Romanian Senate gets its first female president after historic vote

Anca Dragu (pictured) has become the first woman to ever hold the office of Romanian Senate Speaker. Romanian Constitution stipulates that the Senate leader is first in line to succeed to the presidential powers and duties in case the Romanian head of state would become incapacitated, impeached or would resign, writes Cristian Gherasim.

Supported by the center right collation, the first woman to ever lead the Romania Senate marks a historic moment in the south-eastern European country.

Anca Dragu received 75 votes favoring her for the top Senate job, enough to get ahead of her social-democrat contender who was supported by 51 senators, while 75 voted against.

“We are witnessing a unique moment in the history of Romania, the first time the Senate elects a woman president. This is a thought that both honors and makes me responsible. I hope this moment will motivate and encourage many women to enter politics and get involved”, Anca Dragu said in her inaugural address.

To put things into perspective, in the current Romanian government there is only one woman entrusted with a ministerial portfolio, thus making the current female Senate leadership all the more significant.

An economist and Minister of Public Finance, Anca Dragu told EU Reporter that her focus in this mandate will be to digitalize Senate activity and simplify bureaucratic procedures.

Yet to be tested, the new speaker is a relative political newcomer but said she has ambitious plans including a joint parliamentary commission to implement the 2009 referendum. That was when Romanians voted for a unicameral parliament with up to 300 lawmakers, fewer than the almost 500 lawmakers present today.

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