Victor Viorel Ponta 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 in 2014
Ponta at an annual meeting of the PSD, which he led from 2010 to 2015
Ponta with PNL chief Crin Antonescu while the duo headed the Social Liberal Union (USL)
Ponta meeting with European Commission President José Manuel Barroso
Traian Băsescu is a Romanian conservative politician who served as President of Romania from 2004 to 2014. Prior to his presidency, Băsescu served as Romanian Minister of Transport on multiple occasions between 1991 and 2000, and as Mayor of Bucharest from 2000 to 2004. Additionally, he was elected as leader of the Democratic Party (PD) in 2001.
Băsescu in 2013
Traian Băsescu with George W. Bush
Traian Băsescu in Afghanistan, June 2009
Traian Basescu with U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Richard B. Myers during a visit to The Pentagon on 9 March 2005
