Mircea Ion Snegur (b. January 17, 1940 – Trifăneşti, now in Florești District) was the first President of Moldova[1] from 1990–1997.[2] Before that he was Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet 1989–1990 (head of state) and Chairman of the Supreme Soviet from 27 April to 3 September 1990. In the Soviet era, he was often known in English as Mircha Ivanovich Snegur, a transliteration from the Russian Мирча Иванович Снегур.
Biography [edit]
A former Communist Party official, Snegur endorsed independence for Moldova and actively sought Western recognition. Moldova declared its independence from the Soviet Union in August 1991. However, Snegur's opposition to immediate reunification with Romania led to a split with the Popular Front of Moldova in October 1991 and to his decision to run as an independent candidate in a December 1991 presidential election. Running unopposed, he won after the Popular Front's efforts to organize a voter boycott failed.
In the presidential elections of 1996, Parliamentary speaker Petru Lucinschi surprised the nation with an upset victory over Snegur in a second round of balloting.
Education [edit]
Chişinău Institute of Agriculture
Career [edit]
Member of the Communist Party of Moldova 1964–1990
- 1967–1971 - worked as agronomist, manager of state and collective farms
- 1971–1978 - with the Ministry of Agriculture
- 1978–1981 - Director General of the Selektsiya Research Production Association, Kishinev
- 1981–1985 - Secretary of the Communist Party committee of Yedinetskiy district
- 1985–1989 - Secretary in the Central Committee of the CP of Moldavia
- 1989–1990 - Chairman of the Presidium of Supreme Soviet of Moldavia
- 1990 (April–September) - Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of Moldavia
- 1990–1996 - President of independent Moldova
Honours and awards [edit]
References [edit]
| Persondata |
| Name |
Snegur, Mircea |
| Alternative names |
|
| Short description |
President of Moldova |
| Date of birth |
January 17, 1940 |
| Place of birth |
Trifăneşti, Florești District |
| Date of death |
|
| Place of death |
|
