2004 Romanian general election

General elections were held in Romania on 28 November 2004, with a second round of the presidential elections on 12 December between former Prime Minister Adrian Năstase of the then ruling Social Democratic Party (PSD) and then incumbent Bucharest Mayor Traian Băsescu of the opposition Justice and Truth Alliance (DA), more specifically of the Democratic Party (PD). Băsescu was elected President by a narrow majority of just 51.2%.[1] The 2004 presidential election was the fifth of its kind held in post-1989 Romania.

2004 Romanian general election
Presidential election
28 November 2004 (first round)
12 December 2004 (second round)
Turnout58.49% (first round)
55.21% (second round)
 
Nominee Traian Băsescu Adrian Năstase
Party PD PSD
Alliance DA PSD+PUR
Popular vote 5,126,794 4,881,520
Percentage 51.23% 48.77%
President before election

Ion Iliescu
PSD

 Elected President

Traian Băsescu
PD

Parliamentary election
28 November 2004
All 137 seats in the Senate
All 332 seats in the Chamber of Deputies
Turnout58.47%
PartyLeader % Seats +/–
Chamber of Deputies
PSD+PUR Adrian Năstase 36.61 132 -23
DA Traian Băsescu
Călin Popescu-Tăriceanu		 31.33 112 +51
PRM Corneliu Vadim Tudor 12.92 48 -36
UDMR Béla Markó 6.17 22 -5
Minority parties Varujan Pambuccian[lower-alpha 1] 2.17 18 0
Senate
PSD+PUR Adrian Năstase 37.13 57 -8
DA Traian Băsescu
Călin Popescu-Tăriceanu		 31.77 49 +23
PRM Corneliu Vadim Tudor 13.63 21 -16
UDMR Béla Markó 6.23 10 -2
Results for the Chamber of Deputies and Senate
Prime Minister before Prime Minister-designate
Adrian Năstase Adrian Năstase
PSD		 Călin Popescu-Tăriceanu
PNL (DA)		Călin Popescu-Tăriceanu

Following 2003 amendments to the constitution which lengthened the presidential term to five years, these were the last joint elections to the presidency and Parliament in Romania's political history thus far.

Campaign

Parliamentary elections

The main contenders were the left-wing alliance made up of the then incumbent Social Democratic Party of Romania (PSD) and the Romanian Humanist Party (PUR), and, on the other hand, the center-right Justice and Truth Alliance (DA; Romanian: Dreptate și adevăr) comprising the conservative-liberal National Liberal Party (PNL) and the initially social-democratic Democratic Party (PD) which later adopted a center-right Christian democratic ideology.

Other significant contenders were the Greater Romania Party (PRM) (right-wing nationalists), the ethnic Hungarian party Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR), and the Union for Romanian Reconstruction (UPRR), a group of right-wing technocrats.

Conduct

The opposition alleged fraudulent use by the PSD of "supplementary lists", designed to help Romanians in transit to vote. Traditionally, Romanians voted with a cardboard identity card, which was stamped when they voted. Most Romanians now have laminated plastic IDs, to which a printed stamp is affixed when a person votes. However, the stamps can be easily removed. In spite of this, electoral fraud is nearly impossible to commit, as every citizen is assigned to one local voting station, the only location he/she can vote at.

The opposition claimed that there were organized "electoral excursions" of PSD supporters who were bussed to various towns to vote several times. This was corroborated by several teams of journalists, who followed the buses.

The government attacked the opposition by arguing that 'rumours of fraud' affect Romania's economy and its external credibility.

In January 2005, the IMAS institute of statistics released an analysis of the voting results in the 16,824 precincts. In the top 1,000 precincts with the most votes on the supplementary lists, the PSD had 43% to the DA's 23%, while in the precincts with fewest votes on supplementary lists, the PSD had 30% to the DA's 34%. The same trend was true in the precincts with most void votes. Wayback Machine

Presidential candidates

Name Lifespan Public Administration Experience Affiliation and endorsements Alma mater and profession Candidacy
Announcement dates

Traian Băsescu		 Born: November 4, 1951
(age 53)
Basarabi, Constanța County		 Mayor of Bucharest (2000-election day)
Deputy (1992–2000)
Minister of Transport (1991–1992, 1996–1998, 1998–2000)
Sub-Secretary of State for Naval Transportation with the Ministry of Transport (1990-1991)
Director of Civil Navigation Inspectorate with the Ministry of Transport (1989-1990)		 Affiliation: Justice and Truth Alliance
Alliance members: PNL and PD		 Mircea cel Bătrân Naval Academy (1976)

seaman

Adrian Năstase		 Born: June 22, 1950
(age 54)
Bucharest		 Prime Minister of Romania (2000-election day)
Deputy (1990-election day)
President of the Chamber of Deputies (1992-1996)
Minister of Foreign Affairs (1990-1992)		 Affiliation: National Union PSD+PUR
Alliance members: PSD and PUR		 Faculty of Sociology, University of Bucharest (1978)
Faculty of Law, University of Bucharest (1973)

jurist

Corneliu Vadim Tudor		 Born: November 28, 1949
(age 55)
Bucharest
Died: September 14, 2015, Bucharest		 Senator (1992-election day)

