In 1998 he obtained a Ph.D. in Political Science from the EHESS, Paris with "summa cum laude, with the felicitations of the jury in unanimity".

Between March 1999 and December 2000, Cristian Preda was the presidential adviser for domestic policies of the Romanian President Emil Constantinescu.

On March 15, 2007 Cristian Preda became presidential adviser for education and research[2] and continued to be the personal representative for Francophonie for President Traian Băsescu.

He was nominated on the 4th position in the list of Liberal Democratic Party for the European Parliament elections on June 7, 2009.

In 2014 Preda joined the People's Movement Party founded by Traian Băsescu and was re-elected to the European Parliament.

He is the spokesman of the European People's Party Group on foreign affairs and First Vice-Chair of the Subcommittee on Human Rights.