Victor Babiuc
Encyclopedia
Victor Babiuc is a Romania
n jurist and politician. A former member of the Democratic Party
(PD) and of the National Liberal Party
(PNL), 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 was Ministry of Justice
from 1990 to 1991. In the Theodor Stolojan
cabinet, he was Minister of the Interior from 1991 to 1992. In the Victor Ciorbea
, Radu Vasile
and Mugur Isărescu
cabinets, he was Minister of National Defense from 1996 to 2000.
, into a family of teachers, he graduated from the Law Faculty of the University of Bucharest
in 1958, earning his doctorate there in 1979. From 1958 to 1963, Babiuc was a consulting arbitrator at the Braşov
Arbitration Court. From 1963 to 1965 and from 1966 to 1968, he was legal adviser at a Braşov tractor factory. In the interim, he was a judge at the city's courthouse. From 1968 to 1971, he was a consulting and then counselling arbitrator at the central arbitration court in Bucharest. From 1971 to 1977, he was legal adviser at the Foreign Trade Ministry, rising to chief legal adviser during that period. From 1977 to 1990, he was a research associate at the Romanian Academy
's Institute of World Economy. From 1980 to 1987, he was associate professor at the Ştefan Gheorghiu Academy
and the Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies. From 1985 to 1989, he was a temporary adviser to the Legislative Council. He is the author of over 150 published works. Babiuc was never a member of the ruling Romanian Communist Party
.
Entering politics after the Romanian Revolution of 1989
, from March to June 1990, he was an expert to the constitutional committee of the Provisional National Unity Council, the country's temporary legislative body. Elected to the Chamber in May as a National Salvation Front member, he served there from mid-June until the end of July, when he resigned. This was followed over the next two years by two ministerial stints: Justice under Roman and Interior under Stolojan. It was during his time at the Interior Ministry that debates about its demilitarisation
began. Meanwhile, in 1992 he became university professor, teaching international commercial law, and the following year he became president of the commercial arbitration court within the Defense Ministry. Joining the new Democratic Party, he returned to the Chamber in 1992, where he was on the defense, public order and national security committee (1992), and president of the committee for investigating abuses, corruption and for petitions (1992–1996). In 1995 he rose to vice president of the PD.
, he was on the following committees: investigating abuses, corruption and petitions (1996–2000); culture, art and mass media (1998); European integration (1998–2000); and defense, public order and national security (2000). During this period, the Romanian Democratic Convention
governed Romania, and he was Defense Minister in three successive cabinets, from December 1996 to March 2000 (with a hiatus in February–April 1998), and was also interim Reform Minister in December 1998. Babiuc, who had no military experience or expertise, managed the Romanian Army as part of his political intrigues, granting promotions to lower-ranking officers on political criteria. Two crises marked his tenure as Defense Minister. The first came at the beginning of 1999, when the third Mineriad
saw Jiu Valley
miners march toward Bucharest. Reversing a differentiation of police and military roles that had begun to take shape prior to 1996, Babiuc announced that the army was available to intervene domestically, leading to serious strain between him and the officer corps. The second occurred shortly thereafter, during the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia
. Despite widespread domestic criticism, Parliament approved NATO's demand for unlimited use of Romanian airspace, with Babiuc asserting Romania's determination "to be alongside and together with NATO". The period also coincided with a renewed effort to bring to justice those who had fired on unarmed civilians during the Revolution. On the one hand, Babiuc encouraged the 1997 opening of army files relating to the event, saying it would free them from the stigma of suspicion and that investigations should proceed unhampered. On the other hand, following the 1999 conviction of Generals Victor Stănculescu
and Mihai Chiţac
for ordering shooting while repressing the uprising in Timişoara
, he stressed that the two personally "did not harm anybody" and "played a decisive role" in turning the army to the side of the Revolution. This was characteristic of the PD's attempts to find extenuating circumstances and prevent justice from taking its course.
When he left the PD in early 2000, he also resigned from his ministerial post, and sat in the Chamber as an independent until the end of the year. Babiuc was elected to a final term in 2000
. He sat as a PNL member until April 2002, then as an independent until January 2003, when he returned to the PD. He was on the human rights, religious affairs and national minorities committee. In 2008, prosecutors from the National Anticorruption Directorate
opened a criminal case against Babiuc, charging him with bribery and abuse of office for a 1999 sale of land in Pipera
at well below the market rate from the Defense Ministry to businessman Gigi Becali
.
