President of Romania
Encyclopedia
The President of Romania is the head of state
of Romania
. The President is directly elected by a two-round system
for a five-year term (since 2004, after the Constitution
was modified in 2003). An individual may serve two terms. During his/her term in office, the President may not be a member of any political party.
The President of Romania has the right to name the Prime Minister
at his discretion after consulting the political parties in the Parliament and if his proposals are turned down by the Parliament two times in 60 days, except for the last 6 months of neither the first or second term, the President can dissolve the Parliament and call for early elections
. The President can only name the Prime Minister and not dismiss him from office but can refuse naming of members of the cabinet once and have no right to act the second time, even though the same name is proposed, this happened during Tăriceanu II Cabinet in 2007 by Traian Băsescu
, more precisely for Adrian Cioroianu
's proposal for Minister of Foreign Affairs who ultimately was dismissed after an unsuccessful year in office.
The current President of Romania is Traian Băsescu
, since 20 December 2004. On 20 April 2007 he was arguably suspended from office. He re-assumed the office on 23 May 2007 after a referendum was held. He was re-elected on 6 December 2009 for a second 5 year term that started on 21 December 2009.
can be suspended from office by the Parliament
in joint session. If the suspension motion passes, there is a call for a referendum of dismissal within no more than 30 days from the suspension.
If the Senate
and Chamber of Deputies
, in joint session, accuses the President of high treason
, the President is suspended from powers and duties by right. The accusations are judged by the High Court of Cassation and Justice. The incumbent President is dismissed by right if found guilty of high treason
.
The first President to be suspended was Traian Băsescu, on 20 April 2007. He re-assumed his powers and duties on 23 May 2007, after the Referendum
held on 19 May 2007.
or the President of the Chamber of Deputies
, in that order, step in as Ad Interim President of Romania . Neither relinquishes their position as President of their respective Legislative House for the duration of the Ad Interim term. An Ad Interim President cannot address the Parliament
, dissolve the Parliament, nor call for a referendum.
Head of State
A head of state is the individual that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state. His or her role generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the political powers, functions, and duties granted to the head of...
of 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 President is directly elected by a two-round system
Two-round system
The two-round system is a voting system used to elect a single winner where the voter casts a single vote for their chosen candidate...
for a five-year term (since 2004, after the Constitution
Constitution of Romania
The 1991 Constitution of Romania, adopted on 21 November 1991, voted in the referendum of 8 December 1991 and introduced on the same day, is the current fundamental law that establishes the structure of the government of Romania, the rights and obligations of the country's citizens, and its mode...
was modified in 2003). An individual may serve two terms. During his/her term in office, the President may not be a member of any political party.
The President of Romania has the right to name the Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Romania
The Prime Minister of Romania is the head of the Government of Romania. Initially, the office was styled President of the Council of Ministers , when the term "Government" included more than the Cabinet, and the Cabinet was called The Council of Ministers...
at his discretion after consulting the political parties in the Parliament and if his proposals are turned down by the Parliament two times in 60 days, except for the last 6 months of neither the first or second term, the President can dissolve the Parliament and call for early elections
Snap election
A snap election is an election called earlier than expected. Generally it refers to an election in a parliamentary system called when not required , usually to capitalize on a unique electoral opportunity or to decide a pressing issue...
. The President can only name the Prime Minister and not dismiss him from office but can refuse naming of members of the cabinet once and have no right to act the second time, even though the same name is proposed, this happened during Tăriceanu II Cabinet in 2007 by 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...
, more precisely for Adrian Cioroianu
Adrian Cioroianu
Adrian Mihai Cioroianu is a Romanian historian, politician, journalist, and essayist. A lecturer for the History Department at the University of Bucharest, he is the author of several books dealing with Romanian history...
's proposal for Minister of Foreign Affairs who ultimately was dismissed after an unsuccessful year in office.
The current President of Romania is 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...
, since 20 December 2004. On 20 April 2007 he was arguably suspended from office. He re-assumed the office on 23 May 2007 after a referendum was held. He was re-elected on 6 December 2009 for a second 5 year term that started on 21 December 2009.
