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{{Short description|Prime Minister of Romania between 2012 and 2015}}{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}}

factoids

Sorin Cîmpeanu {{small>(Acting)}}| president1 = Klaus Iohannis| deputy1 = Gabriel Oprea| term_start1 = 9 July 2015| term_end1 = 29 July 2015Gabriel Oprea {{small>(Acting)}}Gabriel Oprea {{small>(Acting)}}Traian BăsescuCrin Antonescu {{small>(Acting)}}Traian BăsescuKlaus Iohannis| deputy2 = Gabriel Oprea| term_start2 = 7 May 2012| term_end2 = 22 June 2015| predecessor2 = Mihai Răzvan UngureanuGabriel Oprea {{small>(Acting)}}Chamber of Deputies (Romania)>Chamber of Deputies| term_start3 = 17 December 2004| term_end3 = 20 December 2020Ministry of Relations with the Parliament (Romania)>Minister of Parliamentary Relations| primeminister4 = Emil Boc| term_start4 = 22 December 2008| term_end4 = 1 October 2009| predecessor4 = Mihai VoicuSorina-Luminița Plăcintă {{small>(Acting)}}| office5 = President of PRO Romania| term_start5 = 3 September 2017| term_end5 = Social Democratic Party (Romania)>Social Democratic Party| term_start6 = 21 February 2010| term_end6 = 12 July 2015×| predecessor6 = Mircea GeoanăRovana Plumb {{small>(Acting)}}Social Democratic Youth (Romania)>Social Democratic Youth| term_start7 = November 2002| term_end7 = November 2006| birth_name = Victor-Viorel Ponta{{birth date and age9df=y}}}}Bucharest, Socialist Republic of Romania>Romania| death_date = | death_place = PRO Romania {{small>(2017–present)}} European Democratic Party {{small|(2019–present)}}Social Democratic Party (Romania)>Social Democratic Party {{smallSocial Liberal Union {{small>(2011–2014)}}(Before 2006)}}Daciana Sârbu {{small|(2006–present)}}| children = 3University of BucharestCarol I National Defence University>National Defence University| signature = Signature of Victor Ponta.svgPonta was on leave between 24 June and 9 July 2015, during which time Rovana Plumb served as acting leader.}}| nationality = RomanianRomaniaSerbia{{in lang>ro}} Cătălin Prejbeanu, "Victor Ponta explică cum a obținut cetățenia sârbă" ("Victor Ponta Explains how He Obtained Serbian Citizenship"), Gândul, 21 February 2021; retrieved 8 November 2021weblink}}| caption = Ponta in 2014}}Victor Viorel Ponta ({{IPA-ro|ˈviktor ˈponta}}; born 20 September 1972) is a Romanian jurist and politician, who served as Prime Minister of Romania between his appointment by President Traian Băsescu in May 2012 and his resignation in November 2015. A former member of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) and its leader from 2010 to 2015, he was also joint leader (2012–2014) of the then-governing Social Liberal Union (USL), an alliance with the National Liberal Party (PNL). Ponta was a member of the Romanian Chamber of Deputies for Gorj County from 2004 to 2020. In the Emil Boc cabinet, he was Minister-Delegate for Relations with Parliament from 2008 to 2009.Ponta began his time as head of government with a victory for his alliance in local elections, as well as criticism from civil society after several prominent Băsescu-associated figures in government-funded culture and history institutes were removed or resigned from their posts. Eventually, a political crisis broke out with the replacement of the heads of each legislative chamber and an attempt to dismiss Băsescu – an effort that ultimately failed when the subsequent impeachment referendum was invalidated by the Constitutional Court due to low turnout. Meanwhile, Ponta was the subject of controversy due to allegations of plagiarism in his doctoral thesis. Seven months after gaining office, Ponta helped lead the USL to a decisive victory in parliamentary elections, prompting his appointment to a full four-year term as premier. A little over a year later, the USL fell apart and Ponta formed a new cabinet with the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR) as coalition partners.A finalist in the November 2014 presidential election, Ponta lost to PNL candidate Klaus Iohannis. The following month, the UDMR quit government, prompting Ponta to form a fourth cabinet, with the Conservative Party (PC) and the Liberal Reformist Party (PLR) as junior partners. The cabinet was in office for slightly less than a year, resigning in the wake of the Colectiv nightclub fire.

