Our favourite Romanian politician, the incomparable Elena Udrea (Minister of Tourism and Regional Development), has often been accused – not least by some who write and comment on these pages – of not being up to the job.
This week, however, Udrea knocked such accusations for six with a devastating display of political acumen, nous and guile that left many political commentators speechless in admiration.
(At least we think it was admiration).
Writing on her blog shortly after returning from a visit to the Hungarian capital Budapest, Udrea identified a number of differences between Budapest and Bucharest, as well as highlighting many of the problems Bucharest faces when trying to attract visitors.
‘Budapest,’ Udrea wrote, ‘has lots of nice old buildings and is full of tourists.’
Who knew!
‘Bucharest,’ she also wrote, ‘is blighted by stray dogs and its streets are not very clean.’
Well I never! Make the woman president now. Few in Romania have the depth of reasoning to reach such revolutionary conclusions.
In fact, it would appear that Udrea’s ambitions currently fall someway short of the Romanian presidency. (For the time being at least).
Recently made the leader of her party (the ruling PD-L) in Bucharest, Udrea’s renewed interest in the capital points to a desire – as yet unannounced – to become the next mayor of the capital.
The incumbent Sorin Oprescu – an independent – is deeply unpopular and should he decide to run for a second term in 2012 – when elections are due – it is highly unlikely he would even make the second round.
The route from Bucharest’s mayoralty to the Romanian presidency is a well worn one: current Romanian President Traian Basescu took it in 2004.
We therefore predict Udrea running for mayor (and winning) in 2012 before using the capital as a power base for an assault on the presidency in 2014.
You read it here first.
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
I enjoyed this article but knew little of Elena so i Googled her. Now how did i know she was going to look like that !!!
blond you mean
Doesn’t matter what she looks like if she does a good job.
The problem is that – in our opinion – she doesn’t.
God forbid! I must start looking for immigration options if this turns out to be true! (the presidency options I mean…)
she said no she isnt today http://www.mediafax.ro/english/romanian-tourism-min-says-isn-t-considering-running-for-bucharest-mayor-6781120?utm_source=stiriRomania+Headquarters&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=stiriRomania
http://nicolae-ceausescu.yolasite.com/
Check out this footage
Weird pics!
Hey Parmalat, check out the mici topic a few pages back and let me know…
For a city to have lots of tourists it must be a welcoming one. We got thrown out of Obor market this morning for trying to take innocent souvenir pictures of vegetables in a place that looked as if Communism never fell. When people are paranoid about tourists photographing produce at a market, there is a real problem.
Having said this it does make for great street photography. So much so, that I am teaching a photo workshop this weekend with my partner:
http://www.f64.ro/news/Bucuresti-EXPLOREAZA_TI_VIZIUNEA.html
=))