Traian Băsescu
Traian Băsescu (Romanian pronunciation: [traˈjan bəˈsesku]; born 4 November 1951) is a Romanian conservative politician who served as President of Romania from 2004 to 2014. Prior to his presidency, Băsescu served as Romanian Minister of Transport on multiple occasions between 1991 and 2000, and as Mayor of Bucharest from 2000 to 2004. Additionally, he was elected as leader of the Democratic Party (PD) in 2001.
Traian Băsescu | |
|---|---|
Băsescu in 2013 | |
| President of Romania | |
| In office 20 December 2004 – 21 December 2014[a] | |
| Prime Minister | Adrian Năstase Eugen Bejinariu (Acting) Călin Popescu-Tăriceanu Emil Boc Cătălin Predoiu (Acting) Mihai Răzvan Ungureanu Victor Ponta |
| Preceded by | Ion Iliescu |
| Succeeded by | Klaus Iohannis |
| Member of the European Parliament for Romania | |
| Assumed office 2 July 2019 | |
| Member of the Senate for Bucharest | |
| In office 20 December 2016 – 19 June 2019 | |
| Leader of the People's Movement Party | |
| In office 27 March 2016 – 16 June 2018 | |
| Preceded by | Eugen Tomac |
| Succeeded by | Eugen Tomac |
| Leader of the Democratic Party | |
| In office 19 May 2001 – 18 December 2004 | |
| Preceded by | Petre Roman |
| Succeeded by | Emil Boc |
| Mayor of Bucharest | |
| In office 26 June 2000 – 20 December 2004 | |
| Preceded by | Viorel Lis |
| Succeeded by | Adriean Videanu |
| Minister of Transport | |
| In office 17 April 1998 – 26 June 2000 | |
| Prime Minister | Radu Vasile Alexandru Athanasiu (Acting) Mugur Isărescu |
| Preceded by | Anton Ionescu |
| Succeeded by | Anca Boagiu |
| In office 12 December 1996 – 11 February 1998 | |
| Prime Minister | Victor Ciorbea |
| Preceded by | Aurel Novac |
| Succeeded by | Anton Ionescu |
| In office 30 April 1991 – 19 November 1992 | |
| Prime Minister | Petre Roman Theodor Stolojan |
| Preceded by | Doru Pană |
| Succeeded by | Paul Teodoru |
| Member of the Chamber of Deputies from Vaslui County | |
| In office October 1992 – 14 November 2000 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 4 November 1951 Basarabi, Romania (now Murfatlar) |
| Citizenship | Romania Moldova (2016–17) |
| Political party | People's Movement Party (2014–present) European People's Party (2014–present) |
| Other political affiliations | Romanian Communist Party (Before 1989) National Salvation Front (1989–1993) Democratic Party (1993–2004) Independent (2004–2014, PD/PDL membership suspended while president) National Unity Party (2017–present) |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2, including Elena |
| Education | Mircea cel Bătrân Naval Academy |
| Signature | |
| a. ^ Suspended from 20 April 2007 – 23 May 2007 (Nicolae Văcăroiu as acting president) and from 10 July 2012 – 28 August 2012 (Crin Antonescu as acting president). | |
During his term as leader of the PD, the party formed the Justice and Truth Alliance (DA) with the National Liberal Party (PNL). Following Theodor Stolojan's withdrawal from the presidential elections in 2004, Băsescu entered the presidential race on behalf of the alliance. After being elected president, he suspended his PD membership; Romanian law does not permit the incumbent president to be a member of a political party. He was subsequently re-elected in 2009.
In 2007, during his presidency, Romania acceded to the European Union (EU). He is the only president of Romania to have been suspended by the parliament twice, in 2007 and 2012. A former member of the Romanian Communist Party (PCR), he has promoted social conservative and populist policies during his administration.
After ending his presidential term, in 2015, Băsescu joined the People's Movement Party (PMP), of which he became president in 2016, subsequently resigning in 2018. He currently serves as Member of the European Parliament for Romania (since 2019).