Presidential elections in Romania 2014

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The first round of the 2014 Romanian presidential elections took place on November 2, 2014. Since none of the candidates in this ballot received an absolute majority of the votes cast, a run-off election took place 14 days later on November 16 between the two candidates with the most votes, the incumbent Prime Minister Victor Ponta and the former mayor of Hermannstadt (Sibiu) Klaus Johannis instead of. The previous president, Traian Băsescu, was not allowed to run again after two terms.

On the evening of November 16, 2014 at around 9:30 p.m., Victor Ponta admitted his electoral defeat and congratulated the winner, Klaus Johannis.

The election commission announced the day after the election after counting 99% of the votes that 54.5 percent went to Johannis and 45.5 percent to Ponta. Johannis received 6.2 million votes, one million more than Ponta.

Election campaign and candidates

Victor Ponta at the start of his election campaign

The last presidential election in Romania took place in 2009 and was narrowly won by Traian Băsescu , the candidate of the middle-class PD-L . The five-year term of office of the President ended on November 22, 2014, which is why new elections have now taken place as planned. The constitution requires an absolute majority for a candidate to be considered elected. If this is not achieved, a second ballot ( runoff ) will take place between the two best-placed candidates. In the run-up to the election, a total of 14 candidates qualified, each with at least 200,000 signatures from supporters. These 14 candidates were: Victor Ponta , Klaus Johannis , Monica Macovei , Calin Popescu-Tariceanu , Teodor Meleşcanu , Elena Udrea , Dan Diaconescu , Hunor Kelemen , Zsolt Szilágyi , Corneliu Vadim Tudor , Constantin Rotaru , William Brinza , Mirel Mircea Amariţei and Gheorghe Funar .

The mayor of Sibiu Klaus Johannis and the incumbent Prime Minister Victor Ponta were considered to be the most promising candidates . In surveys, Ponta was around 40 percent in the presidential election on November 2, 2014, around ten percentage points ahead of its strongest competitor, Johannis.

According to some Western election observers and obviously many Romanians abroad, the previous Prime Minister Ponta is considered to be the representative of an entire post-communist network of politicians who also controls large parts of the Romanian media landscape. The gray eminence of this network is still Ion Iliescu (* 1930), who overthrew the communist dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu in 1989 . Traditionally, Romania, like Ukraine and Poland , is divided in terms of political orientation into a pro-western part of the country, which is more oriented towards central and western European conditions, and a more traditional Eastern European part. The former includes the parts of the country that belonged to the Austro-Hungarian monarchy until 1918 (i.e. Transylvania , the Maramures and the Banat ) and the latter includes the old Romanian regions of Moldavia , Wallachia and Dobruja . In the latter parts of the country, old networks and authoritarian structures from the communist era still have meaning. During the election campaign, Ponta also struck subliminally nationalistic Romanian tones against his opponent Johannis, and parts of the official Romanian Orthodox Church called for a "good Orthodox Romanian" and thus not the Protestants (and supposedly "German") Johannis choose. His political opponents criticized Johannis' childlessness or described him as a non-Romanian provincial politician. The latter was also credited to him from other sources, as people of German origin in Romania are considered to be “effective administrators”. He was also accused of selling children to organ traffickers, fraudulently buying real estate and misappropriating public funds, and being "a foreign agent and separatist" trying to "tear the country apart."

Johannis, on the other hand, positioned himself as a “clean man” who wants to eliminate corruption and nepotism and stimulate the economy. He promised to improve the independence of the judiciary and thereby strengthen the rule of law in Romania and to stabilize the security situation. He also promoted reforms in the health and education sectors. He benefited from the fact that he was seen as a career changer in politics who does not belong to the classic political caste. Initially, little chance was predicted.

Romanians abroad

Queuing of voters in front of the Romanian Consulate General in Munich (November 2)

The approximately 4 million Romanians living abroad were also entitled to vote. Thousands of eligible voters protested in front of the Romanian representation authorities in numerous European cities, who had tried in vain to cast their vote. In Munich the waiting time on the afternoon of November 2nd was more than five hours. A single polling station was available in Turin for 70,000 eligible voters. In London and Paris, the queues turned into rallies against the Romanian government and the Social Democratic presidential candidate Victor Ponta. Hundreds of Romanians shouted “Down with Ponta! Down with communism ”. Similar chaotic conditions have been reported in many other cities.

