Alexandru Athanasiu

Alexandru Athanasiu (Romanian pronunciation: [alekˈsandru atanaˈsi.u]; born January 1, 1955) is a Romanian politician and jurist. A former leader of the Romanian Social Democratic Party (PSDR), he is a member of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) since 2001. Athanasiu served as Prime Minister on an interim basis from December 13 to December 22, 1999, heading the Romanian Democratic Convention (CDR) cabinet after the resignation of Radu Vasile. On January 1, 2007, with the accession of Romania to the European Union, Athanasiu became a Member of the European Parliament for the PSD (inside the Party of European Socialists).

An author of several scientific works, he is the recipient of a PhD in Law, as well as a professor at the University of Bucharest (since 1999). In 1995, his volume Legea Asigurărilor Sociale ("The Law on Social Security") received the Romanian Academy's Simion Bărnuțiu Award.

Biography

Born in Bucharest, Athanasiu studied at the Gheorghe Lazăr High School in Bucharest, and later graduated from the Law School at the Bucharest University. Between 1978 and 1982, he was employed by the Bucharest Court of Appeal.

Having joined the newly created PSDR after the Romanian Revolution of 1989, Athanasiu was first elected to Parliament as a deputy in 1992, being nominated to the Committee for Labor and Social Protection.

A Minister of Labor in the Victor Ciorbea CDR cabinet, he retained the office under Radu Vasile and his own premiership, being replaced by Smaranda Dobrescu during the leadership of Mugur Isărescu. In 1999, he replaced Sergiu Cunescu at the head of the PSDR, leading it into fusion with Adrian Năstase's Party of Social Democracy, PDSR (the fusion led to the creation of the PSD).

In 2000, he was elected to the Romanian Senate on PSDR lists, representing Bihor County (re-elected in 2004 on PSD lists); he stood on the Committee for Foreign Policies. In 2003-2004, Athanasiu also served as Minister of Education in the Adrian Năstase executive (replacing Ecaterina Andronescu).

Athanasiu is married with two children.

References

• (Romanian) Biography at the Romanian Senate
• (Romanian) Biography at the Romanian Chamber of Deputies

External links

• European Parliament profile
• European Parliament official photo

Prime Ministers of Romania United Principalities B. Catargiu Arsache N. Crețulescu Kogălniceanu Bosianu N. Crețulescu I. Ghica L. Catargiu I. Ghica C. Crețulescu Ș. Golescu N. Golescu D. Ghica A. Golescu Epureanu I. Ghica L. Catargiu Florescu Epureanu Ion C. Brătianu D. Brătianu Ion C. Brătianu Kingdom of Romania Ion C. Brătianu Rosetti L. Catargiu Manu Florescu L. Catargiu Sturdza Aurelian Sturdza Cantacuzino Carp Sturdza Cantacuzino Sturdza Ion I. C. Brătianu Carp Maiorescu Ion I. C. Brătianu Averescu Marghiloman Coandă Ion I. C. Brătianu Văitoianu Vaida-Voevod Averescu Ionescu Ion I. C. Brătianu Averescu Știrbey Ion I. C. Brătianu V. Brătianu Maniu Mironescu Maniu Mironescu Iorga Vaida-Voevod Maniu Vaida-Voevod Duca Angelescu Tătărescu Goga Cristea Călinescu Argeșanu Argetoianu Tătărescu Gigurtu Antonescu Sănătescu Rădescu Groza R.P.R.-R.S.R. Groza Gheorghiu-Dej Stoica Maurer Mănescu Verdeț Dăscălescu Romania since 1989 Roman Stolojan Văcăroiu Ciorbea Dejeu Vasile Athanasiu Isărescu Năstase Bejinariu Popescu-Tăriceanu Boc Predoiu Ungureanu Ponta Italics indicate interim officeholders.