Vlach
11-09-2014, 05:30 PM
After the Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen family became the monarchs of Romania in 1866, we can have again a german ruler.
Klaus Werner Iohannis (Romanian pronunciation: [ˈkla.us joˈhanis], English: /klaʊs joʊˈhɑːnɪs/ ( listen) KLAUS-yoh-HAH-nis; also spelled Johannis) is a Romanian politician. Since 2000 he has served as mayor of the Romanian city of Sibiu, representing the small centrist Democratic Forum of Germans in Romania. He has been re-elected by landslide votes in 2004 and 2008. Iohannis is widely credited with turning his city into one of Romania's most popular tourist destinations, and the city was declared as European Capital of Culture in 2007. In February 2013, Iohannis became a member of the PNL, accepting the invitation from Liberal leader Crin Antonescu, and was immediately elected as the party's First Vice President.
In October 2009, four of the five political groups in the Parliament (except the Democrat Liberal Party (PDL)) proposed him as candidate for the office of Prime Minister of Romania; however, President Traian Băsescu refused to nominate him. Băsescu instead designated the independent Lucian Croitoru. The opposition, which has a majority in the Parliament, continued to support Iohannis as Prime Minister, and on October 21, the Parliament adopted a declaration asking for Croitoru's withdrawal and vowing support for Iohannis.[1] Croitoru subsequently lost the confirmation in the parliament, and Băsescu then designated Liviu Negoiță (PDL), who failed to receive a parliamentary vote.[2] After the first round of 2009 Romanian Presidential elections, the National Liberal Party and the Social Democratic Party signed a political agreement, which in particular mentioned continued support for Iohannis as their candidate for Prime Minister if Social Democrat Mircea Geoana wins the second round. This was also supported by the political group of national minorities in Romanias Parliament.[3]
Iohannis is a Transylvanian Saxon by ethnicity, and as such a member of the oldest of the groups among Romania's German minority, which settled in Transylvania in the 12th century. He is a physics teacher by professional background
Mayor of Sibiu
In 2000, the Democratic Forum of Germans in Romania (FDGR) in Sibiu decided to run him as a candidate for mayor. Despite the fact that Sibiu's German minority had shrunken to a mere 1.6%, Iohannis was elected with 69.18% of the votes and has won two re-elections in a row, obtaining some of the largest electoral scores in the country: 88.7% of the vote in 2004, and 87.4% in 2008 re-elections. He is the first ethnic German mayor of a Romanian city since Albert Dörr, who served from 1940 to 1945. The small German minority is popular in Romania, where they are often viewed as hard-working, precise and uncompromising. Many Romanians also remember that the country experienced some of its best moments under German kings over a century ago.[6]
Throughout his tenure as mayor, he has managed to jump start the restoration of the town's infrastructure, the restoration of its historic center, and a tightening of the city administration. Iohannis is also widely credited with turning the city into one of Romania's most popular tourist destinations thanks to the extensive renovation of the old downtown.[9] During his first term, Iohannis worked with a city council that had a social democrat majority.[citation needed] Since 2004, during his second and third terms, his own party, FDGR, has the majority. Since 2008, FDGR has 14 out of 23 councilors, PDL has 4, PSD has 3, and PNL has 2.[10]
Iohannis established contacts with foreign officials and investors. Sibiu was declared European Capital of Culture of 2007, together with Luxembourg (the bearer of the distinction in 1995). Luxembourg chose to share this honourable status with Sibiu due to the fact that many of the Transylvanian Saxons emigrated in the 12th century to Transylvania from the area where Luxembourg is today.[11] Sibiu, or Hermannstadt in German, was built by the Transylvanian Saxons, was for many centuries the cultural centre of that group, and was a predominantly German-speaking city until the mid 20th century. Many Germans have left the city after World War II, and especially in 1990, within months of the fall of the Iron Curtain.
On November 4, 2005, Iohannis was nominated as the "Personality of the Year for a European Romania" (Personalitatea anului pentru o Românie europeană) by the Eurolink House of Europe organization.
Candidacy for President of Romania
Iohannis stated in 2009 that it is possible he may in the future run for the office of President of Romania, although not in 2009.[23] Former Prime Minister Călin Popescu-Tăriceanu said on October 27, 2009 and again on April 23, 2010 that he would like to see Iohannis become President of Romania.[24]
In 2014, he was registered as an official presidential candidate for the November general elections.
