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USR PLUS
LeadersDan Barna (USR)
Dacian Cioloș (PLUS)
Founded2 February 2019
Dissolved16 April 2021
Succeeded bySave Romania Union
Ideology
Political positionCentre[3][4]
European affiliationAlliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party
European Parliament groupRenew Europe[5]
Colours  Blue
  Orange
SloganO Românie fără hoție (A Romania without thievery)
Constituent partiesUSR
PLUS
Website
www.usrplus.ro

USR PLUS was a Romanian progressive, liberal, and centrist political alliance active between 2019 and 2021. Established on 2 February 2019 solely as an electoral alliance between the political parties Save Romania Union (USR) and the Freedom, Unity and Solidarity Party (PLUS) it was initially called 2020 USR-PLUS Alliance (Romanian: Alianța 2020 USR-PLUS). The alliance was formed to participate together in the May 2019 European Parliament election in Romania.[6]

Subsequently, the two parties decided to sign a protocol for a political alliance for the 2019 Romanian presidential election[7][8] and for the 2020 local and legislative elections as well.

The alliance was dissolved when the two parties formally merged after a successful vote during an online congress on 15 August 2020 and the approval of this event by the Court of Appeal of Bucharest on 16 April 2021. Furthermore, the party celebrated in early October 2021 a new congress where Dacian Cioloș was elected to be the sole president of the party.[9] In the same congress, the 24 members of the party's National Political Bureau were elected and the congress voted to conserve Save Romania Union as the statutory name of the party, setting aside provisions in the merger protocol recommending that the name be changed to USR PLUS.[10][11]

History

[edit]
Logo of USR PLUS when it was an electoral alliance

Dan Barna (USR) and Dacian Cioloș (PLUS), as leaders of the alliance, declared on 2 February 2019 that the two parties reached an agreement to participate jointly in European elections and that the project was a first step towards a possible success in the 2020 Romanian legislative election.[12][13]

On 7 March 2019, the Central Electoral Bureau (BEC) rejected the application for registration of the 2020 USR-PLUS Alliance for the European Parliament elections, motivating that Barna and Cioloș were not listed as presidents of the two parties in the Register of Political Parties.[14] Barna was elected president of the USR in October 2017, and Cioloș was elected president of the PLUS in February 2019. Both requested their registration as presidents at the Bucharest Tribunal, but until the Alliance's registration they did not receive a final decision.[15] Deputy Nicușor Dan, former president of the USR, declared that "I found, together with the legal team, the solution that would allow me to legally countersign the protocol of the USR-PLUS Alliance".[16] On March 8, the High Court of Cassation and Justice accepted USR-PLUS' appeal to the decision of the BEC to not to allow the alliance to be registered.[17] The alliance's chosen slogan used to be Fără hoție ajungem departe, meaning "Without thievery we go far" and referring to the existing corruption in Romania.[18] Nowadays, the slogan is O Românie fără hoție ("A Romania without thievery").[19]

On 15 August 2020, members of the USR and PLUS held an online congress to decide whether to formally unite the two parties or not, with 84.65% of the participants voting in favor of a merger. This new party would still be called USR (Save Romania Union) and would be led by Barna and Cioloș until a judicial decision on the merger was made; then, the party would be renamed to "USR PLUS".[20]

The parties, USR and PLUS, officially and legally merged into one single party on 16 April 2021 after the approval of this by the Court of Appeal of Bucharest.[21] In addition, the party was said to be preparing for a new congress, probably held in the autumn of 2021, to vote a single leadership, with Barna and Cioloș announcing that they would both participate in this vote.[9]

In early October 2021, Dacian Cioloș was elected president of the party in the congress.[22] Subsequently, the 24 members of the National Political Bureau were elected, while it was decided that the statutory name of the party remains Save Romania Union.[10][11]

2019 European Parliament elections

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Main article: 2019 European Parliament election in Romania
Members of the USR PLUS (then still an electoral alliance) thanking the people of Bucharest for the victory in the European Parliament elections of May 2019

