PSD leaders attend Alfred Simonis's third son's baptism in Timișoara

Christening in Timișoara

Alfred Simonis, president of the Timiș County Council, christened his third son on Saturday evening, 31 October, at a party in Timișoara. Sorin Grindeanu, the PSD president, was the godfather. Several hundred guests attended, and the party began around 19:00.

Party leaders and ministers

Former prime minister Marcel Ciolacu came with his partner, Sorina Docuz, who is 23 years younger than him. Sources describe it as the first time the couple had been filmed together at an event, and the first time Ciolacu acknowledged the relationship in public. Lia Olguța Vasilescu, mayor of Craiova, attended with her husband, Claudiu Manda, the PSD secretary general. Marian Neacșu, the new interior minister and deputy prime minister, sat at the same table as Vasilescu, Manda and Ciolacu. Other guests included ministers Florin Manole, Alexandru Rogobete, Paul Stănescu and Bogdan Ivan, as well as former health minister Alexandru Rafila. Daniel Băluță, mayor of Sector 4, walked into a different wedding in the adjoining room before realising his mistake and leaving.

Vasilescu sent her wishes to the child:

“I wish the little one only good thoughts, that he be healthy, that he grow up beautifully and healthily.”

Music and entertainment

Italian singer Al Bano was the special guest of the evening and performed in front of the guests. Damian Drăghici and Teo Rose also sang at the party. The mood was kept up through the performances, which sources describe as the central entertainment of the event. Several hundred guests heard the music from the tables where the party leaders sat.

Family ties and earlier christenings

Simonis and Grindeanu have been linked for years through family ties. Grindeanu was godfather at the 2018 wedding of Simonis and his wife, Elena. In February 2020 he also baptised the couple's son David, when Loredana Groza provided the entertainment and other PSD leaders attended.

Same-day politics

On the same day, the USR congress also took place in Timișoara. There Dominic Fritz attacked Grindeanu directly and named Simonis among other social-democrat leaders, while Radu Miruță also made accusations against the PSD. In the social-democrat camp, however, the mood at the christening was festive.