Former presidential elections:
2000: 28.3% (2nd place, 1st round), 33.2% (2nd place, 2nd round)
1996: 4.7% (5th place, 1st round)		 Affiliation: PRM Faculty of Philosophy, University of Bucharest (1971)

journalist, writer

Béla Markó		 Born: September 8, 1951
(age 53)
Târgu Secuiesc, Covasna County		 Senator (1990-election day) Affiliation: UDMR Faculty of Philology, Babeş-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca (1974)

journalist, poet

Gheorghe Ciuhandu		 Born: June 15, 1947
(age 57)
Timișoara, Timiș County		 Mayor of Timișoara (1996-election day) Affiliation: PNȚCD Faculty of Constructions, Politehnica University of Timișoara (1970)

building engineer

Gigi Becali		 Born: June 25, 1958
(age 46)
Vădeni, Brăila County		 Affiliation: PNG "Iuliu Maniu" High-school, Bucharest (1978)

shepherd, football club owner

Petre Roman		 Born: July 22, 1946
(age 58)
Bucharest		 Senator (1996-election day)
Minister of Foreign Affairs (1999-2000)
President of the Senate of Romania (1996–1999)
Deputy (1990-1996)
Prime Minister of Romania (1989-1991)

Former presidential elections:
2000: 3.0% (6th place, 1st round)
1996: 20.5% (3rd place, 1st round)		 Affiliation: Democratic Force Faculty of Energy, Politehnica University of Bucharest (1968)

hydroelectric powerplant engineer

Gheorghe Dinu		 Born: unknown birthdate
unknown birthplace		 Affiliation: none unknown education

intelligence officer

Marian Petre Miluț		 Born: December 29, 1955
(age 48)
Craiova, Dolj County		 Affiliation: People's Action Faculty of Automation, Computers and Electronics, University of Craiova (1980)

IT engineer

Ovidiu Tudorici		 Born: October 16, 1969
(age 35)
Câmpulung Moldovenesc, Suceava County		 Deputy Mayor of Câmpulung Moldovenesc (2004-election day) Affiliation: Union for Romania's Reconstruction Faculty of Law, Petre Andrei University of Iași (1997)

salesman, marketing specialist

Aurel Rădulescu		 Born: August 13, 1953
(age 51)
Adamclisi, Constanța County		 Affiliation: Christian Democratic People's Alliance Faculty of Law and Faculty of Tehology, unknown universities (unknown years)

priest

Raj Tunaru		 Born: November 12, 1959
(age 45)
Țânțăreni, Gorj County		 Affiliation: Democratic Youth Party University of Petroșani (unknown year)

mining engineer

Results

President
Winner by county in the first round
Winner by county in the runoff

Corneliu Vadim Tudor positioned himself against Băsescu, without openly endorsing Năstase. Marko Bela openly endorsed Adrian Năstase. Gheorghe Ciuhandu openly endorsed Băsescu.

CandidatePartyFirst roundSecond round
Votes%Votes%
Traian BăsescuJustice and Truth Alliance3,545,23633.925,126,79451.23
Adrian NăstaseNational Union PSD+PUR4,278,86440.944,881,52048.77
Corneliu Vadim TudorGreater Romania Party1,313,71412.57
Béla MarkóDemocratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania533,4465.10
Gheorghe CiuhanduChristian Democratic National Peasants' Party198,3941.90
Gigi BecaliNew Generation Party184,5601.77
Petre RomanDemocratic Force140,7021.35
Gheorghe DinuIndependent113,3211.08
Marian Petre MiluțPeople's Action43,3780.42
Ovidiu TudoriciUnion for Romanian Reconstruction37,9100.36
Aurel RădulescuChristian Democratic People's Alliance35,4550.34
Alexandru Raj TunaruDemocratic Youth Party27,2250.26
Total10,452,205100.0010,008,314100.00
Valid votes10,452,20596.8610,008,31498.98
Invalid/blank votes339,0103.14103,2451.02
Total votes10,791,215100.0010,111,559100.00
Registered voters/turnout18,449,34458.4918,316,10455.21
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

