Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BUCHAREST516
2006-03-23 15:16:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Bucharest
Cable title:
YOUNG LIBERAL LEADER ELECTED SPEAKER OF THE
how-toVZCZCXRO9410 PP RUEHAG RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHBM #0516 0821516 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 231516Z MAR 06 FM AMEMBASSY BUCHAREST TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4050 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS BUCHAREST 000516
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/NCE WILLIAM SILKWORTH
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL SOCI PINR RO
SUBJECT: YOUNG LIBERAL LEADER ELECTED SPEAKER OF THE
CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES
REF: BUCHAREST 448
UNCLAS BUCHAREST 000516
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/NCE WILLIAM SILKWORTH
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL SOCI PINR RO
SUBJECT: YOUNG LIBERAL LEADER ELECTED SPEAKER OF THE
CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES
REF: BUCHAREST 448
1. (SBU) Summary: Bogdan Olteanu, the ex-minister for
relations with parliament, was elected March 20 President of
the Romanian Chamber of Deputies, replacing former Prime
Minister Adrian Nastase. A curious coalition of deputies
elected Olteanu in the first round, consisting of the parties
of the coalition government minus the Conservative Party (PC)
plus the extreme nationalist Greater Romania Party (PRM).
The PC's refusal to endorse Olteanu,s candidacy sparked
tensions inside the governing coalition, potentially
indicating still more friction ahead. In his acceptance
speech, Olteanu pledged to strengthen the parliament, to
introduce the uninominal vote, and to work closely with civil
society groups. Olteanu is a young, but long-standing member
of the National Liberal Party (PNL) and a close advisor of PM
Calin Popescu-Tariceanu. End Summary.
2. (SBU) On March 20, Bogdan Olteanu, the candidate of the
governing PNL and Democratic Party (PD) Alliance became the
president of the Chamber of Deputies. Olteanu was elected
during the first round with 192 votes from PNL, PD, the
ethnic Hungarian party (UDMR) and the extreme nationalist
Greater Romania Party. His main challenger, the
Social-Democratic Party (PSD) candidate Valer Dorneanu,
garnered 88 votes. The Conservative Party,s candidate
Daniela Popa received only 22 votes. Olteanu takes over from
former PM and Chamber president Adrian Nastase who resigned
from the position on March 14 after a vote of no confidence
within his own party.
3. (SBU) The election for the Chamber presidency sparked more
tension among members of the governing coalition. The
Conservative Party, a junior member of the PNL-PD led
government, refused to endorse the candidacy of Bogdan
Olteanu and put forward its own candidate. PD president Emil
Boc reacted by declaring that this behavior placed PC
"outside the governing coalition." Unconfirmed press reports
alleged that, given the PC,s refusal, the PNL-PD negotiated
support for Olteanu with the opposition PRM in exchange for a
new location for PRM central headquarters. However, leaders
of the parties involved denied any secret agreement.
4. (SBU) In his acceptance speech, Olteanu emphasized the
importance of reform of the parliament, urging his colleagues
to work together to change the Chamber of Deputies' bad
public image. He also pledged to accelerate the adoption of
an Electoral Code and the introduction of the uninominal vote
for electing members of parliament to replace the current
"party list" proportional representation system. Olteanu also
insisted on the necessity of "moral reform" in Romanian
politics, including possible adoption of a lustration law to
provide transparency and heal lingering scars from Romania's
communist period. He concluded by saying that the parliament
should be more open to citizens and to civil society groups.
He pledged personally to get out of his office more often to
meet the people on the streets.
5. (SBU) Bio note: Born in 1971, Bogdan Olteanu is the
youngest president of the Chamber of Deputies in Romania's
post-communist history. He is well and favorably known to the
Embassy and is generally characterized as a reformer with
close personal and political ties to Prime Minister Tariceanu
(who is Olteanu's godfather). In December 2004, he became
one of the youngest ministers in the then new center-right
government when he was appointed by Tariceanu to serve as
minister delegate for relations with the parliament. He
resigned his government office on March 18 to prepare his bid
for the presidency of the lower chamber. Olteanu joined the
PNL in 1991 and was the leader of the Liberal National Youth
between 1998 and 2000. Since 2002, he is the president of
the PNL Honor and Arbitration Court. In 1996-1997, he was a
counselor to Tariceanu, then Minister of Industry and Trade,
in the center-right government of the Romanian Democratic
Convention. One PNL Deputy describes Olteanu as "Tariceanu's
gatekeeper" who plays a key role in taking items off the
PM,s plate and resolving them himself. Olteanu has a law
degree and is currently enrolled in a PhD program in
philosophy.
