Freedom, Unity and Solidarity Party

{{Infobox political party

| native_name = Partidul Libertate, Unitate și Solidaritate

| native_name_lang = ro

| logo = PLUS Romania logo 2019 NoBG.png

| abbreviation = PLUS

| president = Dacian Cioloș

| foundation = 15 December 2018

| dissolution = 16 April 2021

| merged = USR

| successor = REPER (unofficially)

| headquarters = Strada Finlanda, 15, Bucharest

| ideology = {{ubl|

| Liberalism

| Pro-Europeanism

}}

| position = Centre

| national = 2020 USR-PLUS Alliance {{small|(2019–2021)}}

| europarl = Renew Europe

| colorcode = {{party color|Freedom, Unity and Solidarity Party}}

| colors = {{Color box|{{party color|Freedom, Unity and Solidarity Party}}|border=darkgray}} Orange

| website = {{URL|https://www.ro.plus/}}

| country = Romania

}}

The Party of Liberty, Unity and Solidarity ({{Langx|ro|Partidul Libertate, Unitate și Solidaritate}}, PLUS) was a pro-European, liberal{{cite web|first=Wolfram|last=Nordsieck|url=http://www.parties-and-elections.eu/romania.html|title=Romania|website=Parties and Elections in Europe|year=2020|access-date=18 December 2020}} political party established on 26 October 2018,{{cite news | url=http://portal.just.ro/3/SitePages/Dosar.aspx?id_dosar=300000000839635&id_inst=3| title=Tribunalul BUCUREŞTI - Informaţii dosar| newspaper=Portal.just.ro| access-date=March 9, 2020}}{{cite news | url=https://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-politic-22868496-dacian-ciolos-anunta-are-nou-partid-numeste-partidul-libertatii-unitatii-solidaritatii-plus.htm| title=VIDEO Dacian Cioloș anunță că are un nou partid. Se numește Partidul Libertății, Unității și Solidarității - PLUS / Cine sunt fondatorii - Politic| newspaper=HotNews.ro| date= December 15, 2018| access-date=March 9, 2020 |author = V. M., I. R.}} whose president was Dacian Cioloș, former Prime Minister of Romania from 2015 until 2017, elected on 26 January 2019.{{cite news| url=https://www.digi24.ro/stiri/actualitate/politica/dacian-ciolos-presedinte-plus-proiect-romania-1071173| title=Dacian Cioloş a fost ales preşedinte al PLUS: Proiectul meu e România şi ştiu ce avem de făcut| newspaper=Digi24| access-date=March 9, 2020}} The party had its origin in the Movement Romania Together (MRÎ), a project which they gave up due to the setting up delay in court.{{cite news | url=http://www.ziare.com/dacian-ciolos/miscarea-romania-impreuna/de-ce-dureaza-atat-de-mult-sa-se-infiinteze-partidul-lui-ciolos-povestea-incredibila-a-celor-266-de-zile-de-cand-s-a-solicitat-inregistrarea-1542160| title=Povestea incredibila a celor 266 de zile in care Ciolos a incercat sa isi inregistreze un partid si nu a reusit| newspaper=Ziare.com| access-date=March 9, 2020 |author = Ionel Stoica}} The party merged in 2021 with the Save Romania Union (USR) with which it has been in a political alliance called 2020 USR-PLUS Alliance from 2019 to 2021, then formally activating as a sole, unified party known as USR PLUS (subsequently renamed back to Save Romania Union or USR for short).{{cite news|url=https://www.digi24.ro/stiri/actualitate/politica/usr-si-plus-au-fuzionat-decizia-curtii-de-apel-bucuresti-definitiva-noul-partid-se-pregateste-de-congres-1497933|title=USR și PLUS au fuzionat. Decizia Curții de Apel București, definitivă. Noul partid se pregătește de Congres|newspaper=Digi24|date=16 April 2021|language=ro}}{{cite web |title=USR PLUS revine la denumirea de USR şi la vechea siglă |url=https://stirileprotv.ro/stiri/politic/usr-plus-revine-la-denumirea-de-usr-si-la-vechea-sigla.html |website=stirileprotv.ro |date=3 October 2021 |access-date=3 October 2021}}

