorin Oprescu]], former mayor of Bucharest;
* [[Marian Vanghelie]], former mayor of the [[Sector 5 (Bucharest)|5th Sector]] of Bucharest;
* [[Radu Mazăre]], former mayor of Constanța;
* [[Victor Ponta]], former president of the party as well as former prime minister of Romania;
* [[Valeriu Zgonea]], former president of the Chamber of Deputies;
* [[Liviu Dragnea]], former president of the party as well as former president of the Chamber of Deputies;
* [[Oliviu Gherman]], former president of the party as well as former president of the Chamber of Deputies;
* [[Șerban Valeca]], acting president of the Senate;
* [[Hildegard Puwak]], former [[Ministry of European Integration (Romania)|Minister for European Integration]];
* [[Antonie Iorgovan]], lead author of the [[Constitution of Romania|1991 Romanian Constitution]];
* [[Sebastian Ghiță]], former member of the [[Chamber of Deputies (Romania)|Chamber of Deputies]];
* [[Cristian Diaconescu]], former State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, former Minister of Justice, former Minister of Foreign Affairs twice.

== Election results ==
=== Legislative elections ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: right;"
! rowspan="2" |Year
! colspan="3" |[[Chamber of Deputies (Romania)|Chamber]]
! colspan="3" |[[Senate of Romania|Senate]]
! rowspan="2" |Position
! rowspan="2" |Aftermath
|-
!Votes
!%
!Seats
!Votes
!%
!Seats
|-
![[1992 Romanian general election|1992]]
|3,015,708
|27.72
|{{Composition bar|117|341|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}}}
|3,102,201
|28.29
|{{Composition bar|49|143|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}}}
|style="text-align: center;"|{{color box|Gold|1st|border=silver}}<br />(as [[Democratic National Salvation Front|FDSN]])
|{{yes2|PDSR-[[Romanian National Unity Party|PUNR]]-[[Greater Romania Party|PRM]]-[[Socialist Party of Labour|PSM]] government (1992–1996)}}
|-
![[1996 Romanian general election|1996]]
|2,633,860
|21.52
|{{Composition bar|91|343|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}}}
|2,836,011
|23.08
|{{Composition bar|41|143|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}}}
|style="text-align: center;"|{{color box|Silver|2nd|border=silver}}<br />(as PDSR)
|{{no2|Opposition to [[Romanian Democratic Convention|CDR]]-[[Social Democratic Union (Romania)|USD]]-[[Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania|UDMR]] government (1996–2000)}}
|-
![[2000 Romanian general election|2000]]
|''3,968,464''
|''36.61''
|{{Composition bar|139|345|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}}}
|''4,040,212''
|''37.09''
|{{Composition bar|59|140|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}}}
|style="text-align: center;"|{{color box|Gold|1st|border=silver}}<br />(within [[Social Democratic Pole of Romania|PDSR]])<sup>1</sup>
|{{yes2|[[Social Democratic Pole of Romania|PDSR]] minority government (2000–2004)}}
|-
!rowspan=2|[[2004 Romanian general election|2004]]
|rowspan=2|''3,730,352''
|rowspan=2|''36.61''
|rowspan=2|{{Composition bar|113|332|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}}}
|rowspan=2|''3,798,607''
|rowspan=2|''36.30''
|rowspan=2|{{Composition bar|46|137|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}}}
|rowspan=2; style="text-align: center;"|{{color box|Gold|1st|border=silver}}<br />(within [[National Union PSD+PUR|PSD+PUR]])<sup>2</sup>
|{{no2|Opposition to [[Justice and Truth Alliance|DA]]-[[Conservative Party (Romania)|PUR]]<sup>3</sup>-[[Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania|UDMR]] government (2004–2007)}}
|-
|{{partial|Endorsing [[National Liberal Party (Romania)|PNL]]-[[Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania|UDMR]] minority government (2007–2008)}}
|-
!rowspan=3|[[2008 Romanian parliamentary election|2008]]
|rowspan=3|''2,279,449''
|rowspan=3|''33.10''
|rowspan=3|{{Composition bar|110|334|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}}}
|rowspan=3|''2,352,968''
|rowspan=3|''34.16''
|rowspan=3|{{Composition bar|48|137|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}}}
|rowspan=3; style="text-align: center;"|{{color box|Silver|2nd|border=silver}}<br />(within [[Alliance PSD+PC|PSD+PC]])<sup>4</sup>
|{{yes2|[[Democratic Liberal Party (Romania)|PDL]]-PSD government (2008–2009)}}
|-
|{{no2|Opposition to [[Democratic Liberal Party (Romania)|PDL]]-[[National Union for the Progress of Romania|UNPR]]-[[Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania|UDMR]] government (2009–2012)}}
|-
|{{yes2|[[Social Liberal Union|USL]] government (2012)}}
|-
!rowspan=4|[[2012 Romanian parliamentary election|2012]]
|rowspan=4|''4,344,288''
|rowspan=4|''58.63''
|rowspan=4|{{Composition bar|149|412|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}}}
|rowspan=4|''4,457,526''
|rowspan=4|''60.10''
|rowspan=4|{{Composition bar|58|176|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}}}
|rowspan=4; style="text-align: center;"|{{color box|Gold|1st|border=silver}}<br />(within [[Social Liberal Union|USL]])<sup>5</sup>
|{{yes2|[[Social Liberal Union|USL]] government (2012–2014)}}
|-
|{{yes2|PSD-[[National Union for the Progress of Romania|UNPR]]-[[Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania|UDMR]]-[[Conservative Party (Romania)|PC]] government (2014)}}
|-
|{{yes2|PSD-[[National Union for the Progress of Romania|UNPR]]-[[Alliance of Liberals and Democrats (Romania)|ALDE]] government (2014–2015)}}
|-
|{{partial|Endorsing the [[technocracy|technocratic]] [[Cioloș Cabinet]] (2015–2017)}}
|-
!rowspan=4|[[2016 Romanian parliamentary election|2016]]
|rowspan=4|3,204,864
|rowspan=4|45.48
|rowspan=4|{{Composition bar|154|329|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}}}
|rowspan=4|3,221,786
|rowspan=4|45.68
|rowspan=4|{{Composition bar|67|136|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}}}
|rowspan=4; style="text-align: center;"|{{color box|Gold|1st|border=silver}}
| {{yes2|PSD-[[Alliance of Liberals and Democrats (Romania)|ALDE]] government}} (2017–2019)
|-
| {{yes2|PSD minority government}} (2019)
|-
| {{partial|Endorsing [[National Liberal Party (Romania)|PNL]] minority government}} (2019–2020)
|-
| {{no2|Opposition to [[National Liberal Party (Romania)|PNL]] minority government}} (2020)
|-
! rowspan="3" |[[2020 Romanian parliamentary election|2020]]
| rowspan="3" |1,705,777
| rowspan="3" |28.90
| rowspan="3" |{{Composition bar|110|330|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}}}
| rowspan="3" |1,732,276
| rowspan="3" |29.32
| rowspan="3" |{{Composition bar|47|136|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}}}
| rowspan=3; style="text-align: center;"|{{color box|Gold|1st|border=silver}}
|{{no2|Opposition to [[National Liberal Party (Romania)|PNL]]-[[USR PLUS]]-[[Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania|UDMR]] government}} (2020–2021)
|-
|{{no2|Opposition to [[National Liberal Party (Romania)|PNL]]-[[Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania|UDMR]] minority government}} (2021)
|-
|{{yes2|[[National Coalition for Romania|CNR]] government (2021–2024)}}
|-
!rowspan="3" |[[2024 Romanian parliamentary election|2024]]
|rowspan="3" |2,029,906
|rowspan="3" |21.96
|rowspan="3" |{{Composition bar|86|331|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}}}
|rowspan="3" |2,065,087
|rowspan="3" |22.30
|rowspan="3" |{{Composition bar|36|136|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}}}
| rowspan=3; style="text-align: center;"|{{color box|Gold|1st|border=silver}}
|{{yes2|PSD-[[National Liberal Party (Romania)|PNL]]-[[Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania|UDMR]] minority government}} (2024–2025)
|-
|{{no2|Opposition to [[National Liberal Party (Romania)|PNL]]-[[Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania|UDMR]] minority government}} (2025)
|-
|{{yes2|'''PSD'''-[[National Liberal Party (Romania)|PNL]]–[[Save Romania Union|USR]]-[[Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania|UDMR]] government}} (2025–present)
|}

