Romanian Democratic-Liberal MEP Monica Iacob Ridzi has employed Elena Basescu, the daughter of President Traian Basescu, as an intern at the European Parliament. EP sources have told HotNews.ro that Elena Basescu was employed starting September 1 and wanted to learn how European bodies were working.

In this position, Elena Basescu may attend EP commission works, debates and the writing of reports. She would receive a monthly salary paid from the budget of the Democratic-Liberal MEP.

Monica Iacob Ridzi is head of the youth wing of Romania's pro-presidential Democratic-Liberal Party (PD-L)., where Elena Basescu serves as secretary general. Last year, Elena Basescu's name was circulated as a possible candidate on PD-L lists for the European Parliament elections which took place in late 2007, but his father said at the time he would not encourage her to run for the seat as she needed more experience.