On 4 April 2019, the 2020 USR-PLUS Alliance presented, during a press conference, its party platform for the European Parliament elections.[23] The alliance's electoral offer covers four main subjects: "Justice and protection of the rights of the Romanians in the European Union", "welfare for society: health, education and anti-poverty measures", "European prosperity at home, in Romania", and "foreign and secure policy".[24] Among the promises of the alliance are the creation of an applicable European Mechanism for Cooperation and Verification, Romania's accession to the Schengen Area and changes in education, agriculture and infrastructure. The alliance also supports the Accession of Moldova to the European Union.[25]

On the occasion of the European Council meeting of May 9 in Sibiu, Romania, Ciolos had a meeting with Emmanuel Macron, President of France, focused on a discussion on the creation of a new political group in the European Parliament after the elections of May 26.[26]

During the political campaign, the alliance organized two major party rallies attended by both leaders of the alliance, one on May 5 in Cluj-Napoca[27] and the other one on May 12 in Timișoara.[28] The Bucharest rally of 24 May was also attended by Guy Verhofstadt, leader of the ALDE Group in the European Parliament, who announced the formation of a new Pro-European reformist center parliamentary group, together with the La République En Marche! of Emmanuel Macron.[29]

Electoral history

[edit]

Legislative elections

[edit]
Election Chamber Senate Position Aftermath
Votes % Seats Votes % Seats
2016 did not exist1
30 / 329
 did not exist
13 / 136
 – Opposition to PSD-ALDE government (2019)
Opposition to PSD minority government (2019)
Supporting PNL minority government (2019–2020)
2020 906,962 15.37
55 / 330
 936,862 15.86
25 / 136
  3rd  PNL-USR PLUS-UDMR government (2020–2021)
Notes