; Notes:
<sup>1</sup><small>[[Social Democratic Pole of Romania]] members: PDSR, [[Romanian Social Democratic Party (1990–2001)|PSDR]] (2 senators and 10 deputies), and [[Conservative Party (Romania)|PUR]] (4 senators and 6 deputies).</small><br>
<sup>2</sup><small>[[National Union PSD+PUR]] members: PSD and [[Conservative Party (Romania)|PUR]] (11 senators and 19 deputies).</small><br>
<sup>3</sup><small>Soon after the elections, [[Conservative Party (Romania)|PUR]] broke the alliance with the PSD and switched sides, joining the government led by the [[Justice and Truth Alliance]] (DA).</small><br>
<sup>4</sup><small>[[Alliance PSD+PC]] members: PSD and [[Conservative Party (Romania)|PC]] (1 senator and 4 deputies).</small><br>
<sup>5</sup><small>The [[Social Liberal Union]] (USL) was an alliance consisting of two smaller alliances, more specifically the [[Centre Left Alliance]] (ACS) and the [[Centre Right Alliance]] (ACD). The members of the [[Centre Left Alliance]] (ACS) were the PSD and the [[National Union for the Progress of Romania|UNPR]] (5 senators and 10 deputies) whereas the members of the [[Centre Right Alliance]] (ACD) were the [[National Liberal Party (Romania)|PNL]] (50 senators and 100 deputies) and the [[Conservative Party (Romania)|PC]] (8 senators and 13 deputies).</small>