In the runoff election on November 16, 2014, these incidents were repeated. The responsible Romanian diplomatic missions and consulates appeared to be hopelessly overwhelmed by the onslaught of voters. There were long queues in front of many of the 300 or so foreign polling stations. In Turin z. B. the voters stood in the early hours of the morning for a length of two kilometers. Allegations have been made that this was intended to prevent the Romanian diaspora, which was predominantly critical of Ponta, from voting.

Results

First ballot

Majorities in the first ballot according to districts

No candidate obtained an absolute majority in the first ballot. That is why there was a runoff election on November 16 between the two best-placed candidates, Victor Ponta and Klaus Johannis. In the first ballot, there was a remarkable distribution of the relative majorities. Ponta was successful in the old Romanian regions of Wallachia and Moldova as well as Dobruja , while Johannis achieved the majority in Transylvania (with the exception of the Szeklerland , where the Hungarian candidate Hunor Kelemen dominated). The Banat was divided in terms of majorities. Most of the Romanians abroad chose Klaus Johannis in all countries of the world.

candidate Political party First ballot Runoff
be right % be right %
Klaus Johannis Partidul Național Liberal (Alliance PNL – PDL) 2,881,406 30.37 6,288,769 54.43
Victor Ponta Partidul Social Democrat (Alliance PSD – UNPR – PC) 3,836,093 40.44 5,264,383 45.56
Călin Popescu-Tăriceanu Independent candidate 508,572 5.36
Elena Udrea Partidul Mișcarea Populară (PMP-PNȚCD Alliance) 493.376 5.20
Monica Macovei Independent candidate 421,648 4.44
Dan Diaconescu Partidul Poporului - Dan Diaconescu (PP-DD) 382,526 4.03
Corneliu Vadim Tudor Partidul România Mare (PRM) 349,416 3.68
Hunor Kelemen Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR) 329,727 3.47
Teodor Meleșcanu Independent candidate 104.131 1.09
Zsolt Szilágyi People's Party of Hungarians in Transylvania (PPMT) 53,146 0.56
Gheorghe Funar Independent candidate 45.405 0.47
William Brînză Partidul Ecologist Român (PER) 43,194 0.45
Constantin Rotaru Partidul Alternativa Socialistă (PAS) 28,805 0.36
Mirel Mircea Amariței Prodemo 7,895 0.08
Registered voters 18.284.066 100% 18.284.066 100%
Voters 9,723,232 53.17% 11,719,344 64.10%
Invalid votes 237.761 2.44% 166.111 1.41%
Valid votes 9,485,340 97.55% 11,453,233 98.59%
Source: Central Electoral Authority (Biroul Electoral Central)
Results from the provinces (from November 4, 2014)

Second ballot

Final result after the second ballot Victor Ponta Klaus Johannis


Results according to circles Victor Ponta Klaus Johannis



The turnout in the second ballot (64.1%) was well above that of the first ballot (53.16%) and thus also well above the turnout in previous presidential elections. Johannis was able to increase its share of the vote by more than 24%, while Ponta only gained a little more than 5%. In total, Johannis achieved over a million votes more than Ponta. Johannis was able to achieve a majority in some areas in which Ponta was in the lead in the first ballot, in particular in the capital Bucharest and the surrounding area, in Dobruja and in parts of northern Moldova and southern Banat . The Hungarian minority voted almost unanimously in favor of Johannis, although the latter did not only represent positions that conformed to the demands of the Hungarians. Johannis' lead among the Romanians abroad was particularly clear. A total of 377,651 Romanians voted abroad (3.3% of the total votes), of which almost 90% voted for Johannis. Of the 17,506 valid Romanian votes cast in Germany, 16,816 (96%) went to Johannis and 690 to Ponta. In Austria, 8,973 (94%) of the 9,533 valid votes were for Johannis and 560 for Ponta, in Switzerland 3,504 (93%) of the 3,758 valid votes for Johannis and 254 for Ponta and in Luxembourg of 2,419 valid votes were 2,201 ( 91%) on Johannis and 218 on Ponta.

