Romanian ethnic minority parties

The Romanian Constitution (Article 62) provides seats in the Chamber of Deputies for representatives of ethnic minorities in Romania (with the limitation that each national minority is to be represented by one organization only). Minority organizations are exempt from the electoral threshold, and are guaranteed a seat so long as they earn at least 10% of the vote that was required for the last party eligible to earn a seat through the threshold.[citation needed]

National Minorities Parliamentary Group
Grupul parlamentar al minorităților naționale
AbbreviationGPMN
LeaderVarujan Pambuccian (UAR)
Vice LeaderGiureci-Slobodan Ghera (UCR)
SecretaryOgnean Crîstici (USR)
Founded18 June 1990 (1990-06-18)
IdeologyNational minority interests
Political positionBig tent
Chamber of Deputies
18 / 330
Website
Group page on the Chamber of Deputies website

The representatives elected in this manner sit in the National Minority Parliamentary Group (Romanian: Grupul parlamentar al minorităților naționale) in the Chamber of Deputies; the Group traditionally give confidence and supply to the government.[1] The number of seats awarded to ethnic minorities varied from 10 in 1990 to 18 between 2000 and 2016, and once more since 2020 onwards.

List of parties

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The following are members of the National Minority Parliamentary Group which hold or formerly held a seat in the Chamber of Deputies. Beyond the groups sitting in Parliament based on the minority party exemption, the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (Romanian: Uniunea Democrată Maghiară din România, Hungarian: Romániai Magyar Demokrata Szövetség, RMDSZ) is a centre-right party representing the much larger Hungarian community. It has been represented in both the Chamber of Deputies and Senate continuously since 1990 competing as an ordinary party.

Previously, a number of political parties represented Romania's ethnic minorities—particularly Hungarians, Germans, and Jews—until the suppression of all political parties other than the ruling National Renaissance Front in 1938. Some minority organizations allied to the Romanian Communist Party, such as the Hungarian People's Union and Jewish Democratic Committee, survived until their suppression in 1953.

Active

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Defunct

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References

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  1. ^ (in Romanian) "Minoritățile nu participă la viitoarea guvernare" ("Minorities Will Not Participate in the Next Government"), Ziarul Financiar, 5 December 2008; accessed October 15, 2009