2016 Romanian Parliamentary Election. Between Political Change and Systemic Continuity

Abstract

The article represents an analysis of the 2016 Romanian general elections in terms of two types of factors. The first factor is a technical one and it is represented by the electoral law, specifically the principle and the methods of converting votes into mandates. The evaluation of the RP system used to elect MPs aims its effects which were operationalized by the electoral disproportionality index. The second factor is a political one and it aims both quantitative and qualitative changes generated by the 8th electoral moment of the Romanian postcommunism. It’s about the party system architecture, but also the political composition of the new parliament. Specifically, the article assesses whether the desideratum of „reforming the political class”, which has a massive presence in the public space, finds its counterpart in the electoral options expressed in the 2016 parliamentary elections.

Keywords

• parliamentary elections
• political change
• party system
• electoral disproportionality