Alexandru Athanasiu
Encyclopedia
Alexandru Athanasiu is a Romania
n politician and jurist. A former leader of the Romanian Social Democratic Party
(PSDR), he is a member of the Social Democratic Party
(PSD) since 2001. Athanasiu served as Prime Minister on an interim basis from December 13 to December 22, 1999, heading the Romanian Democratic Convention
(CDR) cabinet after the resignation of Radu Vasile
. On January 1, 2007, with the accession of Romania to the European Union, Athanasiu became a Member of the European Parliament
for the PSD (inside the Party of European Socialists
).
An author of several scientific works, he is the recipient of a PhD
in Law, as well as a professor at the University of Bucharest
(since 1999). In 1995, his volume Legea Asigurărilor Sociale ("The Law on Social Security
") received the Romanian Academy
's Simion Bărnuţiu
Award.
, Athanasiu studied at the Gheorghe Lazăr High School in Bucharest, and later graduated from the Law School at the Bucharest University. Between 1978 and 1982, he was employed by the Bucharest Court of Appeal.
Having joined the newly-created PSDR after the Romanian Revolution of 1989
, Athanasiu was first elected to Parliament
as a deputy
in 1992, being nominated to the Committee for Labor and Social Protection.
A Minister of Labor in the Victor Ciorbea
CDR cabinet, he retained the office under Radu Vasile and his own premiership, being replaced by Smaranda Dobrescu during the leadership of Mugur Isărescu
. In 1999, he replaced Sergiu Cunescu
at the head of the PSDR, leading it into fusion with Adrian Năstase
's Party of Social Democracy, PDSR (the fusion led to the creation of the PSD).
In 2000, he was elected to the Romanian Senate
on PSDR lists, representing Bihor County
(re-elected in 2004 on PSD lists); he stood on the Committee for Foreign Policies. In 2003-2004, Athanasiu also served as Minister of Education in the Adrian Năstase executive (replacing Ecaterina Andronescu
).
Athanasiu is married with two children.
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
n politician and jurist. A former leader of the Romanian Social Democratic Party
Romanian Social Democratic Party (defunct)
The Romanian Social Democratic Party was a social-democratic political party in Romania. It published the magazine România Muncitoare, and later Socialismul, Lumea Nouă, and Libertatea.-Early party:...
(PSDR), he is a member of the Social Democratic Party
Social Democratic Party (Romania)
The Social Democratic Party is the major social-democratic political party in Romania. It was formed in 1992, after the post-communist National Salvation Front broke apart. It adopted its present name after a merger with a minor social-democratic party in 2001. Since its formation, it has always...
(PSD) since 2001. Athanasiu served as Prime Minister on an interim basis from December 13 to December 22, 1999, heading the Romanian Democratic Convention
Romanian Democratic Convention
The Romanian Democratic Convention was an electoral alliance of several political parties of Romania, active from early 1992 until 2000....
(CDR) cabinet after the resignation of Radu Vasile
Radu Vasile
Radu Vasile is a Romanian politician, historian and poet.-Education and Professional Activity:*1967 - Graduate, with exceptional results, of the Faculty of History - University of Bucharest...
. On January 1, 2007, with the accession of Romania to the European Union, Athanasiu became a Member of the European Parliament
Member of the European Parliament
A Member of the European Parliament is a person who has been elected to the European Parliament. The name of MEPs differ in different languages, with terms such as europarliamentarian or eurodeputy being common in Romance language-speaking areas.When the European Parliament was first established,...
for the PSD (inside the Party of European Socialists
Party of European Socialists
The Party of European Socialists is a European political party led by Sergei Stanishev, former Prime Minister of Bulgaria. The PES comprises social-democratic national-level political parties primarily from Member state of the European Union, as well as other nations of the European continent. The...
).
An author of several scientific works, he is the recipient of a PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in Law, as well as a professor at the University of Bucharest
University of Bucharest
The University of Bucharest , in Romania, is a university founded in 1864 by decree of Prince Alexander John Cuza to convert the former Saint Sava Academy into the current University of Bucharest.-Presentation:...
