Romania is the small eastern European country and a secular state with no state religion but an overwhelming majority of the population is Christian. Its government sent thousands of police officers to its borders during last year's refugee crisis to keep Syrians out. At the country's 2011 census, 81.0% of respondents identified as Orthodox Christians belonging to the Romanian Orthodox Church. That’s why it isn’t expected for such a country to have Muslims in important political functions.
Romania is a country where only 0.3 percent of the population is Muslim and yet they might soon have the European Union's first Muslim head of government. Sevil Shhaideh, whose father emigrated from Turkey to Romania, is expected to soon be named prime minister after her party won 45 percent of the popular vote in elections earlier this month and formed a coalition with the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats. If that happens, Sevil Shhaideh would not be only the first Muslim prime minister but also the first woman in that position in Romania.
After studying economics, the most high-profile job Sevil Shhaideh held was secretary of state in the Ministry of Regional Development. It lasted for only six months because opponents were arguing that Shhaideh was only being nominated as a figurehead while Social Democratic (PSD) leader Liviu Dragnea ruled behind the scenes. Mr. Dragnea, who, as party chief, would normally be appointed to become Prime Minister, was found guilty of electoral fraud and given two years' suspended sentence in April 2016 so, his critics say, Dragnea chose a largely unknown politician who will be dependent on him. And Mr. Dragnea made no bones about the nature of the appointment, telling reporters, "the political responsibility stays with me first of all."
Another reason why this choice is unusual is the fact that Shhaideh's husband is a Syrian businessman and former official in Bashar al-Assad's Agriculture Ministry. He left Syria in 2010, shortly before the Arab Spring began, but he still owns several properties in government-held parts of the country.
Sunni Islam has a history in Romania that dates back hundreds of years. Most Romanian Muslims live in the southeast of the country, in a region only about 150 miles from Turkey.
Shhaideh is expected to be nominated for the office of prime minister after Christmas. She would officially take office after receiving approval from the president and a majority vote of parliament.
Photo Credits: Hirado.hu
