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Ion Chicu

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Ion Chicu
Chicu in 2020
President of the Party of Development and Consolidation of Moldova
Incumbent
Assumed office
14 April 2021
14th Prime Minister of Moldova
In office
14 November 2019 – 31 December 2020
PresidentIgor Dodon
Maia Sandu
Deputy
See list
Preceded byMaia Sandu
Succeeded byAureliu Ciocoi (acting)
Financial Advisor to the President
In office
8 July 2019 – 14 November 2019
PresidentIgor Dodon
Minister of Finance
In office
10 December 2018 – 8 June 2019
PresidentIgor Dodon
Prime MinisterPavel Filip
Preceded byOctavian Armașu
Succeeded byNatalia Gavrilița
Secretary General of the Ministry of Finance
In office
2 January 2018 – 10 December 2018
PresidentIgor Dodon
Prime MinisterPavel Filip
MinisterOctavian Armașu
Succeeded byGabriela Cuneva
Deputy Minister of Finance
In office
1 March 2006 – 4 April 2008
PresidentVladimir Voronin
Prime MinisterVasile Tarlev
MinisterMihail Pop
Mariana Durleșteanu
Personal details
Born (1972-02-28) February 28, 1972 (age 52)
Pîrjolteni, Moldavian SSR, Soviet Union
(now Moldova)
Citizenship Moldova
 Romania
Political partyParty of Development and Consolidation of Moldova (since 2021)
Alma materAcademy of Economic Studies of Moldova

Ion Chicu ([ˈkiku]; born 28 February 1972) is a Moldovan economist and politician who served as Prime Minister of Moldova between 2019 until his resignation in 2020.

Biography

Chicu (far left) with Moldovan National Security Adviser Victor Gaiciuc (center left), Moldovan President Igor Dodon (center) and Defence Minister Pavel Voicu in August 2019.

He was born on 28 February 1972 in the village of Pîrjolteni, located in the Moldovan Călărași District. He graduated from the Faculty of Management at the Academy of Economic Studies of Moldova. In 2005, he worked as director of the General Directorate of Structural Reforms of the Ministry of Economy and Trade. In the mid-late 2000s, he was the Deputy Minister of Finance of Moldova. From April 2008 to September 2009, he was the chief state adviser to Prime Minister Vasile Tarlev on economic issues and external relations. He also served as chairman of the Strategic Development Council of the Nicolae Testemițanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, worked as a consultant on public finance management in various projects. In January 2018, he was appointed Secretary General of the Ministry of Finance and in December of that year he became the Minister of Finance. He resigned from this post during the 2019 Moldovan constitutional crisis which brought down the Filip Cabinet.

He is married with three children.

After his term as prime minister ended, he subsequently founded his own political party in 2021, more specifically the Party of Development and Consolidation of Moldova, with a stated pro-European ideology.[1] He failed to obtain any seats in the 11th legislature of the Moldovan Parliament after 11 July 2021.

Premiership (2019–2020)

See also: Chicu Cabinet
Chicu with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev in Moscow on 20 November 2019.

On 14 November 2019, the government of Prime Minister Maia Sandu was defeated in a vote of no confidence after attempts to pass bills to change the judicial system. With the support of just over 60% of MPs, Chicu was approved as a replacement prime minister.[2] The same day he announced that his government would "fulfill all obligations of the state to external partners and international financial organizations, primarily the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank".[3] At the time of his appointment, he was described by President Igor Dodon as "a technocrat, a professional who has not been in any political party",[4] although Chicu did serve as an advisor to President Dodon.[4] The day after, he was introduced to a new Cabinet of Ministers by President Dodon, which included Victor Gaiciuc as defense minister and Pavel Voicu as interior minister.[5] On 20 November, he went to Moscow on his first working visit, where he held talks with Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.[6][7]

In May 2020, during a Facebook fight with Romanian MEP Siegfried Mureșan, he declared Romania to be the most corrupt country in Europe. Mureșan responded by criticizing the Moldovan government for not implementing reforms or fighting corruption. Chicu's words caused controversy in Romania. In fact, Moldovan-born Romanian deputy Constantin Codreanu requested the withdrawal of Chicu's Romanian citizenship. Other Romanian authorities also criticized his words. However, collaboration during the COVID-19 pandemic continued between the two countries.[8][9] Chicu would later apologize during a meeting with the Romanian ambassador in Moldova Daniel Ioniță, reiterating his thanks to the country for its help to Moldova during the pandemic.[10] He tested positive for COVID-19 on 9 December 2020.[11]

