Elena Udrea, former Tourism and Regional Development Minister and head of the Bucharest branch of the Democratic Liberal Party (PDL) announced on Tuesday (June 12) her resignation from a leading position in the party. This came after PDL's worse than expected results in the recent local elections, losing most mayoral and city council seats across the country and outrun by the governing coalition Social Liberal Union (USL).

Ealier this year, Udrea reminded of the need for PDL to restructure and also mentioned she's thinking of having a baby in the near future.

Udrea, one of the most talked about presences in the former PDL government, attracted plenty of local and international media attention. She boldly posed for a fashion magazine, in an issue dedicated to powerful women, after she had caught media's eye for her expensive Dolce & Gabbana dress that she wore during a TV show and a press conference. Her expensive taste in fashion was both criticized and admired, and she has stated that politics can be done in high heels, as well as by the blonde and the young. Udrea also made international headlines for having sent high heeled shoes to some flooded areas, as help for those in distress. Before becoming a minister, she was lampooned for not knowing that Norway is a monarchy and not part of the European Union.

The media has also speculated on an alleged love affair between president Basescu and Elena Udrea.

Before becoming a minister, Udrea, a law graduate, was member of the National Liberal Party, having got involved in politics in 2002. In 2005, she became a state counselor and the head of president Traian Basescu's chancellery. She had worked with Basescu before, during his mandate as Bucharest mayor, when Udrea was a counselor, president of the Judicial and Discipline Commission at Bucharest City Hall.

Married to businessman Dorin Cocos since 2003, Udrea has held a ministerial seat since 2008, as Tourism Minister and Environment Minister interim.

editor@romania-insider.com

(photo source: Elena Udrea's Facebook account, from Tabu pictorial)