Elena Băsescu
Encyclopedia
Elena Băsescu, sometimes referred to as EBA, (born April 24, 1980) is a Romania
n politician, secretary general of the youth wing of Romania's Democratic Liberal Party
, and a Member of the European Parliament
. She is the youngest daughter of Traian Băsescu
, the current President of Romania
. She was formerly a model, and entered politics in 2007. She has a degree in economics.
. Elena Băsescu stood as a candidate for the European Parliament
in the 2009 election
. She had sought to stand as a candidate for her father's Democratic Liberal Party
, but was rejected by the party, in particular by intellectuals like Alina Mungiu-Pippidi
, so she ran as an independent. Nonetheless, she "wasted no time in gathering 200,000 signatures for her candidacy". L'Express
noted that her candidacy still caused some concern in the party, due to fears that she might draw votes away from it. Her initial popularity in opinion polls was high (16%), but subsequently dropped to 5 or 6% shortly before the election.
However 75% of the electorate did not vote in sign of protest, this being the lowest turnout in Romanian history for an election, and the percentage that voted for her was from a minority composed of the members of the party that was once ruled by her father Traian Băsescu
, currently the President of Romania. During the campaign she caused some controversy after declaring herself in favor of legalizing marijuana use. Prior to her election journalists discovered that some members of the Democratic Liberal Party were instructed to vote for her in order to secure her election. She immediately rejoined the Democratic Liberal Party after she was elected to the European Parliament, and subsequently is also a member of the European People's Party
. Due to Elena's support for marijuana legalization and allegations of nepotism, Hungarian MEP László Surján
questioned her entry into the EPP group in an email sent to all EPP members.
reporter, described her as a "sexy celebrity" and the "Paris Hilton of Romania" because she is "known to be more interested in parties than party politics", and notes that "video clips of her verbal gaffes are internet hits." Similarly, L'Express described her as having had to "face accusations of nepotism
and incompetence, fuelled by her series of gaffes and grammatical blunders". Alison Mutler, an Associated Press
writer, published a story in which an unnamed critic describes Băsescu as "an inflatable Barbie doll". Elena Băsescu considered herself and her father defamed by the article, described Mutler as "politically partisan", and stated that Romania's public image has been damaged as a result of Mutler's writing. She also took offense at Mutler's own description that she "prances down the catwalk, goes clubbing until the wee hours and mangles her grammar", pointing out her degree in banking and finance, the fact that she had quit modeling two years before running for an EP seat, and described her own presence in clubs as characterized by "decent behavior, without affecting in any way those around her."
Elena Băsescu's association with Monica Iacob Ridzi, who has been accused of embezzlement before she resigned as Youth Minister in 2009, was exploited by Romanian media critical of Traian Băsescu
like Realitatea TV
. Traian Băsescu accused media hostile to him, in particular that owned by Sorin Ovidiu Vântu
, of trying to promote guilt by association
, by repeatedly broadcasting these images.
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, secretary general of the youth wing of Romania's Democratic Liberal Party
Democratic Liberal Party (Romania)
The Democratic Liberal Party is a populist, centre-right party in Romania. It was formed on 15 December 2007, when the Democratic Party merged with the Liberal Democratic Party. From 2004 to 2007, the Democratic Party was part of the governing Justice and Truth Alliance...
, and 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,...
. She is the youngest daughter of Traian Băsescu
Traian Basescu
Traian Băsescu is the current President of Romania. After serving as the mayor of Bucharest from June 2000 until December 2004, he was elected president in the Romanian Presidential Elections of 2004 and inaugurated on December 20, 2004...
, the current President of Romania
President of Romania
The President of Romania is the head of state of Romania. The President is directly elected by a two-round system for a five-year term . An individual may serve two terms...
. She was formerly a model, and entered politics in 2007. She has a degree in economics.
Political career
Before standing for elections on her own, she was an intern of the MEP Monica Maria Iacob RidziMonica Maria Iacob Ridzi
Monica Maria Iacob Ridzi is a Romanian politician. She is the head of the youth wing of the Democratic Liberal Party, and a representative in the Chamber of Deputies of Romania since 2008...
. Elena Băsescu stood as a candidate for the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
in the 2009 election
European Parliament election, 2009 (Romania)
The European Parliament election of 2009 in Romania is the election of the delegation from Romania to the European Parliament in 2009.-Candidates and elected MEPs:Among those expected to take up seats are :...
. She had sought to stand as a candidate for her father's Democratic Liberal Party
Democratic Liberal Party (Romania)
The Democratic Liberal Party is a populist, centre-right party in Romania. It was formed on 15 December 2007, when the Democratic Party merged with the Liberal Democratic Party. From 2004 to 2007, the Democratic Party was part of the governing Justice and Truth Alliance...
