Romania: Treatment of Romanian Ecological Party (Partidul Ecologist Roman, PER) members by authorities, including the ruling Party for Social Democracy in Romania (PDSR) and police; whether there have been any reports of harassment, attacks and/or arrest of its members; party leaders, structure, organization, activities and relationship with other political parties; whether the Party issues membership cards

The Romanian Ecological Party was founded in 1990 (Leftist Parties of the World 22 Aug. 2003). In 1991 PER leaders were Iustin Draghici, Raluca Marinescu and Manus Visan (Political Handbook of the World 1991. 1991, 565). Between 1996 and 1999, the PER leaders were Otto Weber (Chairman), Iustin Draghici (President), Raluca Marinescu (Vice-President) and Manus Visan (Political Handbook of the World 1995-1996. 1996, 781; Political Handbook of the World 1999, 1999, 805). Otto Weber died on 2 August 2001 (ROMPRES 2 Aug. 2001). The current president of the PER is Cornel Protopopescu (European Greens Feb. 2002). The president of the PER stated in 2002 that the party was represented throughout the country through its 47 regional and zone branches, and claimed that its membership was approximately 20,000 (MEDCOAST n.d).

Political Parties of Eastern Europe, published in 2002, states that in 1990 the PER was mainly based in Bucharest and was the smallest member of the Democratic Convention of Romania (DRC) (Bugajski 2002, 855), and it was still in the coalition in 1999 (European Forum June 1999). The PER won six seats – five in the Chamber and one in the Senate – in the 3 November 1996 parliamentary elections (Political Handbook of the World 1999 1999, 805), but was unable to obtain enough votes to gain any seat in parliament in the November 2000 elections (MEDCOAST n.d.).

In February 2000, the PER joined the National Peasant Party-Christian Democratic (PNTCD), the Romanian Ecological Federation (FER) and the National Liberal Party (PNL) in an agreement to back the candidate with the largest number of votes in the second ballot for the June 2000 local elections (ROMPRES 19 June 2000) and to run candidates under the CDR banner for the general elections (ROMPRES 18 Feb. 2000).

On 19 September 2000, the PER joined the Green Ecological Alternative and the Party of Ecologist Convention in setting up the Ecologist Pole in view of the upcoming November 2000 parliamentary elections (RFE/RL 20 Sept. 2000). All three parties agreed to run on joint lists and nominate a joint presidential candidate (ibid.).

In February 2002, the PER and the Romanian Ecological Federation (FER) agreed to run on joint lists of candidates in the upcoming local elections in Bucharest (European Greens Feb. 2002).

A political commentary published in the 24 January 2000 issue of the Bucharest English-language daily Nine O'Clock states that the four political parties in Romania that called themselves environmental, including the PER, were "utterly inconsequential" since none of them have ever initiated any environmental legislation. The author equated this "unexplainable carelessness" with Romania's slow entry into the European Union and with giving Romania's application the appearance of being "a unilateral undertaking of the authorities." (Nine O'Clock 7 Dec. 2000).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Bugajski, Janusz. 2002. Political Parties of Eastern Europe: A Guide to Politics in the Post-Communist Era. Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe.

European Forum. June 1999. "The Political Landscape in Romania: Alliances and Parties." [Accessed 3 Sept. 2003]

European Greens. February 2002. Update. Ortansa Cartianu. "Romania Greens Sign Unification Treaty." [Accessed 5 Sept. 2003]

Leftist Parties of the World. 22 August 2003. "Romania." [Accessed 5 Sept. 2003]

MEDCOAST. n.d. "Letter to Medcoast from the Romanian Ecological Party, Bucuresti, Romania." [Accessed 3 Sept. 2003]

Nine O'Clock [Bucharest]. 24 January 2000. No. 2091. Mircea Dutu. "The Green Passport." [Accessed 5 Sept. 2003]

Political Handbook of the World 1999. 1999. Edited by Arthur S. Banks and Thomas C. Muller. Binghamton, NY: CSA Publications.

Political Handbook of the World 1995-1996. 1996. Edited by Arthur S. Banks and Thomas C. Muller. Binghamton, NY: CSA Publications.

Political Handbook of the World 1991. 1991. Edited by Arthur S. Banks and Thomas C. Muller. Binghamton, NY: CSA Publications.

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). 20 September 2000. Newsline. Vol. 4, No. 182, Part 2. "Ecologist Electoral Alliance Set up in Romania." ([email protected])

ROMPRES [Bucharest]. 2 August 2001. "Romania: Leader of Ecological Party Dies." (BBC monitoring)
_____. 18 February 2000. "CDR Member Parties Sign Protocol in View of Elections." (WNC/Dialog)

Additional Sources Consulted

IRB databases

Political Parties of the World. 2002

Internet sites, including

Amnesty International

European Country of Origin Information Network (ECOI-Net)

Human Rights Watch (HRW)

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL)

International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights (IHF)