These are the people of Radu Mazare

"Fidel Castro conquered Cuba with less than 13 people", said Radu Mazăre the mayor. The city father has also a team of his own: Ştefănică, Preda, Constantinescu, Alexandru Mazăre, Marinescu, Martin, Moga, Oprişan, Bazac, Voicu, Ion Iliescu and Brăiloiu

The mayor Radu Mazăre is seen as the leader of a group. Not a very large group, but a gang fastened by business liaisons, common political creeds, dreams of megalomania and winning elections.

Mazăre was never ashamed to follow his political interest and make friends with the most important players of the local political life. A newer strategy, dictated especially by the success in the local and parliamentary elections, is placing the members of his team into strategic positions. The team are spreading, while Mazăre is winning. He even afforded to offer the management of some local institutions to people from other parties, people which he said he trusted, although they were not lined up to the social-democrat doctrine. And his explanation: "You know, I don't like people moving from one party to another just for the sake of keeping a certain position. You know, Fidel Castro conquered Cuba with less than 13 people".

Well, who are these 13 people who helped Mazăre-Castro subdue Constanţa and now is trying to gain also superior fora?  For, as he accounted for not long ago, he would not refuse the prime minister position. Here are the 13 members of Radu (Fidel) Mazăre (Castro) team which catch the eye at first glance.

Environmental tandem: Nicolae and Virginia

The first one to be nominalised is certainly the ex vice-mayor, Nicolae Nemirschi. Considered, for a long period of time, the gray matter of Mazăre gang, presently Minister of the Environment, he won one of the most important battles, which Radu Mazăre had long been fighting, back in the times when the chief of the environment was the democrat-liberal Sulfina Barbu, who was called "stupid" by our mayor. So, one problem has been solved. In order to have a real team over the environment, Mazăre sent to the ministry another trustful person, that is Virginia Ştefănică. Ex chief of Public Service of Local Taxes and Contributions, she became the right hand of Nemirschi. The minister is even Virginia's godfather.

And this is how the Environment team has been filled and is now ready to attack. The results made no delay in showing up, as the projects of Mazăre administration suddenly became acceptable by the ministry led by Nicolae Nemirschi supported by Virginia Ştefănică.

Preda, going behind Berceanu's back

The team is shaping up with the help of another member of Constanţa PSD subsidiary, managed by Mazăre in person. Placed in a plumy but quite important position, Valentin Preda, state secretary within the Ministry of Transports, is nothing else but the thorn in Berceanu's flesh. His being with the ministry of the democrat-liberal has already become a subject of dispute within the alliance, as the minister delayed task assignment for him. Preda is there at Mazăre's proposal and no wonder why he is seen as the Constanţa's mayor protégée. Radu Mazăre once said that he was the same generation with Preda, but they met later on.

Nicuşor, for better and for worse

Nicuşor Constantinescu, the president of Constanţa County Council also plays an important part in Mazăre's team. A friend of the mayor's, Nicuşor stood by him in all the stages of his political rise. He is his partner in almost all his affairs. But Constantinescu also damaged the image of Mazăre group, thanks to the "sleepy" episode, which no one seems to be willing to forget.

The disciples

And now we have come to PSD deputies and senators, those who are preaching the word of Radu Mazăre in the Parliament. Alexandru Mazăre is not only his brother, he is also a trustful person. Nicolae Moga is not just an important member of the team, but also the best friend of his son's, while Eduard Martin and Antonella have become recently known. Business stage is not unknown fo these four members, as they are part of the clique of Constanţa PSD.

Tit-Liviu, governmental envoy

And we have reached the prefect Tit-Liviu Brăiloiu, also Mazăre's team member, who was chosen to represent the Government in the territory. And he is designated to do his best so that the executive led by Emil Boc agree with all the initiatives coming both from the County Council and Constanţa municipality. Brăiloiu is sitting on the chair made vacant by Dănuţ Culeţu, notorious opponent of Radu Mazăre, with whom he was not able to find any common grounds.

The good guys gang

The 13 member team of Radu Mazăre is not made up only by the ones sent to the centre, in order to solve all problems, but also people who are very well positioned in the political life and who had been constantly backing up the megalomaniac Constanţa mayor. And here we find Marian Oprişan, from the same gang made up of other colourful characters like Dragnea, Vanghelie, Fenechiu or Sechelariu. We could not forget the minister of health, Ion Bazac. The Ferrari minister, as he has been called, gave the environment ministry to Nemirschi and received in exchange the health ministry, which brought him a lot of joy. So he is not afraid to express his gratitude to Constanţa social-democrat leader.

Who's the animal?

Ion Iliescu also had an important role in this, the he admitted that he was not so fond of Radu Mazăre. Against his will, years ago, the honorific PSD leader dragged in the spotlight the very journalist who was to become the mayor of Constanţa. The episode "you, animal" is still alive in people's memories, while everyone thinks that the target of the injury launched by Iliescu, the president of Romania at that time, was Radu Mazăre. False: the "animal"'s name is Paul Pârvu. Regardless of this, due to the fact that they were colleagues and Mazăre became more visible to the public opinion, the image transfer was made quite easily. So, by taking no action (except his presence at the event), Mazăre became the "animal" of Ion Iliescu.

"I am not Che Guevara"

Mădălin Voicu is also to be found on our list, a highbrow and an important social-democrat. He stood by Constanţa team in one of the most difficult fights: that for winning Mangalia municipality and he succeeded in helping them win. So Mădălin Voicu is appropriate for being part of the 13 member team of Radu-Fidel. "Of course I feel like being part of the team of Radu Mazăre and we have a very close friendship. I will always support him and it was a real pleasure that I was able to help him win Mangalia municipality", declared Mădălin Voicu. We asked him to tell us if the nominees we made are pertinent: "I don't think the people in the centre really helped him. But he is surrounded by good people: Nicuşor Constantinescu, Nicu Moga, Nemirschi... Bazac and Oprişan are not so important. Oprişan is influential in his county, Vrancea. While Ion Iliescu is a brand". He concluded in his own way, making jokes: "I am not Che Guevara, who was a good friend of Fidel Castro's up to a certain point. At least, I hope not to end up like Che Guevara".