History

File:2019-07-03 Dacian Cioloș MEP-by Olaf Kosinsky-8138 (cropped).jpg, president of PLUS in July 2019]]

On 30 March 2018, former Prime Minister of Romania Dacian Cioloș announced his plans to establish a new political party, the Romania Together Movement (Mișcarea România Împreună), together with some of the former members of the Cioloș Cabinet, such as Dragoș Pîslaru, Vlad Voiculescu, Alin Mituța, Dragoș Tudorache, and Anca Dragu.{{Cite web|url=https://adevarul.ro/news/politica/In-sfarsit-dacian-ciolos-anuntat-noul-partid-miscarea-romania-Impreuna-dupa-an-zile-decis-e-nevoie-mai-decat-miscare-civica-1_5abe0330df52022f7534a18d/index.html|title=În sfârşit, Dacian Cioloş a anunţat noul partid: Mişcarea România Împreună. "După un an de zile am decis că e nevoie de mai mult decât de o mişcare civică"|website=adevarul.ro|date=30 March 2018 |language=en|access-date=2019-02-02}} Despite the party gaining notoriety in the subsequent months and appearing in various opinion polls,{{Cite web|url=https://www.stiripesurse.ro/topul-partidelor-pe-cine-ar-vota-romanii-in-caz-de-anticipate-sondaj-curs-pentru-stiripesurse-ro_1243108.html|title=Topul partidelor: Pe cine ar vota românii în caz de anticipate/ SONDAJ CURS pentru STIRIPESURSE.RO|website=Stiri pe surse|date=17 January 2018 |access-date=2019-02-02}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.stiripesurse.ro/sondaj-curs-psd-se-men-ine-la-un-scor-ridicat-pnl-nu-sparge-bariera-surpriza-victor-ponta-i-dezamagirea-alde_1266114.html|title=SONDAJ CURS - PSD se menține la un scor ridicat, PNL nu sparge bariera. Surpriza Victor Ponta și dezamăgirea ALDE|website=Stiri pe surse|date=20 May 2018 |access-date=2019-02-02}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.romaniatv.net/sondaj-sociopol-psd-conduce-detasat-in-optiunile-romanilor-iar-dacian-ciolos-il-devanseaza-pe-tariceanu_425179.html|title=Sondaj Sociopol: PSD conduce detaşat în opţiunile românilor, iar Dacian Cioloş îl devansează pe Tăriceanu|date=2018-06-14|website=romaniatv.net|access-date=2019-02-02}} its official registration was never finalized due to various appeals and delays in the legal process, which Cioloș claimed to be politically motivated.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ziare.com/dacian-ciolos/miscarea-romania-impreuna/de-ce-dureaza-atat-de-mult-sa-se-infiinteze-partidul-lui-ciolos-povestea-incredibila-a-celor-266-de-zile-de-cand-s-a-solicitat-inregistrarea-1542160|title=Povestea incredibila a celor 266 de zile in care Ciolos a incercat sa isi inregistreze un partid si nu a reusit|website=Ziare.com|language=ro|access-date=2019-02-02}}

After almost 9 months, on 15 December, Cioloș announced in Cluj-Napoca that the Freedom, Unity and Solidarity Party (Partidul Libertății, Unității și Solidarității, PLUS) was registered by three of his colleagues, "who share the same values, the same principles, anonymous people, but who wanted to offer a helping hand". He also claimed that the former effort, the Romania Together Movement, will be abandoned and that he and his team will focus on the development of PLUS. After the announcement, more than 7,500 people requested to join the party in 24 hours.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-politic-22869748-dacian-ciolos-dupa-anuntul-inregistrarii-noului-partid-plus-24-ore-primit-peste-7-500-cereri-adeziune.htm|title=Dacian Cioloș, după anunțul înregistrării noului partid PLUS: "În 24 de ore am primit peste 7.500 de cereri de adeziune" - Politic - HotNews.ro|date=2018-12-16|website=www.hotnews.ro|language=ro|access-date=2019-02-02}}