Life and career

Beginnings, election to parliament and ministerial post

According to Ponta, his family, originally called Ponte, originated in Trieste, now in Italy, and reached Transylvania around the turn of the 20th century in order to help build a road from Pecica to Nădlac commissioned by the Austro-Hungarian authorities.{{in lang|ro}} Alina Boghiceanu, "Portretul lui Victor Ponta, candidatul PSD la alegerile prezidenţiale" ("Portrait of Victor Ponta, PSD Presidential Election Candidate"), Adevărul, 25 September 2014; retrieved 14 November 2014 He has also claimed ancestry from the village of Moscopole located in Albania,{{in lang|ro}} Mircea Marian, "Aflat la Tirana, Ponta a spus că familia bunicului său a venit în România din satul albanez Moscopole" ("While in Tirana, Ponta Says His Grandfather's Family Came to Romania from Albanian Village of Moscopole"), Evenimentul Zilei, 18 March 2014; retrieved 17 November 2014 accounting for the Aromanian descent on his maternal side.{{in lang|ro}} Marius Diaconescu, "Cine sunt aromânii?" ("Who Are the Aromanians?"), Historia, May 2014; retrieved 28 November 2014 Victor Ponta was born in Bucharest, completing secondary studies in 1991 at the city's Ion Neculce High School. In 1995, he graduated from the University of Bucharest's Law faculty. He received a degree from the Carol I National Defence University in 2002, and in 2003 received a doctorate in Criminal Law from the University of Bucharest and a master's degree in Political Management from the Social Democratic Institute. He has written several books in his field, including one on the International Criminal Court, the subject of his doctoral thesis. Between 1996 and 1998, and since 2002, he has taught Criminal Law at the Romanian-American University. From 1995 to 1998, Ponta worked as a prosecutor handling cases at the Sector 1 courthouse. From 1998 to 2001, he was a prosecutor at the Supreme Court of Justice in the anti-corruption division, in particular dealing with economic and financial crimes. From 2000 to 2001, he coordinated the Bureau for Combating Money Laundering.{{in lang|ro}} Profile at the Romanian Government site; retrieved 22 June 2009In April 2002, Cristian Panait, a prosecutor involved in cases connected to then-Prime Minister Adrian Năstase, fell from the third-floor window of his home. He died the following day, and the incident was ruled a suicide a day later.{{in lang|ro}} Iulian Andrei Crăciun, "România în vremea 'Atotputernicului'" ("Romania in the Time of 'The All-Powerful'"), Adevărul, 21 June 2012; retrieved 4 April 2014 The following January, his aunt filed suit to contest the fact that no charges were filed, claiming his superiors pushed him toward suicide. The complained also mentioned Panait's fellow prosecutor Ponta, claiming the former had told her, "that dog Victor Ponta did me in". She also said the two had been friends until Panait accused Ponta of influence peddling due to what he saw as the latter's involvement with underworld figures. In reply, Ponta mentioned he had called for the investigation into Panait's death to be reopened, stating the two had not met for some six months before that event, and that there had been no breach in their friendship.{{in lang|ro}} weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20131023064247weblink">"'Câinele de Victor Ponta m-a aranjat!'" ("'The Dog Victor Ponta Did Me In!'"), Evenimentul Zilei, 10 January 2003; retrieved 4 April 2014 Prior to the 2012 legislative election, opposition campaigner Adriean Videanu charged that Ponta's "blackmail" and "threats" had pushed Panait to kill himself.{{in lang|ro}} Alina Novaceanu, "Videanu: În 2002, prin ameninţări, Ponta l-a determinat pe procurorul Cristian Panait să se sinucidă" ("Videanu: In 2002, Using Threats, Ponta Pushed Prosecutor Cristian Panait to Suicide"), Gândul, 6 December 2012; retrieved 4 April 2014From 2001 to 2004, Ponta held the rank of Secretary of State as head of the government's Control Department. In 2006, a civil servant at the Ministry of Education (who was in an ongoing feud with Ponta) charged that Ponta, while holding this office, covered up corrupt activities undertaken by former minister Hildegard Puwak, who was cleared of wrongdoing in a report issued by Ponta.{{in lang|ro}} George Lăcătuş, "Ponta, acuzat că a tăcut în cazul Puwak" ("Ponta, Accused of Silence in the Puwak Case"), Cotidianul, 26 November 2006; retrieved 22 June 2009 Additionally, he helped uncover cases of fraudulent use of Phare funds.{{in lang|ro}} "Echipa lui Victor Ponta a găsit două cazuri de utilizare frauduloasă a fondurilor Phare" ("Victor Ponta's Team Helps Uncover Two Cases of Fraudulent Use of Phare Funds"), Adevărul, 8 February 2003; retrieved 22 June 2009 In 2001 he also joined the supervisory council of the Authority for State Assets Recovery, and that year he was part of a special committee investigating penal infractions committed by members of the government. In March 2004, he became Minister-Delegate for Control of International Grant Programmes Implementation and for Monitoring the Application of the Acquis Communautaire. A PSD member by 2002, he was from July to November of that year head of the Interim National Council of the Social Democratic Youth (TSD). That October, he became a member of the PSD's national council, and joined its executive bureau the following month, when he also became president of the TSD, remaining as such for four years. In 2005, he became a vice president of Ecosy, while he has been a vice president of the PSD since December 2006. At the 2004 election, Ponta won a seat in the Chamber of Deputies, where he served as both secretary and vice president of its permanent bureau; he was re-elected in 2008.{{in lang|ro}} Election results, alegeri.tv; retrieved 22 June 2009 That December, he became a minister in the incoming Boc cabinet.{{in lang|ro}} "Guvern de regăţeni, cu 'moţ' ardelean" ("Old Kingdom Government, with a Few Transylvanians") {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090522094314weblink |date=22 May 2009 }}, Adevărul, 19 December 2008; retrieved 22 June 2009Upon winning confirmation, Ponta pledged to reduce the number of emergency ordinances issued by the government and to assist Parliament in exercising control over the cabinet.{{in lang|ro}} "Comisiile au avizat nominalizarea lui Victor Ponta ca ministru pentru Relaţia cu Parlamentul" ("Committees Approve Victor Ponta's Nomination as Minister for Relations with Parliament"), Mediafax, 20 December 2008; retrieved 22 June 2009 Among his activities was to help steer a new civil and penal code through Parliament.{{in lang|ro}} "Ponta: Codurile civil şi penal vor fi finalizate până la 15 mai" ("Ponta: Civil and Penal Codes to be Finalised by 15 May"), Mediafax, 22 April 2009; retrieved 22 June 2009 Among the more controversial provisions in these codes that Ponta defended (both as minister and as head of the parliamentary committee drafting the legislation) were one presuming that any defensive act done at night at home would be considered legitimate self-defence;{{in lang|ro}} "Victor Ponta: 'Orice act de apărare, noaptea, se prezumă legitimă apărare'" ("Victor Ponta: 'Any Act of Defence at Night Is Considered Legitimate Defence'"), Cotidianul, 25 March 2009; retrieved 22 June 2009 and one banning therapeutic abortions after the 24th week of pregnancy, which received sharp criticism from several NGOs.{{in lang|ro}} Oana Botezatu, Geta Roman, "Avortul, după comisia Ponta" ("Abortion, According to the Ponta Commission"), Evenimentul Zilei, 7 May 2009; retrieved 22 June 2009 Ponta, nicknamed "Little Titulescu" by Năstase,{{in lang|ro}} "Micul Titulescu – singur acasă" ("Little Titulescu – Home Alone"), Evenimentul Zilei, 23 September 2005; retrieved 22 June 2009{{in lang|ro}} Laura Ciobanu, "Adrian Năstase: Victor Ponta nu mai seamănă cu Titulescu" ("Adrian Năstase: Victor Ponta No Longer Resembles Titulescu"), Evenimentul Zilei, 4 December 2013; retrieved 16 June 2015 has been known to criticise both members of his own party, commenting that then-mayor of Sector 5 Marian Vanghelie (known for his gaffes) "is such a philosopher that not even I can understand him";{{in lang|ro}} "Ponta: Vanghelie e atât de filosof încât nici eu nu pot să îl înţeleg" ("Ponta: Vanghelie Is Such a Philosopher That Not Even I Can Understand Him"), Mediafax, 2 May 2009; retrieved 22 June 2009 and of the PDL, remarking, after the two parties had entered a governing coalition, that his Gorj County parliamentary colleagues are "parrots, liars and dimwits".{{in lang|ro}} "Ponta despre parlamentarii PDL de Gorj: "Papagali, mincinoşi şi proşti"" ("Ponta Regarding Gorj County PDL Parliamentarians: 'Parrots, Liars and Dimwits'"), Mediafax, 28 January 2009;Retrieved 22 June 2009 Together with his PSD colleagues, Ponta resigned from the cabinet on 1 October 2009, in protest at the dismissal of vice prime minister and Interior Minister Dan Nica.{{in lang|ro}} "Miniştrii PSD şi-au depus demisiile la cabinetul premierului Emil Boc" ("PSD Ministers Submit Their Resignations in the Office of Prime Minister Emil Boc"), Mediafax, 1 October 2009; retrieved 1 October 2009

