The Powerful of the Day in Romania

They are 66 people in all, at the top, according to the ranking in "Banii nostri" magazine, which rated the notoriety, wealth, social status, political influence, economic clout, and personal charisma of these people.

The editors of "Banii nostri" setting up the ranking say their special edition titled "The Most Powerful 66 People of Romania" will allow the public for the first time to tally the power exerted not only by very public figures, but also by people who had a very quiet evolution and yet hold key positions in the decision-making process.
"This is a collection of entries that tells the life-stories of the people who influence the development of Romania. Appended to the selection of names is a section of interviews with various personalities on issues like power, analyses on oligarchic power and its manifestations, and on the women behind the powerful of the day," says Catalin Popa, general editor for the magazine.

The "big guns" section is opened by articles on King Michael and President Ion Iliescu. Also at the top are deemed to stay Patriarch Teoctist, followed by PM Adrian Nastase, Ioan Talpes (TR. NOTE: presidential adviser), National Bank Governor Mugur Isarescu, archbishop Ioan Robu, and opposition leaders Theodor Stolojan and Traian Basescu.
Also under this section are mentioned minister (TR. NOTE: for the economy) Dan Ioan Popescu, whose activity makes or breaks our relationships with the European Union, the IMF and the World Bank. Former tennis player Ion Tiriac makes it to both this section and to the one of the "power heavy-weights."

The "power heavy-weights" section lists 25 personalities; they are former and current ministers, businessmen, trade-union leaders, and heads of secret services, journalists and managers of media holdings. Some of the names are: Viorel Hrebenciuc, Sorin Ovidiu Vantu, Miron Mitrea, Dinu Patriciu, Nicolae Vacaroiu, and Liviu Luca, the brothers Micula, Ioan Niculae and Octav Cozmanca.

A "power-winners" section has people from the sports field, capital-market investors, and career officers. Among the up-and-coming are named controversial people like George Bosanceanu, Catalin Chelu, Radu Mazare, Frank Timis, Emil and Marius Cristescu, and Nicu Gheara. This special issue of the magazine was printed in 35,000 copies.

Law Companies

Musat & Associates, a law firm headed by Gheorghe Musat, provided consultancy for most of the privatization deals the authority in charge with the state ownership performed.

Nestor, Nestor, Diculescu, Kingston, Peterson law firm has Ion I. Nestor recognized as the most important Romanian lawyers specialized in commercial law. His company counseled some of the most important privatization deals in the past ten years, like the one of the RomTelecom Phone Company gong to the Greek OTE, and the Romcim Cement Company going to the French group Lafarge.

Popovici & Associates is run by Ernest Virgil Popovici, who has an extensive experience in dealing with legal issues in investments, infrastructure, real-estate, finance and banking, mergers and acquisitions, privatizations, commercial and IT fields. It is the consultant for the retail chain Delhaize and the Dacia-Renault car maker.

Babiuc, Sulica & Associates was built by Victor Babiuc and Dan Sulica, and made a name for itself particularly after advising on legal issues the controversial public figure of Sorin Ovidiu Vantu.

Stefanica, Dutu & Associates was founded by Daniel Stefanica in 1997, and specializes in competition, intellectual property and privatization issues.