(since 1999). In 1995, his volume Legea Asigurărilor Sociale ("The Law on Social Security
Social security
Social security is primarily a social insurance program providing social protection or protection against socially recognized conditions, including poverty, old age, disability, unemployment and others. Social security may refer to:...
") received the Romanian Academy
Romanian Academy
The Romanian Academy is a cultural forum founded in Bucharest, Romania, in 1866. It covers the scientific, artistic and literary domains. The academy has 181 acting members who are elected for life....
's Simion Bărnuţiu
Simion Barnutiu
Simion Bărnuţiu was a Transylvanian-born Romanian historian, academic, philosopher, jurist, and liberal politician. A leader of the 1848 revolutionary movement of Transylvanian Romanians, he represented its Eastern Rite Catholic wing...
Award.
Biography
Born in BucharestBucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
, Athanasiu studied at the Gheorghe Lazăr High School in Bucharest, and later graduated from the Law School at the Bucharest University. Between 1978 and 1982, he was employed by the Bucharest Court of Appeal.
Having joined the newly-created PSDR after the Romanian Revolution of 1989
Romanian Revolution of 1989
The Romanian Revolution of 1989 was a series of riots and clashes in December 1989. These were part of the Revolutions of 1989 that occurred in several Warsaw Pact countries...
, Athanasiu was first elected to Parliament
Parliament of Romania
The Parliament of Romania is made up of two chambers:*The Chamber of Deputies*The SenatePrior to the modifications of the Constitution in 2003, the two houses had identical attributes. A text of a law had to be approved by both houses...
as a deputy
Chamber of Deputies of Romania
The Chamber of Deputies is the lower house in Romania's bicameral parliament. It has 315 seats, to which deputies are elected by direct popular vote on a proportional representation basis to serve four-year terms...
in 1992, being nominated to the Committee for Labor and Social Protection.
A Minister of Labor in the Victor Ciorbea
Victor Ciorbea
Victor Ciorbea is a Romanian politician. He was the Mayor of Bucharest in 1996-1997 and, after his resignation from office, Prime Minister of Romania from 12 December 1996 to 30 March 1998.-Biography:...
CDR cabinet, he retained the office under Radu Vasile and his own premiership, being replaced by Smaranda Dobrescu during the leadership of Mugur Isărescu
Mugur Isarescu
Mugur Isărescu is the Governor of the National Bank of Romania. From 22 December 1999 to 28 November 2000 he served as Prime Minister. He is a member of the Romanian Academy....
. In 1999, he replaced Sergiu Cunescu
Sergiu Cunescu
Sergiu Cunescu was a Romanian social democratic politician, the leader of the Social Democratic Party of Romania between 1990 and 2001.-Biography:...
at the head of the PSDR, leading it into fusion with Adrian Năstase
Adrian Nastase
Adrian Năstase is a Romanian politician who was the Prime Minister of Romania from December 2000 to December 2004.He competed as the Social Democratic Party candidate in the 2004 presidential election, but was defeated by centre-right Justice and Truth Alliance candidate Traian Băsescu.He was...
's Party of Social Democracy, PDSR (the fusion led to the creation of the PSD).
In 2000, he was elected to the Romanian Senate
Senate of Romania
The Senate of Romania is the upper house in the bicameral Parliament of Romania. It has 137 seats , to which members are elected by direct popular vote, using Mixed member proportional representation in 42 electoral districts , to serve four-year terms.-Former location:After the Romanian...
on PSDR lists, representing Bihor County
Bihor County
Bihor is a county of Romania, in Crişana, with capital city at Oradea. Together with Hajdú-Bihar County in Hungary it constitutes the Biharia Euroregion.-Demographics:...
(re-elected in 2004 on PSD lists); he stood on the Committee for Foreign Policies. In 2003-2004, Athanasiu also served as Minister of Education in the Adrian Năstase executive (replacing Ecaterina Andronescu
Ecaterina Andronescu
Ecaterina Andronescu is a Romanian engineer, professor and politician. A member of the Social Democratic Party , she sat in the Romanian Chamber of Deputies from 1996 to 2008, representing Bucharest, and has been a Senator since 2008, for the same city...
).
Athanasiu is married with two children.