The first National Convention of PLUS, which had the role of electing the president and the National Council of the organization, took place in Bucharest on 26 January 2019. Dacian Cioloș was elected president with 99.17% of the votes.{{Cite web|url=https://adevarul.ro/news/politica/dacian-ciolos-fost-ales-presedinte-plus-1_5c4c4bb2df52022f7508423c/index.html|title=Dacian Cioloş a fost ales preşedinte al PLUS|website=adevarul.ro|date=26 January 2019 |language=en|access-date=2019-02-02}} Having previously announced his intention to participate in the European Parliament elections,{{Cite web|url=https://adevarul.ro/news/politica/dacian-ciolos-candideaza-alegerile-europarlamentare-1_5c39ab39df52022f7586debd/index.html|title=Dacian Cioloş candidează la europarlamentare: Începem să reconstruim România. Voi munci pentru ţara mea şi acasă, şi în Parlamentul European|website=adevarul.ro|date=12 January 2019 |language=en|access-date=2019-02-02}} Cioloș was also chosen to lead the PLUS list for the elections.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-politic-22939588-lista-finala-candidatilor-plus-europarlamentare-diferita-cea-votata-membri-dragos-tudorache-fost-ministru-interne-pus-locul-3-fata-13-cat-obtinuse-vot.htm|title=Lista finală a candidaților PLUS la europarlamentare, diferită de cea votată de membri: Dragoș Tudorache, fost ministru de Interne, pe locul 3, față de 13 cât obținuse la vot - Politic - HotNews.ro|date=2019-01-28|website=www.hotnews.ro|language=ro|access-date=2019-02-02}}

MEP Cristian Preda announced on 29 January that he is joining PLUS, allowing the party to have delegates in all polling stations.{{Cite web|url=https://www.digi24.ro/stiri/actualitate/politica/europarlamentarul-cristian-preda-a-aderat-la-plus-va-avea-in-consecinta-delegati-in-toate-sectiile-de-vot-1073127|title=Europarlamentarul Cristian Preda a aderat la PLUS: "Va avea, în consecință, delegați în toate secțiile de vot"|website=www.digi24.ro|date=29 January 2019 |language=ro|access-date=2019-02-02}}

On the evening of 2 February 2019, it was announced on Facebook that PLUS and the Save Romania Union (USR) established the 2020 USR-PLUS Alliance, which will participate in the 2019 European Parliament elections.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ziare.com/dacian-ciolos/plus/oficial-usr-si-plus-fac-alianta-la-alegeri-1548227|title=Este oficial. USR si PLUS fac alianta pentru europarlamentare: S-a nascut principala forta de opozitie!|website=Ziare.com|language=ro|access-date=2019-03-03}}

While the party was not a member of Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party (ALDE), all its MEPs were individual members of this European political party.{{Cite web|url=http://www.epgencms.europarl.europa.eu/cmsdata/upload/013ecc6a-197e-49dd-991b-26f3d2ea4600/2020_02_17_ALDE_List_of_MEPs_following_Brexit.pdf|title=List of ALDE Party Members of the European Parliament, 2019-2024|website=Authority for European Political Parties and European Political Foundations}}

