Roberta Anastase
A Romanian political figure who broke the glass ceiling of her country's parliament, becoming the first woman to preside over the Chamber of Deputies.
Born 1976 (age 50)·Romanian politician·Birthday: March 27·Generation X
Biography
Roberta Anastase's political career charts a path through the heart of modern Romanian governance. A member of the Liberal Democratic Party (later merged into the PDL), she rose through the ranks with a focus on European integration and foreign policy, serving as a member of the European Parliament before turning her focus homeward. Her defining moment came in 2008 when she was elected President of the Chamber of Deputies, Romania's lower house. In this role, she wasn't just another politician; she was a historical first, shattering a longstanding gender barrier in a political landscape traditionally dominated by men. For nearly four years, she managed the chamber's often turbulent debates, steering legislative processes with a firm hand. Her tenure symbolized a shift toward greater female representation in Eastern European politics, marking a significant step in Romania's post-communist evolution.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Roberta was born in 1976, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Roberta Was Born
The biggest hits of 1976
#1 Movie
Rocky
Best Picture
Rocky
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Roberta's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1976Born
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1981Started school
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1989Became a teenager
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1992Could drive
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1994Could vote
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1997Turned 21
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2006Turned 30
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2016Turned 40
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 50
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Elected as the first female President of the Chamber of Deputies of Romania, serving from 2008 to 2012.
- Served as a Member of the European Parliament for Romania from 2007 to 2008.
- Held the position of Vice-President of the European People's Party group in the European Parliament.
Did You Know?
She holds a PhD in International Relations and European Integration from the University of Bucharest.
Anastase was a member of the Romanian delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly.
She was first elected to the Romanian Chamber of Deputies in 2004, representing Bucharest.
“Romania's place is in a strong and united Europe, and we must work tirelessly to secure it.”