=== Local elections ===

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: right;"
! rowspan="2"| Year
! colspan="3"| County councilors
! colspan="3"| Mayors
! colspan="3"| Local councilors
! rowspan="2"| Popular vote
! rowspan="2"| %
! rowspan="2"| Position
|-
!Votes
!%
!Seats
!Votes
!%
!Seats
!Votes
!%
!Seats
|-
![[1996 Romanian local elections|1996]]
|1,390,225
|16.28
|{{Composition bar|290|1718|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}}}
|2,713,095
|26.28
|{{Composition bar|928|2954|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}}}
|1,716,899
|18.82
|{{Composition bar|9483|33429|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
!style="text-align: center;"|{{color box|Gold|1st|border=silver}}
|-
![[2000 Romanian local elections|2000]]
|2,241,930
|27.4
|{{Composition bar|496|1718|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}}}
|2,416,598
|27.4
|{{Composition bar|1050|2954|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}}}
|2,197,719
|25.8
|{{Composition bar|11380|39718|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
!style="text-align: center;"|{{color box|Gold|1st|border=silver}}
|-
![[2004 Romanian local elections|2004]]
|2,957,617
|32.70
|{{Composition bar|543|1436|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}}}
|3,908,895
|41.83
|{{Composition bar|1702|3137|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}}}
|2,951,226
|31.88
|{{Composition bar|14990|40031|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
!style="text-align: center;"|{{color box|Gold|1st|border=silver}}
|-
![[2008 Romanian local elections|2008]]
|2,337,102
|27.97
|{{Composition bar|452|1393|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}}}
|2,717,490
|30.77
|{{Composition bar|1138|3179|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}}}
|2,268,271
|26.67
|{{Composition bar|12137|40297|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
!style="text-align: center;"|{{color box|Silver|2nd|border=silver}}
|-
![[2012 Romanian local elections|2012]]
|''4,203,007''
|''49.68''
|{{Composition bar|723|1338|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}}}
|''2,782,792''
|''33.99''
|{{Composition bar|1292|3121|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}}}
|''2,630,123''
|''32.74''
|{{Composition bar|12668|39121|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
!style="text-align: center;"|{{color box|Gold|1st|border=silver}}<br />(as [[Social Liberal Union|USL]])
|-
![[2016 Romanian local elections|2016]]
|3,270,909
|39.60
|{{Composition bar|638|1434|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}}}
|3,330,213
|38.98
|{{Composition bar|1708|3186|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}}}
|3,161,046
|37.70
|{{Composition bar|16969|40067|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
!style="text-align: center;"|{{color box|Gold|1st|border=silver}}
|-
![[2020 Romanian local elections|2020]]
|1,605,721
|22.32
|{{Composition bar|362|1340|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}}}
|2,262,791
|30.34
|{{Composition bar|1362|3176|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}}}
|2,090,777
|28.40
|{{Composition bar|13820|39900|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
!style="text-align: center;"|{{color box|Silver|2nd|border=silver}}
|-
![[2024 Romanian local elections|2024]]
|TBD
|33.50
|{{Composition bar|550|1338|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}}}
|TBD
|34.74
|{{Composition bar|1677|3180|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}}}
|TBD
|32.56
|{{Composition bar|16509|39900|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}}}
!TBD
!TBD
!style="text-align: center;"|{{color box|Gold|1st|border=silver}}
|-
|}

{|class="wikitable" style="text-align: right;"
! rowspan="2"| Year
! colspan="3"| County presidents
! rowspan="2"| Position
|-
!Votes
!%
!Seats
|-
![[1992 Romanian local elections|1992]]
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{Composition bar|30|41|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}}}
!style="text-align: center;"|{{color box|Gold|1st|border=silver}}<br />(as [[National Salvation Front (Romania)|FSN]])
|-
![[1996 Romanian local elections|1996]]
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{Composition bar|17|41|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}}}
!style="text-align: center;"|{{color box|Gold|1st|border=silver}}
|-
![[2000 Romanian local elections|2000]]
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{Composition bar|29|41|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}}}
!style="text-align: center;"|{{color box|Gold|1st|border=silver}}
|-
![[2004 Romanian local elections|2004]]
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{Composition bar|19|41|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}}}
!style="text-align: center;"|{{color box|Gold|1st|border=silver}}
|-
![[2008 Romanian local elections|2008]]
|2,234,465
|28.06
|{{Composition bar|17|41|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}}}
!style="text-align: center;"|{{color box|Gold|1st|border=silver}}
|-
![[2012 Romanian local elections|2012]]
|''4,260,709''
|''49.71''
|{{Composition bar|22|41|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}}}
!style="text-align: center;"|{{color box|Gold|1st|border=silver}}<br />(within [[Social Liberal Union|USL]])
|-
![[2016 Romanian local elections|2016]]
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{Composition bar|28|41|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}}}
!style="text-align: center;"|{{color box|Gold|1st|border=silver}}
|-
![[2020 Romanian local elections|2020]]
|1,663,399
|22.86
|{{Composition bar|20|41|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}}}
!style="text-align: center;"|{{color box|Gold|1st|border=silver}}
|-
![[2024 Romanian local elections|2024]]
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{Composition bar|25|41|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}}}
!style="text-align: center;"|{{color box|Gold|1st|border=silver}}
|}

