The 20 Ministerial Nominations

• Minister of Transport & Infrastructure: Radu Berceanu (PD-L)

Radu Berceanu is returning to the Ministry of Transport after having had this seat in the Tariceanu Government between 2006 and 2007. Radu Berceanu has quite a substantial political career, dating back to 1989-1990. He started as President of the Dolj County Organization of FSN and has retained this position as the name of the party changed to PD (FSN), PD and PD-L ever since it was established in February 1990. Berceanu was also the Secretary of FSN between March 1991 and November 1991, when he was appointed Vice President for Organization of PD (FSN). He remained in his position until August 1996. Later on, Berceanu became First Vice President of PD (FSN) and then Vice President for Organization within PD between 1996 and 2000.

• Minister of Public Finance: Gheorghe Pogea (PD-L)

Gheorghe Pogea has been a member of PD since 2000. In 2001, he was elected President of the Hunedoara County Organization of the party. In 2004, he was elected a County Council Alderman, representing PD and then he became the Chairman of the Commission for Study and Prognosis in Economy, Budget, Finance and Agriculture of the Hunedoara County Council. Between 22 August 2005 and 12 June 2006, Gheorghe Pogea was Minister of State for Economic Coordination (the equivalent of a Vice Prime Minister) in the Tariceanu Government. Shortly thereafter, PD recalled him from the Cabinet on 12 June 2006.

• Minister of Defence: Mihai Stanisoara (PD-L)

Mihai Stanisoara is a member of PD and was the Vice Chairman of the party"s Mehedinti County Bureau between 1997 and 2000, when he was promoted to Chairman of the same Bureau. In 2001, he was elected Executive Secretary of PD"s National Bureau. In 2003, he was appointed as an Alternate Member of the National Steering Council of the DA Alliance of PNL and PD.

• Minister of Communications and Information Society: Gabriel Sandu (PD-L)

The nominee for Minister of Communications, Gabriel Sandu, has quite an interesting political path behind him. He was President of the Prahova County Organization of the Rightist Forces Union (UFD) in 1999. He was then elected Vice President of UFD (2000-2001) and then Secretary General of UFD (2001-2003). In 2003, he became an Alternate Member of the Executive Bureau of PNL and remained so until he left the party, in December 2006. He was an independent between December 2006 and February 2008, when he joined PD-L.

• Minister of Tourism: Elena Udrea (PD-L)

"The Cotroceni Palace Blonde," as fellow politicians refer to her, Elena Udrea is PD-L"s nominee for Minister of Tourism. Born in Buzau, the former advisor to President Traian Basescu went into politics in 2002 as a member of PNL. Later on, the resigned from PNL and joined PD-L.

• Minister of Youth and Sports: Monica Iacob Ridzi (PD-L)

Monica Iacob Ridzi has been a member of PD since 1997. She was a Secretary of the Petrosani Bureau of the Youth Organization of PD between 1998 and 1999, when she was elected Vice President of the Hunedoara County Bureau of the Youth Organization of PD (1999-2001) and Vice President of the Petrosani Bureau of the Youth Organization of PD (1999-2001). She then became a Parliamentary Advisor (2000-2004), President of the Hunedoara County Bureau of the Youth Organization of PD (2001-2006) and Vice President of the National Bureau of the Youth Organization of PD - the Department for International Relations (2001-2006). She was also a Hunedoara County Alderman between June and December 2004 and the Vice President of the Hunedoara County Bureau of PD (since 2005). She was a Member of Parliament between December 2004 and November 2007. Since February 2008, she is the President of the PD Youth Organization.

• Minister of Culture: Theodor Paleologu (PD-L)

A professional diplomat, Theodor Paleologu was Romania"s Ambassador to Denmark and Iceland between 2005 and 2008, when he quit that office in order to run for Parliament on behalf of PD-L in Constituency 9 - Bucharest.

