Adriana Săftoiu
Encyclopedia
Ana Adriana Săftoiu is a Romania
n journalist and politician. A member of the National Liberal Party
(PNL), she was a member of the Romanian Chamber of Deputies
for Bucharest
in December 2004, and has represented Prahova County
in the Chamber since 2008. In the interim, from 2004 to 2007, she was an adviser and press secretary for President
Traian Băsescu
.
She was married to former presidential adviser and former Foreign Intelligence Service (SIE) director Claudiu Săftoiu
for eighteen years until their divorce in 2011; they have one child.
and in 1992 graduated from the Romanian-Spanish department in the Literature Faculty of the University of Bucharest
. She took a further year of studies in Comparative Literature at the same institution, as well as journalism classes at three different institutions between 1995 and 1998. From 1993 to 1996, she was a journalist for Rompres, then working at Mediafax
from 1996 to 1998. From 1998 to 1999, holding the rank of secretary of state, she was press secretary for the government, while Radu Vasile
served as Prime Minister
. From 2000 to 2001, Săftoiu was cabinet director at the Transport Ministry, beginning when Băsescu held the ministerial portfolio. Between 2001 and 2004, she headed the press bureau of the Democratic Party
(PD), after Băsescu became president of that party.
In 2004, Săftoiu was elected
to Parliament as a PD member, but resigned her seat five days later, after being appointed adviser within the Communications Department and press secretary to incoming President Băsescu; the two positions cannot be held simultaneously. One episode that marked her tenure was a conflict with Defence Minister Teodor Atanasiu
, whom she took to court in July 2006 for abuse of office, accusing him of using the Army intelligence service to spy on her, following a comment he made on television to that effect. As a result, Atanasiu was suspended by the president before resigning under pressure several months later. Her resignation from the Băsescu administration in March 2007, coming shortly after that of her husband from the SIE directorship, prompted intense speculation. She stated it was for strictly personal reasons, but others cited an e-mail she sent to PD secretary general Vasile Blaga
, in which she asked for his intervention with Băsescu to reconcile her family relations, which had allegedly deteriorated due to the intrigues of administration colleague Elena Udrea
. Another theory pointed to a newspaper article alleging she was having an extramarital affair; rumours had also circulated that her husband was involved in an affair of his own. Săftoiu's departure came at a politically sensitive moment for the president, who was impeached
shortly thereafter. The following month saw publication of Vocile puterii ("The Voices of Power"), her book of interviews with all sixteen post-1989 Revolution
presidential and governmental press secretaries.
From 2007 to 2008, Săftoiu headed Capital Promotion, a Bucharest
consulting firm. In a February 2008 interview, she remarked that Băsescu, whom she accused of creating a Messiah
image for himself, and Udrea, whom she described as "dreaded but not respected", rule the PD-L (into which the PD had by then evolved) by fear. That summer, she joined the PNL, running for a seat in Prahova County, considered the fiefdom of one of Băsescu's most trenchant opponents, businessman Dinu Patriciu
. She won her race at that autumn's election
, after which the PNL moved into opposition. In the Chamber, she sits on the committee for education, science, youth and sport, and is a deputy leader of the PNL group since 2010.
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 journalist 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), she was 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 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....
in December 2004, and has represented 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...
in the Chamber since 2008. In the interim, from 2004 to 2007, she was an adviser and press secretary for President
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...
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...
.
She was married to former presidential adviser and former Foreign Intelligence Service (SIE) director Claudiu Săftoiu
Claudiu Săftoiu
Claudiu Elvis Săftoiu is a Romanian journalist. From December 2004 to October 2006, he was an adviser to President Traian Băsescu on matters of domestic policy; subsequently, until March 2007, he directed the Foreign Intelligence Service .He was married to former presidential adviser and current...
for eighteen years until their divorce in 2011; they have one child.
Biography
She was born in DejDej
Dej is a city in northwestern Romania, 60 km north of Cluj-Napoca, in Cluj County. It lies where the Someşul Mic River meets the river Someşul Mare River...
and in 1992 graduated from the Romanian-Spanish department in the Literature Faculty of 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:...
