People's Party – Dan Diaconescu

The People's Party – Dan Diaconescu (Romanian: Partidul Poporului – Dan Diaconescu; abbreviated PP-DD) was a populist political party in Romania created in 2011 by television presenter Dan Diaconescu.^[4] In June 2015 it merged into the National Union for the Progress of Romania (UNPR) after Diaconescu was convicted of extortion.^[5]

People's Party – Dan Diaconescu Partidul Poporului - Dan Diaconescu
President	Simona-Alice Man
Secretary-General	Liviu-Robert Neagu
Leader in the Chamber of Deputies	Dumitru Niculescu
Founder	Dan Diaconescu
Founded	2011
Dissolved	29 June 2015
Merged into	UNPR
Headquarters	Bucharest, Romania
Ideology	Centrism (self-proclaimed)^[1] Left-wing populism^[2]^[3] Romanian nationalism Socialism Big tent
Political position	Left-wing
European affiliation	EUDemocrats (collaboration)
Colours	White and purple
Website
http://www.partidul.poporului.ro/
Politics of Romania Political parties Elections

History

The People's Party – Dan Diaconescu was founded in 2011 by Romanian TV presenter Dan Diaconescu. The first congress of the party was held in January 2012, when the party was officially constituted. At the 2012 local election, the PP-DD came in third, on the party's ticket being 31 mayors, 3,126 local councilors, and 134 county councilors were elected.^{[citation needed]}

At the 2012 parliamentary election, the PP-DD came in third again, successfully entering Parliament with 21 senators and 47 deputies. After the election, the party became the fourth largest political force in Romania, after the Social Democrats (PSD), the National Liberals (PNL), and the Democrat Liberals (PDL).

By June 2013 however, the party became heavily affected by party switching, losing 2 senators and 16 deputies, including its group leaders in both chambers.^[6]

The PP-DD subsequently merged into the National Union for the Progress of Romania (UNPR) on 29 June 2015.^[7]

Ideology

The ideology of the PP-DD expressed nationalist and socialist sentiments. The party supported progressive measures like higher retirement pensions and salaries, and a lower VAT. The party also supported the collectivization of agriculture and the foundation of state companies with directly elected leadership, and sought a People's Tribunal.

European affiliation

On 21 May 2013, PP-DD publicized their collaboration with the EUDemocrats party.^{[citation needed]}

Structure

Leadership

• Dan Diaconescu

Electoral history

Legislative elections

Election	Chamber			Senate			Position	Aftermath
	Votes	%	Seats	Votes	%	Seats
2012	1,036,730	13.99	47 / 412	1,086,822	14.65	21 / 176	3rd	Opposition to USL government (2012–2014)
							Opposition to PSD-UNPR-UDMR-PC government (2014)
							Opposition to PSD-UNPR-ALDE government (2014–2015)
							Supporting the technocratic Cioloș Cabinet (2015–2017)

Presidential elections

Election	Candidate	First round			Second round
		Votes	Percentage	Position	Votes	Percentage	Position
2014	Dan Diaconescu	382,526	4.03%	6th

European elections

Election	Votes	Percentage	MEPs	Position	EU Party	EP Group
2014	204,310	3.67%	0 / 32	7th	—	—

External links

• (in Romanian)

References

1. . Archived from the original on 2012-04-09.
2. , CNBC, 21 October 2012, archived from the original on 24 September 2015
3. "Populism takes spotlight in Romania power struggle". Reuters. from the original on 2023-05-15.
4. Stijn van Kessel (2015). Populist Parties in Europe: Agents of Discontent?. Palgrave Macmillan. p. 63. ISBN 978-1-137-41411-3.
5. . romania-insider.com. 2015-03-04. Archived from the original on 2015-09-30. Retrieved 2015-09-22.
6. "Harta traseismului politic. "Dacă o femeie îşi părăseşte bărbatul pentru că are un amant, iar alta îl lasă pentru că e bătută, se cheamă că amândouă sunt traseiste?"". gandul.info. 2013-06-22. Retrieved 2013-06-25.
7. "Oprea: Am încheiat o fuziune prin absobţie cu PP-DD. Suntem un partid al uşilor deschise". Retrieved 1 July 2015.