TAPLIN
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/NCE WILLIAM SILKWORTH
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL SOCI PINR RO
SUBJECT: YOUNG LIBERAL LEADER ELECTED SPEAKER OF THE
CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES
REF: BUCHAREST 448
1. (SBU) Summary: Bogdan Olteanu, the ex-minister for
relations with parliament, was elected March 20 President of
the Romanian Chamber of Deputies, replacing former Prime
Minister Adrian Nastase. A curious coalition of deputies
elected Olteanu in the first round, consisting of the parties
of the coalition government minus the Conservative Party (PC)
plus the extreme nationalist Greater Romania Party (PRM).
The PC's refusal to endorse Olteanu,s candidacy sparked
tensions inside the governing coalition, potentially
indicating still more friction ahead. In his acceptance
speech, Olteanu pledged to strengthen the parliament, to
introduce the uninominal vote, and to work closely with civil
society groups. Olteanu is a young, but long-standing member
of the National Liberal Party (PNL) and a close advisor of PM
Calin Popescu-Tariceanu. End Summary.
2. (SBU) On March 20, Bogdan Olteanu, the candidate of the
governing PNL and Democratic Party (PD) Alliance became the
president of the Chamber of Deputies. Olteanu was elected
during the first round with 192 votes from PNL, PD, the
ethnic Hungarian party (UDMR) and the extreme nationalist
Greater Romania Party. His main challenger, the
Social-Democratic Party (PSD) candidate Valer Dorneanu,
garnered 88 votes. The Conservative Party,s candidate
Daniela Popa received only 22 votes. Olteanu takes over from
former PM and Chamber president Adrian Nastase who resigned
from the position on March 14 after a vote of no confidence
within his own party.
3. (SBU) The election for the Chamber presidency sparked more
tension among members of the governing coalition. The
Conservative Party, a junior member of the PNL-PD led
government, refused to endorse the candidacy of Bogdan
Olteanu and put forward its own candidate. PD president Emil
Boc reacted by declaring that this behavior placed PC
"outside the governing coalition." Unconfirmed press reports
alleged that, given the PC,s refusal, the PNL-PD negotiated
support for Olteanu with the opposition PRM in exchange for a
new location for PRM central headquarters. However, leaders
of the parties involved denied any secret agreement.
4. (SBU) In his acceptance speech, Olteanu emphasized the
importance of reform of the parliament, urging his colleagues
to work together to change the Chamber of Deputies' bad
public image. He also pledged to accelerate the adoption of
an Electoral Code and the introduction of the uninominal vote
for electing members of parliament to replace the current
"party list" proportional representation system. Olteanu also
insisted on the necessity of "moral reform" in Romanian
politics, including possible adoption of a lustration law to
provide transparency and heal lingering scars from Romania's
communist period. He concluded by saying that the parliament
should be more open to citizens and to civil society groups.
He pledged personally to get out of his office more often to
meet the people on the streets.
5. (SBU) Bio note: Born in 1971, Bogdan Olteanu is the
youngest president of the Chamber of Deputies in Romania's
post-communist history. He is well and favorably known to the
Embassy and is generally characterized as a reformer with
close personal and political ties to Prime Minister Tariceanu
(who is Olteanu's godfather). In December 2004, he became
one of the youngest ministers in the then new center-right
government when he was appointed by Tariceanu to serve as
minister delegate for relations with the parliament. He
resigned his government office on March 18 to prepare his bid
for the presidency of the lower chamber. Olteanu joined the
PNL in 1991 and was the leader of the Liberal National Youth
between 1998 and 2000. Since 2002, he is the president of
the PNL Honor and Arbitration Court. In 1996-1997, he was a
counselor to Tariceanu, then Minister of Industry and Trade,
in the center-right government of the Romanian Democratic
Convention. One PNL Deputy describes Olteanu as "Tariceanu's
gatekeeper" who plays a key role in taking items off the
PM,s plate and resolving them himself. Olteanu has a law
degree and is currently enrolled in a PhD program in
philosophy.
TAPLIN