==== County council elections ====

{|class="wikitable sortable"
!Election
!County
!Percentage
!Councillors
!+/-
!Aftermath
|-
! [[2020 Romanian local elections|2020]]
| [[Alba County|Alba]]
| 16.61%
| {{Composition bar|6|32|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party}}}} 
| {{decrease}} 3
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[2020 Romanian local elections|2020]]
| [[Arad County|Arad]]
| 9.89%
| {{Composition bar|3|32|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party}}}} 
| {{decrease}} 8
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[2020 Romanian local elections|2020]]
| [[Argeș County|Argeș]]
| 44.78%
| {{Composition bar|17|34|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party}}}} 
| {{decrease}} 3
| {{yes2|PSD minority}}
|-
! [[2020 Romanian local elections|2020]]
| [[Bacău County|Bacău]]
| 42.25%
| {{Composition bar|17|36|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party}}}} 
| {{steady}}
| {{yes2|PSD}}
|-
! [[2020 Romanian local elections|2020]]
| [[Bihor County|Bihor]]
| 15.54%
| {{Composition bar|6|34|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party}}}} 
| {{decrease}} 3
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[2020 Romanian local elections|2020]]
| [[Bistrița-Năsăud County|Bistrița-Năsăud]]
| 40.62%
| {{Composition bar|14|30|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party}}}} 
| {{decrease}} 3
| {{yes2|PSD-[[People's Movement Party|PMP]]}}
|-
! [[2020 Romanian local elections|2020]]
| [[Botoșani County|Botoșani]]
| 40.13%
| {{Composition bar|15|32|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party}}}} 
| {{decrease}} 3
| {{yes2|PSD}}
|-
! [[2020 Romanian local elections|2020]]
| [[Brăila County|Brăila]]
| 47.97%
| {{Composition bar|17|30|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party}}}} 
| {{increase}} 3
| {{yes2|PSD majority}}
|-
! [[2020 Romanian local elections|2020]]
| [[Brașov County|Brașov]]
| 19.35%
| {{Composition bar|8|34|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party}}}} 
| {{decrease}} 3
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[2020 Romanian local elections|2020]]
| [[Bucharest]]
| 32.38%
| {{Composition bar|21|55|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party}}}} 
| {{decrease}} 3
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[2020 Romanian local elections|2020]]
| [[Buzău County|Buzău]]
| 57.68%
| {{Composition bar|21|32|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party}}}} 
| {{increase}} 1
| {{yes2|PSD majority}}
|-
! [[2020 Romanian local elections|2020]]
| [[Călărași County|Călărași]]
| 45.09%
| {{Composition bar|15|30|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party}}}} 
| {{increase}} 3
| {{yes2|PSD minority}}
|-
! [[2020 Romanian local elections|2020]]
| [[Caraș-Severin County|Caraș-Severin]]
| 27.51%
| {{Composition bar|10|30|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party}}}} 
| {{decrease}} 4
| {{yes2|PSD-[[People's Movement Party|PMP]]}}
|-
! [[2020 Romanian local elections|2020]]
| [[Cluj County|Cluj]]
| 13.32%
| {{Composition bar|5|36|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party}}}} 
| {{decrease}} 7
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[2020 Romanian local elections|2020]]
| [[Constanța County|Constanța]]
| 23.01%
| {{Composition bar|10|36|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party}}}} 
| {{decrease}} 6
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[2020 Romanian local elections|2020]]
| [[Covasna County|Covasna]]
| 5.73%
| {{Composition bar|2|30|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party}}}} 
| {{decrease}} 1
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[2020 Romanian local elections|2020]]
| [[Dâmbovița County|Dâmbovița]]
| 43.66%
| {{Composition bar|17|34|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party}}}} 
| {{decrease}} 5
| {{yes2|PSD majority}}
|-
! [[2020 Romanian local elections|2020]]
| [[Dolj County|Dolj]]
| 39.66%
| {{Composition bar|16|36|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party}}}} 
| {{decrease}} 9
| {{yes2|PSD-[[PRO Romania|PRO]]-[[Ecologist Party of Romania|PER]]}}
|-
! [[2020 Romanian local elections|2020]]
| [[Galați County|Galați]]
| 39.73%
| {{Composition bar|17|34|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party}}}} 
| {{increase}} 2
| {{yes2|PSD majority}}
|-
! [[2020 Romanian local elections|2020]]
| [[Giurgiu County|Giurgiu]]
| 33.20%
| {{Composition bar|12|30|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party}}}} 
| {{decrease}} 8
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[2020 Romanian local elections|2020]]
| [[Gorj County|Gorj]]
| 42.95%
| {{Composition bar|16|32|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party}}}} 
| {{steady}}
| {{yes2|PSD majority}}
|-
! [[2020 Romanian local elections|2020]]
| [[Harghita County|Harghita]]
| 7.76%
| {{Composition bar|3|30|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party}}}} 
| {{steady}}
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[2020 Romanian local elections|2020]]
| [[Hunedoara County|Hunedoara]]
| 43.80%
| {{Composition bar|17|32|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party}}}} 
| {{decrease}} 1
| {{yes2|PSD majority}}
|-
! [[2020 Romanian local elections|2020]]
| [[Ialomița County|Ialomița]]
| 37.27%
| {{Composition bar|14|30|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party}}}} 
| {{decrease}} 4
| {{yes2|PSD-[[National Liberal Party (Romania)|PNL]]}}
|-
! [[2020 Romanian local elections|2020]]
| [[Iași County|Iași]]
| 24.49%
| {{Composition bar|10|36|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party}}}} 
| {{decrease}} 7
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[2020 Romanian local elections|2020]]
| [[Ilfov County|Ilfov]]
| 12.81%
| {{Composition bar|5|32|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party}}}} 
| {{decrease}} 7
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[2020 Romanian local elections|2020]]
| [[Maramureș County|Maramureș]]
| 25.14%
| {{Composition bar|10|34|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party}}}} 
| {{decrease}} 9
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[2020 Romanian local elections|2020]]
| [[Mehedinți County|Mehedinți]]
| 45.58%
| {{Composition bar|15|30|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party}}}} 
| {{decrease}} 3
| {{yes2|PSD majority}}
|-
! [[2020 Romanian local elections|2020]]
| [[Mureș County|Mureș]]
| 17.87%
| {{Composition bar|7|34|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party}}}} 
| {{decrease}} 3
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[2020 Romanian local elections|2020]]
| [[Neamț County|Neamț]]
| 35.76%
| {{Composition bar|13|34|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party}}}} 
| {{decrease}} 4
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[2020 Romanian local elections|2020]]
| [[Olt County|Olt]]
| 54.44%
| {{Composition bar|21|32|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party}}}} 
| {{increase}} 2
| {{yes2|PSD majority}}
|-
! [[2020 Romanian local elections|2020]]
| [[Prahova County|Prahova]]
| 31.59%
| {{Composition bar|11|36|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party}}}} 
| {{decrease}} 5
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[2020 Romanian local elections|2020]]
| [[Sălaj County|Sălaj]]
| 27.89%
| {{Composition bar|10|30|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party}}}} 
| {{decrease}} 2
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! rowspan="2" | [[2020 Romanian local elections|2020]]
| rowspan="2" | [[Satu Mare County|Satu Mare]]
| rowspan="2" | 14.00%
| rowspan="2" | {{Composition bar|5|32|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party}}}} 
| rowspan="2" | {{decrease}} 4
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
|{{yes2|[[UDMR]]-PSD-[[People's Movement Party|PMP]]}}
|-
! [[2020 Romanian local elections|2020]]
| [[Sibiu County|Sibiu]]
| 13.90%
| {{Composition bar|5|32|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party}}}} 
| {{decrease}} 7
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[2020 Romanian local elections|2020]]
| [[Suceava County|Suceava]]
| 30.47%
| {{Composition bar|13|36|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party}}}} 
| {{decrease}} 3
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[2020 Romanian local elections|2020]]
| [[Teleorman County|Teleorman]]
| 39.37%
| {{Composition bar|15|32|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party}}}} 
| {{decrease}} 3
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[2020 Romanian local elections|2020]]
| [[Timiș County|Timiș]]
| 15.02%
| {{Composition bar|7|36|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party}}}} 
| {{decrease}} 9
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[2020 Romanian local elections|2020]]
| [[Tulcea County|Tulcea]]
| 34.35%
| {{Composition bar|12|30|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party}}}} 
| {{decrease}} 2
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[2020 Romanian local elections|2020]]
| [[Vâlcea County|Vâlcea]]
| 41.69%
| {{Composition bar|16|32|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party}}}} 
| {{increase}} 2
| {{yes2|PSD-[[Ecologist Party of Romania|PER]]}}
|-
! [[2020 Romanian local elections|2020]]
| [[Vaslui County|Vaslui]]
| 39.11%
| {{Composition bar|14|34|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party}}}} 
| {{decrease}} 6
| {{yes2|PSD}}
|-
! [[2020 Romanian local elections|2020]]
| [[Vrancea County|Vrancea]]
| 41.91%
| {{Composition bar|15|32|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party}}}} 
| {{decrease}} 3
| {{yes2|PSD}}
|}