Klaus Werner Iohannis (Romanian pronunciation: [ˈkla.us joˈhanis], English: /klaʊs joʊˈhɑːnɪs/ ( listen) KLAUS-yoh-HAH-nis; also spelled Johannis) is a Romanian politician. Since 2000 he has served as mayor of the Romanian city of Sibiu, representing the small centrist Democratic Forum of Germans in Romania. He has been re-elected by landslide votes in 2004 and 2008. Iohannis is widely credited with turning his city into one of Romania's most popular tourist destinations, and the city was declared as European Capital of Culture in 2007. In February 2013, Iohannis became a member of the PNL, accepting the invitation from Liberal leader Crin Antonescu, and was immediately elected as the party's First Vice President.
In October 2009, four of the five political groups in the Parliament (except the Democrat Liberal Party (PDL)) proposed him as candidate for the office of Prime Minister of Romania; however, President Traian Băsescu refused to nominate him. Băsescu instead designated the independent Lucian Croitoru. The opposition, which has a majority in the Parliament, continued to support Iohannis as Prime Minister, and on October 21, the Parliament adopted a declaration asking for Croitoru's withdrawal and vowing support for Iohannis.[1] Croitoru subsequently lost the confirmation in the parliament, and Băsescu then designated Liviu Negoiță (PDL), who failed to receive a parliamentary vote.[2] After the first round of 2009 Romanian Presidential elections, the National Liberal Party and the Social Democratic Party signed a political agreement, which in particular mentioned continued support for Iohannis as their candidate for Prime Minister if Social Democrat Mircea Geoana wins the second round. This was also supported by the political group of national minorities in Romanias Parliament.[3]
Iohannis is a Transylvanian Saxon by ethnicity, and as such a member of the oldest of the groups among Romania's German minority, which settled in Transylvania in the 12th century. He is a physics teacher by professional background
Mayor of Sibiu
In 2000, the Democratic Forum of Germans in Romania (FDGR) in Sibiu decided to run him as a candidate for mayor. Despite the fact that Sibiu's German minority had shrunken to a mere 1.6%, Iohannis was elected with 69.18% of the votes and has won two re-elections in a row, obtaining some of the largest electoral scores in the country: 88.7% of the vote in 2004, and 87.4% in 2008 re-elections. He is the first ethnic German mayor of a Romanian city since Albert Dörr, who served from 1940 to 1945. The small German minority is popular in Romania, where they are often viewed as hard-working, precise and uncompromising. Many Romanians also remember that the country experienced some of its best moments under German kings over a century ago.[6]
Throughout his tenure as mayor, he has managed to jump start the restoration of the town's infrastructure, the restoration of its historic center, and a tightening of the city administration. Iohannis is also widely credited with turning the city into one of Romania's most popular tourist destinations thanks to the extensive renovation of the old downtown.[9] During his first term, Iohannis worked with a city council that had a social democrat majority.[citation needed] Since 2004, during his second and third terms, his own party, FDGR, has the majority. Since 2008, FDGR has 14 out of 23 councilors, PDL has 4, PSD has 3, and PNL has 2.[10]
Iohannis established contacts with foreign officials and investors. Sibiu was declared European Capital of Culture of 2007, together with Luxembourg (the bearer of the distinction in 1995). Luxembourg chose to share this honourable status with Sibiu due to the fact that many of the Transylvanian Saxons emigrated in the 12th century to Transylvania from the area where Luxembourg is today.[11] Sibiu, or Hermannstadt in German, was built by the Transylvanian Saxons, was for many centuries the cultural centre of that group, and was a predominantly German-speaking city until the mid 20th century. Many Germans have left the city after World War II, and especially in 1990, within months of the fall of the Iron Curtain.
On November 4, 2005, Iohannis was nominated as the "Personality of the Year for a European Romania" (Personalitatea anului pentru o Românie europeană) by the Eurolink House of Europe organization.
Candidacy for President of Romania
Iohannis stated in 2009 that it is possible he may in the future run for the office of President of Romania, although not in 2009.[23] Former Prime Minister Călin Popescu-Tăriceanu said on October 27, 2009 and again on April 23, 2010 that he would like to see Iohannis become President of Romania.[24]
In 2014, he was registered as an official presidential candidate for the November general elections.