1 All MPs were members of USR (PLUS had no seats in parliament at the time).

Local elections

[edit]
Election County Councillors (CJ) Mayors Local Councillors (CL) Popular vote % Position
Votes % Seats Votes % Seats Votes % Seats
2020 478,659 6.65
65 / 1,340
 490,362 6.58
28 / 3,176
 504,563 6.85
1,207 / 39,900
 696,478 8.89  3rd 
Map of the results of the 2020 Romanian local elections. In blue are the counties in which USR-PLUS gained County Councillors (CJ) and in gray are the counties in which it did not pass the threshold to do so.
County Election Votes[30] % Councillors +/- Aftermath
Alba 2020 13,949 9.5 (#3)
4 / 32
 Increase 4 Opposition
Arad 2020 20,712 12.8 (#2)
5 / 32
 Increase 5 Opposition
Argeș 2020 26,594 10.7 (#3)
4 / 34
 Increase 4 Opposition
Bacău 2020 61,621 27.0 (#2)[31]
3 / 36
[32] 		Increase 3 Opposition
Bihor 2020 5,741 2.3 (#5)
0 / 34
 Steady 0 Extra-parliamentary
Bistrița-Năsăud 2020 5,476 4.4 (#4)
0 / 30
 Steady 0 Extra-parliamentary
Botoșani 2020 5,539 3.6 (#5)
0 / 32
 Steady 0 Extra-parliamentary
Brăila 2020 5,837 5.3 (#4)
0 / 30
 Steady 0 Extra-parliamentary
Brașov 2020 39,013 19.3 (#3)
8 / 34
 Increase 8 PNL–USR-PLUS
Bucharest 2020 175,953 27.0 (#2)
17 / 55
 Increase 2 USR-PLUS–PNL
Buzău 2020 11,866 6.6 (#4)
0 / 32
 Steady 0 Extra-parliamentary
Călărași 2020 46,932[33] 37.3[34] (#2)
4 / 30
[35] 		Increase 4 Opposition
Caraș-Severin 2020 6,281 5.3 (#4)
0 / 30
 Steady 0 Extra-parliamentary
Cluj 2020 30,701 12.2 (#3)
5 / 36
 Increase 5 Opposition
Constanța 2020 34,896 13.0 (#3)
5 / 36
 Increase 5 PNL–USR-PLUS
Covasna 2020 1,836 2.7 (#9)
0 / 30
 Steady 0 Extra-parliamentary
Dâmbovița 2020 6,054 2.9 (#5)
0 / 34
 Steady 0 Extra-parliamentary
Dolj 2020 17,563 6.7 (#4)
0 / 36
 Steady 0 Extra-parliamentary
Galați 2020 11,844 6.0 (#3)
0 / 34
 Steady 0 Extra-parliamentary
Giurgiu 2020 4,194 3.4 (#5)
0 / 30
 Steady 0 Extra-parliamentary
Gorj 2020 6,373 4.2 (#5)
0 / 32
 Steady 0 Extra-parliamentary
Harghita 2020 1,330 1.3 (#7)
0 / 30
 Steady 0 Extra-parliamentary
Hunedoara 2020 12,949 7.9 (#4)[36]
2 / 32
 Increase 2 Opposition
Ialomița 2020 6,096 5.7 (#4)
0 / 30
 Steady 0 Extra-parliamentary
Iași 2020 39,416 14.6 (#3)
6 / 36
 Increase 6 Opposition