==== Mayor of Bucharest elections ====

{| class=wikitable width=75%
! rowspan=2|Year
! rowspan=2|Candidate
! colspan=3|First round
! colspan=3|Second round
|-
!Votes
!Percentage
!Position
!Votes
!Percentage
!Position
|-align=center
![[1996 Romanian local elections|1996]]
| {{no2|[[Ilie Năstase]]}} || {{n/a}} || {{Percentage bar|30.38|c={{party color|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}}} || {{color box|Silver|2nd|border=silver}} || {{n/a}} || {{Percentage bar|43.26|c={{party color|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}}} || {{color box|Silver|2nd|border=silver}}
|-align=center
![[2000 Romanian local elections|2000]]
| {{no2|[[Sorin Oprescu]]}} || 260,689 || {{Percentage bar|41.16|c={{party color|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}}} || {{color box|gold|1st|border=silver}} || 353,038 || {{Percentage bar|49.31|c={{party color|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}}} || {{color box|Silver|2nd|border=silver}}
|-align=center
![[2004 Romanian local elections|2004]]
| {{no2|[[Mircea Geoană]]}} || 225,774 || {{Percentage bar|29.74|c={{party color|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}}} || {{color box|Silver|2nd|border=silver}} || bgcolor=lightgrey colspan=3|—
|-align=center
![[2008 Romanian local elections|2008]]
| {{no2|[[Cristian Diaconescu]]}} || 67,251 || {{Percentage bar|12.33|c={{party color|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}}} || {{color box|#CD7F32|3rd|border=silver}} || bgcolor=lightgrey colspan=3|not qualified
|-align=center
![[2012 Romanian local elections|2012]]
| {{yes2|'''[[Sorin Oprescu]]<sup>1</sup>'''}} || 430,512 || {{Percentage bar|53.79|c={{party color|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}}} || {{color box|gold|1st|border=silver}} || bgcolor=lightgrey colspan=3|—
|-align=center
![[2016 Romanian local elections|2016]]
| {{yes2|'''[[Gabriela Firea]]'''}} || 246,553 || {{Percentage bar|42.97|c={{party color|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}}} || {{color box|gold|1st|border=silver}} || bgcolor=lightgrey colspan=3|single-round elections
|-align=center
![[2020 Romanian local elections|2020]]
| {{no2|[[Gabriela Firea]]}} || 250,690 || {{Percentage bar|37.97|c={{party color|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}}} || {{color box|Silver|2nd|border=silver}} || bgcolor=lightgrey colspan=3|single-round elections
|-align=center
![[2024 Romanian local elections|2024]]
| {{no2|[[Gabriela Firea]]}} || 163,147 || {{Percentage bar|22.34|c={{party color|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}}} || {{color box|Silver|2nd|border=silver}} || bgcolor=lightgrey colspan=3|single-round elections
|}

