US embassy cable - 05BUCHAREST837

UNCLAS BUCHAREST 000837 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/NCE - WILLIAM SILKWORTH 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, KDEM, SOCI, ECON, RO, election results, biographic information 
SUBJECT: FORMER VICE-PREMIER ADRIEAN VIDEANU ELECTED MAYOR 
OF BUCHAREST 
 
Ref: Bucharest 814 
 
1.  (SBU) Summary.  Liberal-Democratic (PNL-PD) Alliance 
candidate Adriean Videanu won the Bucharest mayoral election 
on April 3.  Given that he received more than half the vote, 
there will not be an electoral run-off.  Videanu is a 
successful pro-American businessman with the ear of 
President Basescu.  End Summary. 
 
2.  (SBU) Romania's Central Electoral Bureau April 4 
announced that Liberal-Democratic (PNL-PD) Alliance 
candidate Adriean Videanu won Bucharest mayoral elections 
held April 3.  According to official results, Videanu won 53 
percent of the votes, defeating his main challenger, Marian 
Vanghelie, from the Social Democratic Party (PSD). 
Vanghelie garnered only 29.5 percent of the votes. 
 
3.  (SBU) The elections were characterized by only 24.8 
percent voter turnout, the lowest ever for the Bucharest 
mayoralty.  Analysts said the general belief that Videanu 
would win and voter fatigue after national elections in 
December contributed to widespread apathy.  Videaunu will 
fill immediately the mayoral position, which was vacated by 
Traian Basescu in December when the latter won the Romanian 
presidency. 
 
4. (SBU) Videanu is a longstanding Member of Parliament for 
the Democratic Party (PD) and a confidante of President 
Basescu.  He moved into the national spotlight last summer, 
when he was rumored as a possible prime ministerial pick in 
the event of victory by then PNL-PD presidential candidate 
Theodor Stolojan.  Basescu ultimately selected National 
Liberal Party (PNL) chief Calin Popescu-Tariceanu for the PM 
position, but Videanu was named to one of the top Vice 
Premier slots and given charge of economic issues and 
negotiations with the IMF.   Basescu reportedly then picked 
Videanu as the Alliance candidate for Bucharest mayor. 
Videanu resigned his ministerial responsibilities just 
before the campaign.  Videanu has no experience in local 
politics, but he has won a reputation as a successful 
businessman.  The media often refer to him as "the marble 
king" -- he owns one of the largest marble companies in the 
country. 
 
5. (SBU) In his initial remarks after the announcement of 
his mayoral win, Videanu showed little surprise, as he and 
his supporters widely expected to win.  He declared 
improving Bucharest infrastructure one of his top priorities 
as a mayor. He also pledged to build major sports and 
financial complexes and expand a "green zone" to reduce dust 
and pollution in the city. 
 
6. (SBU) Comment. Post knows Videanu well and has worked 
closely with him in the Parliament and in Government.  He is 
enthusiastically pro-American and pro-free market.  His two 
children attend the American International School in 
Bucharest, and he credits the small business loans he 
received through USAID programs several years ago for his 
current status as one of Romania's post-communist success 
stories.  While lacking the dynamic and highly personal 
style of Basescu, he nonetheless will bring a high level of 
competence and commitment to City Hall.  His direct access 
to Basescu and PM Tariceanu will also help him greatly in 
bringing resources to and gaining attention for the city. 
With a PNL-PD majority in the City Council - as well as 
Alliance control of in five of the six Bucharest sector 
mayoralties - he should be in a strong political position to 
carry out his mandate to increase economic activity and 
improve the quality of life in the capital. 
 
7. (U) Amembassy Bucharest's reporting telegrams are 
available on the Bucharest SIPRNET Website: 
www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/bucharest.  DELARE