Ilfov 2020 26,389 14.5 (#2)
5 / 32
 Increase 5 Opposition
Maramureș 2020 14,143 7.7 (#4)
3 / 34
 Increase 3 PNL–USR-PLUS
Mehedinți 2020 2,876 2.4 (#5)
0 / 30
 Steady 0 Extra-parliamentary
Mureș 2020 6,908 3.4 (#6)
0 / 34
 Steady 0 Extra-parliamentary
Neamț 2020 19,564 10.7 (#3)
4 / 34
 Increase 4 Opposition
Olt 2020 5,019 2.5 (#5)
0 / 32
 Steady 0 Extra-parliamentary
Prahova 2020 131.179[31] 45.9 (#1)[31]
8 / 36
[37] 		Increase8 PNL–USR-PLUS (2020–2021)
Opposition (2021–present)[38]
Sălaj 2020 6,851 7.0 (#4)
2 / 30
 Increase 2 Support
Satu Mare 2020 7,072 5.4 (#5)
0 / 32
 Steady 0 Extra-parliamentary
Sibiu 2020 15,573 10.1 (#4)
4 / 32
 Increase 4 Opposition
Suceava 2020 15,751 6.2 (#4)
0 / 36
 Steady 0 Extra-parliamentary
Teleorman 2020 6,143 3.8 (#3)
0 / 32
 Steady 0 Extra-parliamentary
Timiș 2020 55.155 21.5 (#2)
10 / 36
 Increase 10 PNL–USR-PLUS (2020)
Opposition (2020–present)[39]
Tulcea 2020 5,288 6.1 (#4)
0 / 30
 Steady 0 Extra-parliamentary
Vâlcea 2020 8,319 5.2 (#4)
0 / 32
 Steady 0 Extra-parliamentary
Vaslui 2020 12,140 8.4 (#4)
3 / 34
 Increase 3 Opposition
Vrancea 2020 58.610[31] 41.0 (#2)[40]
5 / 32
[40] 		Increase5 Support (2020–2021)
Opposition (2021–present)
City Mayor # Local Council
Votes Percentage Council Swing Aftermath
Sector 1 (Bucharest)
40.95 / 100
 1 26.675 30.0 (#2)
9 / 27
 Increase 1 USR-PLUS–PNL (2020–2021)
USR-PLUS minority (2021–present)
Sector 2 (Bucharest)
36.91 / 100
 1 33,145 29.1 (#2)
9 / 27
 Increase 4 USR-PLUS–PNL
Sector 3 (Bucharest)
28.48 / 100
 2 34,236 25.7 (#1)
9 / 31
 Increase 1 Opposition
Sector 4 (Bucharest)
29.88 / 100
 2 28,999 28.5 (#2)
9 / 27
 Increase 3 Opposition
Sector 5 (Bucharest)
25.24 / 100
 3 14,838 16.5 (#3)
5 / 27
 Steady 0 Opposition
Sector 6 (Bucharest)
43.40 / 100
 1 30,657 24.8 (#3)
8 / 27
 Increase 1 PNL–USR-PLUS
Cluj-Napoca
8.27 / 100
 2 16,691 17.1 (#2)
5 / 27
 Increase 5 Opposition
Timișoara
53.25 / 100
 1 37.977 41.4 (#1)
13 / 27
 Increase 13 PNL–USR-PLUS (2020)
USR-PLUS minority (2020–present)
Iași
30.31 / 100
 2 24,785 29.0 (#2)
9 / 27
 Increase 9 Opposition
Brașov
42.06 / 100
 1 26,525 32.7 (#1)
12 / 27
 Increase 12 PNL–USR-PLUS
Constanța
24.31 / 100
 2 22,773 23.9 (#2)
9 / 27
 Increase 9 PNL–USR-PLUS