Senate
PartyVotes%Seats+/–
National Union PSD+PUR3,798,60737.1357–8
Justice and Truth Alliance3,250,66331.7749+23
Greater Romania Party1,394,69813.6321–16
Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania637,1096.2310–2
New Generation Party241,4862.360New
Christian Democratic National Peasants' Party196,0271.9200
Democratic Force95,9530.940New
Ecologist Party of Romania83,7710.820New
United Socialist Party60,0270.590New
Romanian National Unity Party56,4140.5500
People's Action52,4870.510New
Romanian Socialist Party42,3060.410New
Romanian Workers Party40,7020.400New
Union for Romanian Reconstruction37,6300.370New
Socialist Alliance Party37,0190.360New
National Democratic Christian Party33,2990.330New
Social Democratic Party "Constantin Titel Petrescu"25,6370.250New
Democratic Youth Party24,7250.240New
Popular Christian Democratic Alliance24,1330.240New
New Democracy Party23,5140.230New
Third Millennium Party21,3010.210New
For the Motherland Party19,3140.190New
Alliance for the Unity of the Rroma19,1090.190New
Independent candidate: Eberhard-Wolfgang Wittstock11,1070.110New
Popular Party of Romania2,4360.020New
Force of Justice1,1860.010New
Independents8160.010New
Total10,231,476100.00137–3
Valid votes10,231,47694.84
Invalid/blank votes556,1285.16
Total votes10,787,604100.00
Registered voters/turnout18,449,67658.47
Source: AEP

Chamber of Deputies
PartyVotes%Seats+/–
National Union PSD+PUR3,730,35236.61132–23
Justice and Truth Alliance3,191,54631.33112+51
Greater Romania Party1,316,75112.9248–36
Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania628,1256.1722–5
New Generation Party227,4432.2300
Christian Democratic National Peasants' Party188,2681.8500
Democratic Force79,3760.780New
Ecologist Party of Romania73,0010.7200
Social Democratic Roma Party of Romania56,0760.5510
Romanian National Unity Party53,2220.520–
People's Action48,1520.470New
United Socialist Party44,4590.440New
Democratic Forum of Germans36,1660.3510
Romanian Workers' Party35,2780.350New
Union for Romanian Reconstruction32,7490.320New
Socialist Alliance Party28,4290.280New
Romanian Socialist Party28,0340.2800
National Democratic Christian Party27,6500.270New
New Democracy Party20,9260.210New
Social Democratic Party "Constantin Titel Petrescu"20,3180.2000
People's Alliance of Christian Democrats18,5940.180New
Democratic Youth Party16,2710.160New
Bulgarian Union of Banat–Romania15,2830.1510
Third Millennium Party15,1090.150New
Alliance for a United Romania15,0410.150New
Party for the Motherland14,8820.1500
Union of the Ukrainians of Romania10,8880.1110
Community of the Lipovan Russians in Romania10,5620.1010
Union of Croats of Romania10,3310.1010
Union of Armenians of Romania9,8100.1010
Association of Macedonians of Romania9,7500.1010
Cultural Association of Slavonic Macedonians of Romania9,5950.090New
Federation of the Jewish Communities in Romania8,4490.0810
Democratic Union of Croatians of Romania7,7690.0800
Democratic Turkish Union of Romania7,7150.0810
Ethnic Turks Association7,3960.070New
Hellenic Union of Romania7,1610.0710
Union of Serbs of Romania6,6430.0710
Turco-Muslim Union of Romania6,5170.060New
Democratic Union of Turkish-Muslim Tatars6,4520.0610
Democratic Association of Slavonic Macedonians of Romania6,3440.060New
Bulgarian Cultural Association of Romania6,2400.0600
Association of Italians of Romania6,1680.061New
Democratic Union of Slovaks and Czechs of Romania5,9500.0610
Union of Poles of Romania5,4730.0510
Italian Community of Romania5,1810.050–1
Cultural Union of Poles of Romania5,1590.050New
League of Albanians of Romania5,0110.0510
Bratstvo Community of Bulgarians in Romania4,0650.0400
Cultural Union of Ruthenians of Romania2,8710.0310
People's Party of Romania2,3360.020New
Force of Justice1,1230.010New
Independents51,6460.5100
Total10,188,106100.00332–13
Valid votes10,188,10694.44
Invalid/blank votes599,6415.56
Total votes10,787,747100.00
Registered voters/turnout18,449,34458.47
Source: Nohlen & Stöver, Global Elections Database

Aftermath

On 13 December, the PUR president Dan Voiculescu hinted that they have more in common with the DA (both have a center-right orientation) and that they might break from the PSD, but one day later said that he would remain with PSD. It has been suggested by the press that this could be result of a blackmail about his communist past. By 25 December both UDMR and PUR signed a protocol of alliance with DA (Justice and Truth), with the designated prime minister being Călin Popescu-Tăriceanu. Thus, the PSD was left in opposition while Justice and Truth Alliance (DA), the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR), and the Humanist Party (PUR, renamed Conservative Party in 2005) formed the government.

Notes
  1. Pambuccian has been the parliamentary leader of the national minorities' group since 1996 onwards.

References
  1. Dieter Nohlen & Philip Stöver (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p1616 ISBN 978-3-8329-5609-7
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