Circles Ponta
( PSD )
Johannis
(ACL)
Alba 30.4% 69.59%
Arad 34.12% 65.88%
Argeș 59.27% 40.73%
Bacau 53.55% 46.45%
Bihor 36.51% 63.48%
Bistrița-Năsăud 37.73% 62.26%
Botoșani 62.72% 37.27%
Brașov 36.9% 63.09%
Brăila 57.94% 42.05%
Bucharest 45% 55%
Buzau 60.9% 39.1%
Caraș-Severin 48.06% 51.93%
Călărași 55.18% 44.81%
Cluj 26.18% 73.82%
Constanța 42.93% 57.07%
Covasna 22.05% 77.95%
Dâmbovița 58.08% 41.92%
Dolj 60.6% 39.39%
Galați 54.02% 45.98%
Giurgiu 68.38% 31.62%
Gorj 58.29% 41.7%
Harghita 20.22% 79.78%
Hunedoara 50.37% 49.63%
Ialomița 61.4% 38.6%
Iași 49.33% 50.66%
Ilfov 48.18% 51.82%
Maramureș 39.72% 60.27%
Mehedinți 63.26% 36.73%
Mureș 31.36% 68.63%
Neamț 54.95% 45.05%
Olt 64.77% 35.22%
Prahova 47.53% 52.46%
Satu Mare 34.79% 65.2%
Sălaj 37.06% 62.93%
Sibiu 20.51% 79.48%
Suceava 48.49% 51.5%
Teleorman 63.42% 36.57%
Timiș 33.26% 66.73%
Tulcea 47.36% 52.63%
Vaslui 59.7% 40.03%
Vâlcea 50.66% 49.34%
Vrancea 53.77% 46.22%
Romanian diaspora 10.32% 89.68%

Others

Sigmar Gabriel (SPD), Elio Di Rupo (Belgian Parti Socialiste), Gianni Pittella (Italy), Martin Schulz and several other western politicians campaigned for Victor Ponta; likewise Robert Fico (acting Prime Minister of Slovakia), Bohuslav Sobotka (Prime Minister of the Czech Republic), Aleksandar Vučić (Prime Minister of Serbia), Iurie Leancă (Prime Minister of Moldova) and Edi Rama (Prime Minister of Albania). Chancellor Angela Merkel , however, declared her support for the candidate Johannis.

After the election

After Johannis' election victory was certain, there were mass demonstrations in several Romanian cities, in which Ponta was asked to resign from his post of Prime Minister ; however, Ponta decidedly refused. Shortly after the election had been decided, on November 18, 2014, parliament rejected a bill introduced by the government of Socialist Prime Minister Ponta almost a year ago, which provided for an amnesty for convicted corrupt politicians. Ponta, a former corruption prosecutor whose political mentor, ex-Prime Minister Adrian Năstase, was convicted of corruption, has now called on his party to reject its own draft law. In doing so, he fulfilled a request from Johannis. According to political scientists, Ponta feared that converting parties would change the majority in parliament to his disadvantage or that Ponta's party could lose its allies.

Web links

Commons : Romanian Presidential Election 2014  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

