{{Short description|Romanian politician (born 1954)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = | name = | honorific_suffix = {{Post-nominals|size=100%|MEP}} | image = 1718895607994 20240620 GRAPINI Maria RO 018.jpg | caption = Official portrait, 2024 | constituency_MP = [[Romania (European Parliament constituency)|Romania]] | term_start = 1 July 2014 | term_end = | parliament = European | office2 = Romanian Minister of Small and Medium Enterprises, Commerce and Business Environment | term_start2 = 21 December 2012 | term_end2 = 5 March 2014 | president2 = [[Traian Băsescu]] | prime_minister2 = [[Victor Ponta]] | office3 = Member of the [[Chamber of Deputies (Romania)|Chamber of Deputies]] | term_start3 = December 2012 | term_end3 = 25 March 2014 | successor3 = {{ill|Florică Bîrsășteanu|ro}} | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1954|11|07|df=yes}}<ref name="cv"/> | birth_place = [[Berești]], Romania<ref name="cv"/> | death_date = | death_place = | party = [[Humanist Power Party|PPU]] (2020–present) | other_party = [[Conservative Party (Romania)|PC]] (2006–2015) <br /> [[Humanist Power Party|PPU]] (2015–2019) <br /> [[Social Democratic Party (Romania)|PSD]] (2019–2020) | spouse = | relations = | children = | alma_mater = [[Gheorghe Asachi Technical University of Iași]] | occupation = Politician | profession = Businesswoman, textile engineer | website = }}
'''Maria Grapini''' (born 7 November 1954) is a [[Romanians|Romanian]] businesswoman and politician. She served as the Deputy Minister in the [[Second Ponta cabinet]]. Since 2014, Grapini has been a [[Member of the European Parliament]] for the [[Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/ro/124785/MARIA_GRAPINI/history/8|title=Istoricul legislaturilor|work=European Parliament|access-date=20 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190630170904/http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/ro/124785/MARIA_GRAPINI/history/8|archive-date=30 June 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
== Early life and education == Grapini was born on 7 November 1954 in [[Berești]], [[Galați County]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-09-10 |title=Curriculum vitae {{!}} Maria Grapini {{!}} Deputați europeni {{!}} Parlamentul European |url=https://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/ro/124785/MARIA_GRAPINI/cv |access-date=2025-09-10 |website=www.europarl.europa.eu |language=ro}}</ref> She graduated from the Berești Theoretical High School in 1973 and the [[Gheorghe Asachi Technical University of Iași]] in 1978.<ref name="cv">{{cite web|url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/ro/124785/MARIA_GRAPINI/cv|title=Curriculum vitae|work=European Parliament|access-date=20 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190601225921/http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/ro/124785/MARIA_GRAPINI/cv|archive-date=1 June 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
== Career == Grapini held various positions at the Garofița Textile Enterprise in [[Timișoara]] until 1989.<ref name="agerpres">{{cite web|url=https://www.agerpres.ro/flux-documentare/2014/05/29/europarlamentar-ales-maria-grapini-pc-biografie-12-50-17|title=Europarlamentar ales Maria Grapini (PC) – biografie|work=[[Agerpres]]|editor=Marina Bădulescu|date=29 May 2014|access-date=20 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401142926/https://www.agerpres.ro/flux-documentare/2014/05/29/europarlamentar-ales-maria-grapini-pc-biografie-12-50-17|archive-date=1 April 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Between 1995 and 2012, she was the president of the Council of Administration and general manager of {{ill|Pasmatex|ro}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ziare.com/maria-grapini/stiri-maria-grapini/guvernul-ponta2-cine-este-maria-grapini-ministrul-pentru-imm-1208113|title=Guvernul Ponta2: Cine este Maria Grapini, ministrul pentru IMM|work=Ziare.com|date=19 December 2012|access-date=20 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401142212/http://www.ziare.com/maria-grapini/stiri-maria-grapini/guvernul-ponta2-cine-este-maria-grapini-ministrul-pentru-imm-1208113|archive-date=1 April 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> She also served as the president of the Council of Administration of SC Pasmatex Conf International SA from 1998 to 2012.<ref name="agerpres" />
