Costica Canacheu
Encyclopedia
Costică Canacheu is a Romania
n politician and businessman. A participant in the 1989 Revolution
, he has started his political career as a member of the National Salvation Front (FSN), representing its successor, the Democratic Party (PD) to the Chamber of Deputies
. Additionally, Canacheu is an activist supporting the official recognition of Aromanians
as an ethnic minority
, being a founding member of the Aromanian Community Association and the Aromanian Cultural Society (Societatea Culturală Aromână; Aromanian
: Sutsata Culturala Armâneascâ).
, Călăraşi County
, Canacheu graduated from the Electro-Energetic High School in Bucharest
, and worked as a technician
between 1978 and 1989. Between 1993 and 2000, he was head of the Administrative Board for a Bucharest-based private enterprise, SC Neico Grup SA.
He was an active participant in the Bucharest protests that led to the fall of the Nicolae Ceauşescu
Communist government
(December 1989), and took part in the establishment of the FSN during February 1990, serving as a member of the FSN-based administration (CFSN, later CPUN) in Sector 1
of the capital, and later as a member of the FSN Directory Council. In the 1990 election, Canacheu won a seat in the Constituent Assembly
for Bucharest. In this capacity, he notably initiated a legislative project regarding parliamentary control over intelligence agencies (namely, Serviciul Român de Informaţii
, SRI) and their archives.
In the early 1990s, Canacheu was among a group of former revolutionaries who, citing concerns that granting revolutionary certificates and privileges had become an instrument of corruption
, formed the non-governmental organization
Asociaţia Revoluţionarilor fără Privilegii (the Association of Non-Privileged Revolutionaries); other members include Ion Caramitru
, Dan Pavel
, Victor Rebengiuc
, and Radu Filipescu
.
Following the 1991 Mineriad
, he joined Petre Roman
's FSN faction which became, in 1995, the Democratic Party, and was its Executive Director for Organizing during the 1992 legislative election. Canacheu was head of the Municipal Electoral Committee in Bucharest (1994-1996), and, in late 1996, headed the campaign in favor of Anton Vătăşescu for the office of Mayor of Bucharest
(Vătăşescu had received support from Uniunea Social-Democrată, USD, an alliance between the PD and the Romanian Social Democratic Party
). Between 1997 and 1999, he was a member of the PD's Directory Council, and, from 1999 to 2001, head of the PD's Sector 1 branch. A member of the PD's Municipal Organization, Canacheu became a member of the party's National Coordinating Council (2000-2002) and the Executive Secretary of its National Permanent Bureau (2002).
He became a PD deputy for Bucharest following the 2000 legislative election
, and won the same seat as part of the Justice and Truth
alliance during the 2004 election
. Serving on the Committee for Defense, Public Order and National Security, of which he was President, Canacheu was also deputy member of the Romanian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly
of the Council of Europe
. In late 2006, he proposed changes in Romanian legislation regarding access to classified information
, arguing in favor of unrestricted parliamentary access to the latter (amended by the National Liberal
senator
Norica Nicolai
, the project was eventually passed).
Costică Canacheu supports the view that the 26,500 Aromanians in Romania (of whom approx. 1,300 speak Aromanian as their mother tongue) should be recognized as a separate ethnicity, and has proposed changes in the Law on Minorities. He also called on the Romanian Television
to initiate special broadcasts in Aromanian at a national level. In autumn 2006, several of the issues he raised were brought to the attention of the Ministry of Culture, and a review of his proposals was due by September 2006 (in December of the same year, Canacheu announced that no resolution had been passed).
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 businessman. A participant in 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...
, he has started his political career as a member of the National Salvation Front (FSN), representing its successor, the Democratic Party (PD) to 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...
. Additionally, Canacheu is an activist supporting the official recognition of Aromanians
Aromanians
Aromanians are a Latin people native throughout the southern Balkans, especially in northern Greece, Albania, the Republic of Macedonia, Bulgaria, and as an emigrant community in Serbia and Romania . An older term is Macedo-Romanians...
as an ethnic minority
Minorities of Romania
Officially, 10.5% of Romania's population is represented by minorities . The principal minorities in Romania are Hungarians and Roma people, with a declining German population and smaller numbers of Poles in Bucovina...
