Viorel Hrebenciuc
Encyclopedia
Viorel Hrebenciuc is a Romania
n statistician and politician. A member of the Social Democratic Party
(PSD), he has been a member of the Romanian Chamber of Deputies
for Bacău County
since 2000.
, Suceava County
, and from 1973 to 1977, attended the Economic Cybernetics and Statistics Faculty of the Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies. From 1977 to 1980, he directed organisational planning at a Bacău
firm. From 1980 to 1982, he was specialty inspector at the Bacău County Statistical Directorate, holding the same position at the Bacău County Council from 1982 to 1989. Entering politics following the Romanian Revolution of 1989
, he served as Mayor of Bacău in 1990 and as Prefect
of Bacău County from 1990 to 1992. From that year until 1996, he was secretary general of the Romanian government. Entering the Chamber in 1996
, he has sat on the following committees: human rights, religious affairs and national minorities (1996–2000); European integration (2002–2006; president from 2003); and European affairs (2004-; president), also heading a joint committee for drafting new election laws (2003–2004). He was vice president of the Chamber from 2000 to 2004, and led the PSD group there from 2000 to 2010, except in 2004-2005, when he was deputy leader.
Hrebenciuc is prominent within his party, with a reputation as an éminence grise, a negotiator, a creator of intrigues and instigator of personal attacks in the media. One consistent theme during the Presidency
of Traian Băsescu
has been his feud with the head of state, described as Hrebenciuc's "mortal enemy". He actively participated in the unsuccessful 2007 referendum campaign
to impeach Băsescu; during the same period, his son Andrei was dating Băsescu's daughter Elena
. The relationship drew comparisons to the story of Romeo and Juliet
, occurring as it did while the President called Hrebenciuc a "rose-coloured rat" and mentioned his "profound contempt" for the latter due to his behaviour in politics. He helped create the 2007-2008 alliance between the PSD and the National Liberal Party
after the latter had left the Băsescu-supported Justice and Truth Alliance, and with the same party unsuccessfully pushed for Băsescu to appoint Klaus Iohannis as Prime Minister
in 2009. He also headed the campaign of Mircea Geoană
to unseat Băsescu later that year, a race Geoană narrowly lost
, and led an effort to claim the election had been marred by fraud
. At one point before the election, he alleged that "everyone" knows Băsescu to be an alcoholic
. In turn, Băsescu has criticised Hrebenciuc, labelling him "oligarch", "mafioso" and "string-puller" and contrasting him with himself. During their campaigns, Băsescu and the Democratic Liberal Party
that backs him have mentioned Hrebenciuc alongside the moguls Sorin Ovidiu Vântu
and Dan Voiculescu
and the controversial mayor Marian Vanghelie
. When Iohannis was being promoted as a potential Prime Minister, Băsescu promised he would nominate someone independent of his predecessor Ion Iliescu
, Hrebenciuc, Voiculescu and Vântu.
He is married and Andrei is the couple's only 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 statistician and politician. A member of the Social Democratic Party
Social Democratic Party (Romania)
The Social Democratic Party is the major social-democratic political party in Romania. It was formed in 1992, after the post-communist National Salvation Front broke apart. It adopted its present name after a merger with a minor social-democratic party in 2001. Since its formation, it has always...
(PSD), he has been 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 Bacău County
Bacau County
Bacău is a county of Romania, in Moldavia, with its capital city at Bacău. It has one commune, Ghimeş-Făget, in Transylvania.-Demographics:In 2002, it had a population of 706,623 and the population density was 113/km²....
since 2000.
Biography
He was born in SiminiceaSiminicea
Siminicea is a commune located in Suceava County, Romania. It is composed of two villages, Grigoreşti and Siminicea....
, Suceava County
Suceava County
Suceava is a county of Romania, in the historical region of Moldavia and few villages in Transylvania, with the capital city at Suceava.- Demographics :...
, and from 1973 to 1977, attended the Economic Cybernetics and Statistics Faculty of the Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies. From 1977 to 1980, he directed organisational planning at a Bacău
Bacau
Bacău is the main city in Bacău County, Romania. It covers a land surface of 43 km², and, as of January 1, 2009, has an estimated population of 177,087. The city is situated in the historical region of Moldavia, at the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains, and on the Bistriţa River...
firm. From 1980 to 1982, he was specialty inspector at the Bacău County Statistical Directorate, holding the same position at the Bacău County Council from 1982 to 1989. Entering politics following 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...
