child in the plexus or in the face". An flashpoint of the 2009 presidential election was the revelation that Geoană, then President of the Senate and vice-president of the Supreme Council of National Defence, made a private visit to Moscow on April 27, 2009, where he met with Dimitry Medeved, then President of the Russian Federation. The visit was confirmed by Cristian Diaconescu, the Romanian Minister of Foreign Affairs at the time of the visit and by his campaign team although initially dening knowledge of such a meeting taking place. Geoană's opponents, including Traian Băsecu and Crin Antonescu, criticized Geoană for this visit and the manner in which it was organized. The visit became an important topic during the presidential election because it raised questions about Geoană's stance on Russia at that time. Concerns were also brought up about Geoană's possible ties to Boris Golovin, a Russian businessman and a former Soviet GRU/Spetnaz officer, the person who allegedly organized the visit. Golovin is a Russian businessman with interests in the Romanian energy sector who presents himself as a former Soviet GRU/Spetnaz officer. Senate Presidency On 22 November 2011, after refusing to step down as the President of the Senate of Romania following the request of the PSD leadership, he was ousted as member of the party, losing the confidence of his colleagues in the Executive National Council of PSD where his dismissal was voted 50 to 5 while 3 abstained. In the following days he will have to step down as President of the Upper House of the Romanian Parliament as he no longer has the support of a party group in the Senate. The following day he was revoked by the senators in the plenary meeting with 112 votes for, 2 against and 5 abstentions. He remains an independent senator. He was readmitted into the party banks in Autumn 2012, after a reconciliation with the PSD leadership. Personal life He is married to Mihaela Geoană, Former President of the Romanian Red Cross from 2007 to 2015. They have two children together: a daughter, Maria and a son, Alexandru Ion. Electoral history Mayor of Bucharest Presidential elections References External links Official website |- 1958 births Ambassadors of Romania to the United States Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies alumni Candidates for President of Romania Eastern Orthodox Christians from Romania École nationale d'administration alumni Living people Members of the Senate of Romania