Remus Opris
Encyclopedia
Remus Opriş is a Romania
n politician and psychiatrist, a prominent member of the Christian-Democratic National Peasants' Party
(PNŢCD) and former Minister-Delegate for Local Administration in the 1996-1998 Victor Ciorbea
cabinet (formed around the Romanian Democratic Convention
, CDR). He was a member of the Chamber of Deputies
for Prahova County
for three consecutive terms, between 1992 and 2000.
, graduating from the I. L. Caragiale High School in 1977, and from the Bucharest
Carol Davila General Medicine and Pharmacy Faculty
in 1983. He was a general practitioner until 1990, when he began his specialization in Psychiatry (completed in 1992). In 1999, he completed a post-graduate course at the National College of Defense.
, Opriş became leader of its youth organization on 1991 (serving until 1993), a junior member of its Leadership Bureau (1991-1995, during the time when the party was headed by Corneliu Coposu
) and its Vice President in 1996. As a member of the Chamber, he sat on its Committee for Health and Family throughout his mandates, and advanced legislation on medical practice, the creation of a College of Romanian Doctors, health insurance
, and forensic science.
Upon the CDR's creation, before the elections of 1996
, he became the new body's campaign organizer. In December 1996, after the election victory, Opriş was appointed to ministerial office, as Minister-Delegate for Coordinating the General Secretariat of the Government and of the Department for Local Public Administration. He proposed several new laws, including those on ministerial responsibility
, the status of civil servants, on property rights, and on local budgets, as well as issuing a 1997 ordinance to amend the Law on Public Administration.
During the new Radu Vasile
government, Remus Opriş was also noted for his criticism of Democratic Party (PD), the CDR's coalition partner, and condemned the decision taken by Radu Berceanu
, the PD's Minister of Industry and Commerce, to replace PNŢCD-appointed members of the administrative boards for state-owned enterprises such as RENEL and ROMGAZ
. At the time, he stated: "If the PD believes Mr. Berceanu's decision was fair, that means the PD is trying to gain electoral capital by further harassing its coalition partners".
He soon became noted for his opposition to the Premier, and called on him to resign — according to the journalist Sorin Roşca-Stănescu, Opriş was the leader of a PNŢCD faction who came into conflict with Vasile's. After the Vasile cabinet was replaced with that of Mugur Isărescu
, the PNŢCD went on to face a parliamentary crisis due to a standoff with the PD, when the PD's Minister of Defense, Victor Babiuc
, decided to leave his party — the PD refused to pass legislation until Babiuc was to be replaced with Sorin Frunzăverde
. In response, Opriş called on all other coalition partners (the National Liberals
, the Social Democrats
, the Democratic Union of Hungarians
and various minor groups) to express support for the proposed legislation, and argued that new laws could conceivably be passed with support from opposition parties. (The crisis was ultimately overcome when Frunzăverde took over as minister.)
No longer elected to office in the elections of 2000
(when the PNŢCD as a whole failed to pass the election threshold
in either chamber of Parliament
), Remus Opriş resumed his activity as Vice President of the PNŢCD (briefly renamed Christian-Democratic People's Party, PPCD). In March 2006, he rejected the offer of fusion proposed by the PD, aimed at creating a "center-right pole" in Romanian politics, and indicated that the National Peasants' Party would carry on as an independent force.
In July 2006, Opriş was presented by the National Council for the Study of Securitate Archives with the file kept on him by the Securitate
, attesting that Communist Romania
n authorities had him under constant surveillance between 1976 and 1978, and again in 1981. At the time, he specified, 16 Securitate officers had overseen his case, and he had been reported on by 22 informants.
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 psychiatrist, a prominent member of the Christian-Democratic National Peasants' Party
Christian-Democratic National Peasants' Party (Romania)
The Christian-Democratic National Peasants' Party is a Romanian Christian-Democratic party...
(PNŢCD) and former Minister-Delegate for Local Administration in the 1996-1998 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:...
cabinet (formed around 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). He was a member of the 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 Prahova County
Prahova County
Prahova is a county of Romania, in the historical region Muntenia, with the capital city at Ploieşti.-Demographics:In 2002, it had a population of 829,945 and the population density was 176/km². It is Romania's most populated county, having a population density double than the country's mean...
for three consecutive terms, between 1992 and 2000.
Biography
Opriş was born in PloieştiPloiesti
Ploiești is the county seat of Prahova County and lies in the historical region of Wallachia in Romania. The city is located north of Bucharest....
, graduating from the I. L. Caragiale High School in 1977, and from the 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....
Carol Davila General Medicine and Pharmacy Faculty
Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy
Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy is a state-run health sciences University in Bucharest, Romania. It is the largest institution of its kind in Romania with over 2.865 employees, 1.654 teachers and over 4.800 students...
in 1983. He was a general practitioner until 1990, when he began his specialization in Psychiatry (completed in 1992). In 1999, he completed a post-graduate course at the National College of Defense.
Career
Joining the PNŢCD after the 1989 RevolutionRomanian 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...
, Opriş became leader of its youth organization on 1991 (serving until 1993), a junior member of its Leadership Bureau (1991-1995, during the time when the party was headed by Corneliu Coposu
Corneliu Coposu
-Early life:Coposu was born in Bobota, Sălaj County to the Romanian Greek-Catholic archpriest Valentin Coposu and his wife Aurelia Coposu...
