Socialist Party of Labour
The Socialist Party of Labour (Romanian: Partidul Socialist al Muncii, PSM) was a left wing-nationalist political party in Romania. The party was labelled as neo-communist. It was founded on 16 November 1990. The chairman of the party was Ilie Verdeţ, former Communist Prime Minister between 1979 and 1982, under Secretary General Nicolae Ceaușescu.[1]
Socialist Party of Labour Partidul Socialist al Muncii | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Abbreviation | PSM |
| Chairperson | Ilie Verdeț |
| Founded | 16 November 1990 |
| Dissolved | July 2003 |
| Preceded by | Romanian Communist Party |
| Merged into | PSD (faction) |
| Succeeded by | PSR (faction) |
| Ideology | Neo-communism Left-wing nationalism Democratic socialism |
| Political position | Left-wing to far-left |
| National affiliation | National Bloc (senate) Red Quadrilateral |
At the 1992 general election, the party obtained roughly 3% of votes and thus entered the parliament. Together with the Greater Romania Party (PRM), the PSM formed the "National Bloc" faction in the Romanian Senate. The PSM participated in the so-called Red Quadrilateral coalition that included Iliescu's Democratic National Salvation Front (FDSN), the Greater Romania Party (PRM; at that time national communist), the Agrarian Democracy Party (PDAR), and the nationalist Romanian National Unity Party (PUNR).[2]
Later, the Socialist Party of Labour (PSM) gradually lost its influence. In July 2003, the party fused with the Social Democratic Party (PSD); members who objected to the fusion formed a splinter group, called the Socialist Alliance Party (PSR).
Electoral history
Legislative elections
| Election | Chamber | Senate | Position | Aftermath | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | Seats | Votes | % | Seats | |||
| 1992 | 328,283 | 3.03 | 13 / 341 |
347,658 | 3.18 | 5 / 143 |
8th | PDSR-PUNR-PRM-PSM government (1992–1996) |
| 1996 | 262,563 | 2.15 | 0 / 343 |
265,659 | 2.16 | 0 / 143 |
8th | Extra-parliamentary opposition to CDR-USD-UDMR government (1996–2000) |
| 2000 | 91,027 | 0.71 | 0 / 345 |
96,636 | 0.89 | 0 / 140 |
11th | Extra-parliamentary support for PDSR minority government (2000–2003) |
Presidential elections
| Election | Candidate | First round | Second round | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | Percentage | Position | Votes | Percentage | Position | ||
| 1992 | Did not compete | ||||||
| 1996 | Adrian Păunescu | 87,163 | 0.7% | 9th | |||
| 2000 | Ion Sasu | 38,375 | 0.3% | 11th | |||
References
- Ramet, Sabrina P. (2010-11-01). Radical Right in Central and Eastern Europe Since 1989. Penn State Press. ISBN 978-0271043791.
- Roper, Steven D. (2000-01-01). Romania: The Unfinished Revolution. Psychology Press. ISBN 9789058230270.