BUCHAREST (Web Desk) – Romania- Social Democratic Party (PSD) has nominated 52-year-old Shhaideh for seat of prime minister. If she wins approval from the president and Parliament, she will be both the first Muslim and the first woman to hold the post.
Shhaideh has served as regional development minister for former left wing party. She is also a relative of famous Turkish historian Kemal Karpat, who is a native of eastern Romanian town of Babadag.
Critics of her surprise nomination argue that Shhaideh lacks sufficient political experience and would become the effective mouthpiece of Social Democrat chairman Liviu Dragnea.
Only 0.3 per cent of Romanians are Muslims.
Ms Shhaideh is not only a member of the tiny Sunni population which has persevered for seven centuries on the coast of the Black Sea, but is married to a Syrian, and she and her husband own properties in the war-torn country.
Romania’s Social Democrats (PSD) cruised to victory in parliamentary elections on December 11 with 45 percent of the vote. The party and its allies, the ALDE party, have a comfortable majority of 17 seats in parliament.
