Alina Gorghiu becomes first woman to lead a large Romanian political party

Liberal deputy Alina Gorghiu, 36, was elected acting president of the old National Liberal Party (PNL), following an internal meeting of the party’s leaders on December 18. She will replace Klaus Iohannis, who resigned as president of PNL to take over his presidential mandate. Alina Gorghiu will also be the co-president of the new National Liberal Party, which was formed after the presidential elections, following the merger of PNL and PDL (the Democratic Liberal Party). The other co-president of PNL is Vasile Blaga, the former PDL president. Alina Gorghiu was elected as president of PNL with 48 votes. Her opponent was Ludovic Orban, former transport minister from April 2007 until December 2008, in Calin Popescu Tariceanu’s cabinet. Orban only got 28 votes. Alina Gorghiu was supported by President-elect Klaus Iohannis, while Orban was supported by former PNL leader Crin Antonescu, according to Romanian media. Gorghiu has been a member of the PNL since 2002. She has been a member of the Chamber of Deputies in Romania’s Parliament since 2008, currently serving her second mandate. She has been PNL’s spokesperson since July 2014, and one of the key people who ran Klaus Iohannis’ presidential campaign. She is a law graduate and also has a doctorate in law. She worked as a lawyer specialised in insolvencies and as a mediator. editor@romania-insider.com