He is married and has one child.
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 jurist and politician. A former member 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) and 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), he 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 1990 and from 1992 to 1996, and for Braşov County
Brasov County
Brașov ; ) is a county of Romania, in Transylvania, with the capital city at Brașov. The county incorporates within its boundaries most of the Medieval "lands" Burzenland and Făgăraș Land.-Demographics:...
from 1996 to 2004. In the 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...
cabinet, he was Ministry of Justice
Ministry of Justice (Romania)
The Ministry of Justice of Romania is one of the fifteen ministries of the Romanian Government. It administers the judicial system.The current minister of justice is Cătălin Predoiu, an independent.-External links:* *...
from 1990 to 1991. In the Theodor Stolojan
Theodor Stolojan
Theodor Dumitru Stolojan is a Romanian politician. An economist by training, he is a leader of the Democratic-Liberal Party. He previously served as Prime minister of Romania from September 1991 to November 1992. He and his wife Elena have a son, Vlad Stolojan, and a daughter, Ada Palea...
cabinet, he was Minister of the Interior from 1991 to 1992. In the 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:...
, 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...
and 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....
cabinets, he was Minister of National Defense from 1996 to 2000.
Legal career and entry into politics
Born in Răchiţi, Botoşani CountyBotosani County
Botoșani is a county of Romania, in Moldavia, with the capital city at Botoșani.-Demographics:In 2002, it had a population of 452,834 and the population density was 91/km2.*Romanians – – the highest percentage of Romanians in Romania...
, into a family of teachers, he graduated from the Law 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:...
in 1958, earning his doctorate there in 1979. From 1958 to 1963, Babiuc was a consulting arbitrator at the Braşov
Brasov
Brașov is a city in Romania and the capital of Brașov County.According to the last Romanian census, from 2002, there were 284,596 people living within the city of Brașov, making it the 8th most populated city in Romania....
Arbitration Court. From 1963 to 1965 and from 1966 to 1968, he was legal adviser at a Braşov tractor factory. In the interim, he was a judge at the city's courthouse. From 1968 to 1971, he was a consulting and then counselling arbitrator at the central arbitration court in Bucharest. From 1971 to 1977, he was legal adviser at the Foreign Trade Ministry, rising to chief legal adviser during that period. From 1977 to 1990, he was a research associate at the Romanian Academy
Romanian Academy
The Romanian Academy is a cultural forum founded in Bucharest, Romania, in 1866. It covers the scientific, artistic and literary domains. The academy has 181 acting members who are elected for life....
's Institute of World Economy. From 1980 to 1987, he was associate professor at the Ştefan Gheorghiu Academy
Stefan Gheorghiu Academy
The Ştefan Gheorghiu Academy The Ştefan Gheorghiu Academy The Ştefan Gheorghiu Academy (Romanian: Academia Ştefan Gheorghiu, in full: Academia de învăţămînt social-politic Ştefan Gheorghiu de pe lîngă CC al PCR - approx...
and the Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies. From 1985 to 1989, he was a temporary adviser to the Legislative Council. He is the author of over 150 published works. Babiuc was never a member of the ruling Romanian Communist Party
Romanian Communist Party
The Romanian Communist Party was a communist political party in Romania. Successor to the Bolshevik wing of the Socialist Party of Romania, it gave ideological endorsement to communist revolution and the disestablishment of Greater Romania. The PCR was a minor and illegal grouping for much of the...
.
Entering politics after the Romanian Revolution of 1989
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...
, from March to June 1990, he was an expert to the constitutional committee of the Provisional National Unity Council, the country's temporary legislative body. Elected to the Chamber in May as a National Salvation Front member, he served there from mid-June until the end of July, when he resigned. This was followed over the next two years by two ministerial stints: Justice under Roman and Interior under Stolojan. It was during his time at the Interior Ministry that debates about its demilitarisation
Demilitarisation
Demilitarisation or demilitarization is the reduction of a nation's army, weapons, or military vehicles to an agreed minimum. Demilitarisation is usually the result of a peace treaty ending a war or a major conflict....
began. Meanwhile, in 1992 he became university professor, teaching international commercial law, and the following year he became president of the commercial arbitration court within the Defense Ministry. Joining the new Democratic Party, he returned to the Chamber in 1992, where he was on the defense, public order and national security committee (1992), and president of the committee for investigating abuses, corruption and for petitions (1992–1996). In 1995 he rose to vice president of the PD.
