Romanian entrepreneur Viorel Catarama, one of the first Romanian entrepreneurs who emerged after the fall of communism in 1989 and who has made a fortune with his furniture business Elvila, will run for presidency as independent this fall.

His slogan will be “Free Romanians defeat political Mafia”. Catarama wants to change the Constitution and ban political hiring in public functions, elect chief judges, ban changes in public work contracts after being signed.

He also aims to reforms political parties and the Parliament, and make possible a EUR 500 minimum salary in four years, while convincing the 3 million Romanians who work abroad to return home. Catarama still needs the 200,000 signatures required to submit his candidacy.

Viorel Catarama, with an estimated wealth of some EUR 80 million, founded the Elvila furniture business in the early 90s, when he also entered politics, joining the National Liberal Party PNL. He achieved various important functions in the party, including that of president and vice-president, but was excluded in 2010.

Catarama was also the president of the Financial Assistance and Investments Society - SAFI - and investment fund which ended up causing damages to investors, but for which Catarama was not prosecuted.

editor@romania-insider.com