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Mircea SnegurMoldovan politician, first president of Moldova (1991-1996).
Date of Birth: 17.01.1940
Country:  Moldova |
Content:
Biography of Mircea Snegur
Mircea Snegur is a Moldovan politician and the first President of Moldova (1991-1996). He was born in 1940 in the village of Frumușica, Florești District. In 1956, he graduated from a secondary school in Frumușica. He then went on to study agronomy at the Kishinev Agricultural Institute, graduating in 1961.
Political Career
After completing his education, Snegur worked as an agronomist and chairman of a collective farm in the village of Lunga, Florești District from 1961 to 1968. He later joined the Ministry of Agriculture of the Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic (MSSR). In 1981, he became the secretary of the Communist Party Committee in the Edineț district and in 1985, he became the secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Moldova.
In April 1990, Snegur was appointed as the Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the MSSR. Later that year, he became the President of the Soviet Socialist Republic of Moldova after the country's independence. During his presidency, Snegur did not support the Popular Front of Moldova's immediate unification with Romania, leading to a temporary boycott by the Popular Front. However, in 1992, he regained their support by advocating for the elimination of the self-proclaimed autonomy of Transnistria, which eventually led to the Transnistrian conflict.
Under Snegur's presidency, Moldova's independence was recognized by more than 130 countries, and the country became a member of the United Nations and more than 40 other international organizations. However, the country faced challenges such as a decline in production, increased emigration, and the closure of many scientific and design institutions. The liberalization of foreign imports also dealt a blow to the local industry, resulting in increased unemployment.
Later Career
In the 1996 presidential elections, Snegur received a relative majority of votes in the first round (38.7%). However, in the second round, his opponent Petru Lucinschi, supported by left-wing and centrist forces, received more votes than Snegur. Currently, Snegur is the Chairman of the Party of Rebirth and Conciliation of the Republic of Moldova.
Recognition and Personal Life
Mircea Snegur has been awarded several state honors, including the Order of Honor, the Medal for Labor Valor, and the Order of the Republic. He has also received honorary doctorates from various universities. Snegur is married and has a daughter and a son.
