1. WHICH PERSON YOU HAVE WORKED WITH HAS MOST INSPIRED YOU IN YOUR CAREER, AND HOW?
Over the last few years, I’ve had the chance to meet truly inspirational people during the different civic events I got involved in. Romania has some amazing activists in various areas - from environmental to social causes. If I had to choose, it would probably be Carmen Uscatu and Oana Gheorghiu, two women who managed the impossible: entirely based on private donations, they’ve built the only new hospital in Romania for the last 30 years. A modern hospital for children with cancer to get the treatment and care they need and deserve. These two ladies are such a great inspiration to me and many other Romanians!
2. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR POLITICAL/LEADERSHIP STYLE IN THREE WORDS?
Straightforward, persistent, creative.
3. WHAT IS THE SMALLEST CHANGE YOU HAVE MADE IN YOUR CAREER THAT HAS HAD THE BIGGEST POSITIVE IMPACT?
Filing a complaint after participating in the 10th of August protest against corruption (Bucharest, 2018) and sharing the template. Romanian authorities at that time used unjustified force against peaceful protesters, about 1000 complaints were filed in the aftermath. I was probably one of the first, so over the following days I’ve advised many other people on how to document their experiences so that we can build a strong case against those who abused their temporary political power. It was a clear transgression of human rights and I am confident justice will prevail in the end.
"Most people who know my civic and political activity are not aware that I also have a long “career” in fostering stray cats. Together with my wife, we have helped lots of furry friends find families. It has brought us so much joy"
4. IS THERE ANYTHING YOU HAVE PERSONALLY ACHIEVED OR DONE THAT WOULD SURPRISE PEOPLE?
Most people who know my civic and political activity are not aware that I also have a long “career” in fostering stray cats. Together with my wife, we have helped lots of furry friends find families. It has brought us so much joy. Now we share our lives with two black cats - my son and daughter’s best friends and most dependable babysitters. Adopt, don’t shop!
5. WHAT WAS THE MOST INSPIRATIONAL AND INFLUENTIAL BOOK YOU HAVE READ AND WHY?
Barack Obama’s A Promised Land would be the most recent - not read, but listened to. I don’t have so much time lately (Plenaries, BUDG, TRAN, PETI Commissions etc.), so audiobooks come in handy. But especially for this book, I fully recommend the audio version. It’s quite an experience. It was a strong lesson on things like not losing sight of what’s truly important, not losing your humanity when in contact with great power, never forgetting where you came from and what you came there to do.