Vasile Blaga
Encyclopedia
Vasile Blaga is a Romania
n 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.
A member of the Democratic Party, he was the Minister of Administration and Interior in the first Călin Popescu-Tăriceanu
government (December 2004-March 2007) as well as in one of the Emil Boc's governments. He resigned on the 27th of September 2010.
On 28 November 2011 Blaga was appointed President of the Senate of Romania
after the revocation of Mircea Geoana on 23 November.
, Bihor County
, Blaga started his political career after the fall of Communism in Romania
in 1989. He was a Member of Parliament in the Romanian Chamber of Deputies
, representing Bihor County
, between 1990 and 1991, after which he became the Prefect of Bihor, serving until 1993.
Following the legislative election of 1996
, he became a member of the Romanian Senate
from the Democratic Party, representing Bihor County. He was reelected at the 2004 election
for the Justice and Truth Alliance, of which the Democratic Party was a member, representing Bucharest
(where he presently resides). Blaga was appointed as the Minister of Administration and Interior Affairs later in the same year.
In 2008, he was a candidate for the position of mayor of Bucharest from the Democratic-Liberal Party, seeking to replace incumbent mayor Adriean Videanu
, who did not want to compete for a second term.
He came second in the first round of the elections, trailing independent Sorin Oprescu
. For the second round, he gained the support of Gigi Becali
's New Generation Party
and of the Social Democrat mayor Bucharest's Sector 2, Neculai Onţanu., as well as the opposition of National Liberal Party
and the Social Democratic Party (Romania). Oprescu won the race on a 56-44 margin.
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 the current Speaker of the Upper Chamber of the Romanian 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...
, the Senate
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...
, and a former Minister of Regional Development and Housing and twice former Minister of Administration and Internal Affairs.
A member of the Democratic Party, he was the Minister of Administration and Interior in the first 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...
government (December 2004-March 2007) as well as in one of the Emil Boc's governments. He resigned on the 27th of September 2010.
On 28 November 2011 Blaga was appointed President of the Senate of Romania
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...
after the revocation of Mircea Geoana on 23 November.
Political career
Born in PetrileniRieni
Rieni is a commune in Bihor County, northwestern Romania with a population of 3,084 people. It is composed of six villages: Cucuceni, Ghighişeni, Petrileni, Rieni, Sudrigiu and Valea de Jos....
, Bihor County
Bihor County
Bihor is a county of Romania, in Crişana, with capital city at Oradea. Together with Hajdú-Bihar County in Hungary it constitutes the Biharia Euroregion.-Demographics:...
, Blaga started his political career after the fall of Communism in Romania
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...
in 1989. He was a Member of Parliament in 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...
, representing Bihor County
Bihor County
Bihor is a county of Romania, in Crişana, with capital city at Oradea. Together with Hajdú-Bihar County in Hungary it constitutes the Biharia Euroregion.-Demographics:...
, between 1990 and 1991, after which he became the Prefect of Bihor, serving until 1993.
Following the legislative election 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 a member of the Romanian Senate
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...
from the Democratic Party, representing Bihor County. He was reelected at 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...
for the Justice and Truth Alliance, of which the Democratic Party was a member, representing 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....
(where he presently resides). Blaga was appointed as the Minister of Administration and Interior Affairs later in the same year.
In 2008, he was a candidate for the position of mayor of Bucharest from the Democratic-Liberal Party, seeking to replace incumbent mayor Adriean Videanu
Adriean Videanu
Adriean Videanu is a businessman and former mayor of Bucharest, Romania. He is also a vice president of the Democratic Liberal Party of Romania, which is led by Emil Boc and the Minister of Economy in the Boc Cabinet, from 22 December 2008.A businessman in the marble and granite industry, Videanu...
, who did not want to compete for a second term.
He came second in the first round of the elections, trailing independent Sorin Oprescu
Sorin Oprescu
Sorin Mircea Oprescu is a Romanian independent politician and medical doctor who is currently serving as Mayor of Bucharest.-Political activity:...
. For the second round, he gained the support of Gigi Becali
Gigi Becali
George Becali is a controversial Romanian politician and businessman, mostly known for his involvement in the Steaua Bucureşti football club.He has been a Member of the European Parliament since June 2009.-Biography:...
's New Generation Party
New Generation Party
The New Generation Party – Christian Democratic is a nationalist, Christian democratic political party in Romania....
and of the Social Democrat mayor Bucharest's Sector 2, Neculai Onţanu., as well as the opposition of 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...
and the Social Democratic Party (Romania). Oprescu won the race on a 56-44 margin.