, but was rejected by the party, in particular by intellectuals like Alina Mungiu-Pippidi
Alina Mungiu-Pippidi
Alina Mungiu-Pippidi is a Romanian political scientist, academic, journalist and writer. A commentator on national politics, she is one of the most prominent civil society activists in post-1989 Romania, and, since 1990, an active contributor to 22...
, so she ran as an independent. Nonetheless, she "wasted no time in gathering 200,000 signatures for her candidacy". L'Express
L'Express (France)
L'Express is a French weekly news magazine. When founded in 1953 during the First Indochina War, it was modelled on the US magazine TIME.-History:...
noted that her candidacy still caused some concern in the party, due to fears that she might draw votes away from it. Her initial popularity in opinion polls was high (16%), but subsequently dropped to 5 or 6% shortly before the election.
However 75% of the electorate did not vote in sign of protest, this being the lowest turnout in Romanian history for an election, and the percentage that voted for her was from a minority composed of the members of the party that was once ruled by her father Traian Băsescu
Traian Basescu
Traian Băsescu is the current President of Romania. After serving as the mayor of Bucharest from June 2000 until December 2004, he was elected president in the Romanian Presidential Elections of 2004 and inaugurated on December 20, 2004...
, currently the President of Romania. During the campaign she caused some controversy after declaring herself in favor of legalizing marijuana use. Prior to her election journalists discovered that some members of the Democratic Liberal Party were instructed to vote for her in order to secure her election. She immediately rejoined the Democratic Liberal Party after she was elected to the European Parliament, and subsequently is also a member of the European People's Party
European People's Party
The European People's Party is a pro-European centre-right European political party. The EPP was founded in 1976 by Christian democratic parties, but later it increased its membership to include conservative parties and parties of other centre-right perspectives.The EPP is the most influential of...
. Due to Elena's support for marijuana legalization and allegations of nepotism, Hungarian MEP László Surján
László Surján
László Surján László Surján László Surján (born on 7 September 1941 in Kolozsvár, (now Cluj-Napoca, Romania) is a Hungarian politician and Member of the European Parliament with the FIDESZ, Member of the Bureau of the European People's Party and sits on the European Parliament's Committee on...
questioned her entry into the EPP group in an email sent to all EPP members.
Cultural and political image
Oana Lungescu, a Romanian BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
reporter, described her as a "sexy celebrity" and the "Paris Hilton of Romania" because she is "known to be more interested in parties than party politics", and notes that "video clips of her verbal gaffes are internet hits." Similarly, L'Express described her as having had to "face accusations of nepotism
Nepotism
Nepotism is favoritism granted to relatives regardless of merit. The word nepotism is from the Latin word nepos, nepotis , from which modern Romanian nepot and Italian nipote, "nephew" or "grandchild" are also descended....
and incompetence, fuelled by her series of gaffes and grammatical blunders". Alison Mutler, an Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
writer, published a story in which an unnamed critic describes Băsescu as "an inflatable Barbie doll". Elena Băsescu considered herself and her father defamed by the article, described Mutler as "politically partisan", and stated that Romania's public image has been damaged as a result of Mutler's writing. She also took offense at Mutler's own description that she "prances down the catwalk, goes clubbing until the wee hours and mangles her grammar", pointing out her degree in banking and finance, the fact that she had quit modeling two years before running for an EP seat, and described her own presence in clubs as characterized by "decent behavior, without affecting in any way those around her."
Elena Băsescu's association with Monica Iacob Ridzi, who has been accused of embezzlement before she resigned as Youth Minister in 2009, was exploited by Romanian media critical of Traian Băsescu
Traian Basescu
Traian Băsescu is the current President of Romania. After serving as the mayor of Bucharest from June 2000 until December 2004, he was elected president in the Romanian Presidential Elections of 2004 and inaugurated on December 20, 2004...
like Realitatea TV
Realitatea TV
Realitatea TV is a Romanian news television network. The channel is distributed by many cable operators in Romania and Moldova. Its main owner is Romanian businessman Elan Schwartzenberg....
. Traian Băsescu accused media hostile to him, in particular that owned by Sorin Ovidiu Vântu
Sorin Ovidiu Vântu
Sorin Ovidiu Vântu is a Romanian businessman and owner of the Realitatea-Caţavencu media company. In 2008 he was considered the 5th richest man in Romania with an estimated net worth between 800 and 850 million euros....
, of trying to promote guilt by association
Guilt by Association
Guilt by Association can refer to:* Association fallacy - sometimes called "guilt by association".* Guilt by Association Vol. 1 - album by Engine Room Recordings.* Guilt by Association Vol. 2 - album by Engine Room Recordings....
, by repeatedly broadcasting these images.