Suspension
An incumbent President who severely violates the ConstitutionConstitution of Romania
The 1991 Constitution of Romania, adopted on 21 November 1991, voted in the referendum of 8 December 1991 and introduced on the same day, is the current fundamental law that establishes the structure of the government of Romania, the rights and obligations of the country's citizens, and its mode...
can be suspended from office by the Parliament
Parliament of Romania
The Parliament of Romania is made up of two chambers:*The Chamber of Deputies*The SenatePrior to the modifications of the Constitution in 2003, the two houses had identical attributes. A text of a law had to be approved by both houses...
in joint session. If the suspension motion passes, there is a call for a referendum of dismissal within no more than 30 days from the suspension.
If the Senate
Senate of Romania
The Senate of Romania is the upper house in the bicameral Parliament of Romania. It has 137 seats , to which members are elected by direct popular vote, using Mixed member proportional representation in 42 electoral districts , to serve four-year terms.-Former location:After the Romanian...
and Chamber of Deputies
Chamber of Deputies of Romania
The Chamber of Deputies is the lower house in Romania's bicameral parliament. It has 315 seats, to which deputies are elected by direct popular vote on a proportional representation basis to serve four-year terms...
, in joint session, accuses the President of high treason
High treason
High treason is criminal disloyalty to one's government. Participating in a war against one's native country, attempting to overthrow its government, spying on its military, its diplomats, or its secret services for a hostile and foreign power, or attempting to kill its head of state are perhaps...
, the President is suspended from powers and duties by right. The accusations are judged by the High Court of Cassation and Justice. The incumbent President is dismissed by right if found guilty of high treason
High treason
High treason is criminal disloyalty to one's government. Participating in a war against one's native country, attempting to overthrow its government, spying on its military, its diplomats, or its secret services for a hostile and foreign power, or attempting to kill its head of state are perhaps...
.
The first President to be suspended was Traian Băsescu, on 20 April 2007. He re-assumed his powers and duties on 23 May 2007, after the Referendum
Romanian presidential impeachment referendum, 2007
The Romanian presidential impeachment referendum of 2007 was conducted in order to determine whether the president of Romania Traian Băsescu should be forced to step down.On April 19, 2007 the Romanian parliament suspended Băsescu...
held on 19 May 2007.
Succession
Should the office of the President become vacant due to resignation, suspension, permanent inability to perform the duties of office, or death, the President of the SenatePresident of the Senate of Romania
The President of the Senate of Romania is the senator elected to preside over the Senate meetings. He is also the president of the Standing Bureau of the Senate, and the second leader of the State.-Election:...
or the President of the Chamber of Deputies
President of the Chamber of Deputies of Romania
The President of the Chamber of Deputies of Romania is the deputy elected to preside over the meetings in the lower chamber of the Parliament of Romania...
, in that order, step in as Ad Interim President of Romania . Neither relinquishes their position as President of their respective Legislative House for the duration of the Ad Interim term. An Ad Interim President cannot address the Parliament
Parliament of Romania
The Parliament of Romania is made up of two chambers:*The Chamber of Deputies*The SenatePrior to the modifications of the Constitution in 2003, the two houses had identical attributes. A text of a law had to be approved by both houses...
, dissolve the Parliament, nor call for a referendum.
List of Presidents
| # | Name | Term begin | Term end |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nicolae Ceauşescu Nicolae Ceausescu Nicolae Ceaușescu was a Romanian Communist politician. He was General Secretary of the Romanian Communist Party from 1965 to 1989, and as such was the country's second and last Communist leader... |
22 March 1965 | 22 December 1989 |
| 2 | Ion Iliescu Ion Iliescu Ion Iliescu served as President of Romania from 1990 until 1996, and from 2000 until 2004. From 1996 to 2000 and from 2004 until his retirement in 2008, Iliescu was a Senator for the Social Democratic Party , whose honorary president he remains.... |
6 February 1990 | 29 November 1996 |
| 20 December 2000 | 20 December 2004 | ||
| 3 | Emil Constantinescu Emil Constantinescu Emil Constantinescu was President of Romania from 1996 to 2000.He graduated from the law school of the University of Bucharest, and subsequently started a career as a geologist... |
29 November 1996 | 20 December 2000 |
| 4 | 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... |
20 December 2004 | 20 April 2007 |
| 23 May 2007 | 21 December 2009 | ||
| 21 December 2009 | incumbent | ||
| — | Nicolae Văcăroiu Nicolae Vacaroiu Nicolae Văcăroiu is a Romanian politician, member of the Social Democratic Party, who served as Prime Minister between 1992 and 1996. Before the 1989 Revolution he worked at the Committee for State Planning, together with Theodor Stolojan.... |
20 April 2007 | 23 May 2007 |