The 2024 European Parliament election in Romania was held on 9 June 2024. This was the fifth European Parliament election to be held in Romania since the country's accession to the European Union in 2007 and the first since Brexit.
Voting procedure The 33 Romanian MEPs are elected by direct universal suffrage by all EU citizens registered on the electoral rolls and over 18 years of age. The ballot is held in a single electoral district on the basis of proportional representation, which means that the number of MPs elected from each political party depends on the number of votes obtained by the party. Romania uses a closed list system, which does not allow changing the order number of the candidates on the list. Seats in the European Parliament are allocated to parties that obtain at least 5% of the votes validly cast by the D'Hondt method.
Background National Coalition for Romania In the last European parliamentary elections, in 2019, PSD obtained 9 mandates. It was the weakest electoral result recorded by the PSD in its entire European Parliament electoral history, largely based on the soft eurosceptic and nationalist rhetoric that the party adopted during the leadership of Liviu Dragnea, the constant, brutal weakening of the rule of law, and the encouragement of corruption.
There followed a period when the party changed 2 presidents within a few months: Liviu Dragnea (27 May 2019) and Viorica Dăncilă (November 2019). In November 2019, Marcel Ciolacu took over as ad interim/acting president of the PSD and was later fully elected in 2020 at a party congress. Throughout Marcel Ciolacu's presidency, PSD tried to distance itself from the eurosceptic and nationalist rhetoric and 'wash' its image as a party endorsing corruption at high political level. From 2021, the PSD has been one of the two main governing parties alongside the National Liberal Party (PNL) within the National Coalition for Romania (CNR).
The National Liberal Party (PNL) ranked first in the last European parliamentary elections, obtaining 10 mandates. The speeches of PNL leaders and candidates oscillated during the campaign between a focus on European policy topics and an emphasis on domestic politics and disputes with the governing coalition. Among the electoral promises were: raising the MCV, Romania's accession to the Schengen Area and the eurozone, improving the rule of law and investments by accessing European funds.
After the 2020 parliamentary elections, the PNL entered the government together with the USR PLUS and the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR/RMDSZ), a coalition that lasted until September 2021. Throughout 2021, tensions have increased within the National Liberal Party (PNL), with the then party's president Ludovic Orban being challenged by high-ranking politicians within the party. At the September 2021 party congress, former Romanian controversial Prime Minister Florin Cîțu won the party presidency over Ludovic Orban. However, Cîțu did not remain the party's president for too long, as in April 2022, at an extraordinary party congress with only one candidate, former Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă became the new president of the party (and is still its current leader). Following the loss of the party presidency by former longtime president Ludovic Orban and the political crisis of 2021, a new splinter party from the PNL, Force of the Right (FD), was founded by former Prime Minister Ludovic Orban.
Save Romania Union (USR) Save Romania Union (USR) participated in the 2019 elections as part of the 2020 USR PLUS Alliance, an alliance between the parties USR and Freedom, Unity and Solidarity Party (PLUS), which later merged together as Save Romania Union (USR), previously obtaining 8 MEP mandates. It was the best electoral result recorded by the USR since its establishment in 2016. The 2019 electoral campaign focused in particular on a pro-European platform, and, among the most notable electoral offers were the following: protecting the rights of Romanians in the European Union (EU), Romania's accession to the Schengen Area, positive changes in education, agriculture and infrastructure as well as taking measures to increase social welfare and the overall economic situation of the country. Also, in the rallies held during the election campaign, the message of the USR PLUS Alliance emphasized the fight against a corrupt and authoritarian government power.
In 2020, USR PLUS entered government alongside the National Liberal Party (PNL) and the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR/RMDSZ). In 2021, USR and PLUS officially merged, with only the Save Romania Union (USR) name being retained by both parties as part of the fusion protocol. In September 2021, the forced exit of the USR from the government by the PNL and incumbent President Klaus Iohannis triggered a political crisis which ended by the subsequent entry of the PSD into government alongside PNL and UDMR/RMDSZ. In October 2021, the USR congress elected former Prime Minister Dacian Cioloș as president of the party, but the latter did not hold the position for a long time, as in February 2022 he resigned from this leading position within the party. Later on, Cătălin Drulă was elected party president and is the current party leader.
