Crin Antonescu
Encyclopedia
George-Crin-Laurenţiu Antonescu (ˈdʒe̯ordʒe ˈkrin la.uˈrenʦju antoˈnesku; born 21 September 1959) is a Romania
n politician, currently serving as President of the National Liberal Party (PNL)
. He was a candidate for the Romanian Presidential Elections of 2009
. He is a member of the Senate
, his election having taken place during the 2008 legislative election
. Between 1996 and 2008 he was a member of the Chamber of Deputies
, acting as leader of the party
delegates between 2007 and 2008.
, Tulcea County
into a broken home. He was raised by his father, who encouraged him to attend the Faculty of History and Philosophy at the National University of Bucharest
, in order to become a History teacher.
, Vaslui County
. He later returned to Tulcea, continuing his academic activity in Niculiţel
until 1989. Antonescu worked as a curator for the Tulcea Museum of History and Archaeology from 1989 to 1990, when he resumed his academic activity at the “Spiru Haret” High School in Tulcea
, prior to being elected to the Chamber of Deputies
.
, Antonescu helped organize the Tulcea branch of the party. In 1995, he was elected PNL Vice President and, subsequently, leader of the Liberal politicians active in the Chamber of Deputies
, holding that position for two non-consecutive mandates). During his activity in the Chamber of Deputies
, he was a member of the Committee for Education, Youth and Sports, the Foreign Affairs Committee and the Committee of Culture, Arts and Media.
Crin Antonescu was the Romanian Minister of Youth and Sports from 1997 to 2000. He initiated a series of reforms, the most prominent being the legal perpetuity for Romanian athletes with significant Olympic
results.
As of March 20, 2009, Crin Antonescu is the President of the National Liberal Party
, in addition to being the party’s candidate for the 2009 Presidential Elections in Romania
. In September 2009, Crin Antonescu was situated second in Romanians' voting preferences for the 2009 Presidential elections. As of May 2011 he is credited by public polls as first in line for the next Presidential elections.
, who had divorced her husband the year before. The couple tied the knot on 25 September 2009.
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, currently serving as President of the National Liberal Party (PNL)
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...
. He was a candidate for the Romanian Presidential Elections of 2009
Romanian presidential election, 2009
The first round of 2009 Romanian presidential elections was held in Romania on 22 November and a run-off round between Traian Băsescu and Mircea Geoană was held on 6 December 2009. Although most exit polls favored Geoană in the runoff, the authorities declared Băsescu the narrow victor with 50.33%...
. He is a member of 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...
, his election having taken place during the 2008 legislative 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...
. Between 1996 and 2008 he was a member of the 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...
, acting as leader of the 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...
delegates between 2007 and 2008.
Early life and education
Antonescu was born in TulceaTulcea
Tulcea is a city in Dobrogea, Romania. It is the administrative center of Tulcea county, and has a population of 92,379 as of 2007. One village, Tudor Vladimirescu, is administered by the city.- History :...
, Tulcea County
Tulcea County
Tulcea is a county of Romania, in the historical region Dobruja, with the capital city at Tulcea.-Demographics:In 2002, Tulcea County had a population of 256,492...
into a broken home. He was raised by his father, who encouraged him to attend the Faculty of History and Philosophy at the National 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 order to become a History teacher.
Professional career
Upon graduating in 1985, Crin Antonescu entered academia, working as a History teacher in the village of SoleştiSolesti
Soleşti is a commune in Vaslui County, Romania. It is composed of seven villages: Bouşori, Iaz, Satu Nou, Soleşti, Şerboteşti, Ştioborăni and Valea Siliştei....
, Vaslui County
Vaslui County
Vaslui is a county of Romania, in the historical region Moldavia, with the seat at Vaslui.-Demographics:In 2002, it had a population of 455,049 and the population density was 86/km².*Romanians - over 98%*Romas, other-Geography:...
. He later returned to Tulcea, continuing his academic activity in Niculiţel
Niculitel
Niculiţel is a commune in Tulcea County, Romania. It is composed of a single village, Niculiţel....
until 1989. Antonescu worked as a curator for the Tulcea Museum of History and Archaeology from 1989 to 1990, when he resumed his academic activity at the “Spiru Haret” High School in Tulcea
Tulcea
Tulcea is a city in Dobrogea, Romania. It is the administrative center of Tulcea county, and has a population of 92,379 as of 2007. One village, Tudor Vladimirescu, is administered by the city.- History :...
, prior to being elected to the 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...
.
Political career
Upon joining the National Liberal PartyNational 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...
, Antonescu helped organize the Tulcea branch of the party. In 1995, he was elected PNL Vice President and, subsequently, leader of the Liberal politicians active in the 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...
, holding that position for two non-consecutive mandates). During his activity in the 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...
, he was a member of the Committee for Education, Youth and Sports, the Foreign Affairs Committee and the Committee of Culture, Arts and Media.
Crin Antonescu was the Romanian Minister of Youth and Sports from 1997 to 2000. He initiated a series of reforms, the most prominent being the legal perpetuity for Romanian athletes with significant Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
results.
As of March 20, 2009, Crin Antonescu is the President 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...
, in addition to being the party’s candidate for the 2009 Presidential Elections in Romania
Romanian presidential election, 2009
The first round of 2009 Romanian presidential elections was held in Romania on 22 November and a run-off round between Traian Băsescu and Mircea Geoană was held on 6 December 2009. Although most exit polls favored Geoană in the runoff, the authorities declared Băsescu the narrow victor with 50.33%...
. In September 2009, Crin Antonescu was situated second in Romanians' voting preferences for the 2009 Presidential elections. As of May 2011 he is credited by public polls as first in line for the next Presidential elections.
Personal life
Antonescu's first wife Aurelia committed suicide in 2004 due to her illness from cancer. The pair have a daughter, Irina, born in 2001. In June 2009, Antonescu announced he would get married again to party colleague Adina VăleanAdina Valean
Adina Ioana Vălean is a Romanian politician and social activist. A member of the National Liberal Party , part of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, she was elected to the Chamber of Deputies on the Justice and Truth list for Călăraşi County , and became a Member of the European...
, who had divorced her husband the year before. The couple tied the knot on 25 September 2009.