Grapini was the president of both the Women Entrepreneurs Association of Romania and the Light Industry Employers Federation. She was a member of the National Council of Exporters and Honorary [[Consul (representative)|Consul]] of [[India]] in Romania.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mediafax.ro/politic/biografie-cine-este-maria-grapini-nominalizata-ministru-pentru-imm-uri-turism-si-mediul-de-afaceri-in-cabinetul-ponta-ii-10401722|title=BIOGRAFIE: Cine este Maria Grapini, nominalizată ministru pentru IMM-uri, Turism și Mediul de Afaceri în Cabinetul Ponta II|work=[[Mediafax]]|author=Ioana Câmpean|date=19 December 2012|access-date=20 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401140120/https://www.mediafax.ro/politic/biografie-cine-este-maria-grapini-nominalizata-ministru-pentru-imm-uri-turism-si-mediul-de-afaceri-in-cabinetul-ponta-ii-10401722|archive-date=1 April 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
== Political activity == Between 2006 and 2015, Grapini was the vice president of the [[Conservative Party (Romania)|Conservative Party]] (PC).<ref name="cv" /> In June 2015, Grapini announced her resignation from the party. She accused PC President [[Daniel Constantin (politician)|Daniel Constantin]] of seizing the party and being responsible for its disappearance following the decision of unifying it with the [[Liberal Reformist Party (Romania)|Liberal Reformist Party]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-politic-21697007-partidul-mariei-grapini-rupt-din-fostul-lui-dan-voiculescu-putea-reactiva-fuziona-alde-condus-tariceanu-surse.htm|title=Partidul Mariei Grapini, rupt din fostul PC al lui Dan Voiculescu, s-ar putea reactiva; este posibilă o fuziune cu ALDE condus de Tăriceanu, fără Daniel Constantin – surse|work=[[HotNews]]|author=I. Roșca|date=3 April 2017|access-date=20 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401151205/https://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-politic-21697007-partidul-mariei-grapini-rupt-din-fostul-lui-dan-voiculescu-putea-reactiva-fuziona-alde-condus-tariceanu-surse.htm|archive-date=1 April 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> A month later, Grapini joined the Humanist Power Party.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cotidianul.ro/grapini-s-a-inscris-in-alt-partid/|title=Grapini s-a înscris în alt partid|work=Cotidianul|author=Rareș Constantinescu|date=2 July 2015|access-date=20 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401140155/https://www.cotidianul.ro/grapini-s-a-inscris-in-alt-partid/|archive-date=1 April 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
In 2012, Grapini was elected as the deputy of the 37th constituency at [[Timiș County]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cdep.ro/pls/parlam/structura2015.mp?idm=153&leg=2012&cam=2&pag=1|title=Sinteza activității parlamentare în legislatura 2012–2016|work=Camera Deputaților|access-date=20 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190720123946/http://www.cdep.ro/pls/parlam/structura2015.mp?idm=153&leg=2012&cam=2&pag=1|archive-date=20 July 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> On 19 December 2012, she was appointed as the Minister for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, Business and Tourism Environment in the [[Second Ponta cabinet]].