, being a founding member of the Aromanian Community Association and the Aromanian Cultural Society (Societatea Culturală Aromână; Aromanian
Aromanian language
Aromanian , also known as Macedo-Romanian, Arumanian or Vlach is an Eastern Romance language spoken in Southeastern Europe...
: Sutsata Culturala Armâneascâ).
Biography
Born to an Aromanian family in BudeştiBudesti
Budeşti is a small provincial town in Călăraşi County, approximately 30 km south-east of Bucharest, the capital of Romania. Three villages are administered by the town: Aprozi, Buciumeni and Gruiu. Budeşti was the birthplace of famous Romanian violin player Ion Voicu. It has a population of...
, Călăraşi County
Calarasi County
Călărași is a county of Romania, in Muntenia, with the county seat at Călărași.-Demographics:In 2002, it had a population of 324,617 and a population density of 64/km².*Romanians – 95%*Roma and others.-List of cities by population:...
, Canacheu graduated from the Electro-Energetic High School in 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....
, and worked as a technician
Technician
A technician is a worker in a field of technology who is proficient in the relevant skills and techniques, with a relatively practical understanding of the theoretical principles. Experienced technicians in a specific tool domain typically have intermediate understanding of theory and expert...
between 1978 and 1989. Between 1993 and 2000, he was head of the Administrative Board for a Bucharest-based private enterprise, SC Neico Grup SA.
He was an active participant in the Bucharest protests that led to the fall of the Nicolae Ceauşescu
Nicolae Ceausescu
Nicolae Ceaușescu was a Romanian Communist politician. He was General Secretary of the Romanian Communist Party from 1965 to 1989, and as such was the country's second and last Communist leader...
Communist government
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...
(December 1989), and took part in the establishment of the FSN during February 1990, serving as a member of the FSN-based administration (CFSN, later CPUN) in Sector 1
Sector 1 (Bucharest)
Sector 1 is a sector in Bucharest. It includes the northern part of the city centre as well as the northwestern districts of Băneasa and Pipera. It is the wealthiest sector in Bucharest.-Quarters:*Aviatorilor*Aviaţiei*Băneasa*Bucureştii Noi*Dămăroaia...
of the capital, and later as a member of the FSN Directory Council. In the 1990 election, Canacheu won a seat in the Constituent Assembly
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...
for Bucharest. In this capacity, he notably initiated a legislative project regarding parliamentary control over intelligence agencies (namely, 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...
, SRI) and their archives.
In the early 1990s, Canacheu was among a group of former revolutionaries who, citing concerns that granting revolutionary certificates and privileges had become an instrument of corruption
Political corruption
Political corruption is the use of legislated powers by government officials for illegitimate private gain. Misuse of government power for other purposes, such as repression of political opponents and general police brutality, is not considered political corruption. Neither are illegal acts by...
, formed the non-governmental organization
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
Asociaţia Revoluţionarilor fără Privilegii (the Association of Non-Privileged Revolutionaries); other members include Ion Caramitru
Ion Caramitru
Ion Caramitru is a Romanian stage and film actor, stage director, as well as a political figure. He was Minister of Culture between 1996 and 2000, in the Romanian Democratic Convention cabinets of Victor Ciorbea, Gavril Dejeu, Radu Vasile, Alexandru Athanasiu, and Mugur Isărescu.-Early life and...
, Dan Pavel
Dan Pavel
Dan Pavel is a Romanian political scientist, academic, politician, journalist and 1989 revolutionary. He was a consultant to Gigi Becali in 2003.-References:...
, Victor Rebengiuc
Victor Rebengiuc
Victor Rebengiuc is an award-winning Romanian film and stage actor, also known as a civil society activist. Since 1957, he has been a member of the Bulandra Theater company, acting in more than 200 roles on that stage alone...
