PLUS Party: The Political Rise of Dacian Cioloș
The landscape of Romanian politics shifted significantly in 2018 with the emergence of a new political force led by former Prime Minister Dacian Cioloș. What began as an ambitious movement to unite reformists eventually evolved into the Freedom, Unity and Solidarity Party, known by its Romanian acronym PLUS (Partidul Libertății, Unității și Solidarității).
The Origins: From Romania Together to PLUS
The journey began on March 30, 2018, when Dacian Cioloș announced the creation of the Romania Together Movement (Mișcarea România Împreună). This initiative was supported by several former members of the Cioloș Cabinet, including Dragoș Pîslaru, Vlad Voiculescu, Alin Mituța, Dragoș Tudorache, and Anca Dragu. While the movement quickly gained public notoriety and appeared in opinion polls, it faced significant legal hurdles.
Due to various appeals and legal delays—which Cioloș characterized as politically motivated—the official registration of the Romania Together Movement was never finalized. This stalemate lasted nearly nine months, forcing the leadership to seek an alternative path to formal political participation.
On December 15, 2018, in Cluj-Napoca, Cioloș revealed that the Freedom, Unity and Solidarity Party (PLUS) had been successfully registered. The registration was carried out by three anonymous colleagues who shared the movement's values and principles. Following this announcement, the Romania Together Movement was abandoned in favor of PLUS, which saw an immediate surge in popularity with over 7,500 membership requests within the first 24 hours.
Establishing Leadership and Growth
The party formalized its structure during its first National Convention in Bucharest on January 26, 2019. The primary objective of this gathering was to elect the party president and the National Council. Dacian Cioloș was elected president with an overwhelming 99.17% of the vote.
With the leadership established, Cioloș focused on the upcoming European Parliament elections, where he was chosen to lead the PLUS candidate list. The party's capacity grew further on January 29, 2019, when Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Cristian Preda joined PLUS, providing the party with the necessary delegates to be present in all polling stations.
Strategic Alliances and European Integration
To maximize their electoral impact, PLUS entered into a strategic partnership. On February 2, 2019, it was announced via Facebook that PLUS and the Save Romania Union (USR) had formed the 2020 USR-PLUS Alliance. This coalition was specifically designed to contest the 2019 European Parliament elections.
On the international stage, the party maintained a nuanced relationship with European political structures. While PLUS as an organization was not a member of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party (ALDE), all of its elected MEPs held individual memberships within that European political party.
Key Facts
- Founder: Dacian Cioloș, former Prime Minister of Romania.
- Predecessor: The Romania Together Movement (unregistered).
- Official Name: Freedom, Unity and Solidarity Party (PLUS).
- Presidential Election: Dacian Cioloș won 99.17% of the vote at the first National Convention.
- Major Alliance: Formed the USR-PLUS Alliance in February 2019.
- European Affiliation: MEPs were individual members of ALDE.
| Date | Event | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| March 30, 2018 | Announcement of Romania Together Movement | Initial political initiative launched |
| December 15, 2018 | Registration of PLUS | Official party status achieved |
| January 26, 2019 | First National Convention | Dacian Cioloș elected President |
| February 2, 2019 | USR-PLUS Alliance formed | Coalition for European Parliament elections |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was the Romania Together Movement abandoned?
The movement was abandoned because its official registration was never finalized due to legal appeals and delays, which Dacian Cioloș claimed were politically motivated.
Who is the president of the PLUS party?
Dacian Cioloș was elected president of PLUS during the first National Convention on January 26, 2019, receiving 99.17% of the votes.
What was the USR-PLUS Alliance?
The USR-PLUS Alliance was a political coalition formed between the Save Romania Union (USR) and the Freedom, Unity and Solidarity Party (PLUS) to participate in the 2019 European Parliament elections.
Did PLUS have an official European party affiliation?
The party itself was not a member of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party (ALDE), but all of its MEPs were individual members of ALDE.
How quickly did the party grow after its registration?
The party experienced rapid growth, receiving more than 7,500 membership requests within the first 24 hours after the announcement of its registration.