; Note:
<sup>1</sup><small>[[Independent politician|Independent candidate]] endorsed by the [[Social Liberal Union|USL]]</small>

=== Presidential elections ===

{| class=wikitable width=100%
! rowspan=2|Year
! rowspan=2|Candidate
! colspan=3|First round
! colspan=3|Second round
|-
!Votes
!Percentage
!Position
!Votes
!Percentage
!Position
|-align=center
! [[1990 Romanian general election|1990]]
| {{yes2|'''[[Ion Iliescu]]'''}} || 12,232,498 || {{Percentage bar|85.0|c=red}} || {{color box|gold|1st|border=silver}} || bgcolor=lightgrey colspan=3|—
|-align=center
! [[1992 Romanian general election|1992]]
| {{yes2|'''[[Ion Iliescu]]'''}} || 5,633,465|| {{Percentage bar|47.5|c=red}} || {{color box|gold|1st|border=silver}} || 7,393,429|| {{Percentage bar|61.4|c=red}} || {{color box|gold|1st|border=silver}}
|-align=center
! [[1996 Romanian general election|1996]]
| {{no2|[[Ion Iliescu]]}} || 4,081,093 || {{Percentage bar|32.3|c=red}} || {{color box|gold|1st|border=silver}} || 5,914,579 || {{Percentage bar|45.6|c=red}} || {{color box|silver|2nd|border=silver}}
|-align=center
![[2000 Romanian general election|2000]]
| {{yes2|'''[[Ion Iliescu]]'''}} || 4,076,273 || {{Percentage bar|36.4|c=red}} || {{color box|gold|1st|border=silver}} || 6,696,623 || {{Percentage bar|66.8|c=red}} || {{color box|gold|1st|border=silver}}
|-align=center
![[2004 Romanian general election|2004]]
| {{no2|[[Adrian Năstase]]}}|| 4,278,864 || {{Percentage bar|40.9|c=red}} || {{color box|gold|1st|border=silver}} || 4,881,520 || {{Percentage bar|48.8|c=red}} || {{color box|silver|2nd|border=silver}}
|-align=center
![[2009 Romanian presidential election|2009]]
| {{no2|[[Mircea Geoană]]}} || 3,027,838 || {{Percentage bar|31.1|c=red}} || {{color box|silver|2nd|border=silver}} || 5,205,760 || {{Percentage bar|49.7|c=red}} || {{color box|silver|2nd|border=silver}}
|-align=center
![[2014 Romanian presidential election|2014]]
| {{no2|[[Victor Ponta]]}} || 3,836,093 || {{Percentage bar|40.4|c=red}} || {{color box|gold|1st|border=silver}} || 5,264,383 || {{Percentage bar|45.6|c=red}} || {{color box|silver|2nd|border=silver}}
|-align=center
![[2019 Romanian presidential election|2019]]
| {{no2|[[Viorica Dăncilă]]}} || 2,051,725 || {{Percentage bar|22.3|c=red}} || {{color box|silver|2nd|border=silver}} || 3,339,922 || {{Percentage bar|33.9|c=red}} || {{color box|silver|2nd|border=silver}}
|-align=center
![[2024 Romanian presidential election|2024]]
| {{no2|[[Marcel Ciolacu]]}} || 1,769,761 || {{Percentage bar|19.15|c=red}}|| {{color box|#CD7F32|3rd|border=silver}} || bgcolor=lightgrey colspan=3|not qualified
|-align=center
![[2025 Romanian presidential election|2025]]
| {{no2|[[Crin Antonescu]]}}<sup>1</sup> || 1,892,930 || {{Percentage bar|20.07|c=red}} || {{color box|#CD7F32|3rd|border=silver}} || colspan="3" bgcolor="lightgrey" |not qualified
|}
<sup>1</sup> {{small|Common candidate of the [[Romania Forward Electoral Alliance]], a coalition of PSD, [[National Liberal Party (Romania)|PNL]], and [[Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania|UDMR]]}}