Ideology

PLUS has not defined its ideology clearly. However, a manifesto was published on the party's website{{Cite web|url=https://www.ro.plus/manifest|title=Manifest|website=plus|language=en|access-date=2019-02-02}} expressing support for liberty, social justice, transparency in public administration, as well as commitment to Romania's EU and NATO membership. Cioloș, the party's president, claimed in an interview that PLUS is situated in "the centre, centre-right area".{{Cite web|url=https://pressone.ro/dacian-ciolos-primul-interviu-dupa-lansarea-plus-domnul-dragnea-n-are-dreptul-sa-arunce-in-aer-societatea-romaneasca/|title=Dacian Cioloș, primul interviu după lansarea PLUS: "Domnul Dragnea n-are dreptul să arunce în aer societatea românească"|date=2018-12-17|website=PressOne|access-date=2019-02-02}}

Electoral history

=Legislative elections=

class="wikitable" style="text-align: right;" ! rowspan="2" \|Election ! colspan="3" \|Chamber ! colspan="3" \|Senate ! rowspan="2" \|Position ! rowspan="2" \|Aftermath
Votes !% !Seats !Votes !% !Seats
rowspan="3" \|2016 \|rowspan="3" ; colspan=2; style="text-align: center;"\|did not exist \|rowspan="3" \|{{Composition bar\|0\|329\|hex={{party color\|Freedom, Unity and Solidarity Party}}}} \|rowspan="3" ; colspan=2; style="text-align: center;"\|did not exist \|rowspan="3" \|{{Composition bar\|0\|136\|hex={{party color\|Freedom, Unity and Solidarity Party}}}} \|rowspan="3" ; style="text-align: center;" \| – \| {{no2\|Extra-parliamentary opposition to PSD-ALDE government}} (2018–2019)
{{no2\|Extra-parliamentary opposition to PSD minority government}} (2019)
{{partial\|Extra-parliamentary support for PNL minority government}} (2019–2020)
rowspan="2" \|2020 \| rowspan="2" \|906,962 \| rowspan="2" \|15.37 \| rowspan="2" \|{{Composition bar\|17\|330\|hex={{party color\|Freedom, Unity and Solidarity Party}}}} \| rowspan="2" \|936,862 \| rowspan="2" \|15.86 \| rowspan="2" \|{{Composition bar\|8\|136\|hex={{party color\|Freedom, Unity and Solidarity Party}}}} \| rowspan="2" ; style="text-align: center;"\|{{color box\|#CD7F32\|3rd}} (within USR PLUS) \|{{yes2\|PNL-USR PLUS-UDMR government}} (2020–2021)
{{partial\|Merged with USR}} (April 2021)

class="wikitable" style="text-align: right;"

! rowspan="2" |Election

! colspan="3" |Chamber

! colspan="3" |Senate

! rowspan="2" |Position

! rowspan="2" |Aftermath

Votes

!Seats

!Votes

!Seats

rowspan="3" |2016

|rowspan="3" ; colspan=2; style="text-align: center;"|did not exist

|rowspan="3" |{{Composition bar|0|329|hex={{party color|Freedom, Unity and Solidarity Party}}}}

|rowspan="3" ; colspan=2; style="text-align: center;"|did not exist

|rowspan="3" |{{Composition bar|0|136|hex={{party color|Freedom, Unity and Solidarity Party}}}}

|rowspan="3" ; style="text-align: center;" | –

| {{no2|Extra-parliamentary opposition to PSD-ALDE government}} (2018–2019)

{{no2|Extra-parliamentary opposition to PSD minority government}} (2019)

{{partial|Extra-parliamentary support for PNL minority government}} (2019–2020)

rowspan="2" |2020

| rowspan="2" |906,962

| rowspan="2" |15.37

| rowspan="2" |{{Composition bar|17|330|hex={{party color|Freedom, Unity and Solidarity Party}}}}

| rowspan="2" |936,862

| rowspan="2" |15.86

| rowspan="2" |{{Composition bar|8|136|hex={{party color|Freedom, Unity and Solidarity Party}}}}

| rowspan="2" ; style="text-align: center;"|{{color box|#CD7F32|3rd}}
(within USR PLUS)

|{{yes2|PNL-USR PLUS-UDMR government}} (2020–2021)