Social Democratic leadership

(File:Victor Ponta la Consiliul National al PSD (10776642975).jpg|thumb|left|Ponta at an annual meeting of the PSD, which he led from 2010 to 2015)In February 2010, he was elected PSD president at a party congress, defeating incumbent Mircea Geoană, who had narrowly lost a bid to become President of Romania several months earlier.{{in lang|ro}} Christian Silva, "'Micul Titulescu' preia frâiele PSD" ("'Little Titulescu' Takes the Reins of the PSD") {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140108172451weblink |date=8 January 2014 }}, Jurnalul Naţional, 21 February 2010; retrieved 13 July 2010 The feud between Geoană and Ponta continued beyond the latter's election as party leader; for instance, six months later, Ponta alleged that "moguls" such as Sorin Ovidiu Vântu had total control over PSD decision-making during Geoană's tenure,{{in lang|ro}} Florin Ciornei, "Victor Ponta: 'Pe vremea lui Geoană, mogulii influenţau 100% deciziile PSD'" ("Victor Ponta: 'In Geoană's Time, the Moguls Influenced PSD Decisions 100%'"), Evenimentul Zilei, 12 August 2010; retrieved 12 August 2010 a charge the latter denied and attributed to a hidden desire of Ponta's to see him ejected from the post of Senate President.{{in lang|ro}} Florin Ciornei, "Geoană: 'Ponta şi-a construit notorietatea prin atitudini de puşti obraznic'" ("Geoană: 'Ponta Built His Notoriety through Poses of a Cheeky Adolescent'"), Evenimentul Zilei, 12 August 2010; retrieved 12 August 2010 In November 2011, Ponta led a successful effort to remove Geoană both from the PSD and from the Senate leadership.{{in lang|ro}} "Mircea Geoană a fost exclus din PSD: Adio tovarăşi, pe curând prieteni" ("Mircea Geoană Removed from PSD: Goodbye Comrades, See You Soon Friends"), Mediafax, 22 November 2011; retrieved 9 February 2012{{in lang|ro}} "Mircea Geoană a fost revocat din funcţia de preşedinte al Senatului" ("Mircea Geoană Removed from Senate Presidency"), Mediafax, 23 November 2011; retrieved 9 February 2012In February 2011, he and Crin Antonescu, head of the National Liberal Party (PNL), formed the Social Liberal Union (USL), a political alliance in opposition to the governing Democratic Liberal Party (PD-L).{{in lang|ro}} Dana Ilie, "Ponta şi Antonescu au semnat protocolul de înfiinţare a Uniunii Social-Liberale" ("Ponta and Antonescu Sign Protocol to Found Social Liberal Union") {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110917025710weblink |date=17 September 2011 }}, România Liberă, 5 February 2011; retrieved 9 February 2012 In August 2012, he was elected a vice president of the Socialist International.{{in lang|ro}} Andreia Ciobanu, "Ponta, ales vicepreședinte al Internaţionalei Socialiste" ("Ponta, Elected Vice President of the Socialist International"), Adevărul, 30 August 2012; retrieved 2 September 2012 Ponta resigned the party leadership in July 2015, amidst an ongoing corruption investigation.