See also

Footnotes

  1. Ponta has to go to the runoff election ( Memento from November 3, 2014 in the Internet Archive )
  2. ^ Romania PM admits election defeat. BBC News, November 16, 2014, accessed November 16, 2014 .
  3. FAZ.net: German of origin to be the new President in Romania ( Memento from April 14, 2015 in the Internet Archive )
  4. FAZ.net November 17, 2014: It's about principle
  5. Article 81 (3) of the Romanian Constitution of November 21, 1991
  6. 14 competitori şi-au depus candidatura pentru alegerile prezidenţiale. SONDAJ: Cine va fi preşedintele României? September 24, 2014, accessed November 16, 2014 (Romanian).
  7. sueddeutsche.de / Florian Hassel: Clean man against plagiarist
  8. ^ Tagesschau.de: Presidential election in Romania - The favorite is Ponta ( Memento from November 2, 2014 in the Internet Archive ), accessed on November 3, 2014
  9. a b c Enver Robelli: "Under Ponta is Romania authoritarian states closer." Der Tagesanzeiger, November 14, 2014, accessed on November 17, 2014 .
  10. a b Thomas Roser: Johannis in the snake pit. In: The time of October 31, 2014, accessed on October 31, 2014.
  11. Keno Verseck : Presidential election in Romania: The "German" teaches the old cadres to fear. In: Der Spiegel from November 15, 2014, accessed on November 27, 2014.
  12. ^ Winner Johannis wants "new Romania". In: Deutschlandfunk from November 17, 2014, accessed on November 27, 2014.
  13. ^ Victory for Johannis in the presidential election in Romania. In: Publication of the Bavarian State Ministry of the Interior, for Building and Transport from November 17, 2014, accessed on November 27, 2014.
  14. Klaus Johannis wins election. ( Memento of November 29, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) In: Handelsblatt of November 17, 2014, accessed on November 27, 2014.
  15. Thomas Roser: Johannis in the snake pit. Die Zeit online, October 31, 2014, accessed on November 17, 2014 .
  16. Keno Verseck: Presidential election in Romania: The "German" teaches the old cadres to fear. Der Spiegel, November 15, 2014, accessed on November 17, 2014 .
  17. FAZ.net November 2, 2014: Presidential election in Romania ends chaotically
  18. FAZ.net November 16, 2014: With the toothbrush for the presidential election
  19. Up to 10,000 Romanians queue up in British town to vote in home country's election. Scottish Sunday Express, November 16, 2014, accessed November 16, 2014 .
  20. Center-Right Mayor Scores Upset Win in Romania's Presidential Runoff. The Wall Street Journal, November 16, 2014, accessed November 16, 2014 .
  21. ^ Romanian diaspora denied the right to vote. the Guardian, November 7, 2014, accessed November 16, 2014 .
  22. Mark Duell: Thousands of Romanians queue around the block to vote in their country's presidential election ... in PORTSMOUTH. Daily Mail Online, November 16, 2014, accessed November 16, 2014 .
  23. ^ Zeit.de: Runoff election for Romania's presidential office - Ponta or Iohannis accessed on November 3, 2014
  24. Rezultate final 16 noiembrie. Biroul Electoral Central, archived from the original on November 29, 2014 ; Retrieved November 20, 2014 (Romanian).
  25. Cristian Andrei: REZULTATE ALEGERI PREZIDENȚIALE 2014, DIASPORA, Iohannis a obținut 89.68% din voturile din străinătate. In: Gândul. November 17, 2014, accessed November 18, 2014 (Romanian).
  26. Sigmar Gabriel îl sustine pe VICTOR PONTA
  27. Elio Di Rupo îl sustine pe VICTOR PONTA
  28. Gianni Pittella îl sustine pe VICTOR PONTA
  29. Martin Schulz îl susține pe VICTOR PONTA
  30. Robert Fico îl sustine pe VICTOR PONTA
  31. [1]
  32. Aleksandar Vucic îl susține pe VICTOR PONTA
  33. [2]
  34. Edi Rama îl susține pe VICTOR PONTA
  35. ^ German Chancellor supports Klaus Johannis. Transylvania newspaper, November 14, 2014, accessed on November 17, 2014 .
  36. ^ Runoff election in Romania: A Transylvanian Saxon becomes president. tagesschau.de, November 17, 2014, archived from the original on November 20, 2014 ; Retrieved November 17, 2014 .
  37. Iohannis of German descent becomes President of Romania. Victory in the runoff election. heute.de, November 17, 2014, archived from the original on November 29, 2014 ; Retrieved November 18, 2014 .
  38. ^ No amnesty for corrupt Romanian politicians. SRF , November 18, 2014, accessed on November 18, 2014 .
  39. Romanians want to break with the corrupt elite. SRF , November 17, 2014, accessed on November 18, 2014 .
  40. Ponta wants criminal prosecution for corrupt politicians. Welt Online , November 18, 2014, accessed November 18, 2014 .
  41. ^ Runoff election for the presidency in Romania. Deutsche Welle , November 16, 2014, accessed on November 18, 2014 .