Cristian Adomniţei
Encyclopedia
Cristian Mihai Adomniţei (born April 24, 1975) is a Romania
n engineer and politician. A member of the National Liberal Party
(PNL), he has been a member of the Romanian Chamber of Deputies
for Iaşi County
since 2004. In the Călin Popescu-Tăriceanu
cabinet, he served as Minister of Education from 2007 to 2008.
, in 1999 he earned a degree in civil, industrial and agricultural engineering from the Gheorghe Asachi Technical University of Iaşi
(UTI), and one in railway, road and bridge engineering from there in 2004. That year, he received a master's degree in construction from UTI, beginning a doctorate there in the same field in 2005. A member of UTI's student senate in 1998-1999, he voted to transform the student cafeteria into Iulius Mall Iaşi
, a project which he later coordinated. Between 1999 and 2004, he held management and consulting positions at four different construction firms in Iaşi
.
In 1994, Adomniţei joined the PNL; within the party, he has been head of the National Liberal Youth (2005–2009) and head of the PNL's Iaşi chapter (2009-). His first elective office came in 2004, when he joined the Iaşi County Council. Later that year, he left his seat on the council when he was elected
to the Chamber. There, he has served on various committees: public administration, land management and ecological balance (2007–2008); education, science, youth and sport (2004–2007); European affairs (2004–2007); European integration (2004–2006); industries and services (2008-); relations with UNESCO
(2010-). Additionally, he was Education Minister under Tăriceanu from April 2007 to October 2008. The first Education Minister since the 1989 Revolution
not to have been a professor or researcher, he owed his rise through the PNL and to the position to his mentor, the businessman and politician Relu Fenechiu
, with whom he collaborated at several firms. A month after becoming minister, he was involved in a gaffe during a visit to a Brăila
school, where he insisted before a group of 5th graders, their protests notwithstanding, that the flag of Europe has 15 stars and not 12. He later said this was due to notes provided by his advisers, whom he promised to chastise. At the June 2008 local election
, he ran for Mayor of Iaşi, coming in third with 9.8% of the vote.
In October 2008, Adomniţei married Sabina Vişinari. For the civil marriage, because a cabinet meeting had run late and his bride was waiting at Iaşi City Hall, he was taken from Bucharest
to the Iaşi area on an Interior Ministry helicopter flight that included his colleague, Cristian David
, who was on an unplanned work visit to Albiţa
. The religious marriage took place the same month in a Romanian Orthodox
ceremony at Suceviţa Monastery
. In the meantime,
Tăriceanu had dismissed Adomniţei, officially because of the latter's failure to monitor debates and express the government's negative viewpoint in parliamentary committees that led to the adoption of a law raising teacher salaries. He also deemed the helicopter incident "unacceptable" and mentioned that there was an accumulated series of matters that led to the dismissal, which was welcomed by the teachers' unions with whom Adomniţei had been embroiled in conflict.
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 engineer and politician. A member of the National Liberal Party
National Liberal Party (Romania)
The National Liberal Party , abbreviated to PNL, is a centre-right liberal party in Romania. It is the third-largest party in the Romanian Parliament, with 53 seats in the Chamber of Deputies and 22 in the Senate: behind the centre-right Democratic Liberal Party and the centre-left Social...
(PNL), he has been a member of the Romanian Chamber of Deputies
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...
for Iaşi County
Iasi County
Iași is a county of Romania, in Moldavia, with the administrative seat at Iași.-Demographics:As of 1 July 2007, Iași County had a population of 825,100, making it the second most populous county in Romania after Bucharest, with a population density of 150/km².*Romanians - 98.1%*Roma -...
since 2004. In the Călin Popescu-Tăriceanu
Calin Popescu-Tariceanu
Călin Constantin Anton Popescu-Tăriceanu is a Romanian politician. He was the Prime Minister of Romania between 29 December 2004 and 22 December 2008...
cabinet, he served as Minister of Education from 2007 to 2008.
Biography
Born in SuceavaSuceava
Suceava is the Suceava County seat in Bukovina, Moldavia region, in north-eastern Romania. The city was the capital of the Principality of Moldavia from 1388 to 1565.-History:...
, in 1999 he earned a degree in civil, industrial and agricultural engineering from the Gheorghe Asachi Technical University of Iaşi
Gheorghe Asachi Technical University of Iasi
The Gheorghe Asachi Technical University is a public university located in Iaşi, Romania. It has the oldest tradition in Romania in engineering education and is second ranked among the technical institutions of higher education, and the fifth among all universities in Romania, in the national...