) and its Vice President in 1996. As a member of the Chamber, he sat on its Committee for Health and Family throughout his mandates, and advanced legislation on medical practice, the creation of a College of Romanian Doctors, health insurance
Health insurance
Health insurance is insurance against the risk of incurring medical expenses among individuals. By estimating the overall risk of health care expenses among a targeted group, an insurer can develop a routine finance structure, such as a monthly premium or payroll tax, to ensure that money is...
, and forensic science.
Upon the CDR's creation, before the elections of 1996
Romanian legislative election, 1996
Legislative elections were held in Romania on 3 November 1996, together with the Presidential election. The elections were won by the Romanian Democratic Convention, an alliance of liberal, Christian Democratic and green parties. This marked the first time that the Party of Social Democracy was out...
, he became the new body's campaign organizer. In December 1996, after the election victory, Opriş was appointed to ministerial office, as Minister-Delegate for Coordinating the General Secretariat of the Government and of the Department for Local Public Administration. He proposed several new laws, including those on ministerial responsibility
Ministerial responsibility
Ministerial responsibility or individual ministerial responsibility is a constitutional convention in governments using the Westminster System that a cabinet minister bears the ultimate responsibility for the actions of their ministry or department...
, the status of civil servants, on property rights, and on local budgets, as well as issuing a 1997 ordinance to amend the Law on Public Administration.
During the new 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...
government, Remus Opriş was also noted for his criticism of Democratic Party (PD), the CDR's coalition partner, and condemned the decision taken by Radu Berceanu
Radu Berceanu
Radu Mircea Berceanu is a Romanian engineer and politician. A member of the Democratic Liberal Party , he was a member of the Romanian Chamber of Deputies for Dolj County from 1990 to 2004, and has sat in the Romanian Senate since 2004 , representing the same county...
, the PD's Minister of Industry and Commerce, to replace PNŢCD-appointed members of the administrative boards for state-owned enterprises such as RENEL and ROMGAZ
Romgaz
Societatea Națională de Gaze Naturale Romgaz SA Mediaș or simply Romgaz is the largest natural gas producer in Romania and one of the largest in Eastern Europe. The company is responsible for producing around 40% of the total natural gas consumption in Romania...
. At the time, he stated: "If the PD believes Mr. Berceanu's decision was fair, that means the PD is trying to gain electoral capital by further harassing its coalition partners".
He soon became noted for his opposition to the Premier, and called on him to resign — according to the journalist Sorin Roşca-Stănescu, Opriş was the leader of a PNŢCD faction who came into conflict with Vasile's. After the Vasile cabinet was replaced with that 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....
, the PNŢCD went on to face a parliamentary crisis due to a standoff with the PD, when the PD's Minister of Defense, Victor Babiuc
Victor Babiuc
Victor Babiuc is a Romanian jurist and politician. A former member of the Democratic Party and of the National Liberal Party , he was a member of the Romanian Chamber of Deputies for Bucharest in 1990 and from 1992 to 1996, and for Braşov County from 1996 to 2004. In the Petre Roman cabinet, he...
, decided to leave his party — the PD refused to pass legislation until Babiuc was to be replaced with Sorin Frunzăverde
Sorin Frunzaverde
Sorin Frunzăverde is a Romanian politician, president of the Caras-Severin County Council, former Member of the European Parliament....
. In response, Opriş called on all other coalition partners (the National Liberals
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...
, the Social Democrats
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:...
, the Democratic Union of Hungarians
Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania
The Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania, is the main political organisation representing the ethnic Hungarians of Romania....
and various minor groups) to express support for the proposed legislation, and argued that new laws could conceivably be passed with support from opposition parties. (The crisis was ultimately overcome when Frunzăverde took over as minister.)
No longer elected to office in the elections of 2000
Romanian legislative election, 2000
Legislative elections where be held in Romania on November 26, 2000, together with the Presidential election. The Greater Romania Party made big gains, as did the PDSR, which became the ruling party. The formerly governing Romanian Democratic Convention lost all its seats and was shortly...
(when the PNŢCD as a whole failed to pass the election threshold
Election threshold
In party-list proportional representation systems, an election threshold is a clause that stipulates that a party must receive a minimum percentage of votes, either nationally or within a particular district, to obtain any seats in the parliament...
in either chamber of 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...
), Remus Opriş resumed his activity as Vice President of the PNŢCD (briefly renamed Christian-Democratic People's Party, PPCD). In March 2006, he rejected the offer of fusion proposed by the PD, aimed at creating a "center-right pole" in Romanian politics, and indicated that the National Peasants' Party would carry on as an independent force.
In July 2006, Opriş was presented by the National Council for the Study of Securitate Archives with the file kept on him by the Securitate
Securitate
The Securitate was the secret police agency of Communist Romania. Previously, the Romanian secret police was called Siguranţa Statului. Founded on August 30, 1948, with help from the Soviet NKVD, the Securitate was abolished in December 1989, shortly after President Nicolae Ceaușescu was...
, attesting that Communist Romania
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...
n authorities had him under constant surveillance between 1976 and 1978, and again in 1981. At the time, he specified, 16 Securitate officers had overseen his case, and he had been reported on by 22 informants.
See also
- Christian-Democratic National Peasants' PartyChristian-Democratic National Peasants' Party (Romania)The Christian-Democratic National Peasants' Party is a Romanian Christian-Democratic party...