Cristian David
Encyclopedia
Cristian David is a Romania
n politician. A member of the National Liberal Party
(PNL), he has been a member of the Romanian Senate
for Vaslui County
since 2004. In the Călin Popescu-Tăriceanu
cabinet, he was Minister-Delegate for International Financing Programs and European Community Acquis from 2004 to 2007 and Minister of Interior and Administrative Reform from 2007 to 2008.
, and worked at a chemical equipment factory there from 1986 to 1991, rising to design engineer in 1990. Between 1992 and 2004, he held management positions at three different firms involved in import/export and consulting. He paused his business activity from 1997 to 1998, when he was an adviser to the Youth and Sport Minister
, the future PNL President Crin Antonescu
. In 1997 he graduated from the Faculty of Statistics, Cybernetics, and Computer Science of the Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies, earning a doctorate in economics there in 2006. He was assistant professor in the Statistics and Economic Forecasting Department there from 2001 to 2004.
Entering politics after the fall
of the Communist regime
, he was coordinator of the University National Liberal Youth (TNL) from 1990 to 1993, rising to secretary general from 1993 to 1997. He belonged to the PNL's permanent central bureau in 1991-1993 and 2005-2006, and headed its foreign affairs department from 1997 to 2005. He was on the delegation of PNL national representatives in 2002-2004, and from 2003 to 2004 was on the electoral committee of the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party
, in advance of the 2004 European Parliament election
. During his first term in the Senate (2004-2008), he sat on the human rights, religious affairs and national minorities committee. In his second term (2008-), he is on the joint committee providing oversight to the activities of Serviciul Român de Informaţii
. Additionally, David held two positions in the Tăriceanu cabinet: Minister-Delegate for International Financing Programs and European Community Acquis from December 2004 to April 2007, when the post was disbanded, and Interior Minister from then until the cabinet left office in December 2008.
David's first marriage took place in 2001, at which time he adopted his wife's surname, and ended in divorce. His second marriage took place quietly in November 2005 in Vienna
, with a Romanian Orthodox
ceremony following six months later. His second wife is Vanda Vlasov, daughter of the Iaşi
lawyer Mihail Vlasov. Already an ally of the businessman and politician Relu Fenechiu
, David consolidated his relationship with Fenechiu through the marriage due to the latter's connections with Mihail Vlasov. Later, while Minister-Delegate, David was accused of taking no action when allegations surfaced that Vlasov embezzled €
211,000 in European Union
funds. Two scandals hit David near the end of his ministerial service. In October 2008, it emerged that the Romanian Police
, a part of his ministry, had signed contracts to purchase Dacia Logan
s for some €70,000 each, with the opposition PD-L calling for his resignation and asserting that the police bought the cars for €12,000 under his PD-L predecessor. David refused to resign, instead firing police chief Gheorghe Popa. The following month, Pavel Abraham, a former chief of the Romanian Police, alleged that in 1995, police officers searching David's home discovered LSD, amphetamine
and cocaine
. In reply, David stated that the residence was his girlfriend's and was being rented to his Dutch
business partner, and that he was questioned as a witness in the case.
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. 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 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...
for Vaslui County
Vaslui County
Vaslui is a county of Romania, in the historical region Moldavia, with the seat at Vaslui.-Demographics:In 2002, it had a population of 455,049 and the population density was 86/km².*Romanians - over 98%*Romas, other-Geography:...
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 was Minister-Delegate for International Financing Programs and European Community Acquis from 2004 to 2007 and Minister of Interior and Administrative Reform from 2007 to 2008.
Biography
He was 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....
, and worked at a chemical equipment factory there from 1986 to 1991, rising to design engineer in 1990. Between 1992 and 2004, he held management positions at three different firms involved in import/export and consulting. He paused his business activity from 1997 to 1998, when he was an adviser to the Youth and Sport Minister
Ministry of Youth and Sport (Romania)
The Ministry of Youth and Sport of Romania was one of the ministries of the Government of Romania. As of 23 December 2009 it was merged into the Ministry of Education, Research, Innovation, Youth and Sport...