. She took a further year of studies in Comparative Literature at the same institution, as well as journalism classes at three different institutions between 1995 and 1998. From 1993 to 1996, she was a journalist for Rompres, then working at Mediafax
Mediafax
Mediafax is a Romanian media company headquartered in Bucharest and founded in 1991. It is a part of the MediaPro Group and its primary line of business is a news and photography service that covers the needs of 90% of the Romanian printed media and 70% of the national TV and radio stations...
from 1996 to 1998. From 1998 to 1999, holding the rank of secretary of state, she was press secretary for the government, while 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...
served as Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Romania
The Prime Minister of Romania is the head of the Government of Romania. Initially, the office was styled President of the Council of Ministers , when the term "Government" included more than the Cabinet, and the Cabinet was called The Council of Ministers...
. From 2000 to 2001, Săftoiu was cabinet director at the Transport Ministry, beginning when Băsescu held the ministerial portfolio. Between 2001 and 2004, she headed the press bureau of the Democratic 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...
(PD), after Băsescu became president of that party.
In 2004, Săftoiu 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 Parliament as a PD member, but resigned her seat five days later, after being appointed adviser within the Communications Department and press secretary to incoming President Băsescu; the two positions cannot be held simultaneously. One episode that marked her tenure was a conflict with Defence Minister Teodor Atanasiu
Teodor Atanasiu
Teodor Atanasiu is a Romanian engineer and politician. A member of the National Liberal Party , he was Minister of National Defence in the Călin Popescu-Tăriceanu cabinet from December 2004 to October 2006...
, whom she took to court in July 2006 for abuse of office, accusing him of using the Army intelligence service to spy on her, following a comment he made on television to that effect. As a result, Atanasiu was suspended by the president before resigning under pressure several months later. Her resignation from the Băsescu administration in March 2007, coming shortly after that of her husband from the SIE directorship, prompted intense speculation. She stated it was for strictly personal reasons, but others cited an e-mail she sent to PD secretary general Vasile Blaga
Vasile Blaga
Vasile Blaga is a Romanian politician and the current Speaker of the Upper Chamber of the Romanian Parliament, the Senate, and a former Minister of Regional Development and Housing and twice former Minister of Administration and Internal Affairs....
, in which she asked for his intervention with Băsescu to reconcile her family relations, which had allegedly deteriorated due to the intrigues of administration colleague Elena Udrea
Elena Udrea
Elena Gabriela Udrea is a Romanian politician. A member of the Democratic Liberal Party , she has been a member of the Romanian Chamber of Deputies for Bucharest since 2008...
. Another theory pointed to a newspaper article alleging she was having an extramarital affair; rumours had also circulated that her husband was involved in an affair of his own. Săftoiu's departure came at a politically sensitive moment for the president, who was impeached
Romanian presidential impeachment referendum, 2007
The Romanian presidential impeachment referendum of 2007 was conducted in order to determine whether the president of Romania Traian Băsescu should be forced to step down.On April 19, 2007 the Romanian parliament suspended Băsescu...
shortly thereafter. The following month saw publication of Vocile puterii ("The Voices of Power"), her book of interviews with all sixteen post-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...
presidential and governmental press secretaries.
From 2007 to 2008, Săftoiu headed Capital Promotion, a 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....
consulting firm. In a February 2008 interview, she remarked that Băsescu, whom she accused of creating a Messiah
Messiah
A messiah is a redeemer figure expected or foretold in one form or another by a religion. Slightly more widely, a messiah is any redeemer figure. Messianic beliefs or theories generally relate to eschatological improvement of the state of humanity or the world, in other words the World to...
image for himself, and Udrea, whom she described as "dreaded but not respected", rule the PD-L (into which the PD had by then evolved) by fear. That summer, she joined the PNL, running for a seat in Prahova County, considered the fiefdom of one of Băsescu's most trenchant opponents, businessman Dinu Patriciu
Dinu Patriciu
Dan Costache "Dinu" Patriciu , is a billionaire businessman and entrepreneur with a long standing involvement in real estate. In 1998 he led an investor buyout of the previously state-owned Romanian oil company, Rompetrol...
. She won her race at that autumn's election
Romanian legislative election, 2008
Legislative elections were held in Romania on November 30, 2008. The Democratic Liberal Party won most seats in both the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, although the alliance headed by the Social Democratic Party won a fractionally higher vote share.-Electoral System:President Traian Băsescu...
, after which the PNL moved into opposition. In the Chamber, she sits on the committee for education, science, youth and sport, and is a deputy leader of the PNL group since 2010.