They are all in-laws. Coincidence or not, they are all in-laws and they are ruling the country. This was true the day before yesterday, when the Christian-Democrats were ruling - and Ion Diaconescu’s nephews followed their famous uncle and great-uncle in positions of power; it was true yesterday, during the Social Democrat Party ruling, as it is true today, during the center-right government.

This time, however, is the time of godfathers and godsons - literally. Emil Boc, the head of the Democrat Party ssenior member of the ruling coalitiont, anointed his godchild, Alin Tise, as Cluj County prefect.

Former deputy-PM, Gheorghe Seculici, is an in-law of President Traian Basescu too, since Basescu became his daughter’s godfather when she married Gheorghe Falca, the mayor of Arad city and former president of the youth organization of the Democrat Party.

Basescu is also the godfather of Ion Carstoiu’s daughter, the former deputy and current Arges County prefect. This close family ties gave Carstoiu grounds to rant against "Godfather Basescu", when the latter sas president of the Democrat Party, at the timet struck him out of the party’s electoral roster at last year’s parliamentary elections.

Rumor has it that Basescu is also the godfather of Laurentiu Mironescu, a House member and former director of the Constanta Port, and of Razvan Taru, head of the Veterinary Agency.

And the trend of overlapping in-law links with party links goes on.

Two weeks ago, Adriean Videanu, Bucharest mayor and executive president of the DP, became the godfather of Liviu Negoita, mayor of Bucharest 3rd ward and DP vice-president, when he witnessed the latter’s marriage.

In other cases the family links are even stronger.

Cezar Preda, DP vice-president, is married to Janina Preda, president of the National Agency for Regulating the Public