2007 Romanian electoral system referendum

A referendum on changing the parliamentary electoral system to a two-round system was held in Romania on 25 November 2007, on the same date as the European elections. The referendum was called by President Traian Băsescu on 23 October 2007 when the Parliament of Romania failed to meet a deadline set by him to pass these changes.[1]

2007 Romanian electoral system referendum
25 November 2007
Do you agree that, beginning with the next elections that will be held for the Romanian Parliament, all deputies and senators be elected in single-member constituencies, based on a majority vote in two rounds?
OutcomeReferendum fails due to low turnout
Results
Choice
 Votes  %
Yes 3,947,212 83.42%
No 784,640 16.58%
Valid votes 4,731,852 97.53%
Invalid or blank votes 119,618 2.47%
Total votes 4,851,470 100.00%
Registered voters/turnout 18,296,459 26.52%
Politics of Romania
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Government
Parliament
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Politicians

The precise question was:

Do you agree that, beginning with the next elections that will be held for the Romanian Parliament, all deputies and senators be elected in single-member constituencies, based on a majority vote in two rounds?

While the system proposed by Băsescu would mirror the French two-round electoral system, former National Liberal Party (PNL) Prime Minister Călin Popescu-Tăriceanu proposed a mixed member proportional system based on the German electoral system.[2] The proposed legislation would also reduce the number of MPs by about 20 per cent.[3]

While the Greater Romania Party (PRM) challenged the legality of holding the referendum at the same time as the EP election, the Constitutional Court of Romania decided on November 7 that it was not illegal.[4]

Results

Although 81% of voters were in favour of the proposal, the low turnout of 26% meant that the referendum was invalid.[5] Thus, the MMP proposal of PM Tăriceanu was used at the next elections instead.[6][7]

ChoiceVotes%
For3,947,21283.42
Against784,64016.58
Total4,731,852100.00
Valid votes4,731,85297.53
Invalid/blank votes119,6182.47
Total votes4,851,470100.00
Registered voters/turnout18,296,45926.52
Source: Biroul Electoral Central

References
  1. "Romanian President Traian Basescu signs referendum decree", at HotNews.ro
  2. "The debate about Romania's future electoral system", at CourrierInternational.com
  3. "Romania Leaders Push for Electoral Reform" Archived 2007-12-25 at the Wayback Machine, at BIRN.eu.com
  4. News
  5. Governing party defeated in Romania's European Parliament election
  6. Romania holds first EP elections; low turnout invalidates election referendum, SETimes
  7. Romania faces its first uninominal voting on Sunday, HotNews.ro
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