Chicu and his government resigned as Prime Minister on 23 December 2020 amid protests demanding early parliamentary elections.[12] He initially continued as acting prime minister but refused to stay on until a new government was formed, and was replaced by Aureliu Ciocoi on 31 December 2020.[13][14]

Politics after premiership

On 31 March 2021, the Party of Development and Consolidation of Moldova (PDCM) was founded by Chicu; it was officially registered on 17 April of that year.

2024 presidential campaign

Main article: 2024 Moldovan presidential election
Chicu's 2024 presidential campaign logo

On 22 September 2024 Chicu registered for the 2024 Moldovan presidential election, and officially announced his candidacy the following day.[15][16] Chicu pledged to be the "President of all Moldovans" and in his announcement speech said "With the will of God and the support of over 27,000 fellow citizens who put their trust in us signing for my nomination, I am committed to fighting for a better future for Moldova."[15]

He said in his announcement speech that he wouldn't have launched the campaign if not for pressure from the leadership of the PDCM.[15] He also centered his campaign around improving the demographic situation, ensuring decent pensions and social allowances, developing the national economy and ensuring access to quality healthcare services.[15] Chicu stated that as President he would be committed to European integration, as that reflects "the national interest."[15] However, he also said he would implement "democratic and transparent regulations on the activity of non-governmental organizations."[16]

Despite his support for European integration Chicu stated he was opposed to the EU membership referendum claiming it would be “dangerous” for Moldova’s statehood and that the referendum is just an attempt by incumbent President Maia Sandu to bolster her support for a second term.[17]

Chicu would lose in the first round, earning 31,785 votes or 2.06% of the electorate.[18]

References

  1. ^ Ursu, Valentina (3 April 2021). "Ion Chicu: Dacă noi nu înțelegem că cineva ne scindează artificial, vom dispărea ca popor și ca stat (VIDEO)". Radio Europa Liberă Moldova (in Romanian).
  2. ^ "Moldova's Parliament Backs Ion Chicu as New PM". November 14, 2019.
  3. ^ "Moldovan parliament approves Ion Chicu as new prime minister" – via mobile.reuters.com.
  4. ^ a b Moldovan Parliament Approves New 'Technocratic' Government November 14, 2019 rferl.org
  5. ^ "Глава государства провел встречу с Премьер-министром и новыми министрами". president.md. 15 November 2019.
  6. ^ "Russian-Moldovan talks". m.government.ru. 17 October 2023.
  7. ^ "Moldovas New Prime Minister Chicu Plans To Visit Moscow Later This Week". UrduPoint.
  8. ^ Necșuțu, Mădălin (25 May 2020). "Moldova PM sparks feud with Romania over corruption claim". Balkan Insight.
  9. ^ "Tensiuni diplomatice între România și Republica Moldova. Reacția președintelui Igor Dodon". Digi24 (in Romanian). 23 May 2020.
  10. ^ "Premierul moldovean Ion Chicu dă înapoi după întâlnirea cu ambasadorul român". Radio Europa Liberă România (in Romanian). 25 May 2020.
  11. ^ "Moldovan prime minister contracts coronavirus, adviser says". Reuters. 9 December 2020.
  12. ^ "Moldova lurches toward snap elections after PM, cabinet resign". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 23 December 2020.
  13. ^ Maia Sandu l-a numit premier interimar pe Aureliu Ciocoi
  14. ^ Președintele Republicii Moldova, Maia Sandu, a semnat decretul de numire în calitate de premier interimar a domnului Aureliu Ciocoi
  15. ^ a b c d e "Ion Chicu launches campaign: I will be a President of all Moldovans". ipn. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  16. ^ a b "Former prime minister launched campaign for head of state". moldpress. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  17. ^ Rotari, Iurie. "Ion Chicu va candida la prezidențiale, dar va boicota referendumul de aderare la UE pentru că ar fi „periculos" pentru statalitatea Moldovei". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  18. ^ "Sandu, Stoianoglo to stand in presidential runoff in Moldova". Interfax-Ukraine. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
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