As Prime Minister

Appointment and early moves

File:Victor Ponta la reuniunea USL - 13.01.2014 (2) (11927453504).jpg|thumb|Ponta with PNL chief Crin Antonescu while the duo headed the Social Liberal UnionSocial Liberal UnionIn April 2012, after the government of Mihai Răzvan Ungureanu fell due to the passage of a motion of no confidence, President Traian Băsescu designated Ponta as Prime Minister.{{in lang|ro}} Romulus Georgescu and Sebastian Zachmann, "Guvernul Ungureanu a căzut! Moţiunea a trecut cu 235 de voturi pentru" ("Ungureanu Government Falls! Motion Passes with 235 Votes in Favor"), Adevărul, 27 April 2012; retrieved 27 April 2012 His cabinet, including ministers from the PSD, the PNL, independents and one from the Conservative Party (PC), received parliamentary approval the following month, and Ponta thus became prime minister.{{in lang|ro}} Romulus Georgescu, Ioana Oancea, Ramona Dragomir and Alina Brebenel, "Avem un nou Guvern. Cabinetul Ponta a trecut de Parlament" ("We Have a New Government. Ponta Cabinet Approved by Parliament"), Adevărul, 7 May 2012; retrieved 7 May 2012{{in lang|ro}} Cristian Andrei, Clarice Dinu and Andrei Luca Popescu, "Guvernul Ponta a fost aprobat de Parlament, cu 284 de voturi pentru şi 92 împotrivă" ("Ponta Government Approved by Parliament, with 284 Votes in Favor and 92 Against"), Gândul, 7 May 2012; retrieved 13 July 2012 Upon taking office in the midst of a continent-wide recession, he vowed to promote economic growth and job creation solely from within the private sector, but also to increase public-sector salaries.{{in lang|ro}} "Ponta: Vom avea creştere economică doar din zona privată. Nu renunţăm să creştem salariile bugetarilor" ("Ponta: We Will Have Only Private-Sector Economic Growth. We Will Not Forgo Public-Sector Pay Raises"), Mediafax, 15 May 2012; retrieved 12 June 2014 In June, the USL came in first overall at the local election; Ponta singled out the alliance's victory in Bucharest as a "historic moment".{{in lang|ro}} "Victor Ponta: USL a scos PDL din București" ("Victor Ponta: USL Removed PDL from Bucharest"), Evenimentul Zilei, 10 June 2012; retrieved 18 December 2012File:Premierul Victor Ponta s-a întâlnit astăzi, la Bruxelles, cu preşedintele Comisiei Europene, Jose Manuel Barroso.jpg|thumb|left|upright=.91|Ponta meeting with European Commission President José Manuel BarrosoJosé Manuel BarrosoFile:Victor Ponta la Summit-ul Premierilor din Europa Centrala si de Est - China, Bucuresti (11170614614).jpg|thumb|Ponta (fifth from left) in BucharestBucharestIn the opening weeks of his mandate, Ponta became involved in several controversies. His government transferred oversight of the Romanian Cultural Institute from the Presidency to the Parliament, claiming this would increase transparency. However, the move drew criticism from its head, Horia-Roman Patapievici, as well as from other artists and cultural figures who feared the institute would become politicized.{{in lang|ro}} Mariana Bechir, "Ponta: Băsescu mi-a reproşat că nu l-am informat că voi lua ICR" ("Ponta: Băsescu Chided Me for Not Informing Him I Would Take over the ICR"), Adevărul, 14 June 2012; retrieved 28 June 2012 His steps to change the leadership of Romanian Television provoked dissension from many of the broadcaster's employees, who charged the government with "destroying" public television. He pushed through a new electoral law establishing a first-past-the-post voting system, but this was rejected by the Constitutional Court. A dispute with Băsescu arose over who would represent Romania at the European Council, with the court ruling in the latter's favor,{{in lang|ro}} Mircea Marian, "Trei lovituri într-o singură zi pentru Victor Ponta" ("Three Hits in a Single Day for Victor Ponta"), Evenimentul Zilei, 28 June 2012; retrieved 28 June 2012 although Ponta attended the subsequent council nevertheless.{{in lang|ro}} Ana-Maria Adamoae, Andreea Udrea, "Victor Ponta s-a sucit: 'Voi respecta deciziile Curții Constituționale'" ("Victor Ponta Reverses Himself: 'I Will Respect the Decisions of the Constitutional Court'"), Evenimentul Zilei, 28 June 2012; retrieved 28 June 2012

