Liberal Democratic Party (Romania)

Liberal Democratic Party
Partidul Liberal Democrat
Last leader Theodor Stolojan
Founded December 2006
Dissolved 2008
Merged into PD-L
Headquarters Calea Victoriei 100, et.1, ap.16
Sector 1
Bucharest
Ideology Conservative liberalism
International affiliation none
European affiliation none
European Parliament group EPP-ED
Colours Orange and blue
Website
www.platformaliberala.ro
Politics of Romania
Political parties
Elections
There were other Romanian parties of the same name; see Liberal Democratic Party (Romania, 1885) and Liberal Democratic Party (Romania, 1931)

The Liberal Democratic Party (Romanian: Partidul Liberal Democrat, PLD) was a political party in Romania, formed in December 2006 as a breakaway group from the National Liberal Party (PNL). The Liberal Democratic Party was headed by Theodor Stolojan, a former PNL leader, and included a series of prominent former Liberals, such as Gheorghe Flutur, Mona Muscă and Valeriu Stoica, who were opposed to the leadership of the PNL, now headed by Călin Popescu-Tăriceanu. The Liberal Democrats also advocated a closer co-operation with the Democratic Party (PD) and President Traian Băsescu. The PNL and the PD were part of the Justice and Truth governing alliance until Tăriceanu dismissed the PD ministers in April 2007 and formed a minority government with the Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania, marking the end of the alliance.[1]

The members of the Liberal Democrats had initially grouped themselves in an informal organisation known as The Liberal Platform (Platforma Liberală). The slogan of the PLD was Progress, Liberty, Dignity.[2]

It merged with the Democratic Party to form the Democratic Liberal Party in January 2008.[3] The merger was approved in a party congress on 2007-12-15 with 933 in favour, six abstentions and one against.[4]

Ideology

On January 22, 2007, the vice-president of the PLD, Gheorghe Flutur, stated that the new party will forge a close relationship with the Romanian Orthodox Church, the country's largest religious denomination. Flutur declared that, "We believe that we must fight for the protection of [our] national identity, especially now, when Romania has entered the European Union. Here, we consider that we must have a very good relationship with the institution of the Romanian Orthodox Church and I think that [the church] must play a much more important role in the promotion of our traditions and customs."[5]

Merger with PD

The Liberal Democratic Party intended to join the European People's Party at EU level. In a televised show however, Vasile Blaga put an end to this rumor, stating PD will go alone at the European pariiamentary elections. In January 2008, however, the party merged with the Democratic Party to form the Democratic Liberal Party, which became a member of the European People's Party.

Notes

  1. http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/04/02/europe/EU-POL-Romania-New-Cabinet.php, "Romania's prime minister names new Cabinet of minority government", Associated Press (International Herald Tribune), April 2, 2007
  2. Sigla à la PD, statut de PNL, Evenimentul Zilei, December 28, 2006
  3. Romanian parties that support president to merge : Europe World
  4. Romania’s Liberal Democrats Vote Merger With Democrats - Engleza - Mediafax
  5. Vicepresedintele PLD a luat calea Bisericii (The Vice-President of the PLD has gone the Church's way), Gândul, January 22, 2007

External links