Typology of electoral candidates. Case study: Sorin Oprescu

• Author: Coman, C.
• Position: Faculty of Sociology and Communication, Transilvania University of Brasov
• Pages: 7-18

Bulletin of the Transilvania University of Braşov

Series VII: Social Sciences • Law • Vol. 4 (53) No. 2 – 2011

TYPOLOGY OF ELECTORAL

CANDIDATES.

CASE STUDY: SORIN OPRESCU

Claudiu COMAN1

Abstract: By applying the content analysis tec hnique of communication and

by using analysis patterns such as the theory of rational choices, the

dramaturgical model, the attraction model, the transactional analysis, this

study identifies 4 typical categories of candidates to Romania’s presidency

(elitist, dominating, reactive, sociable). In the analysis of the electoral

itinerary of candidate Sorin Oprescu there are considered aspects such as

identity, symbolism, volunteering, propagandas and medi a exposure, in order

to make a SWOT analysis, thus facilitating the understan ding of the

candidate failure within the election process.

Keywords: electoral campaigns, candidates, content analysis.

1 Faculty of Sociology and Communication, Transilvania University of Braşov.

1. Argument

A persuasive message has the role of

directing preexistent beliefs more than of

creating new ones. By preserving the same

idea we may conclude that the electoral

candidate’s image or his profile contains

the electorate’s elements of faith,

communicated in a noticeably objective

register, as an unjustified form of his daily

activity. T he key to a successful electoral

communication is that of building and

distributing an image of t he candidate

meant to reflect the majority of the

electorate, as we tend to accept those

attitudes and actions of t he individuals that

resemble ours and to reject the unknown or

the peculiar.

This study aims at emphasizing the

typology of the candidates to Romanian

presidency by accentuating the particular

case of Sorin Oprescu. Sorin Oprescu is,

by far one of the most picturesque figures

of the Romanian political scene outlined

within the p ublic space by the means of a

particular behaviour, apart from the

conventional pattern of politics,

characterized by lack of constraints, a

personality and an expression that lack

censorship moments. His communication

style brings him closer to Băsescu’s

typology, but also to the noisy yet tasty

attitudes of Vadim Tudor or G igi Becali.

To these, we add the credibility issue that

favors Sorin Oprescu, outlined during a

long period spent in previous electoral

campaigns. Even if from the