=== European Parliament elections ===

{|class=wikitable style="text-align: right;" width=70%
|-
! Year !! Votes !! % !! [[Member of the European Parliament|MEPs]] !! Position !! [[European political party|EU party]] !! [[Political groups of the European Parliament|EP group]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
! [[List of members of the European Parliament for Romania, 2007|Jan. 2007]]
| {{n/a}}
| 34.28 {{steady}}
| {{Composition bar|12|35|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}}} {{steady}}
| {{color box|Gold|1st|border=silver}} {{steady}}
| [[Party of European Socialists|PES]]
| [[Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats|S&D]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
! [[2007 European Parliament election in Romania|Nov. 2007]]
| 1,184,018 {{steady}}
| 23.11 {{decrease}}
| {{Composition bar|10|35|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}}} {{decrease}}
| {{color box|Silver|2nd|border=silver}} {{decrease}}
| [[Party of European Socialists|PES]]
| [[Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats|S&D]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
! [[2009 European Parliament election in Romania|2009]]
| ''1,504,218'' {{increase}}
| ''31.07'' {{increase}}
| {{Composition bar|10|33|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}}} {{increase}}
| {{color box|Gold|1st|border=silver}}<br />(within [[Alliance PSD+PC|PSD+PC]])<sup>1</sup> {{increase}}
| [[Party of European Socialists|PES]]
| [[Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats|S&D]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
! [[2014 European Parliament election in Romania|2014]]
| ''2,093,237'' {{increase}}
| ''37.60'' {{increase}}
| {{Composition bar|12|32|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}}} {{increase}}
| {{color box|Gold|1st|border=silver}}<br />(within USD)<sup>2</sup> {{steady}}
| [[Party of European Socialists|PES]]
| [[Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats|S&D]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
! [[2019 European Parliament election in Romania|2019]]
| 2,040,765 {{decrease}}
| 22.51 {{decrease}}
| {{Composition bar|9|32|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}}} {{decrease}}
| {{color box|Silver|2nd|border=silver}} {{decrease}}
| [[Party of European Socialists|PES]]
| [[Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats|S&D]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
! [[2024 European Parliament election in Romania|2024]]<ref>{{Cite web| url=https://europarlamentare2024.bec.ro/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/comunicat_RFE_1.pdf | title=Privind lista partidelor politice, organizațiilor cetățenilor aparţinând minorităților naţionale, alianțelor politice, alianțelor electorale și candidaţilor independenți cărora li se pot repartiza mandate pentru Parlamentul European | language=ro | trans-title=Regarding the list of political parties, citizens' organisations belonging to national minorities, political alliances, electoral alliances and independent candidates who may be allocated seats in the European Parliament | date=2024-06-09 | access-date=28 October 2024 | archive-date=9 July 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240709213808/https://europarlamentare2024.bec.ro/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/comunicat_RFE_1.pdf | url-status=dead}}</ref>
| ''4,341,686'' {{increase}}
| ''48.55'' {{increase}}
| {{Composition bar|11|33|hex={{party color|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}}} {{increase}}
| {{color box|Gold|1st|border=silver}} <br /> (within [[National Coalition for Romania|CNR]])<sup>3</sup> {{increase}}
| [[Party of European Socialists|PES]]
| [[Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats|S&D]]
|}

; Notes:
<sup>1</sup><small>[[Alliance PSD+PC]] members: PSD and [[Conservative Party (Romania)|PC]] (1 MEP).</small><br>
<sup>2</sup><small>Social Democratic Union (USD) members: PSD, [[Conservative Party (Romania)|PC]] (2 MEPs), and [[National Union for the Progress of Romania|UNPR]] (2 MEPs).</small><br>
<sup>3</sup><small>National Coalition for Romania members: PSD (11 MEPs) and [[National Liberal Party (Romania)|PNL]] (8 MEPs).</small>

== Controversies ==

Political opponents have criticised PSD for harbouring former [[Romanian Communist Party]] (PCR) officials, and for allegedly attempting to control the Romanian [[mass media]]. By 2009, a number of its incumbent or former senior members have also been accused of corruption, interfering in the judiciary and using their political positions for personal enrichment.<ref>{{cite web|first=Robert|last=Mihăilescu|date=3 December 2009|url=http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-politic-6606961-ion-caramitru-demisioneaza-din-conducerea-pntcd-sefii-psd-fosti-nomenclaturisti-sau-copiii-lor-sunt-tarati-originea-comunista-nu-cred-moartea-comunismului-prin-comunisti.htm|title=Ion Caramitru demisioneaza din conducerea PNTCD: Sefii PSD, fosti nomenclaturisti sau copiii lor, sunt tarati de originea comunista. Nu cred in moartea comunismului prin comunisti|work=HotNewsRo|access-date=10 June 2015}}</ref> As of 2015, founding member Ion Iliescu is facing prosecution on charges of crimes against humanity for his role in the [[June 1990 Mineriad]],<ref name="BBC News 2015">{{cite web | title=Romania ex-leader in 1990 deaths case | website=BBC News | date=21 October 2015 | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-34594391 | access-date=17 October 2019}}</ref> while former president Liviu Dragnea was convicted for electoral fraud and for instigation to the abuse of public office and being indicted for forming an "organised criminal group" in 2018.<ref name="The Economist 2018">{{cite news | title=Alarming attempts to undermine Romanian democracy - Nobbling the nobblers | newspaper=The Economist | date=8 February 2018 | url=https://www.economist.com/europe/2018/02/08/alarming-attempts-to-undermine-romanian-democracy | language=en | access-date=17 October 2019}}</ref> That same year, former president Victor Ponta had also been investigated for corruption but was ultimately acquitted.<ref name="Ilie 2018">{{cite web | first=Luiza | last=Ilie| website=Reuters | title=Bucharest court acquits former Romanian PM in graft case | date=10 May 2018 | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-romania-corruption-idUSKBN1IB2KN | access-date=17 October 2019}}</ref> Adrian Năstase temporarily self-suspended himself from the position on 16 January 2006, pending investigation of a scandal provoked by his wealth declaration, where he was accused of corruption.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-arhiva-1193735-adrian-nastase-autosuspendat-din-conducerea-psd.htm|title=Adrian Nastase s-a autosuspendat din conducerea PSD|work=HotNewsRo|date=16 January 2006|access-date=10 June 2015}}</ref> Alleged text transcripts of PSD meetings surfaced on an anonymous website just before the [[2004 Romanian general election]]. Năstase and his ministers are shown talking about political involvement in corruption trials of the government's members, or involvement in suppressing "disobedient" media. Năstase stated that the transcripts were fake, but several party members, including former PSD president and former foreign minister [[Mircea Geoană]], have said they are genuine, though Geoană later retracted his statement.<ref>{{cite web|first=Ovidiu|last=Banches|date=17 August 2005|url=http://www.9am.ro/stiri-revista-presei/2005-08-17/geoana-stenogramele-si-reformarea-psd.html|title=Geoana, stenogramele si reformarea PSD|work=9AM|access-date=10 June 2015}}</ref> Security expert Iulian Fota stated that PSD is a [[Eurocommunism|neocommunist]] [[anti-Western sentiment|anti-Western]] party backed by [[Russia]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.podul.ro/articol/7733/felul-in-care-psd-a-facut-jocurile-rusiei-din-1989-incoace-reflectat-de-un-expert-in-securitate-nationala-10-august-2018-face-parte-din-planul-ex-pcr-ului-care-ne-conduce|title=Felul în care PSD a făcut jocurile Rusiei din 1989 încoace, reflectat de un expert în securitate națională: 10 august 2018 parte din planul ex-PCR-ului care ne conduce|date=28 October 2019}}</ref>