Plagiarism controversy

A month into his term as premier, an article published in Nature reported that an anonymous source had charged Ponta with plagiarizing over half his doctoral thesis,{{in lang|ro}} Liviu Avram, "Dottore Ponta, acuzat de plagiat" ("Dottore Ponta, Accused of Plagiarism"), Adevărul, 19 June 2012; retrieved 19 June 2012{{in lang|ro}} Ioana Oancea, "Victor Ponta nu demisionează: Băsescu se află în spatele acuzaţiilor de plagiat. Cine îmi spunea 'Dottore' în urmă cu o săptămână?" ("Victor Ponta Will Not Resign: Băsescu Is behind the Plagiarism Accusations. Who Called Me 'Dottore' a Week Ago?"), Adevărul, 19 June 2012; retrieved 19 June 2012 claims that were later reiterated by the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.{{in lang|ro}} Mircea Marian, Dan Istratie, Cristina Botezatu, "Victor Ponta, acuzat de plagiat. Premierul invocă un război politic" ("Victor Ponta, Accused of Plagiarism. The Premier Blames a Political Struggle"), Evenimentul Zilei, 19 June 2012; retrieved 23 June 2012 Ponta admitted that the referencing system used by his thesis did not provide clear attribution of its sources, but rejected the allegations of plagiarism.{{in lang|ro}} Sorina Ionaşc, "Victor Ponta a plagiat 'din greşeală'" ("Victor Ponta Plagiarized 'By Mistake'"), Gândul, 19 June 2012; retrieved 20 June 2012 Dumitru Diaconu, a law professor and author supposedly plagiarised by Ponta's thesis, and who also authored a foreword for the published edition of the thesis, declared he was not aware of plagiarism and did not intend to pursue the accusations.{{in lang|ro}} "Autorul uneia din cărţile pe care le-ar fi plagiat Ponta spune că nu va sesiza Consiliul Naţional de Etică" ("Author of One of the Books Allegedly Plagiarized by Ponta Will Not Notify the National Ethics Council"), România Liberă, 19 June 2012; retrieved 28 June 2012 A session of a committee charged with validating academic titles analyzed the thesis and decided with a unanimous vote of members present that Ponta had committed copy and paste plagiarism, subsequently requesting the withdrawal of Ponta's doctoral title. In response, interim Education Minister Liviu Pop (PSD) contested the committee's jurisdiction and dismissed the findings, citing the lack of a quorum. The minister had already signed an order reorganizing the committee the previous day, but, due to technical reasons, the order came into effect during the very session analyzing the thesis.{{in lang|ro}} Maria Apostol, Mariana Bechir, Raluca Sofronie, "Consiliul care a verificat teza de doctorat a premierului Ponta: Este un plagiat de tip copy paste" ("Committee That Verified Ponta's Doctoral Thesis: It Is Copy-Paste Plagiarism"), Adevărul, 29 June 2012; retrieved 29 June 2012Another committee, subordinated to the Education Ministry, later found that Ponta did not commit plagiarism.{{in lang|ro}} Raluca Sofronie, "Comisia din subordinea lui Ponta a decis: nu a plagiat" ("Committee Subordinate to Ponta Decides: He Did Not Plagiarize"), Adevărul, 19 July 2012; retrieved 19 July 2012 A third committee, convoked by the University of Bucharest and consisting of ten members, each from a different department, unanimously found that Ponta had indeed deliberately plagiarized at least a third of his thesis. Ponta replied that the committee was an "ad-hoc" one designed especially for him, and that the decision was a "political" one.{{in lang|ro}} Raluca Sofronie, Ioana Oancea, "Universitatea Bucureşti: Victor Ponta a plagiat şi a plagiat intenţionat" ("University of Bucharest" "Victor Ponta Plagiarized and Did so Intentionally"), Adevărul, 20 July 2012; retrieved 20 July 2012{{in lang|ro}} Raluca Sofronie, "Cine sunt membrii Comisiei de Etică a Universităţii Bucureşti care au decis că Victor Ponta a plagiat" ("These Are the Members of the Ethics Committee of the University of Bucharest Who Decided that Ponta Plagiarized"), Adevărul, 20 July 2012; retrieved 20 July 2012{{in lang|ro}} Cristina Olivia Moldovan, "Comisia de Etică a decis: Victor Ponta a plagiat în lucrarea de doctorat" ("Ethics Committee Rules: Victor Ponta Plagiarized in Doctorate"), Evenimentul Zilei, 20 July 2012; retrieved 20 July 2012{{in lang|ro}} Carmen Vintilă, "Premierul Victor Ponta, despre verdictul de plagiat: Decizia Universității este una 'politică'" ("Premier Victor Ponta, about Plagiarism Verdict: University's Decision is 'Political'"), Evenimentul Zilei, 20 July 2012; retrieved 20 July 2012 In August 2012, three individuals filed suit against Ponta, asking prosecutors to open a legal case against him for intellectual fraud. The latter opted against proceeding, the former appealed, and in March 2014, the High Court of Cassation and Justice rejected their appeal.{{in lang|ro}} Mihai Stoica, "Premierul Victor Ponta nu va fi urmărit penal pentru plagiat" ("Premier Victor Ponta Will Not Be Prosecuted for Plagiarism"), Adevărul, 17 March 2014; retrieved 4 April 2014 In December 2014, citing the controversy surrounding his thesis, asked that the University of Bucharest withdraw his doctoral title. The university responded that it would comply with his request.{{in lang|ro}} Andreea Udrea, Carmen Vintilă, "Victor Ponta renunţă la titlul de doctor" ("Victor Ponta Renounces Title of Doctor"), Evenimentul Zilei, 17 December 2014; retrieved 19 December 2014 Later that month, his government adopted an ordinance allowing individuals to renounce academic diplomas and titles;{{in lang|ro}} Mircea Marian, "Guvernul modifică legea educației astfel încât Ponta să poată renunța la doctorat" ("Government Modifies Education Law so that Ponta Can Renounce Doctorate"), Evenimentul Zilei, 29 December 2014; retrieved 7 January 2015 the move was criticized by the student federation ANOSR.{{in lang|ro}} Aurelia Alexa, "Modificarea Legii Educaţiei prin OUG reprezintă un abuz de putere extrem de nociv" ("Education Law Modification by Ordinance Represents an Extremely Noxious Abuse of Power"), Mediafax, 30 December 2014; retrieved 7 January 2015 In summer 2016, a revamped committee decided, with 34 votes in favor and one abstention, that Ponta did indeed plagiarize his thesis, prompting Education Minister Mircea Dumitru to sign an order withdrawing his title of doctor.{{in lang|ro}} Andreea Radu, "Lovitură dură primită de Victor Ponta. Ministrul Educaţiei i-a retras titlul de doctor fostului premier" ("Heavy Blow Received by Victor Ponta. Education Minister Withdraws His Title of Doctor"), Evenimentul Zilei, 1 August 2016; retrieved 17 December 2016Until the controversy began and his official curriculum vitae was modified, he claimed in the document to have received a master's degree in International Criminal Law from the University of Catania in 2000. That institution's rector replied to an enquiry by stating an internal verification had revealed Ponta was never at the University of Catania. In turn, Ponta stated that he took a course there and received a diploma.{{in lang|ro}} Mariana Bechir, "Premierul şi-a falsificat CV-ul" ("The Premier Falsified His CV"), Adevărul, 4 July 2012; retrieved 4 July 2012