===Member of the European Parliament, 2014–present=== In January 2014, the PC announced Grapini's resignation from the position due to her candidacy in the [[2014 European Parliament election]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://adevarul.ro/news/politica/ministru-europarlamentare-1_52e8e679c7b855ff56e5edf2/index.html|title=Maria Grapini va renunța la funcția de ministru pentru a candida la europarlamentare. Ultimul scandal în care a fost implicată aceasta|newspaper=[[Adevărul]]|author=Mădălina Mihalache|date=29 January 2014|access-date=20 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401151529/https://adevarul.ro/news/politica/ministru-europarlamentare-1_52e8e679c7b855ff56e5edf2/index.html|archive-date=1 April 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> She later resigned from Parliament for the same reason.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ziare.com/maria-grapini/stiri-maria-grapini/maria-grapini-a-demisionat-din-parlament-1289649|title=Maria Grapini a demisionat din Parlament|work=Ziare.com|date=24 March 2014|access-date=20 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401151324/http://www.ziare.com/maria-grapini/stiri-maria-grapini/maria-grapini-a-demisionat-din-parlament-1289649|archive-date=1 April 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
In the election, the PC ran candidates on common lists with the [[Social Democratic Party (Romania)|PSD]] and [[National Union for the Progress of Romania|UNPR]]; Grapini was the fifth candidate.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-politic-16877515-alianta-electorala-psd-unpr-depus-bec-listele-candidatilor-pentru-europarlamentare.htm|title=Alianța electorală PSD-UNPR-PC a depus la BEC listele candidaților pentru europarlamentare/ Victor Ponta: Scorul pe care noi ni l-am propus este de 35%|work=[[HotNews]]|author=I. R.|date=22 March 2014|access-date=20 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401151235/https://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-politic-16877515-alianta-electorala-psd-unpr-depus-bec-listele-candidatilor-pentru-europarlamentare.htm|archive-date=1 April 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> The alliance won with 37.6% of the votes, and Grapini was elected.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/elections2014-results/en/country-results-ro-2014.html|title=Results of the 2014 European elections|work=European Parliament|access-date=20 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190603013455/https://www.europarl.europa.eu/elections2014-results/en/country-results-ro-2014.html|archive-date=3 June 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
Grapini was re-elected at the [[2019 European Parliament election in Romania]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thenewfederalist.eu/catching-the-wave-romania-s-parliamentary|title=Catching the wave: Romania's parliamentary opportunity|author=Ioan Bucuraș|work=Le Taurillon|date=4 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190607090006/https://www.thenewfederalist.eu/catching-the-wave-romania-s-parliamentary-opportunity|archive-date=7 June 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref> Although not officially registered with the party, Grapini was the sixth candidate on the PSD list.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pressone.ro/misterul-transferului-mariei-grapini-la-psd-e-pe-lista-noastra-%E2%88%92-si-cu-asta-gata/|title=Misterul transferului Mariei Grapini la PSD: "E pe lista noastră − și, cu asta, gata!"|work=PressOne|author=Maria Tufan|date=27 March 2019|access-date=20 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190720123946/https://pressone.ro/misterul-transferului-mariei-grapini-la-psd-e-pe-lista-noastra-%E2%88%92-si-cu-asta-gata/|archive-date=20 July 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
In addition to her committee assignments, Grapini is part of the European Parliament Intergroup on Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs).<ref>[https://www.europarl.europa.eu/about-parliament/files/organisation-and-rules/organisation/intergroups/list-of-members-sme.pdf Intergroup on Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs)] [[European Parliament]].</ref>
== Published works == Grapini has published four books.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ziuadevest.ro/marturisiri-patra-carte-lansata-de-europarlamentarul-maria-grapini/|title=Mărturisiri – a patra carte lansată de europarlamentarul Maria Grapini|work=Ziua de Vest|author=Gheorghe Miron|date=14 October 2017|access-date=20 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401143136/https://www.ziuadevest.ro/marturisiri-patra-carte-lansata-de-europarlamentarul-maria-grapini/|archive-date=1 April 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> The first was published in 2011 and contains interviews that Grapini had over time at Radio Timișoara.