Politicians of the party have occasionally employed "utilitarian anti-Semitism", meaning that politicians who may usually not be [[Antisemitism|antisemites]] played off certain antisemitic prejudices in order to serve their political necessities.<ref>{{Citation |first=Michael |last=Shafir |title=Memories, Memorials and Membership: Romanian Utilitarian Anti-Semitism and Marshal Antonescu |work=Romania Since 1989: Politics, Economics, and Society |publisher=Lexington Books |year=2004 |page=71}}</ref> On 5 March 2012, PSD Senator [[Dan Șova]], at that time the party spokesman, said on ''[[The Money Channel]]'' that "no [[Jews|Jew]] suffered on Romanian territory, thanks to marshal [[Ion Antonescu|Antonescu]]."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ejpress.org/article/56651|title=Romanian MP stirs outcry with Holocaust comment|publisher=European Jewish Press|access-date=2012-03-07|date=2012-03-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308174512/http://ejpress.org/article/56651|archive-date=2012-03-08|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Elie Wiesel National Institute for Studying the Holocaust in Romania]] expressed its deep disagreement and indignation over the statements of the spokesman of the party.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.actmedia.eu/top+story/%26%2339%3Belie+wiesel%26%2339%3B+institute+in+romania+criticizes+senator+sova+for+statements+made+on+a+tv+channel+/38583|title='Elie Wiesel' Institute in Romania criticizes Senator Sova for statements made on a TV channel|publisher=actmedia.eu|access-date=2012-03-07}} {{dead link|date=May 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Following public outcry, Șova retracted his statement and issued a public apology; nevertheless, the chairman of the party, [[Victor Ponta]], announced his removal from the office of party spokesman.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.punkto.ro/articles/Sozi-Chef_Ponta_enthebt_Parteisprecher_Sova_zeitweilig_des_Amtes_wegen_Holocaust-Leugnung-3776.html|title=Sozi-Chef Ponta enthebt Parteisprecher Sova zeitweilig des Amtes wegen Holocaust-Leugnung|publisher=punkto.ro|language=de|access-date=2012-03-07}} {{Dead link|date=December 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

Between 2017 and 2019, the party, along with its former junior coalition partners, more specifically the [[Alliance of Liberals and Democrats (Romania)|Alliance of Liberals and Democrats]] (ALDE) and the [[Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania]] (UDMR/RMDSZ), had unsuccessfully tried to pass a series of tremendously controversial laws related to the judicial system. In a 2018 preliminary opinion, the [[Venice Commission]] stated that the changes could severely undermine the independence of judges and prosecutors in Romania.<ref name="coe.int 2018">{{cite web | title=Romania: Proposed reforms could undermine independence of judges and prosecutors according to Venice Commission | website=coe.int | date=13 July 2018 | url=https://www.coe.int/en/web/portal/-/romania-proposed-reforms-could-undermine-independence-of-judges-and-prosecutors-according-to-venice-commission | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180719063615/https://www.coe.int/en/web/portal/-/romania-proposed-reforms-could-undermine-independence-of-judges-and-prosecutors-according-to-venice-commission | archive-date=19 July 2018 | url-status=dead | access-date=17 October 2019}}</ref> This unsuccessful endeavour committed by the former PSD–ALDE coalition was the basis for the nationwide [[2017–2019 Romanian protests]],<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=http://www.politico.eu/article/romanians-protest-government-plan-to-commute-sentences/|title=Romanians protest government plan to commute sentences|work=Politico|author=Carmen Paun|date=22 January 2017}}</ref> the largest in the country's entire history thus far.<ref>{{cite news|last=Ilie|first=Luiza|date=10 February 2017|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-romania-corruption-activists-idUSKBN15P1KA|title='We see you' – Romanian activists become potent political force|work=Reuters|access-date=24 October 2021}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Politics of Romania]]

== Notes ==

{{notelist}}

== References ==

{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}}
* [http://www.psd.ro Official website]

{{Ion Iliescu}}
{{Party of European Socialists}}
{{Romanian political parties}}
{{PSDHeads}}
{{Romania topics}}
{{Romanian nationalism}}
{{coord|44|27|40.46|N|26|4|52.85|E|display=title}}

[[Category:Social Democratic Party (Romania)]]
[[Category:1993 establishments in Romania]]
[[Category:Political parties established in 1993]]
[[Category:Full member parties of the Socialist International]]
[[Category:Opposition to same-sex marriage in Europe]]
[[Category:Party of European Socialists member parties]]
[[Category:Progressive Alliance]]
[[Category:Registered political parties in Romania]]
[[Category:Socially conservative parties]]
[[Category:Social democratic parties in Romania]]
[[Category:Conservatism and left-wing politics]]
[[Category:Paternalistic conservatism]]