National Salvation Front

The National Salvation Front (Romanian: Frontul Salvării Naţionale; FSN) was the governing body of Romania in the first weeks after the Romanian Revolution of 1989, subsequently turned into a political party. FSN is the common root of the two most important left-wing political parties in Romania today: the Social Democratic Party (PSD) and the Democratic Party (PD).

History

Creation and rise to power

FSN was created on 22 December 1989 and took the power from the Communist authorities. Leadership of the FSN was assumed by Ion Iliescu. Iliescu named Petre Roman as interim Prime Minister. Other early members of the FSN were Dumitru Mazilu , Silviu Brucan, Mircea Dinescu, Ion Caramitru .

FSN decreed the abolishment of the one-party system and the convocation of elections. Shortly after, the two most important pre-Communist Romanian parties, the National Peasants' Party and the National Liberal Party, were registered, as PNŢCD and PNL respectively.

In January 1990 FSN (who comprised mostly former second and third-rank Communist Party members), voted to transform itself into a political party, in order to be able to run in the upcoming elections. This, and the fact that FSN was virtually in control of the country, led to worries that Communism was far from being ousted from Romania. Anti-FSN demonstrations were mounted by the opposition parties PNŢCD and PNL in late January and late February 1990. In turn, Iliescu called on the 'working class' to support the FSN against what he called "fascist forces, trying to destabilise the country". This has resulted in what were named the first and second Mineriads.

However FSN agreed to allow other parties to participate in the provisional government. The new governing body, Consiliul Provizoriu de Uniune Naţională (CPUN -- the Provisional National Unity Council), still dominated by FSN, would run the country from early February 1990 until the elections.

Another, much larger, demonstration (the Golaniad) against FSN's participation in the elections was organised in April 1990 and lasted 52 days, until 13-15 June when it was violently repressed by the third Mineriad.

First post-Communist government

FSN and its candidate Ion Iliescu comfortably won the legislative and presidential elections on 20 May 1990, obtaining a majority in both the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. Petre Roman remained Prime Minister, and its government started cautious economic reforms.

Breakup

After growing tensions between Iliescu and Roman, in April 1992, Iliescu and many other members left FSN and created Frontul Democrat al Salvării Nationale (Democratic National Salvation Front, FDSN), which eventually grew into the present-day Social Democratic Party (PSD). See Social Democratic Party (Romania).

Petre Roman remained leader of the FSN. On 11 May 1993, the party is renamed Partidul Democrat - FSN (Democratic Party - NSF). The FSN part was dropped later on. For information on the FSN after the FDSN breakup, see Democratic Party (Romania).

Election results

Chamber of deputies

Senate