In January 2023, USR MEP Nicolae Ștefănuță announced his departure from the party and his affiliation with the Greens–European Free Alliance as an independent.
In the late of 2023, the leaders of USR, People's Movement Party (PMP) and Force of the Right (FD) announced their intention to form a center-right alliance to compete together in the 2024 European Parliament elections. On 18 December 2023, USR, PMP and FD officially launched United Right Alliance, going to run on a joint list for European Parliament elections.
Renewing Romania's European Project (REPER) In May 2022, Dacian Cioloș together with 4 other MEPs previously elected on the USR PLUS' list announced the launch of a new political party, namely REPER, with MEPs Dragoș Pîslaru, Ramona Strugariu, Alin Mituța, and Dragoș Tudorache leaving the USR and joining REPER in the meantime.
Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) The Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) is a political party that was founded by the independent 2019 MEP candidate George Simion in December 2019. The unexpected entry of the AUR into the Romanian Parliament after the 2020 elections resulted in the emergence over time in the press of articles labelling AUR as a right-wing extremist party with an ultra-nationalist, eurosceptic, neo-legionary, chauvinist and populist rhetoric. From 2021, AUR plans to affiliate with the European Parliament group of European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR).
AER for Romania Alliance (Greens and Ecologists) On 9 December 2023, leaders of Green Party (Verzii) and Ecologist Party of Romania (PER) announced a new political alliance on political scene for 2024 European Parliament elections, AER for Romania Alliance Greens and Ecologists.
Social Liberal Humanist Party (PUSL) On 17 March 2024, Sector 5 mayor Cristian Popescu Piedone announced that the he will be first on the party's list for the European Parliament Elections.
The Romanian delegation to the European Parliament before the 2024 elections European Parliament group Mandates National party Mandates Notes European People's Party Group National Liberal Party (PNL) People's Movement Party (PMP) Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR/RMDSZ) Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats Social Democratic Party (PSD) PRO Romania (PRO) Social Liberal Humanist Party (PUSL) Renew Europe Save Romania Union (USR) Renewing Romania's European Project (REPER) Independent European Conservatives and Reformists Christian Democratic National Peasants' Party (PNȚCD) Greens–European Free Alliance Independent Source: European Parliament
The Expected Romanian delegation to the European Parliament after the 2024 elections (partial results) European Parliament group Mandates National party Mandates Notes European People's Party Group National Liberal Party (PNL) Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR/RMDSZ) Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats Social Democratic Party (PSD) Social Liberal Humanist Party (PUSL) Renew Europe Save Romania Union (USR) People's Movement Party (PMP) European Conservatives and Reformists Romanian National Conservative Party (PNCR) Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) Non-Inscrits S.O.S. Romania Greens–European Free Alliance Independent Source:
Opinion polling
Polling firmFieldwork dateSamplesizeCNRPUSLAUR+ADUPROUDMRAERADS.O.S.REPEROthersLeadPNLPSDPNCRAURFDPMPUSRPERPVINSCOP20 - 25 May 20241,10043.71.317.514.1 6.0 4.41.311.7PDU 2,8%
PRM 1,9%
Indep. Vlad Gheorghe 1,9%
Indep. Nicolae Bogdănel Ștefănuță 1,9%
Indep. Șoșoacă 1,5%
Indep. Paula Pârvănescu 1,0%
alții 2,6%26.2Sociopol17–22 May 20241,00247221155024424CSPS 7–15 May 2024 2,61327342573437INSCOP 12–20 April 2024 1,10046.61.516.713.82.75.12.42.04.51.82.829.9CSPS1-7 April 20244,08527.230.223.44.82.85.85.73Sociopol26 March-2 April 20241,002475231414230124CURS19-28 March 20241,067534141455539CSPS17-29 March 20242,08837272141110EuractivMarch 20244225142551617Ipsos23 Feb–5 Mar 202497042.43.020.714.25.13.45.95.221.7INSCOP 22-29 Feb 2024 1,10043.720.613.73.73.93.4 6.40.93.723.1 Sociopol Feb 2024 –4212815252031114 173112413252031114INSOMAR Feb 2024 1,03040.81.530.511.51.74.527.510.3Avangarde 19–20 Feb 2024 95020311815582111CURS3–14 Feb 20241,06720312 201324 4 41160m.ro20 Jan 202492716283017542INSCOP16-24 Jan 20241,10018.829.5 18.412.93.04.83.56.50.5210.7CURS 15–27 Jan 2024 1,0821930321145449Avangarde 8-22 Jan 2024 1,15021311914581110INSOMAR Jan 20241,0502125222913393Sociopol Jan 2024–172910231325213116CIRA Jan 20241,0002030182214562110 CURS 26–30 Dec 2023 8521931419149245212Mercury Research30 Oct–6 Nov 20231,227162601922371541628119241537139Avangarde20–28 Sep 2023994 2131191313155110LARICS11–25 Sep 20231,003 22.931.51.014.64.415.23.24.72.48.6INSOMAR28–31 Aug 20231,030 15252 2733744102 2020 parliamentary election 6 Dec 20206.058.625 25.2 28.91.0 9.14.9 15.4 4.1 5.7 1.3 0.4 0.0 4.1 3.72019 election26 May 20199.069.822 27.022.55.822.46.45.36.64.5
Regional polls Bucharest Polling firmFieldwork dateSamplesizePNLPSDPUSLADUPLUSPROUDMRAURS.O.S.REPEROthersLeadFDPMPUSRAtlasIntel1-5 Jun 20242.8737.624.239.312.14.74.4 15.1 Ipsos 1 Nov-18 Dec 2023 5.40015.539.51.82.322.40.711.72.71.41.9 17.12019 election26 May 2019943.11815.4816.387.9939.896.750.3613.15 23.51
Announced candidates Save Romania Union (USR) and the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) were the first political parties that announced their official candidates for the European Parliament so far.
United Right Alliance (USR-PMP-FD) Dan Barna Vlad Voiculescu Eugen Tomac Vlad Botoș
Violeta Alexandru Radu Mihail Corina Atanasiu Adriana Cristian George Gima Teodora Stoian Ramona Goga Alina Gîrbea Geta Daniela Drăghici Alina Totti Nicolae Mihai Șvab Emilia Mateescu Ion Belu Gabriela Ferguson Lucia Hang Dan Adrian Pop Lucian Judele Raluca Bercea Ciprian Alexandru Andrei Chirica Răzvan Socolov Adrian Giurgiu Sergiu Grui Daniela Șarpe Aurel Fierăscu Alina Bălășcău Alex Cozma Silviu Andrei Maria Udrescu Mihai Zvîncă Laurențiu Gheorghe Liana Ursa Florin Drăgulin Ion-Marian Lazăr Robert Voicu Alexandru German Irena Pleșoiu Eusebiu Iftode Ioan Bledea
Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) Cristian Terheș Mugur Mihăescu Monica Iagăr Dan Tanasă Claudiu Târziu Gheorghe Piperea Felicia Akkaya
Adrian Axinia Radu Baltasiu Răzvan Biro Ramona-Ioana Bruynseels Paul Costea Peter Costea Ringo Dămureanu Cristina-Emanuela Dascălu Dragoș Dragoman Elena Doboș Cristina Dumitrescu Mihai Enache Raisa Enachi Avram Fițiu Tiberiu Floriș Laura Gherasim Veronica Grosu Silviu Gurlui Ramona-Paula Hotea Mirela Irindea Marius Lulea