Gender Quotas Database
Romania
Eastern Europe
Single / Lower House
Camera Deputatilor / Chamber of Deputies
| Total seats | 330 |
| Total women | 63 |
| Percentage of women | 19% |
| Election year | 2020 |
| Electoral system | List PR |
| Quota type | No legislated |
| Election details | IDEA Voter Turnout - IPU Parline |
Upper House
Senatul / Senate
| Total seats | 136 |
| Total women | 24 |
| Percentage of women | 18% |
| Election year | 2020 |
| Electoral system | |
| Quota type | No legislated |
| Election details | IPU Parline |
| Legal source | Details | |
|---|---|---|
| Quota type: No legislated | Electoral law |
According to Article 52(2) of the Law regarding the election of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, "The lists of candidates for the election of Senators and Deputies must be drawn up so as to ensure representation of both genders, except for the lists including a single candidate. " |
Voluntary Political Party Quotas*
| Party | Official Name | Details, Quota provisions |
|---|---|---|
| Social Democratic Party | Partidul Social Democrat (PSD) |
In 2001 PSDR (Romanian Social Democratic Party) and PDSR (Socialist Democratic Party of Romania) merged into a new political party; PSD. Prior to the 2004 election PSD adopted a 30 percent gender quota. |
* Only political parties represented in parliament are included. When a country has legislated quotas in place, only political parties that have voluntary quotas that exceed the percentage/number of the national quota legislation are presented in this table.
Additional information
In 2008, Romania's electoral system was reformed, introducing a Mixed Member Proportional(MMP) representation system over the past List Proportional Representation System. Under the new system, a candidate who obtains over 50% in any 315 single-member constituencies wins a seat. The unelected seats are then allocated among the political parties in proportion of their share of the votes obtained nationally. Currently, there are additional 18 members representing ethnic minorities and one 'overhang seat' (which parties receive if they win more constituency seats than their share of votes). 5% is the threshold for parties to win parliamentary representation.
In 2004 a new electoral law was adopted; candidate lists for parliamentary elections must include both male and female candidates. No specified percentage.
The Democratic Party had proposed introducing quotas for all parties, but this initiative was rejected by the Chamber of Deputies. (IPU 1999a)
Sources
Legal Sources:
- Constitution of Romania - Link
- Parliamentary Election Law (amended through 2019) - Link
- Political Parties Law (amended through 2015) - Link
- Law on financing the activity of political parties and electoral campaigns - Link
OTHER SOURCES:
- Parliament of Romania - Link
- Electoral Commission - Link
- UNDP: 'Gender and Elections in Romania'
- Inter-Parliamentary Union, IPU Parline Romania
Additional reading
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See the latest updates on Romania on iKNOW Politics
- Women's Political Participation and Electoral Quotas in Romania — Dr. Anca Turcu, Department of Political Science, Iowa State University, November 2009.
- Inter-Parliamentary Union. 1999. Participation of Women in Political Life: An assessment of developments in national parliaments, political parties, governments and the Inter-Parliamentary Union, five years after the Fourth World Conference on Women. Geneva: Inter-Parliamentary Union.
- Fischer, M. E. 1998. ‘From Tradition and Ideology to Elections and Competition: The Changing Status of Women in Romanian Politics.’ in Armonk: M. E. Sharpe (ed.). Women in the Politics of Post communist Eastern Europe. Marilyn Rueschmeyer Inc. pp. 168-195.
- Inter-Parliamentary Union. 1997. Men and Women in Politics: Democracy Still in the Making: A World Comparative Study. Geneva: Inter-Parliamentary Union.
- Fischer, M. E. 1985. ‘Women in Romanian Politics: Elena Ceauşescu, Pronatalism, and the Promotion of Women.’ Sharon L. Wolchik and Alfred G. Meyer (eds). Women, State, and Party in Eastern Europe. Durham: Duke University Press. pp. 121-137.
- Romanian Chamber of Deputies website, http://www.cdep.ro/
- Romanian Senate website, https://www.senat.ro/
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