Political crisis and parliamentary election

Beginning in July 2012, Ponta found himself at the heart of a political crisis. This culminated in Băsescu's suspension from office by Parliament, an action strongly promoted by Ponta, and which triggered an unsuccessful referendum on impeaching Băsescu.{{in lang|ro}} "Traian Băsescu a fost suspendat. Antonescu le cere românilor şi instituţiilor să-şi desfăşoare activitatea normal" ("Traian Băsescu Suspended. Antonescu Asks Romanians and Institutions to Undertake Normal Activity"), Adevărul, 6 July 2012; retrieved 5 August 2012{{in lang|ro}} "Ponta: Referendum conform CCR. Jumătate din populaţie trebuie să meargă la vot pentru ca referendumul să fie valid" ("Ponta: Referendum According to Constitutional Court. Half the People Must Vote for Referendum to be Valid"), Evenimentul Zilei, 12 July 2012; retrieved 5 August 2012{{in lang|ro}} Mariana Bechir, "Primele declaraţii ale lui Victor Ponta după invalidarea referendumului" ("Victor Ponta's First Declarations after Referendum Is Invalidated"), Adevărul, 21 August 2012; retrieved 27 August 2012Following the USL victory at the December 2012 parliamentary election,{{in lang|ro}} Carmen Vintilă, Alexandra Postelnicu, "Rezultate finale alegeri parlamentare 2012" ("Parliamentary Elections 2012: Final Results"), Evenimentul Zilei, 11 December 2012; retrieved 18 December 2012 including Ponta winning 61% of the vote in his own seat, where he was challenged by Dan Diaconescu,{{in lang|ro}} "Dan Diaconescu n-are loc în Parlament! Liderul PP-DD, surclasat de Ponta" ("Dan Diaconescu Has No Seat in Parliament! PP-DD Leader, Beaten by Ponta") {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121213013350weblink |date=13 December 2012 }}, Jurnalul Naţional, 10 December 2012; retrieved 18 December 2012 Băsescu named Ponta to another term as premier.{{in lang|ro}} Andreea Udrea, "Victor Ponta a fost desemnat oficial premier" ("Victor Ponta Officially Designated Premier"), Evenimentul Zilei, 17 December 2012; retrieved 18 December 2012 Subsequently, the two signed a cooperation accord, while tensions with the PNL deepened. These grew especially apparent in April 2013, when Ponta, as interim Justice Minister, named Laura Codruța Kövesi to head the National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA) in spite of objections from the PNL, who viewed her as a Băsescu ally.{{in lang|ro}} Romulus Georgescu, "Un an cu Ponta: lupta cu Băsescu şi meciurile în USL" ("A Year with Ponta: Battle with Băsescu and USL Games"), Adevărul, 7 May 2013; retrieved 4 April 2014 In February 2014, the PNL left the government, marking the end of the USL, the precipitating motive being Ponta's refusal to name Klaus Iohannis as deputy prime minister.{{in lang|ro}} Mădălina Mihalache, Sebastian Zachmann, Alina Boghiceanu, "USL s-a rupt" ("USL Breaks Up"), Adevărul, 25 February 2014; retrieved 4 April 2014 Ponta, by now head of a Social Democratic Union (USD) involving his party, the National Union for the Progress of Romania (UNPR) and the PC, went on to form a new government with the Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR).{{in lang|ro}} Iulia Marin, Sebastian Zachmann, Alina Boghiceanu, "Cum arată Guvernul Ponta 3" ("How the Third Ponta Government Looks"), Adevărul, 3 March 2014; retrieved 4 April 2014{{in lang|ro}} Cristina Botezatu, "Ponta: Înființarea USD nu încalcă protocolul USL" ("Ponta: USD Founding Does Not Breach USL Protocol"), Evenimentul Zilei, 19 February 2014; retrieved 4 April 2014 During Ponta's first two years in office, his cabinets significantly raised the salaries of public-sector employees, which Băsescu and his allies had cut by 25% in 2010. At the same time, he raised or introduced a number of taxes and fees, one of the most widely-felt being an increase in the fuel tax.{{in lang|ro}} Alexandra Pele, "Doi ani cu premierul Ponta" ("Two Years with Premier Ponta"), Gândul, 10 May 2014; retrieved 19 September 2014 He confronted two environmentally sensitive issues: the Roșia Montană Project, which he initially opposed but later became more open to the idea;{{in lang|ro}} Oana Căloiu, "Ponta: Iniţial, eram împotriva exploatării de la Roşia Montană, pentru că Băsescu susţinea proiectul" ("Ponta: Initially, I was against Exploiting Roşia Montană, because Băsescu Supported the Project"), România Liberă, 10 September 2013; retrieved 9 May 2015 and shale gas extraction through fracking, which he first backed but then shifted to preferring exploitation of natural gas from the Black Sea.{{in lang|ro}} "Ponta: Se pare că nu avem gaze de şist, ne-am bătut foarte tare pe ceva ce nu avem" ("Ponta: It Seems We Don't Have Shale Gas, We Fought Very Hard for What We Lack"), Mediafax, 9 November 2014; retrieved 9 May 2015