As Defense Minister and subsequently
Again elected in 1996Romanian 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 was on the following committees: investigating abuses, corruption and petitions (1996–2000); culture, art and mass media (1998); European integration (1998–2000); and defense, public order and national security (2000). During this period, 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....
governed Romania, and he was Defense Minister in three successive cabinets, from December 1996 to March 2000 (with a hiatus in February–April 1998), and was also interim Reform Minister in December 1998. Babiuc, who had no military experience or expertise, managed the Romanian Army as part of his political intrigues, granting promotions to lower-ranking officers on political criteria. Two crises marked his tenure as Defense Minister. The first came at the beginning of 1999, when the third 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...
saw Jiu Valley
Jiu Valley
The Jiu Valley is a region in southwestern Romania, in Hunedoara county, situated in a valley of the Jiu River between the Retezat Mountains and the Parâng Mountains...
miners march toward Bucharest. Reversing a differentiation of police and military roles that had begun to take shape prior to 1996, Babiuc announced that the army was available to intervene domestically, leading to serious strain between him and the officer corps. The second occurred shortly thereafter, during the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia
1999 NATO bombing of Yugoslavia
The NATO bombing of Yugoslavia was NATO's military operation against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia during the Kosovo War. The strikes lasted from March 24, 1999 to June 10, 1999...
. Despite widespread domestic criticism, Parliament approved NATO's demand for unlimited use of Romanian airspace, with Babiuc asserting Romania's determination "to be alongside and together with NATO". The period also coincided with a renewed effort to bring to justice those who had fired on unarmed civilians during the Revolution. On the one hand, Babiuc encouraged the 1997 opening of army files relating to the event, saying it would free them from the stigma of suspicion and that investigations should proceed unhampered. On the other hand, following the 1999 conviction of Generals Victor Stănculescu
Victor Stănculescu
Victor Atanasie Stănculescu was a Romanian general during the Communist era. He played a central role in the overthrow of the dictatorship by refusing to carry out the orders of Romanian dictator Ceauşescu during the Romanian Revolution of 1989...
and Mihai Chiţac
Mihai Chiţac
Mihai Chiţac was a Romanian general and Interior Minister from 1989 to 1990 during the waning days of the Communist era...
for ordering shooting while repressing the uprising in Timişoara
Timisoara
Timișoara is the capital city of Timiș County, in western Romania. One of the largest Romanian cities, with an estimated population of 311,586 inhabitants , and considered the informal capital city of the historical region of Banat, Timișoara is the main social, economic and cultural center in the...
, he stressed that the two personally "did not harm anybody" and "played a decisive role" in turning the army to the side of the Revolution. This was characteristic of the PD's attempts to find extenuating circumstances and prevent justice from taking its course.
When he left the PD in early 2000, he also resigned from his ministerial post, and sat in the Chamber as an independent until the end of the year. Babiuc was elected to a final term in 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...
. He sat as a PNL member until April 2002, then as an independent until January 2003, when he returned to the PD. He was on the human rights, religious affairs and national minorities committee. In 2008, prosecutors from the National Anticorruption Directorate
National Anticorruption Directorate
National Anticorruption Directorate , formerly National Anticorruption Prosecution Office , is the Romanian agency tasked with preventing, investigating and prosecuting corruption-related offenses that caused a material damage higher than €200,000 or whose value of the involved amounts or goods is...
opened a criminal case against Babiuc, charging him with bribery and abuse of office for a 1999 sale of land in Pipera
Pipera
Pipera is a district of Voluntari city, situated in the north part of Bucharest, Romania.Until 1995, it was an ordinary village. After that, an "el dorado" of land transactions began. Plots of land that were 1 USD/m² reached in 2005 the amount of 250 USD/m²...
at well below the market rate from the Defense Ministry to businessman 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:...
.
He is married and has one child.