• Minister of Regional Development and Housing: Vasile Blaga (PD-L)

A mechanical engineer, Vasile Blaga was Minister of Administration and Interior in the Tariceanu Government (29 December 2004 - 5 April 2007). Until 1991, he was Chairman of the Council of the National Salvation Front (CFSN) in Stei, Bihor County, and Vice Chairman of CFSN Bihor. In 1991, he became President of the Bihor County Organization of FSN.

In 1990, he was elected an MP of Bihor County on behalf of FSN and, within Parliament, he was a Member of the Committee for Defence and Public Order. He resigned from this office on 14 February 1992. A founding member of PD (1991), he was President of the Bihor County Organization of the party between 1991 and 1997. In October 1996, he was elected a Senator of Bihor County. He was also the Secretary General of PD between 1997 and 2001. He worked as a Parliamentary Expert between 2000 and 2004. In 2001, he was elected Vice President for Organization within PD and President of the Bucharest Organization of PD.

In December 2004, President Traian Basescu appointed him as Presidential Advisor for Defence and National Security and head of the National Security Department of the Presidency. He was a Senator of Bucharest on behalf of PD between 2004-2008. In February 2007, he became a Member of the Commission for Defence, Public Order and National Security.

In December 2004, Vasile Blaga became the Minister of Administration and Interior in the Tariceanu Government, upon his resignation from his office with the Presidency. Also in 2004, he became a member of the National Steering Council of the DA Alliance (PNL-PD). A year later, he became the Secretary General of PD. Vasile Blaga"s term as Minister ended on 5 April 2007, when PD decided to leave the Tariceanu Government.

• Minister of Economy: Adriean Videanu (PD-L)

A motor vehicle engineer, Adriean Videanu was a MP of Teleorman County on behalf of PD between 1990 and 1992, when he became the President of the PD Youth Organization. Between 1996 and 2000, he was the Secretary of the Executive Bureau of PD. It was also in 2000 that he became the Vice Chairman of the Budget, Finance, Banking Committee of the Chamber of Deputies. A year later, he became PD"s Vice President for Image, Media Relations and Communication. In 2003, he resigned from his offices as Teleorman County MP and Vice Chairman of the Budget, Finance, Banking Committee of the Chamber of Deputies. In 2003, he became PD"s Spokesman.

• Minister of Education, Research and Innovation: Ecaterina Andronescu (PSD)

Ecaterina Andronescu went into politics in 1996, when she joined PSD. Two years later, she was concurrently a Member of the National Council of PSD, a Member of the Central Executive Bureau of PSD and Vice President of the Bucharest Organization of PSD. Among others, she also was a Secretary of State within the Ministry of Education and Research (1995-1996) and Minister of Education and Research between 2000 and 2003.

• Minister of Health: Ionut Bazac (PSD)

Ionut Bazac was the Director of a World Bank Project Management Unit and the first to negotiate an agreement with the World Bank on behalf of Romania. The nominee for Minister of Health was a Secretary of State for European Integration in the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Waters and Environment between December 2000 and March 2002, when he was appointed Secretary of State for European Integration and Foreign Relations (until 2003). Between August and December 2004, he was a Secretary of State for European Integration within the Ministry of Health.

• Minister of Administration and Interior: Gabriel Oprea (PSD)

Gabriel Oprea became the President of the Ilfov County Organization of PSD in 2004. Between 2004 and 2005, he was a Member of the National Coordination Bureau of PSD. Since 2006, he has been presiding the Department for Defence, Public Order and National Security.

• Minister for SME, Commerce and the Business Environment: Constantin Nita (PSD)

Constantin Nita was Vice President of the Brasov City Organization of PDSR between 1994 and 1997. Between 1997 and 2004, he was the President of PSD"s Brasov County Organization and a Member of the National Council of PSD. Between 1998 and 2004, Nita was a Member of the Executive Bureau of PSD. Between 2000 and 2003, he was an MP and the Secretary of the party"s Bureau. Between 2003 and 2004, he was Vice President of the party.

• Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: Ilie Sarbu (PSD)

An economist and a theologian, Ilie Sarbu was Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development between 2001 and 2004. Between 2000 and 2001, he was President of the Timis County Council. In 1993, he joined PSD in Timis County and, in 1998, he became Vice President of the Timis County Organization. In 2001, he became a member of the Central Executive Bureau of PSD and, in 2004, of the Central Coordination Bureau. In 2004, he became President of PSD - Timis and, in 2005, Vice President of PSD.

• Minister of Foreign Affairs: Cristian Diaconescu (PSD)

Cristian Diaconescu"s political career started in 2002, when he joined PSD. In 2004, he was elected Senator and Chairman of the Defence, Public Order and National Safety Committee. In 2005, he was elected Vice President of PSD.

• Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development: Nicolae Nemirschi (PSD)

Nemirschi was the Vice Mayor of Constanta between 2004 and 2008. He was re-elected in June 2008. Also starting this year, he is the Vice Chairman of the National Committee for Coastal Areas and an Alderman of Constanta City. Since 2007, he is the President of the Constanta Metropolitan Area, an inter-community development association.

• Minister of Labour, Family and Social Security: Marian Sarbu (PSD)

A graduate of the Faculty of Law, Marian Sarbu became a Secretary of State within the Ministry of Labour and Social Security in 1994. He retained this office until 1996, when he became an MP. Between 1996 and 2000, he was the Vice Chairman of the Committee for Labor and Social Security of the Chamber of Deputies. Between 2003 and 2004 he was a Minister Delegate for Liaison with Social Partners between 2003 and 2004. In terms of political affiliation, Marian Sarbu was a Member of the Executive Bureau of PSD between 1994 and 1996. Between 1996 and 2000, he was the Head of the Social Policies Department of PDSR.

Between 2000 and 2001, Sarbu was a Member of the Executive Bureau of PDSR and then he became a Member of the Executive Bureau of PSD, until 2004, when he became a Member of the Coordination Bureau of PSD.

• Minister for Liaison with Parliament: Victor Ponta

Victor Ponta graduated from the Faculty of Law and became a prosecutor. Between 2001 and 2004, he was a Secretary of State and Head of the Government"s Control Corps. In 2004, he became a Minister Delegate for controlling the implementation of internationally financed programmes and the Community acquis. Politically speaking, he became the President of the Social Democrat Youth in 2002. A year later, he became Vice President of PSD.

• Vice Prime Minister: Dan Nica (PSD)

The National Executive Committee of PSD nominated Dan Nica for Vice Prime Minister of the Emil Boc Government.

Since 2006, Nica has been a Vice President of PSD and the Coordinator of the Transport and Communications Department. On 21 April 2005, he was elected Vice President of PSD and President of the Transport and Communications Department. He was also a Member of the Central Executive Bureau of PSD (1999-2004), President of PSD"s Galati City Organization (1997-2003) and First Vice President of the Galati County Organization of PSD. Later he became the President of this organization and has maintained the office until now. Between 2004 and 2005, he was a Member of the Coordination Bureau of PSD.

After having split the 18 ministries fifty-fifty, the PSD+PC Alliance and PD-L announced their nominations for ministers, yesterday. Emil Boc"s Cabinet will consist of "heavyweight" members of the two parties, such as Vasile Blaga, Adriean Videanu, Radu Berceanu and, respectively, Cristian Diaconescu, Ilie Sarbu and Marian Sarbu. The list also includes a few "surprises," such as young politicians insistently backed by President Traian Basescu. Among them are the former "Cotroceni Palace blonde" Elena Udrea and Monica Iacob Ridzi. On PSD"s side, the "young generation" includes Victor Ponta, who has been nominated for Minister for the Liaison with Parliament. Interesting news concerns the "rich ministries," as Videanu has been nominated for Minister of Economy, while the prospective Minister of Finance is Gheorghe Pogea, the former CEO of Marmosim SA - Simeria, controlled by Adriean Videanu. No nomination has been made for Justice Minister yet. According to the agreement in place, the nominee will be politically independent. Read on for a short political background of each ministerial nominee.