Dan Voiculescu

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For the mathematician see Dan Voiculescu (mathematician).

Dan Voiculescu (born September 25, 1946) is a Romanian politician and businessman.

Dan Voiculescu wielding Monica Macovei's Blank Search Warrant

He is the founder and president of the Romanian Humanist Party, now the Conservative Party (PC). He previously owned, but formally turned over to his daughter, the Intact media group, comprising among others the newspapers Jurnalul Naţional and Gazeta Sporturilor and the TV stations Antena 1, Antena 2, Antena 3 and Antena 4.

1 Political Activities
- 1.1 Secret Police Allegations
- 1.2 Criticism
2 References

[edit] Political Activities

Voiculescu's Conservative Party (PC) was part of the ruling coalition led by Prime Minister Călin Popescu-Tăriceanu from December 2004 until the party withdrew in 2006. The PC, then called the PUR, also supported the previous Social Democratic Party (PSD)-led government from 2000-2004, and ran in coalition with the PSD in the 2004 Parliamentary and Presidential elections.

A member of the Romanian Senate, over the past year Voiculescu has been strong in his opposition to President Traian Băsescu, who he states has exceeded constitutional boundaries and abused power. In March, 2007, he established a special commission within the Parliament to investigate Basescu's actions as president, with the possibility of impeaching or censuring Băsescu.^[1] Voiculescu has also strongly opposed Minister of Justice Monica Macovei.

[edit] Secret Police Allegations

Voiculescu admitted having been a collaborator with the Securitate, Romania's communist-era internal intelligence service, after information to this effect was released publicly by Romania's National Council for the Study of the Securitate Archives. He acted as an informer for the Securitate by the names of "Felix" and "Mircea". He later claimed that he only collaborated "two or three times" for economic espionage.^[2] He was initially named to be a Vice Premier in the Popescu-Tăriceanu government but was ultimately not allowed to take the position because of his involvement with the much-feared intelligence service that was relied upon heavily by the former Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceauşescu^[3]^[4].

Voiculescu denies, however, having been an actual official within the Securitate and is appealing the CNSAS' ruling to that effect. He has said he will resign from the Senate if the verdict is not overturned on appeal. He blamed the inital finding against him on Basescu, whom he said has launched a campaign to undermine him.^[5]

[edit] Criticism

Leading British scholar on Romania, Tom Gallagher, of Bradford University stated in January 2005, shortly after the PC entered the government, that Voiculescu "is a potentially major problem if the government decides to introduce legislation that will challenge vested interests which have profited through the questionable sale of state assets."^[6]

When Voiculescu stated that he had cooperated with the Securitate as "all Romanians did" during the communist period, journalist Cristian Tudor Popescu replied "Mr. Voiculescu knows very well there were millions of Romanians who didn't have anything to do with the Securitate and others who simply refused to work for it."^[7]

In March 2007, European Commissioner for Justice Franttini asked "Who is Voiculescu?," in response to a reporter's question as to whether he had read a letter from Voiculescu recommending Romania adopt a system of assets declarations for MPs and senior officials similar to that of Italy's. Voiculescu opposed a draft law proposed by Macovei and supported by the European Commission to set up a special agency for checking assets declarations for MPs and other senior officials.^[8]

President Băsescu has accused Voiculescu of being a "media mogul" who uses media trusts to fight political battles. He further accused Voiculescu of trying to control, through the media, the politics of the country.^[9]