(UTI), and one in railway, road and bridge engineering from there in 2004. That year, he received a master's degree in construction from UTI, beginning a doctorate there in the same field in 2005. A member of UTI's student senate in 1998-1999, he voted to transform the student cafeteria into Iulius Mall Iaşi
Iulius Mall Iasi
Iulius Mall Iaşi is a shopping mall located in Iaşi, Romania. At the time of its completion it was the second mall in Romania, and the first outside Bucharest.The mall has:* 210 stores* five-screen movie theatre complex* 20 fast food and other restaurants...
, a project which he later coordinated. Between 1999 and 2004, he held management and consulting positions at four different construction firms in Iaşi
Iasi
Iași is the second most populous city and a municipality in Romania. Located in the historical Moldavia region, Iași has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Romanian social, cultural, academic and artistic life...
.
In 1994, Adomniţei joined the PNL; within the party, he has been head of the National Liberal Youth (2005–2009) and head of the PNL's Iaşi chapter (2009-). His first elective office came in 2004, when he joined the Iaşi County Council. Later that year, he left his seat on the council when he was elected
Romanian legislative election, 2004
The Romanian legislative election of 2004 was held on 28 November 2004. 137 seats in the Senate of Romania and 314 seats in the Chamber of Deputies were up for election.The 2004 legislative election was held simultaneously with the presidential election...
to the Chamber. There, he has served on various committees: public administration, land management and ecological balance (2007–2008); education, science, youth and sport (2004–2007); European affairs (2004–2007); European integration (2004–2006); industries and services (2008-); relations with UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
(2010-). Additionally, he was Education Minister under Tăriceanu from April 2007 to October 2008. The first Education Minister since the 1989 Revolution
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...
not to have been a professor or researcher, he owed his rise through the PNL and to the position to his mentor, the businessman and politician Relu Fenechiu
Relu Fenechiu
Relu Fenechiu is a Romanian businessman and politician. A member of the National Liberal Party , he has been a member of the Romanian Chamber of Deputies for Iaşi County since 2004.-Biography:...
, with whom he collaborated at several firms. A month after becoming minister, he was involved in a gaffe during a visit to a Brăila
Braila
Brăila is a city in Muntenia, eastern Romania, a port on the Danube and the capital of Brăila County, in the close vicinity of Galaţi.According to the 2002 Romanian census there were 216,292 people living within the city of Brăila, making it the 10th most populous city in Romania.-History:A...
school, where he insisted before a group of 5th graders, their protests notwithstanding, that the flag of Europe has 15 stars and not 12. He later said this was due to notes provided by his advisers, whom he promised to chastise. At the June 2008 local election
Romanian local election, 2008
Local elections were held in Romania on June 1, 2008, with a runoff for mayors on June 15, 2008.On June 1 where elected:* all the villages, communes, cities, and municipal cluncils , and the Sectors Local Councils of Bucharest...
, he ran for Mayor of Iaşi, coming in third with 9.8% of the vote.
In October 2008, Adomniţei married Sabina Vişinari. For the civil marriage, because a cabinet meeting had run late and his bride was waiting at Iaşi City Hall, he was taken from Bucharest
Bucharest
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....
to the Iaşi area on an Interior Ministry helicopter flight that included his colleague, Cristian David
Cristian David
Cristian David is a Romanian politician. A member of the National Liberal Party , he has been a member of the Romanian Senate for Vaslui County since 2004...
, who was on an unplanned work visit to Albiţa
Drânceni
Drânceni is a commune in Vaslui County, Romania. It is composed of six villages: Albiţa, Băile Drânceni, Drânceni, Ghermăneşti, Râşeşti and Şopârleni.Albiţa village is a border crossing point between Moldova and Romania....
. The religious marriage took place the same month in a Romanian Orthodox
Romanian Orthodox Church
The Romanian Orthodox Church is an autocephalous Eastern Orthodox church. It is in full communion with other Eastern Orthodox churches, and is ranked seventh in order of precedence. The Primate of the church has the title of Patriarch...
ceremony at Suceviţa Monastery
Sucevita Monastery
Sucevița Monastery is an Eastern Orthodox convent situated in the Northeastern part of Romania. It is situated near the Suceviţa River, in the village Sucevița, 18 km away from the city of Rădăuţi, Suceava County. It is located in the southern part of the historical region of Bukovina...
. In the meantime,
Tăriceanu had dismissed Adomniţei, officially because of the latter's failure to monitor debates and express the government's negative viewpoint in parliamentary committees that led to the adoption of a law raising teacher salaries. He also deemed the helicopter incident "unacceptable" and mentioned that there was an accumulated series of matters that led to the dismissal, which was welcomed by the teachers' unions with whom Adomniţei had been embroiled in conflict.