National Liberal Party (Romania)
The National Liberal Party (Romanian: Partidul Naţional Liberal), abbreviated to PNL, is a centre-right liberal political party in Romania. It is the third-largest party in the Romanian Parliament, with 53 seats in the Chamber of Deputies and 22 in the Senate: behind the centre-right Democratic Liberal Party and the centre-left Social Democratic Party.
Until April 2007, it was the largest member of the governing Justice and Truth alliance, which enjoyed a parliamentary majority due to an alliance between the Liberal Party, the Democratic Party, and the Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania. In April 2007, Călin Popescu-Tăriceanu, who was also the party leader, formed a minority government only with Democratic Union of Hungarians. After the 2008 legislative election it has entered opposition, winning 19.74% seats in the Parliament, while the new government coalition, formed by their former ally Democratic Liberal Party, and the Social Democratic Party, had 69.85%. In the 2009 Romanian presidential elections its new leader, Crin Antonescu, finished third and the party remained in opposition.
The party is a member of Liberal International and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party (known as the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party (ELDR) until November 2012).
On 5 February 2011, the PNL formed the Social Liberal Union political alliance along with the Social Democratic Party and Conservative Party.
Read more about National Liberal Party (Romania): Platform, Symbol, Party Leaders, Notable Members
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