László Borbély
Encyclopedia
László Borbély is a Romania
n economist and politician. A member of the Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania
(UDMR), he has been a member of the Romanian Chamber of Deputies
for Mureş County
since 2000, having previously served there from 1990 to 1996. Since December 2009 he has been the Minister of the Environment
in the Boc cabinet, previously serving in the Călin Popescu-Tăriceanu
cabinet as Minister-Delegate of Transportation from 2004 to 2007, and Minister of Regional Development, Public Works and Housing from 2007 to 2008.
He and his wife Melinda, whom he married in 1980, have a daughter, Eszter, born in 1982.
, graduating in 1977. While there, he was also a theatre actor, an activity he continued in Târgu Mureş until 1990, and is an avid tennis player. Following postgraduate studies at the Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies, which he finished in 1985, he attended a postgraduate seminar at the University of Salzburg
in 1991, and (as of 2008) is pursuing a doctorate at Babeş-Bolyai University
in Cluj-Napoca
. Borbély worked as an economist in Reghin from 1977 to 1979, while continuing to live in his native city. That year, he was hired as an economist in Târgu Mureş; in 1984, he became the head of a commercial bureau there. He retained that position until 1988, when he resumed working as an economist, also in Târgu Mureş.
Following the 1989 Revolution
, Borbély was initially part of the National Salvation Front but soon joined the newly-created UDMR and represented it in the Chamber starting in 1990. In 1996, after the Romanian Democratic Convention
(supported by the UDMR) came to power, Borbély became Secretary of State in the Ministry of Public Works and Land Management, serving until 2000. He returned to Parliament that year, and in 2004 was again named to the cabinet, this time as Minister-Delegate of Transportation. Following a reshuffle in 2007, he became Regional Development Minister, holding that position until his party entered opposition after the 2008 election
. In June 2008, Borbély ran for mayor of Târgu Mureş, but was defeated by incumbent Dorin Florea of the PD-L
on a 52.5-44.8 margin.
Within the UDMR, Borbély has served as President of the Mureş County Chapter (1990–1994), Executive Vice President (1998–2008) and President of the Mureş County Territorial Council (2000–2005). From 1992 to 1996 and again from 2000 to 2004, he belonged to the Chamber of Deputies' Permanent Bureau. Since 1991, he has been president of the Dr. Bernády György Cultural Foundation in Târgu Mureş, and has also taught at Sapientia University
's campus in that city.
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 economist and politician. A member of the Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania
Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania
The Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania, is the main political organisation representing the ethnic Hungarians of Romania....
(UDMR), he has been 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 Mureş County
Mures County
Mureș is a county of Romania, in the historical region of Transylvania, with the administrative centre in Târgu Mureș.-Geography:The county has a total area of 6,714 km²....
since 2000, having previously served there from 1990 to 1996. Since December 2009 he has been the Minister of the Environment
Ministry of Environment and Forests
The Ministry of Environment and Forests is an Indian government ministry. The Minister of Environment and Forests holds cabinet rank as a member of the Council of Ministers...
in the Boc cabinet, previously serving 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 as Minister-Delegate of Transportation from 2004 to 2007, and Minister of Regional Development, Public Works and Housing from 2007 to 2008.
He and his wife Melinda, whom he married in 1980, have a daughter, Eszter, born in 1982.
Biography
He was born to ethnic Hungarian parents in Târgu Mureş and completed secondary studies at the city's Bolyai Farkas High School. He then studied Economics at the University of TimişoaraWest University of Timisoara
The West University of Timişoara is a university located in Timişoara, Romania. Established in 1962, it is organized in 11 Faculties.-Organization:...
, graduating in 1977. While there, he was also a theatre actor, an activity he continued in Târgu Mureş until 1990, and is an avid tennis player. Following postgraduate studies at the Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies, which he finished in 1985, he attended a postgraduate seminar at the University of Salzburg
University of Salzburg
The University of Salzburg, or Paris Lodron University after its founder, the Prince Archbishop Paris Lodron, is located in the Austrian city of Salzburg, Salzburgerland, home of Mozart. It is divided into 4 faculties: catholic theology, law, humanities and natural science.Founded in 1622, it...
in 1991, and (as of 2008) is pursuing a doctorate at Babeş-Bolyai University
Babes-Bolyai University
The Babeș-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca is an university in Romania. With almost 50,000 students, the university offers 105 specialisations, of which there are 105 in Romanian, 67 in Hungarian, 17 in German, and 5 in English...
in Cluj-Napoca
Cluj-Napoca
Cluj-Napoca , commonly known as Cluj, is the fourth most populous city in Romania and the seat of Cluj County in the northwestern part of the country. Geographically, it is roughly equidistant from Bucharest , Budapest and Belgrade...
. Borbély worked as an economist in Reghin from 1977 to 1979, while continuing to live in his native city. That year, he was hired as an economist in Târgu Mureş; in 1984, he became the head of a commercial bureau there. He retained that position until 1988, when he resumed working as an economist, also in Târgu Mureş.
Following 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...
, Borbély was initially part of the National Salvation Front but soon joined the newly-created UDMR and represented it in the Chamber starting in 1990. In 1996, after 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....
(supported by the UDMR) came to power, Borbély became Secretary of State in the Ministry of Public Works and Land Management, serving until 2000. He returned to Parliament that year, and in 2004 was again named to the cabinet, this time as Minister-Delegate of Transportation. Following a reshuffle in 2007, he became Regional Development Minister, holding that position until his party entered opposition after the 2008 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...
. In June 2008, Borbély ran for mayor of Târgu Mureş, but was defeated by incumbent Dorin Florea of the PD-L
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...
on a 52.5-44.8 margin.
Within the UDMR, Borbély has served as President of the Mureş County Chapter (1990–1994), Executive Vice President (1998–2008) and President of the Mureş County Territorial Council (2000–2005). From 1992 to 1996 and again from 2000 to 2004, he belonged to the Chamber of Deputies' Permanent Bureau. Since 1991, he has been president of the Dr. Bernády György Cultural Foundation in Târgu Mureş, and has also taught at Sapientia University
Sapientia University
The Sapientia – Hungarian University of Transylvania is an institution of Hungarian higher education in the historic region of Transylvania, Romania.At present the Sapientia Foundation finances the following departments of the University:...
's campus in that city.