, the future PNL President Crin Antonescu
Crin Antonescu
George-Crin-Laurenţiu Antonescu is a Romanian politician, currently serving as President of the National Liberal Party . He was a candidate for the Romanian Presidential Elections of 2009. He is a member of the Senate, his election having taken place during the 2008 legislative election...
. In 1997 he graduated from the Faculty of Statistics, Cybernetics, and Computer Science of the Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies, earning a doctorate in economics there in 2006. He was assistant professor in the Statistics and Economic Forecasting Department there from 2001 to 2004.
Entering politics after the fall
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...
of the Communist regime
Communist Romania
Communist Romania was the period in Romanian history when that country was a Soviet-aligned communist state in the Eastern Bloc, with the dominant role of Romanian Communist Party enshrined in its successive constitutions...
, he was coordinator of the University National Liberal Youth (TNL) from 1990 to 1993, rising to secretary general from 1993 to 1997. He belonged to the PNL's permanent central bureau in 1991-1993 and 2005-2006, and headed its foreign affairs department from 1997 to 2005. He was on the delegation of PNL national representatives in 2002-2004, and from 2003 to 2004 was on the electoral committee of the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party
European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party
The European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party is a European political party mainly active in the European Union, composed of 56 national-level liberal and liberal-democratic parties from across Europe...
, in advance of the 2004 European Parliament election
European Parliament election, 2004
Elections to the European Parliament were held from 10 June 2004 to 13 June 2004 in the 25 member states of the European Union, using varying election days according to local custom...
. During his first term in the Senate (2004-2008), he sat on the human rights, religious affairs and national minorities committee. In his second term (2008-), he is on the joint committee providing oversight to the activities of Serviciul Român de Informaţii
Serviciul Român de Informatii
The Romanian Intelligence Service is the Romanian domestic intelligence service. It is considered the descendant of the former Departamentul Securităţii Statului , of the Socialist Republic of Romania. The official decree The Romanian Intelligence Service (', SRI) is the Romanian domestic...
. Additionally, David held two positions in the Tăriceanu cabinet: Minister-Delegate for International Financing Programs and European Community Acquis from December 2004 to April 2007, when the post was disbanded, and Interior Minister from then until the cabinet left office in December 2008.
David's first marriage took place in 2001, at which time he adopted his wife's surname, and ended in divorce. His second marriage took place quietly in November 2005 in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, with 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 following six months later. His second wife is Vanda Vlasov, daughter of the 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...
lawyer Mihail Vlasov. Already an ally of 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:...
, David consolidated his relationship with Fenechiu through the marriage due to the latter's connections with Mihail Vlasov. Later, while Minister-Delegate, David was accused of taking no action when allegations surfaced that Vlasov embezzled €
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
211,000 in European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
funds. Two scandals hit David near the end of his ministerial service. In October 2008, it emerged that the Romanian Police
Romanian Police
The Romanian Police is the national police force and main civil law enforcement agency in Romania. It is subordinated to the Ministry of Interior and Administrative Reform.-Duties:The Romanian Police are responsible for:...
, a part of his ministry, had signed contracts to purchase Dacia Logan
Dacia Logan
The Dacia Logan is a small family car car produced jointly by the French manufacturer Renault and its subsidiary Dacia of Romania. It is manufactured at Dacia's automobile plant in Mioveni, Romania, and in Colombia, Brazil, Russia, Morocco, Iran, India and South Africa...
s for some €70,000 each, with the opposition PD-L calling for his resignation and asserting that the police bought the cars for €12,000 under his PD-L predecessor. David refused to resign, instead firing police chief Gheorghe Popa. The following month, Pavel Abraham, a former chief of the Romanian Police, alleged that in 1995, police officers searching David's home discovered LSD, amphetamine
Amphetamine
Amphetamine or amfetamine is a psychostimulant drug of the phenethylamine class which produces increased wakefulness and focus in association with decreased fatigue and appetite.Brand names of medications that contain, or metabolize into, amphetamine include Adderall, Dexedrine, Dextrostat,...
and cocaine
Cocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
. In reply, David stated that the residence was his girlfriend's and was being rented to his Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
business partner, and that he was questioned as a witness in the case.