, and Radu Filipescu
Radu Filipescu
Radu Filipescu is a former Romanian anti-Communist dissident. He is the youngest son of Zorel Filipescu and Carmelita-Ileana Filipescu. His elder brother is Doru Filipescu, a well known orthopedic surgeon on Sf. Ioan Hospital, in Bucharest...
.
Following the 1991 Mineriad
Mineriad
See also The 1990s: the rise and decline of miners' unionsA Mineriad is the term used to name any of the successive violent interventions of miners in Bucharest. These interventions were generally seen as aimed at wrestling policy changes or simply material advantages from the current political...
, he joined Petre Roman
Petre Roman
Petre Roman is a Romanian politician and a former Prime Minister of Romania. He served from 1989 to 1991, when his government was overthrown by the intervention of the miners led by Miron Cozma. Roman is a member of the Club of Madrid, grouping 66 democratic former heads of state and government...
's FSN faction which became, in 1995, the Democratic Party, and was its Executive Director for Organizing during the 1992 legislative election. Canacheu was head of the Municipal Electoral Committee in Bucharest (1994-1996), and, in late 1996, headed the campaign in favor of Anton Vătăşescu for the office of Mayor of Bucharest
Mayor of Bucharest
The Mayor of Bucharest , sometimes known as the General Mayor, is the head of the Bucharest City Hall in Bucharest, Romania, which is responsible for city-wide affairs, such as the water system, the transport system and the main boulevards...
(Vătăşescu had received support from Uniunea Social-Democrată, USD, an alliance between the PD and the Romanian Social Democratic Party
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:...
). Between 1997 and 1999, he was a member of the PD's Directory Council, and, from 1999 to 2001, head of the PD's Sector 1 branch. A member of the PD's Municipal Organization, Canacheu became a member of the party's National Coordinating Council (2000-2002) and the Executive Secretary of its National Permanent Bureau (2002).
He became a PD deputy for Bucharest following the 2000 legislative election
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...
, and won the same seat as part of the Justice and Truth
Justice and Truth
The Justice and Truth Alliance was a political alliance comprising two political parties in Romania: the centre-right liberal National Liberal Party and the initially social-democrat Democratic Party , which later switched to center-right ideology.As the political formation with the largest...
alliance during the 2004 election
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...
. Serving on the Committee for Defense, Public Order and National Security, of which he was President, Canacheu was also deputy member of the Romanian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe , which held its first session in Strasbourg on 10 August 1949, can be considered the oldest international parliamentary assembly with a pluralistic composition of democratically elected members of parliament established on the basis of an...
of the Council of Europe
Council of Europe
The Council of Europe is an international organisation promoting co-operation between all countries of Europe in the areas of legal standards, human rights, democratic development, the rule of law and cultural co-operation...
. In late 2006, he proposed changes in Romanian legislation regarding access to classified information
Classified information
Classified information is sensitive information to which access is restricted by law or regulation to particular groups of persons. A formal security clearance is required to handle classified documents or access classified data. The clearance process requires a satisfactory background investigation...
, arguing in favor of unrestricted parliamentary access to the latter (amended by the National Liberal
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...
senator
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...
Norica Nicolai
Norica Nicolai
Norica Nicolai is a Romanian lawyer and politician. A member of the National Liberal Party , she was a member of the Romanian Senate for Cluj County from 2000 to 2008, and has been a Member of the European Parliament since 2009...
, the project was eventually passed).
Costică Canacheu supports the view that the 26,500 Aromanians in Romania (of whom approx. 1,300 speak Aromanian as their mother tongue) should be recognized as a separate ethnicity, and has proposed changes in the Law on Minorities. He also called on the Romanian Television
Romanian television
Romanian television may refer to:* Communications media in Romania* Televiziunea Română, TVR, the national television network* List of Romanian language television channels...
to initiate special broadcasts in Aromanian at a national level. In autumn 2006, several of the issues he raised were brought to the attention of the Ministry of Culture, and a review of his proposals was due by September 2006 (in December of the same year, Canacheu announced that no resolution had been passed).