<ref name="recorder">{{cite web|url=https://recorder.ro/maria-grapini-a-scris-un-roman-de-dragoste-cu-pasaje-copiate-de-pe-wikipedia/|title=Maria Grapini a scris un roman de dragoste cu pasaje copiate de pe Wikipedia|work=Recorder|author=Mihai Voinea|date=19 July 2017|access-date=20 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190611235409/https://recorder.ro/maria-grapini-a-scris-un-roman-de-dragoste-cu-pasaje-copiate-de-pe-wikipedia/|archive-date=11 June 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2012, she published a novel, ''Viața, între scrieri și trans-scrieri'', which contained a critical presentation signed by {{ill|Cornel Ungureanu|ro}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cotidianul.ro/o-noua-impostoare-in-literatura-maria-grapini-cea-care-plagiaza-de-pe-wikipedia/|title=O nouă impostoare în literatură: Maria Grapini, cea care plagiază de pe Wikipedia|work=Cotidianul|author=Ion Spânu|date=24 July 2017|access-date=20 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401131316/https://www.cotidianul.ro/o-noua-impostoare-in-literatura-maria-grapini-cea-care-plagiaza-de-pe-wikipedia/|archive-date=1 April 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> In an investigation published by ''Recorder'', journalist Mihai Voinea showed that the novel contained several fragments copied from Wikipedia.<ref name="recorder" />
== Criticism == Grapini has attracted media criticism due to her frequent spelling and punctuation mistakes in her Facebook account.<ref name="site"/> In July 2015, a website named Grapinizer was launched, allowing users to convert grammatically correct [[Romanian language]] text into her writing style: "[it] adds redundant commas, changes the order of letters within words, and removes blanks spaces after punctuation marks."<ref name="site">{{cite web|url=http://www.mediafax.ro/life-inedit/grapinizer-aplicatia-online-care-va-corecteaza-textele-dupa-modelul-maria-grapini-14632223|title=Grapinizer, aplicația online care vă "corectează" textele după modelul Maria Grapini|work=[[Mediafax]]|author=Liliana Micu|date=23 July 2015|access-date=20 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190720123357/https://www.mediafax.ro/life-inedit/grapinizer-aplicatia-online-care-va-corecteaza-textele-dupa-modelul-maria-grapini-14632223|archive-date=20 July 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
In August 2018, Grapini appealed to the [[National Council for Combating Discrimination]] due to a Facebook message. In the message, she offended the [[Romanian diaspora]] at an anti-government rally in the [[Victory Square, Bucharest|Victory Square]], saying they had to "pay dumb taxes for the [[Save Romania Union|USR]]".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.digi24.ro/stiri/actualitate/politica/maria-grapini-reclamata-la-cncd-pentru-mesajul-anti-diaspora-977739|title=Maria Grapini, reclamată la CNCD pentru mesajul anti-diaspora|work=[[Digi24]]|date=9 August 2018|access-date=20 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327092203/https://www.digi24.ro/stiri/actualitate/politica/maria-grapini-reclamata-la-cncd-pentru-mesajul-anti-diaspora-977739|archive-date=27 March 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Later, Grapini said she disagreed with the statement and explained why she distributed the message:
{{blockquote|text=I distributed to see that not all of the diaspora has the same point of view. A diaspora lady posted this. I posted one single time, without making any comments. My message is that no one can pretend to represent the entire diaspora.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://stirileprotv.ro/stiri/politic/grapini-explica-distribuirea-mesajului-injurios-pe-facebook.html|title=Grapini explică distribuirea mesajului injurios pe Facebook|work=Știrile Pro TV|date=9 August 2018|access-date=20 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190720123346/https://stirileprotv.ro/stiri/politic/grapini-explica-distribuirea-mesajului-injurios-pe-facebook.html|archive-date=20 July 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>}}
==Recognition== In 2019, Grapini was the recipient of the Internal Market & Consumer Protection Award at the annual [[The Parliament Magazine#The MEP Awards|MEP Awards]] of ''The Parliament Magazine''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theparliamentmagazine.eu/articles/event-coverage/mep-awards-2019-heartfelt-reactions-our-winners|title=MEP Awards 2019: Heartfelt reactions from our winners|last=Hutchinson|first=Lorna|date=21 March 2019|work=[[The Parliament Magazine]]|access-date=13 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190406180043/https://www.theparliamentmagazine.eu/articles/event-coverage/mep-awards-2019-heartfelt-reactions-our-winners|archive-date=6 April 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist|2}}
== External links == {{Commons category}} * [http://www.mariagrapini.ro/ Official site] {{Current EP Romania}}{{EP Political Group S&D}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Grapini, Maria}} [[Category:1954 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Members of the Chamber of Deputies (Romania)]] [[Category:MEPs for Romania 2014–2019]] [[Category:MEPs for Romania 2019–2024]] [[Category:Romanian engineers]] [[Category:Gheorghe Asachi Technical University of Iași alumni]] [[Category:Members of the Romanian Cabinet]] [[Category:Romanian businesswomen]] [[Category:Women MEPs for Romania]] [[Category:Women members of the Romanian Cabinet]] [[Category:Social Democratic Party (Romania) politicians]] [[Category:People from Berești]] [[Category:21st-century Romanian women politicians]] [[Category:MEPs for Romania 2024–2029]]