Presidential candidacy, aftermath and resignation

File:Victor Ponta la dezbatere Realitatea TV - 11.11 (8) (15152807204).jpg|thumb|left|Ponta with his rival, Klaus Iohannis, in a debate hosted by Realitatea TVRealitatea TVIn late July 2014, Ponta launched his candidacy for the upcoming presidential race, at the same time beginning to attack his chief rival, Iohannis.{{in lang|ro}} Alina Boghiceanu, Sebastian Zachmann, "Premierul, pe urmele 'Marinarului'. Ponta şi-a lansat candidatura la apă" ("Premier, following the 'Sailor', Launches Campaign on Water"), Adevărul, 29 July 2014; retrieved 19 August 2014 He placed first in the election's first round, with 40.4% of the vote, and faced Iohannis in the runoff.{{in lang|ro}} Alina Boghiceanu, "Rezultatele finale ale primului tur al prezidenţialelor" ("Final Results of First-Round Presidential Elections"), Adevărul, 4 November 2014; retrieved 4 November 2014 In the second round, he was defeated by Iohannis on a 54.5%-45.5% margin.{{in lang|ro}} Iulia Marin, Sebastian Zachmann, Radu Eremia, Alina Boghiceanu, "Rezultate parţiale BEC: Iohannis 54,5%, Ponta 45,49%" ("Provisional BEC Results: Iohannis 54.5%, Ponta 45.49%"), Adevărul, 17 November 2014; retrieved 17 November 2014 Reportedly, an important factor in his defeat was the poor organization of the election's first round among the Romanian diaspora. This voting bloc and its domestic sympathizers were galvanized to turn out against Ponta in the second round.{{in lang|ro}} Sorin Ghica, Oana Crăciun, Vlad Andriescu, "Efectul Diaspora. Cum explică sociologii votul masiv pentru Klaus Iohannis" ("The Diaspora Effect. How Sociologists Explain Massive Vote for Klaus Iohannis"), Adevărul, 17 November 2014; retrieved 30 November 2014 The following month, the UDMR quit the government, and Ponta subsequently formed his fourth cabinet, in which he also included two ministers apiece from the PC and the Liberal Reformist Party (PLR).{{in lang|ro}} Sebastian Zachmann, Mădălina Mihalache, Alina Boghiceanu, "Cabinetul Ponta 4, un Guvern de politruci" ("Ponta 4 Cabinet, a Government of Apparatchiks"), Adevărul, 14 December 2014; retrieved 21 December 2014In June 2015, the DNA opened a criminal investigation against Ponta, alleging forgery, complicity in tax evasion and money laundering allegedly committed while he was a lawyer; and a conflict of interest for naming former business associate Dan Șova to several positions while prime minister. Iohannis called on Ponta to resign, which the latter refused to do.{{in lang|ro}} Mihaela Cojocariu, Mihai Stoica, "Victor Ponta, urmărit penal pentru spălare de bani şi complicitate la evaziune fiscală" ("Victor Ponta, Charged with Money Laundering and Complicity in Tax Evasion"), Adevărul, 5 June 2015; retrieved 5 June 2015 Subsequently, and in accord with his expressed wishes, the Chamber rejected the prosecutorial request to lift his immunity; most of those siding with him came from the PSD, as well as its allies (UNPR, PC and PLR), and the ethnic minorities parties.{{in lang|ro}} Mădălina Mihalache, Iulia Marin, Sebastian Zachmann, "Deputaţii au votat împotriva începerii urmăririi penale faţă de premier" ("Deputies Vote against Beginning Criminal Proceedings for the Premier"), Adevărul, 9 June 2015; retrieved 9 June 2015 Later that month, Ponta left for Turkey to undergo knee surgery;{{in lang|ro}} Mihai Stoica, Sorin Ghica, "Premierul Victor Ponta a plecat în Turcia să se opereze la genunchi" ("Premier Victor Ponta Leaves for Knee Surgery in Turkey"), Adevărul, 15 June 2015; retrieved 9 July 2015 during his recovery, Gabriel Oprea took over as interim prime minister,{{in lang|ro}} Mircea Marian, Silvana Chiujdea, "Klaus Iohannis l-a numit pe Gabriel Oprea premier interimar" ("Klaus Iohannis Names Gabriel Oprea Interim Premier"), Evenimentul Zilei, 22 June 2015; retrieved 9 July 2015 serving until Ponta's return in early July.{{in lang|ro}} "Ponta a ajuns la Guvern, urmând să îşi preia atribuţiile de premier după o absenţă de aproape o lună" ("Ponta Arrives at Government Palace, Will Resume Premier's Duties after Absence of Nearly a Month"), Adevărul, 9 July 2015; retrieved 9 July 2015 Days later, he resigned as PSD president, citing a desire to safeguard the party's image while he faces criminal charges; Rovana Plumb took over on an interim basis.{{in lang|ro}} "Victor Ponta şi-a dat demisia de la şefia PSD" ("Victor Ponta Resigns as PSD President"), Adevărul, 12 July 2015; retrieved 12 July 2015 The DNA then formally indicted Ponta, initiating procedures to freeze a part of his assets.{{in lang|ro}} "Victor Ponta este inculpat" ("Victor Ponta Indicted"), Adevărul, 13 July 2015; retrieved 13 July 2015 From the end of July until early August, Ponta took another leave of absence for rest purposes, with Oprea again stepping in on a temporary basis.{{in lang|ro}} Alice Drăghici, "Gabriel Oprea, din nou premier interimar, în locul lui Victor Ponta" ("Gabriel Oprea, Again Interim Premier, in Victor Ponta's Place"), Gândul, 29 July 2015; retrieved 30 July 2015{{in lang|ro}} Alice Drăghici, "Premierul Victor Ponta s-a întors la serviciu, după 12 zile de concediu" ("Premier Victor Ponta Back at Work, after 12 Days' Vacation"), Mediafax, 10 August 2015; retrieved 11 August 2015 The case was sent to trial in September; Ponta was charged along with four other defendants, including Șova.{{in lang|ro}} Ionel Stoica, "Victor Ponta, trimis în judecată în dosarul 'Turceni-Rovinari'" ("Victor Ponta, Sent to Trial in 'Turceni-Rovinari' Case"), Adevărul, 17 September 2015; retrieved 20 September 2015In late October 2015, a deadly nightclub fire sparked ample street protests. Within several days, these had swelled to over 25,000 participants in Bucharest alone. Among the demands voiced was the resignation of Ponta, tied within the protesters' ranks to corruption and official indifference. Bowing to pressure, he resigned, citing the "legitimate anger" of the public the "desire to place responsibility at higher levels" than the nightclub owners, and the hope that the expectations of the demonstrators had been met.{{in lang|ro}} Mădălina Mihalache, Claudia Spridon, Mihaela Cojocariu, "Ponta şi Piedone au demisionat" ("Ponta and Piedone Resign"), Adevărul, 4 November 2015; retrieved 11 January 2016{{in lang|ro}} "Zeci de mii de români le-au cerut demisia lui Ponta, Oprea şi Piedone" ("Tens of Thousands of Romanians Demand Ponta, Oprea and Piedone Resign"), Gândul, 3 November 2015; retrieved 11 January 2016 A technocratic cabinet headed by Dacian Cioloș took office two weeks later; Ponta himself was absent from the confirmation vote.{{in lang|ro}} Ştefan Pană, "Victor Ponta a absentat de la votul pentru învestitirea Cabinetului Cioloş" ("Victor Ponta Absent from Investiture Vote on Cioloş Cabinet"), Mediafax, 17 November 2015; retrieved 11 January 2016 At the 2016 parliamentary election, Ponta retained his seat in the Chamber.{{in lang|ro}} Roxana Petre, "Reacția lui Victor Ponta, după ce BEC a anunțat distribuția mandatelor în Parlament" ("Reaction of Victor Ponta, after BEC Announces Distribution of Seats in Parliament") {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220184854weblink |date=20 December 2016 }}, România Liberă, 15 December 2016; retrieved 17 December 2016 In June 2017, he was named secretary general in the government of Sorin Grindeanu, with ministerial rank. In so doing, he was automatically expelled from the PSD, which had agreed to apply this penalty to any party member agreeing to serve under Grindeanu.{{in lang|ro}} Sebastian Zachmann, "Victor Ponta a fost numit Secretar General al Guvernului" ("Victor Ponta Named Secretary General of the Government"), Adevărul, 16 June 2017; retrieved 16 June 2017 Shortly after he took on the post, the government was ousted in a no-confidence vote.{{in lang|ro}} Liviu Dădăcuș, "Victor Ponta, după înfrângerea de la moţiunea de cenzură" ("Victor Ponta, Commenting on No-Confidence Motion"), Mediafax, 21 June 2017; retrieved 26 June 2017