{{partial|Merged with USR}} (April 2021)

= Local elections =

class="wikitable" style="text-align: right;" ! rowspan="2"\| Election ! colspan="3"\| County Councilors (CJ) ! colspan="3"\| Mayors ! colspan="3"\| Local Councilors (CL) ! rowspan="2"\| Popular vote ! rowspan="2"\| % ! rowspan="2"\| Position
Votes !% !Seats !Votes !% !Seats !Votes !% !Seats
2020 \|478,659 \|6.65 \|{{Composition bar\|29\|1340\|hex={{party color\|Freedom, Unity and Solidarity Party}}}} \|490,362 \|6.58 \|{{Composition bar\|8\|3176\|hex={{party color\|Freedom, Unity and Solidarity Party}}}} \|504,563 \|6.85 \|{{Composition bar\|351\|39900\|hex={{party color\|Freedom, Unity and Solidarity Party}}}} \|696,478 \|8.89 !style="text-align: center;"\|{{color box\|#CD7F32\|3rd}} (within USR PLUS)

class="wikitable" style="text-align: right;"

! rowspan="2"| Election

! colspan="3"| County Councilors (CJ)

! colspan="3"| Mayors

! colspan="3"| Local Councilors (CL)

! rowspan="2"| Popular vote

! rowspan="2"| %

! rowspan="2"| Position

Votes

!Seats

!Votes

!Seats

!Votes

!Seats

2020

|478,659

|6.65

|{{Composition bar|29|1340|hex={{party color|Freedom, Unity and Solidarity Party}}}}

|490,362

|6.58

|{{Composition bar|8|3176|hex={{party color|Freedom, Unity and Solidarity Party}}}}

|504,563

|6.85

|{{Composition bar|351|39900|hex={{party color|Freedom, Unity and Solidarity Party}}}}

|696,478

|8.89

!style="text-align: center;"|{{color box|#CD7F32|3rd}}
(within USR PLUS)

= Presidential elections =

class=wikitable width=70% ! rowspan=2\|Election ! rowspan=2\|Candidate ! colspan=3\|First round ! colspan=3\|Second round
Votes !Percentage !Position !Votes !Percentage !Position
align=center !2019 \| {{no2\|Dan Barna}}¹	1,384,450	{{Percentage bar\|15.02\|c={{party color\|Freedom, Unity and Solidarity Party}}}}	{{color box\|#CD7F32\|3rd}}	bgcolor=lightgrey colspan=3\|not qualified

class=wikitable width=70%

! rowspan=2|Election

! rowspan=2|Candidate

! colspan=3|First round

! colspan=3|Second round

Votes

!Percentage

!Position

!Votes

!Percentage

!Position

align=center

!2019

| {{no2|Dan Barna}}¹

1,384,450

{{Percentage bar|15.02|c={{party color|Freedom, Unity and Solidarity Party}}}}

bgcolor=lightgrey colspan=3|not qualified

Notes:

¹ Dan Barna was the candidate endorsed by the 2020 USR-PLUS Alliance.

= European elections =

class=wikitable style="text-align: right;" width=65%
Election	Votes	%	MEPs	Position	EU Party	EP Group
style="text-align:center;" ! 2019 \|2,028,236 \|22.36 \| {{Composition bar\|4\|32\|hex={{party color\|Freedom, Unity and Solidarity Party}}}} \| {{color box\|#CD7F32\|3rd}} (within USR-PLUS)¹ \| ALDE{{Efn\| Dacian Cioloş, Dragoș Nicolae Pîslaru, Ioan Dragoș Tudorache, and Ramona Victoria Strugariu as ALDE individual members}} \| RE

class=wikitable style="text-align: right;" width=65%

Election

Votes

MEPs

Position

EU Party

EP Group

style="text-align:center;"

! 2019

|2,028,236

|22.36

| {{Composition bar|4|32|hex={{party color|Freedom, Unity and Solidarity Party}}}}