Born in
Bucharest, Athanasiu studied at the
Gheorghe Lazăr High School in Bucharest, and later graduated from the law school at the Bucharest University. Between 1978 and 1982, he was employed by the
Bucharest Court of Appeal. Having joined the newly created PSDR after the
Romanian Revolution of 1989, Athanasiu was first elected to
Parliament as a
deputy in 1992, being nominated to the Committee for Labor and Social Protection. A
Minister of Labor in the
Victor Ciorbea CDR cabinet, he retained the office under Radu Vasile and his own premiership, being replaced by
Smaranda Dobrescu during the leadership of
Mugur Isărescu. In 1999, he replaced
Sergiu Cunescu at the head of the PSDR, leading it into fusion with
Adrian Năstase's Party of Social Democracy, PDSR (the fusion led to the creation of the PSD). In 2000, he was elected to the
Romanian Senate on PSDR lists, representing
Bihor County (re-elected in 2004 on PSD lists); he stood on the Committee for Foreign Policies. In 2003–2004, Athanasiu also served as
Minister of Education in the Adrian Năstase executive (replacing
Ecaterina Andronescu). Athanasiu is married with two children. ==References==