Comeback effort

In May 2018, the High Court acquitted Ponta of corruption charges dating back to his work as a lawyer in 2007–2008.{{in lang|ro}} Mihaela Gidei, "Victor Ponta și Dan Șova, achitați în prima instanță, în dosarul Turceni-Rovinari" ("Victor Ponta and Dan Șova, Acquitted in opening case, in Turceni-Rovinari File"), Mediafax, 10 May 2018; retrieved 5 June 2018 Later that month, he announced that 11 members of parliament were part of the PRO Romania, a political party which he had launched the previous September. Introducing the new party, he described it as a center-left one, aimed at replacing the country's "mediocre, uncultured and incapable" elites with competent professionals.{{in lang|ro}} "Ponta: Acum avem 11 parlamentari în Pro România şi vor mai veni" ("Ponta: We Now Have 11 Members of Parliament in Pro Romania and There Will Be Others"), Digi24, 28 May 2018; retrieved 5 June 2018{{in lang|ro}} Sebastian Zachmann, "Ponta a lansat noul partid" ("Ponta Launches New Party"), Adevărul, 3 September 2017; retrieved 5 June 2018In the May 2019 European Parliament election, Pro Romania won two seats. Shortly thereafter, the party held 24 seats in the Romanian parliament, nearly all the result of floor crossing from the governing PSD.{{in lang|ro}} "Partidul lui Victor Ponta a mai racolat un deputat PSD" ("Victor Ponta's Party Recruits Another PSD Deputy"), Radio Europa Liberă, 13 June 2019; retrieved 9 September 2019 Due to the latter party's precarious position, Ponta was able to exert pressure for various demands, in exchange for opposing a no-confidence motion.{{in lang|ro}} Cristian Andrei, "Ultima condiție pusă de Ponta pentru a ține în viață Guvernul" ("Latest Condition Placed by Ponta for Keeping Government Alive"), Radio Europa Liberă, 28 August 2019; retrieved 9 September 2019 He eventually embraced such a motion, helping to bring down the Viorica Dăncilă cabinet that October.{{in lang|ro}} "V. Ponta: Am primit sute de mesaje pe telefon de la PSD-işti" ("V. Ponta: I've Received Hundreds of Phone Messages from PSD Members"), Digi24, 10 October 2019; retrieved 10 October 2019 At the 2020 parliamentary election, PRO Romania failed to win any seats, prompting Ponta to announce his withdrawal from politics for the foreseeable future.{{in lang|ro}} "Victor Ponta își anunță retragerea" ("Victor Ponta Announces His Withdrawal"), Digi24, 7 December 2020; retrieved 21 December 2020

Personal life

File:Victor Ponta la dezbaterea de la Antena 3 - 13.11 (12) (15187530933).jpg|thumb|Ponta with his mother, Cornelia Naum (right) and wife, Daciana SârbuDaciana SârbuPonta and his first wife Roxana, a high school sweetheart,{{in lang|ro}} Evelyn Badea, weblink" title="archive.today/20120717235624weblink">"'Micul Titulescu', divorţat" ("'Little Titulescu', Divorced"), Adevărul, 11 February 2006; retrieved 22 June 2009 have one son; they were married in 1998 and divorced in 2006.{{in lang|ro}} "Victor Ponta şi Daciana Sârbu, nunta social-democrată a anului" ("Victor Ponta and Daciana Sârbu, Social Democratic Wedding of the Year"), Ziua, 21 June 2008; retrieved 22 June 2009{{in lang|ro}} "Azi, nuntă mare pe axa SRI – PSD" ("Today, Big Wedding on the SRI – PSD Axis"), Adevărul, 21 June 2008; retrieved 5 September 2014 That October, in China, he quietly wed Daciana Sârbu,"Daciana Sârbu şi Victor Ponta sunt părinţi" ("Daciana Sârbu and Victor Ponta Are Parents"), Ziua, 25 March 2009; retrieved 22 June 2009 a future Member of the European Parliament and the daughter of Ponta's Boc cabinet colleague Ilie Sârbu.{{in lang|ro}} "Ei sunt cei 33 de europarlamentari aleşi de români" ("They Are the 33 MEPs Elected by Romanians") {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090612030138weblink |date=12 June 2009 }}, Evenimentul Zilei, 9 June 2009; retrieved 22 June 2009 The couple's relationship had become serious in 2004, after Ponta's son was born; they had a daughter in March 2008 and married in a Romanian Orthodox ceremony in the church in Bucharest's Grădina Icoanei that June. In 2020, the couple adopted a 6-year-old girl."Victor Ponta și Daciana Sârbu au adoptat o fetiță de 6 ani" ("Victor Ponta and Daciana Sârbu Adopt 6-year-old Girl"), G4Media, 11 December 2020; retrieved 22 May 2021Ponta is the winner of the 1989 youth national championship in basketball, where he played for CSA Steaua București; and of the 2008 Dacia Logan Cup, where he was a co-pilot.{{in lang|ro}} "Victor Ponta va concura la raliul organizat la Târgu Mureş" ("Victor Ponta to Compete in Rally Held at Târgu Mureş") {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140223184102weblink |date=23 February 2014 }}, România Liberă, 3 June 2010; retrieved 29 June 2012 In addition, he is an avowed supporter of FC Steaua București football club.{{in lang|ro}} "Victor Ponta, după Supercupa României: Sunt stelist şi mă bucur pentru această victorie" ("Victor Ponta, after Supercupa României: I am a Steaua Supporter and I'm Glad for this Win"), Mediafax, 10 July 2013; retrieved 8 September 2014 He was made a knight of the National Order for Faithful Service in 2002, and in 2004 received the Order of the Star of Italian Solidarity.

Publications

• Scurt istoric al justiÈ›iei penale internaÈ›ionale, R. A. Monitorul Oficial, Bucharest, 2001
• Drept Penal – Partea generală. Note de curs, Ed. Lumina Lex, Bucharest, 2004
• Curtea Penală InternaÈ›ională, Ed. Lumina Lex, Bucharest, 2004
• Noi provocări ale secolului XXI – ConstituÈ›ia europeană. Importanță, efecte È™i natură juridică, Ed. Arhiepiscopia Tomisului, 2005, ConstanÈ›a
• Drept penal. Partea generală, Ed. Hamangiu, Bucharest, 2006

Electoral history

Presidential elections{| classwikitable width100%

! rowspan=2|Election! rowspan=2|Affiliation! colspan=3|First round! colspan=3|Second round!Votes!Percentage!Position!Votes!Percentage!Positionalign=center!2014Social Democratic Party (Romania)-National Union for the Progress of Romania>UNPR-Conservative Party (Romania) Alliance}} >40.4gold45.6silver|2nd}}align=center

See also

• First Ponta cabinet
• Second Ponta cabinet
• Third Ponta Cabinet
• Fourth Ponta Cabinet

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

{{wikinews category|Victor Ponta}}

• {{official websiteweblink}} {{in lang|ro}}
• Profile at the Romanian Chamber of Deputies site

}}}}}}{{Victor Ponta}}{{PSDHeads}}{{Boc Cabinet}}{{RomanianPrimeMinisters}}{{First Ponta Cabinet}}{{Authority control}}