Justice and Truth
Encyclopedia
The Justice and Truth Alliance (in Romanian
Alianţa Dreptate şi Adevăr, or D.A. for short) was a political alliance comprising two political parties in Romania
: the centre-right
liberal
National Liberal Party
(PNL) and the initially social-democrat Democratic Party (PD), which later switched to center-right ideology.
As the political formation with the largest number of seats in parliament, the Justice and Truth Alliance was in government from 2004 to 2007 (in a coalition with the Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania
).
The alliance had its origins in a collaboration between the two parties which began in early 2002 at the initiative of the PNL's former president, Valeriu Stoica
. The creation of the alliance was formally approved on September 29, 2003 by the executives of both parties, after months of negotiations between the parties. It was established as a vehicle for of coordinating opposition efforts against the ruling Social Democratic Party of Romania (PSD). Its name was chosen in reference to the PSD's alleged corruption - as PNL president Theodor Stolojan put it, "we want the alliance to set us free from corruption and lies."
On October 25, 2004, the Justice and Truth alliance endorsed its co-chairman Călin Popescu-Tăriceanu
(also the leader of the PNL) as its candidate in the 2004 Romanian legislative election
. According to Popescu-Tăriceanu, the alliance's political priorities were:
In the 2004 presidential election
and the simultaneous legislative election, held on November 28, the DA polled better than expected in both races. It came within a few percentage points of the PSD, eliminating the government's majority as a result. The alliance formed between Truth and Justice DA, UDMR and PUR
have been declared the winner, forming simple majority (with 54.5% of the seats) and have been appointed to form the government. The protocols of alliance between DA and UDMR were signed on December 20, 2004 while those between DA and PUR were signed on December 23, 2004.
Their candidate, Traian Băsescu
, won the presidential election and is subsequently President of Romania. D.A., alongside U.D.M.R. (The Democratic Hungarians' Union of Romania) and the Humanist Party of Romania PUR
(which subsequently became the Conservative Party
and, on December 3, 2006 quit the ruling coalition, leaving the remaining parties without a simple majority in the Parliament), were appointed to form the government.
In early April 2007, Popescu-Tăriceanu dismissed the Democratic Party ministers from the government and formed a minority government with the Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania, marking the end of the alliance.
Romanian language
Romanian Romanian Romanian (or Daco-Romanian; obsolete spellings Rumanian, Roumanian; self-designation: română, limba română ("the Romanian language") or românește (lit. "in Romanian") is a Romance language spoken by around 24 to 28 million people, primarily in Romania and Moldova...
Alianţa Dreptate şi Adevăr, or D.A. for short) was a political alliance comprising two political parties in Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
: the centre-right
Centre-right
The centre-right or center-right is a political term commonly used to describe or denote individuals, political parties, or organizations whose views stretch from the centre to the right on the left-right spectrum, excluding far right stances. Centre-right can also describe a coalition of centrist...
liberal
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
National Liberal Party
National Liberal Party (Romania)
The National Liberal Party , abbreviated to PNL, is a centre-right liberal party in Romania. It is the third-largest party in the Romanian Parliament, with 53 seats in the Chamber of Deputies and 22 in the Senate: behind the centre-right Democratic Liberal Party and the centre-left Social...
(PNL) and the initially social-democrat Democratic Party (PD), which later switched to center-right ideology.
As the political formation with the largest number of seats in parliament, the Justice and Truth Alliance was in government from 2004 to 2007 (in a coalition with the Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania
Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania
The Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania, is the main political organisation representing the ethnic Hungarians of Romania....
).
The alliance had its origins in a collaboration between the two parties which began in early 2002 at the initiative of the PNL's former president, Valeriu Stoica
Valeriu Stoica
Valeriu Stoica is a Romanian politician and academic. A professor of civil law at the University of Bucharest, he became a member of the National Liberal Party in 1990, and was first vice-president of the party between 1997 and 2001 and president between 2001 and 2002...
. The creation of the alliance was formally approved on September 29, 2003 by the executives of both parties, after months of negotiations between the parties. It was established as a vehicle for of coordinating opposition efforts against the ruling Social Democratic Party of Romania (PSD). Its name was chosen in reference to the PSD's alleged corruption - as PNL president Theodor Stolojan put it, "we want the alliance to set us free from corruption and lies."
