2008–2012 legislature of the Romanian Parliament
Introduction In Romania's 2008 legislative election, held on 30 November, no party won an outright majority. The Democratic Liberal Party (PDL) won the largest number of seats, closely followed by the Social Democratic Party (PSD) + Conservative Party (PC) Alliance. It was thought that the third-placed National Liberal Party (PNL) would hold the key for the new government. It asked for the position of Prime Minister in its negotiations with the two parties.In the end, the  (PDL) and  (PSD) signed a coalition agreement, with Theodor Stolojan as Prime Minister designate. Two days later, inexplicably, Stolojan renounced this designation, and was quickly replaced by Emil Boc,  (PDL) president and still incumbent Mayor of Cluj-Napoca to this day. The National Liberal Party (PNL), Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR), and the 18 Minorities Parties formed the Parliamentary Opposition.The coalition originally had approximately 70% Parliament support, but the Social Democrats (PSD) pulled out of the coalition on 1 October 2009, in protest of the sacking of interior minister Dan Nica, and the government fell in a vote of no confidence on 13 October.
Senate The President of the Senate for this legislature was Mircea Geoană, former president of the  (PSD), between 19 December 2008 and 23 November 2011.He was replaced by Vasile Blaga on 28 November 2011.On 3 July 2012, Crin Antonescu replaced Blaga at the Senate Presidency. During Antonescu's tenure as interim President, the business of the Senate was carried by Vice President Petru Filip. Filip switched parties from the Democratic Liberal Party (PDL) to the Social Democratic Party (PSD) during the no confidence vote for the Ungureanu Cabinet. He also served as interim President of the Senate between the removal from office of Geoană and Blaga's election in 2011.At that time he was a PDL Vice President. Party Election seating Lost Won Present seating Seats % Seats %  Democratic Liberal Party 51 37.22% 19 2 35 25.54%  Social Democratic Party 49 35.76% 15 3 40 29.19%  National Liberal Party 28 20.43% 16 4 27 19.70%  Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania 9 6.57% 2 0 7 5.10%  National Union for the Progress of Romania — — 4 12 12 8.75%   Independents — —   2 2 1.45%  Vacant seats 14 —Total 137 100 — 137 100
Chamber of Deputies On 19 December 2008, Roberta Anastase was elected President of the Chamber of Deputies as  a member of  (PDL). She was removed from office on 3 July 2012, and replaced by Valeriu Zgonea, Chamber Vice President at that time. Parliamentary Group Election seating Lost Won Present Seats % Seats %  Democratic Liberal Party 115 34.43% 29 12 106 31.73%  Social Democratic Party 114 34.13% 29 2 91 27.24%  National Liberal Party 65 19.46% 21 6 56 16.76%  Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania 22 6.58% 2 0 20 5.98%  Ethnic minorities parties 18 5.39% 2 0 16 4.79%  National Union for the Progress of Romania — — 16 16 12 3.59%  Independents 8 2.39%  Vacant seats 25 — Total 334 100 — 334 100During the 2009 Spring Session of the Parliament, two Inquiry Committees were constituted, along with an Inquiry Sub-Committee. One Committee was formed to examine Minister of Youth and Sport Monica Iacob-Ridzi, regarding her possible misuse of money spent on Youth Day festivities. The other investigated Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, Nicolae Nemirschi, regarding the possible misuse of money spent by his Ministry on the promotion of Governmental Programs. The Sub-Committee was formed to review former Prime Minister Călin Popescu-Tăriceanu, regarding the possible fraudulent allocation of oil drilling rights in the Snake Island area, recently gained by Romania.The Chamber of Deputies was called in an Extraordinary Session in July to receive the reports of the Ridzi Inquiry Committee and Tăriceanu Inquiry Sub-Committee, and the formation of a new Inquiry Committee for the Minister of Tourism, Elena Udrea, regarding the possible misuse of money spent by her Ministry on tourism ads.
By-elections  Date College - Constituency Candidates Parties and alliances Votes % 17 January 2010 CD 1-42  Radu Stroe National Liberal Party (''Partidul Naţional Liberal'') 7,625 70.17%  Honorius Prigoană Democratic Liberal Party (''Partidul Democrat-Liberal'') 3,242 29.83% '''Total valid votes''' '''(40,583 expected voters)''' (turnout 27.12% - 11,006) '''10,867''' '''100.00%'''Source:  Biroul Electoral Municipal  25 April 2010 CD 19-42  Teo Trandafir Democratic Liberal Party (''Partidul Democrat-Liberal'')  53.59%  Liliana Mincă PSD+PC Electoral Alliance (''Alianţa Electorală PSD+PC'')  46.41% '''Total valid votes (103,204 expected voters)''' (turnout 14.84%) '''15,093''' '''100.00%'''Source:  Autoritatea Electorală Permanentă  28 November 2010 CD 3-22  Mariana Câmpeanu National Liberal Party (''Partidul Naţional Liberal'') 8,738 34.86%  Daniel Răducanu Democratic Liberal Party (''Partidul Democrat-Liberal'') 7,339 29.28%  Ţoloaș Liliana PSD+PC Electoral Alliance (''Alianţa Electorală PSD+PC'') 5,218 20.81%  Nicolae Timiș Independent 2,683 10.70%  Bela Fülöp Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania (''Uniunea Democrată Maghiară din România'') 438 1.75%  Remus Cernea Independent 269 1.07%  Mircea Părăian New Generation Party – Christian Democratic (''Partidul Noua Generaţie - Creştin Democrat'') 197 0.78%  Iosif Danci Christian-Democratic National Peasants' Party (''Partidul Naţional Ţărănesc Creştin Democrat'') 187 0.75% '''Total valid votes''' '''(53,222 expected voters)''' (turnout 48.41% - 25,763) '''25,069''' '''100.00%'''Source:  Autoritatea Electorală Permanentă  21 August 2011 CD 6-29  Adrian Rădulescu Democratic Liberal Party (''Partidul Democrat-Liberal'') 17,186 54.95%  Liviu Harbuz Social-Liberal Union (''Uniunea Social Liberală'') 14,089 45.05% '''Total valid votes''' '''(57,996 expected voters)''' (turnout 53.93% - 32,184) '''31,275''' '''100.00%'''Source:  Autoritatea Electorala Permanenta  CD 2-26  Florin Tătaru Social-Liberal Union (''Uniunea Social Liberală'') 9,433 42.67%  Mariana Pop Democratic Liberal Party (''Partidul Democrat-Liberal'') 7,845 35.48%  Mircea Dolha Ecologist Party of Romania (''Partidul Ecologist Român'') 4,338 19.62%  Felician Horzsa Greater Romania Party (''Partidul România Mare'') 493 2.23% '''Total valid votes''' '''(79,241 expected voters)''' (turnout 27,90% - 22,478) 22,109 '''100.00%'''Source:  Biroul Electoral Judeţean
See also * Parliament of Romania
References