Social Liberal Humanist Party

The Social Liberal Humanist Party (Romanian: Partidul Umanist Social Liberal, PUSL), formerly Humanist Power Party (Social-Liberal) (Romanian: Partidul Puterii Umaniste (social-liberal), PPU-SL) is a centrist^[10] political party in Romania. It was founded in 2015 by members of the Conservative Party (PC) who did not want to merge with the Liberal Reformist Party (PLR), led by Călin Popescu-Tăriceanu.^[11]

Social Liberal Humanist Party Partidul Umanist Social Liberal
Abbreviation	PUSL
President	Cristian Popescu Piedone[1]
General Secretary	Simona Alice Man
Founder	Dan Voiculescu, Maria Grapini
Founded	28 September 2015 (2015-09-28)
Split from	Conservative Party
Headquarters	Piața Presei Libere nr. 1, Sector 1, Bucharest
Ideology	Humanism[2][3] Conservatism[4][5] Populism[6]
Political position	Centre[7]
European Parliament group	Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats[8][9]
Colors	Blue
Senate	0 / 134
Chamber of Deputies	0 / 330
European Parliament	1 / 33
Mayors	0 / 3,176
County Councillors	0 / 1,340
Local Council Councilors	0 / 39,900
Website
ppusl.ro
Politics of Romania Political parties Elections

History

In the summer of 2015, the Conservative Party (PC), led by Daniel Constantin, merged with the Liberal Reformist Party (PLR), creating the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats (ALDE).^[12] At the same time, PC MEP Maria Grapini opposed this decision, criticizing the disappearance of the party's ideology and announced that she would join a new group, the Party of Humanist Power (PPU).

Ideology

When it launched in 2015, the party claimed to have a centre-right political doctrine.^[13] Later, the party began to reject the left-right political spectrum, promoting conservative humanism and traditional values as the third way.^[14] The departure of several people from the People's Movement Party into the Social Liberal Humanist Party strengthened the conservative outlook of the party.^[15]

The party also has populist rhetoric centered around its leader, Cristian Popescu Piedone.^[16]

PUSL member Nicolae Păun claimed that the party promotes humanist, socialist and liberal values.^[17]

Notable members

• Dan Voiculescu
• Lavinia Șandru
• Cristian Popescu Piedone
• Vlad Popescu
• Maria Grapini
• Liviu Pop^[18]
• Mugur Ciuvică^[19]
• Nicolae Păun
• Liviu Negoiță^[20]
• Gheorghe Ștefan^[21]
• Teodor Meleșcanu^[22]

Controversy

In 2018, former Sector 4 mayor, Cristian Popescu Piedone join PPU and reentered politics,^[23] having previously been prosecuted for the Colectiv nightclub fire back in 2015.^[24] He was accounted responsible and in 2019 sentenced to 8 years in prison, but the sentence was not decisive and was attacked by the Bucharest Court of Appeal. With all the legal problems and controversy surrounding Piedone, PPU still endorsed him as candidate in the 2016 Romanian local elections for mayor of Sector 4^[25] as well as in the 2020 Romanian local elections for mayor of Sector 5, winning the latter.^[26]

PUSL has also been labeled by the press as Dan Voiculescu's personal party, who has been described as the de facto leader of the party.^{[27][28][29][30]}

Electoral history

Legislative elections

Election	Chamber			Senate			Position	Aftermath
	Votes	%	Seats	Votes	%	Seats
20161	2,599	0.04	7 / 329	3,066	0.04	2 / 136	12th	Extra-parliamentary endorsement for PSD-ALDE government (2017–2019)
							Extra-parliamentary endorsement for PSD minority government (2019)
							Extra-parliamentary opposition to PNL minority government (2019–2020)
							Opposition to PNL minority government (2020)
20202	70,536	1.19	4 / 330	59,465	1.01	1 / 136	9th	Extra-parliamentary opposition to PNL-USR PLUS-UDMR government (2020–2021)
							Opposition to PNL-USR PLUS-UDMR government (2021)
							Opposition to PNL-UDMR minority government (2021)
							Endorsing CNR government (2021–2024)

Notes:

¹ The MPs were elected on the PSD and ALDE lists.^[31]

² The MPs were elected on the PSD list.

Local elections

National results

Election	County Councilors (CJ)			Mayors			Local Councilors (CL)			Popular vote	%	Position
	Votes	%	Seats	Votes	%	Seats	Votes	%	Seats
2016	21,916	0.26	0 / 1,434	—	—	0 / 3,186	—	—	0 / 40,067	—	—	—
2020	64,232	0.79	0 / 1,340	58,680	0.73	3 / 3,176	48,578	0.68	170 / 39,900	64,232	0.79	10th

Mayor of Bucharest

Election	Candidate	First round
		Votes	Percentage	Position
2020	Gabriela Firea1	250,690	37.97%	2nd
2024	Cristian Popescu Piedone	111.411	15.14%	3rd

Note:
¹ Gabriela Firea (PSD candidate) was endorsed by PPU.

Presidential elections

Election	Candidate	First round			Second round
		Votes	Percentage	Position	Votes	Percentage	Position
2019	Ramona Bruynseels	244,275	2.65%	7th	not qualified
2024	Did not contest
2025	Lavinia Șandru	60,682	0.64%	6th	not qualified

European elections

Election	Votes	%	MEPs	Position	EU Party	EP Group
2024	132,402	1.48	0 / 33	8th		S&D