Presidential elections

[edit]
Election Candidate First round Second round
Votes Percentage Position Votes Percentage Position
2019 Dan Barna 1,384,450
15.02%
  3rd  not qualified

European Parliament elections

[edit]
Election Votes % MEPs Position EU Party EP Group
2019 2,028,236 22.36
8 / 32
1 		 3rd  — RE

Note: 1 USR-PLUS members: USR and PLUS (4 MEPs each).

See also

[edit]

References

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  1. ^ Dragoman, Dragoș (2 July 2020). ""Save Romania" Union and the Persistent Populism in Romania". Problems of Post-Communism. 68 (4): 303–314. doi:10.1080/10758216.2020.1781540. S2CID 225582362 – via Taylor and Francis+NEJM.
  2. ^ "The rise of Union Save Romania: from civil society, political entrepreneurship and populism". ecpr.eu.
  3. ^ Ilie, Luiza. "Romania coalition at risk after junior party pulls support for PM". Reuters. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  4. ^ Rosca, Matei (8 December 2020). "Romanian president sends general into uphill battle". Politico EU. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  5. ^ "Former Romanian PM considered for head of Renew group in EP". Romania Insider. 18 June 2019.
  6. ^ "USR a decis să participe împreună cu PLUS pe o listă comună la europarlamentare". Agerpres (in Romanian). 2 February 2019.
  7. ^ Kiss, Robert (4 August 2019). "Cum merg negocierile între USR și PLUS. Alianță politică sau alianță electorală". Digi24 (in Romanian).
  8. ^ "Comitetul politic al USR a decis: Alianța 2020 USR-PLUS va rămâne electorală și nu se va înscrie la tribunal cum au vrut liderii". Radio Europa Liberă România (in Romanian). 3 August 2019.
  9. ^ a b "USR și PLUS au fuzionat. Decizia Curții de Apel București, definitivă. Noul partid se pregătește de Congres". Digi24 (in Romanian). 16 April 2021.
  10. ^ a b "Echipa Barna câștigă alegerile pentru Biroul Național al USR PLUS". Antena 3. 3 October 2021. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  11. ^ a b "USR PLUS revine la denumirea de USR şi la vechea siglă". stirileprotv.ro. 3 October 2021. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  12. ^ "Cioloș și Barna anunță formarea "Alianței 2020 USR PLUS" pentru alegeri". HotNews (in Romanian). 2 February 2019.
  13. ^ Iordache, Mihaela (6 February 2019). "Romania: 2019, tra inflazione ed elezioni". Osservatorio Balcani e Caucaso Transeuropa (in Italian).
  14. ^ "BEC motivează de ce a respins cererea Alianței USR- PLUS pentru europarlamentare: Președinți sunt Nicușor Dan și Daneș Raluca". Mediafax (in Romanian). 7 March 2019.
  15. ^ "Biroul Electoral Central anunță că Alianța 2020 USR PLUS nu poate merge la europarlamentare". EURACTIV (in Romanian). 7 March 2019.
  16. ^ "Nicușor Dan: Am găsit soluția care să îmi permită să contrasemnez legal protocolul Alianței USR-PLUS". Agerpres (in Romanian). 7 March 2019.
  17. ^ "Comunicat de presă - USR". Agerpres (in Romanian). 8 March 2019.
  18. ^ Pirvoiu, Claudia (7 May 2019). "Campania electorală la români: agheasmă, mici și dans". HotNews (in Romanian).
  19. ^ "BEC a decis că Alianța USR-PLUS poate folosi sloganul "O Românie fără hoție"". HotNews (in Romanian). 15 November 2020.
  20. ^ Alexandru, Matei (15 August 2020). "DOCUMENT Fuziunea dintre USR și PLUS a primit votul final din partea membrilor ambelor partide, reuniți în congres comun online: 84,65% au votat în favoarea fuziunii / Noul partid, care se va numi USR până la viitorul congres la care i se va schimba numele în USR PLUS, urmează să fie înregistrat la Tribunal". G4Media (in Romanian).
  21. ^ "USR și PLUS au fuzionat. Decizia Curții de Apel București, definitivă. Noul partid se pregătește de Congres". Digi24. 16 April 2021. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  22. ^ "Dacian Cioloș a fost ales președintele USR PLUS". Digi24. October 2021. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  23. ^ "USR și PLUS și-au prezentat obiectivele pentru europarlamentare. Ce promite Alianța 2020". HotNews (in Romanian). 4 April 2019.
  24. ^ Sahlean, Adelina (5 April 2019). "USR-PLUS și-a anunțat obiectivele pentru Parlamentul European: modificarea legislației pe justiție". Newsweek (in Romanian).
  25. ^ "Alianța USR-PLUS și-a prezentat programul electoral: Ce își propune să facă dacă ajunge în Parlamentul European". Ziare.com (in Romanian). 4 April 2019.
  26. ^ Cristescu, George Andrei (9 May 2019). "Cioloş, întâlnire cu Macron la Sibiu: Ne-am concentrat asupra pregătirii viitorului grup proeuropean din viitorul Parlament". Adevărul (in Romanian).
  27. ^ Rotaru, Sebastian (5 May 2019). "Alianța 2020 USR PLUS a avut primul miting electoral". EURACTIV (in Romanian).
  28. ^ "Alianța 2020 USR-PLUS organizează al doilea miting electoral, duminică, la Timișoara". Libertatea (in Romanian). 10 May 2019.
  29. ^ "#europarlamentare2019/Guy Verhofstadt, la mitingul Alianței 2020 USR PLUS: Vom crea o nouă mișcare în Europa". Agerpres (in Romanian). 24 May 2019.
  30. ^ "Rezultate alegeri" (in Romanian).
  31. ^ a b c d PNL–USR-PLUS
  32. ^ 11/36 for the PNL–USR-PLUS alliance: PNL-8, USR PLUS-3
  33. ^ PLUS run separately and won only 1,237 votes
  34. ^ PNL–USR: 37.26%, PLUS: 0.98%
  35. ^ 13/30 for the PNL–USR alliance: PNL-9, USR-4, PLUS-0
  36. ^ USR: 5.95%, PLUS: 1.90%
  37. ^ 17/36 for the PNL–USR-PLUS alliance: PNL-9, USR-PLUS-8
  38. ^ Ștefan Vlaston (1 July 2021). "Coaliţia stă pe un butoi de pulbere. Cătălin Drulă ştia de aparatura de înregistrare aflată în biroul său". Adevărul (in Romanian). Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  39. ^ Redacția Business Magazine (9 March 2021). "Război total între USR PLUS şi PNL! Dominic Fritz îi spulberă pe liberalii din Timiş. Cum i-a putut numi pe "partenerii" din coaliţia de guvernare!". Business Magazine (in Romanian). Retrieved 2 August 2021. {{cite news}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  40. ^ a b The PNL–USR-PLUS alliance won 15 seats: PNL-9, USR-PLUS-5, Partida Rromilor-1
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