, he served as Mayor of Bacău in 1990 and as Prefect
Prefect (Romania)
A prefect in Romania represents the Government in each of the country's 41 counties, as well as the Municipality of Bucharest.-Attributes:The main attributes of prefects are defined at Article 123 of the Constitution of Romania:...
of Bacău County from 1990 to 1992. From that year until 1996, he was secretary general of the Romanian government. Entering the Chamber in 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 has sat on the following committees: human rights, religious affairs and national minorities (1996–2000); European integration (2002–2006; president from 2003); and European affairs (2004-; president), also heading a joint committee for drafting new election laws (2003–2004). He was vice president of the Chamber from 2000 to 2004, and led the PSD group there from 2000 to 2010, except in 2004-2005, when he was deputy leader.
Hrebenciuc is prominent within his party, with a reputation as an éminence grise, a negotiator, a creator of intrigues and instigator of personal attacks in the media. One consistent theme during the Presidency
President of Romania
The President of Romania is the head of state of Romania. The President is directly elected by a two-round system for a five-year term . An individual may serve two terms...
of Traian Băsescu
Traian Basescu
Traian Băsescu is the current President of Romania. After serving as the mayor of Bucharest from June 2000 until December 2004, he was elected president in the Romanian Presidential Elections of 2004 and inaugurated on December 20, 2004...
has been his feud with the head of state, described as Hrebenciuc's "mortal enemy". He actively participated in the unsuccessful 2007 referendum campaign
Romanian presidential impeachment referendum, 2007
The Romanian presidential impeachment referendum of 2007 was conducted in order to determine whether the president of Romania Traian Băsescu should be forced to step down.On April 19, 2007 the Romanian parliament suspended Băsescu...
to impeach Băsescu; during the same period, his son Andrei was dating Băsescu's daughter Elena
Elena Băsescu
Elena Băsescu, sometimes referred to as EBA, is a Romanian politician, secretary general of the youth wing of Romania's Democratic Liberal Party, and a Member of the European Parliament. She is the youngest daughter of Traian Băsescu, the current President of Romania. She was formerly a model, and...
. The relationship drew comparisons to the story of Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy written early in the career of playwright William Shakespeare about two young star-crossed lovers whose deaths ultimately unite their feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's most popular archetypal stories of young, teenage lovers.Romeo and Juliet belongs to a...
, occurring as it did while the President called Hrebenciuc a "rose-coloured rat" and mentioned his "profound contempt" for the latter due to his behaviour in politics. He helped create the 2007-2008 alliance between the PSD and 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...
after the latter had left the Băsescu-supported Justice and Truth Alliance, and with the same party unsuccessfully pushed for Băsescu to appoint Klaus Iohannis as Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Romania
The Prime Minister of Romania is the head of the Government of Romania. Initially, the office was styled President of the Council of Ministers , when the term "Government" included more than the Cabinet, and the Cabinet was called The Council of Ministers...
in 2009. He also headed the campaign of Mircea Geoană
Mircea Geoana
Dan Mircea Geoană is a Romanian politician, who served as president of the upper chamber of the Romanian Parliament, the Senate from December 20, 2008 until he was revoked by the senators on November 23, 2011. From 21 April 2005 until 21 February 2010 he was the head of the Partidul Social...
to unseat Băsescu later that year, a race Geoană narrowly lost
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%...
, and led an effort to claim the election had been marred by fraud
Electoral fraud
Electoral fraud is illegal interference with the process of an election. Acts of fraud affect vote counts to bring about an election result, whether by increasing the vote share of the favored candidate, depressing the vote share of the rival candidates or both...
. At one point before the election, he alleged that "everyone" knows Băsescu to be an alcoholic
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
. In turn, Băsescu has criticised Hrebenciuc, labelling him "oligarch", "mafioso" and "string-puller" and contrasting him with himself. During their campaigns, Băsescu and the Democratic Liberal 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...
that backs him have mentioned Hrebenciuc alongside the moguls Sorin Ovidiu Vântu
Sorin Ovidiu Vântu
Sorin Ovidiu Vântu is a Romanian businessman and owner of the Realitatea-Caţavencu media company. In 2008 he was considered the 5th richest man in Romania with an estimated net worth between 800 and 850 million euros....
and Dan Voiculescu
Dan Voiculescu
Dan Voiculescu is a Romanian politician and former business man. He is the Vicepresident of the Romanian Senate and founding president of the Conservative Party in Romania. ....
and the controversial mayor Marian Vanghelie
Marian Vanghelie
Daniel Marian Vanghelie is a Romanian politician of Jewish and Gypsy descent, being the mayor of the 5th Sector of Bucharest since 2000 and a prominent member and vice-president of the ....
. When Iohannis was being promoted as a potential Prime Minister, Băsescu promised he would nominate someone independent of his predecessor Ion Iliescu
Ion Iliescu
Ion Iliescu served as President of Romania from 1990 until 1996, and from 2000 until 2004. From 1996 to 2000 and from 2004 until his retirement in 2008, Iliescu was a Senator for the Social Democratic Party , whose honorary president he remains....
, Hrebenciuc, Voiculescu and Vântu.
He is married and Andrei is the couple's only child.