On October 25, 2004, the Justice and Truth alliance endorsed its co-chairman Călin Popescu-Tăriceanu
Calin Popescu-Tariceanu
Călin Constantin Anton Popescu-Tăriceanu is a Romanian politician. He was the Prime Minister of Romania between 29 December 2004 and 22 December 2008...
(also the leader of the PNL) as its candidate in the 2004 Romanian legislative election
Romanian legislative election, 2004
The Romanian legislative election of 2004 was held on 28 November 2004. 137 seats in the Senate of Romania and 314 seats in the Chamber of Deputies were up for election.The 2004 legislative election was held simultaneously with the presidential election...
. According to Popescu-Tăriceanu, the alliance's political priorities were:
- stimulating investments and private initiative;
- creating of new jobs and increasing net incomes to alleviate poverty;
- delivering a "responsible social policy" in the field of education, healthcare, pensions, and social assistance;
- fighting corruption;
- establishing a non-political judiciary.
In the 2004 presidential election
Romanian presidential election, 2004
A presidential election was held in Romania on November 28, 2004. 12 candidates competed for the office. As no candidate won more than 50% of the votes, a run-off was held on December 12, 2004, between the two leading candidates: prime minister Adrian Năstase of the ruling Social Democratic Party...
and the simultaneous legislative election, held on November 28, the DA polled better than expected in both races. It came within a few percentage points of the PSD, eliminating the government's majority as a result. The alliance formed between Truth and Justice DA, UDMR and PUR
Conservative Party (Romania)
The Conservative Party of Romania is a political party formed in 1991, after the fall of Communism, under the name of the Romanian Humanist Party . From 2005 until December 3, 2006, the party was a junior member of the ruling coalition...
have been declared the winner, forming simple majority (with 54.5% of the seats) and have been appointed to form the government. The protocols of alliance between DA and UDMR were signed on December 20, 2004 while those between DA and PUR were signed on December 23, 2004.
Their candidate, Traian Băsescu
Traian Basescu
Traian Băsescu is the current President of Romania. After serving as the mayor of Bucharest from June 2000 until December 2004, he was elected president in the Romanian Presidential Elections of 2004 and inaugurated on December 20, 2004...
, won the presidential election and is subsequently President of Romania. D.A., alongside U.D.M.R. (The Democratic Hungarians' Union of Romania) and the Humanist Party of Romania PUR
Conservative Party (Romania)
The Conservative Party of Romania is a political party formed in 1991, after the fall of Communism, under the name of the Romanian Humanist Party . From 2005 until December 3, 2006, the party was a junior member of the ruling coalition...
(which subsequently became the Conservative Party
Conservative Party (Romania)
The Conservative Party of Romania is a political party formed in 1991, after the fall of Communism, under the name of the Romanian Humanist Party . From 2005 until December 3, 2006, the party was a junior member of the ruling coalition...
and, on December 3, 2006 quit the ruling coalition, leaving the remaining parties without a simple majority in the Parliament), were appointed to form the government.
In early April 2007, Popescu-Tăriceanu dismissed the Democratic Party ministers from the government and formed a minority government with the Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania, marking the end of the alliance.
Notable members
- Theodor StolojanTheodor StolojanTheodor Dumitru Stolojan is a Romanian politician. An economist by training, he is a leader of the Democratic-Liberal Party. He previously served as Prime minister of Romania from September 1991 to November 1992. He and his wife Elena have a son, Vlad Stolojan, and a daughter, Ada Palea...
- Călin Popescu Tăriceanu (PNLNational Liberal Party (Romania)The National Liberal Party , abbreviated to PNL, is a centre-right liberal party in Romania. It is the third-largest party in the Romanian Parliament, with 53 seats in the Chamber of Deputies and 22 in the Senate: behind the centre-right Democratic Liberal Party and the centre-left Social...
) - Traian BăsescuTraian BasescuTraian Băsescu is the current President of Romania. After serving as the mayor of Bucharest from June 2000 until December 2004, he was elected president in the Romanian Presidential Elections of 2004 and inaugurated on December 20, 2004...
- Emil BocEmil BocEmil Boc is the Prime Minister of Romania, having served since December 2008. In June 2004, he was elected Mayor of Cluj-Napoca, the largest city in Transylvania. Boc is also the president of the Democratic Liberal Party, who designated him as Prime Minister in 2008. On October 13, 2009, his...
(PD)