Nicolae Timofti President of Moldova Date of Birth: 22.12.1948

1. Early Life and Education
2. Legal Career
3. Leadership in the Judiciary
4. Return to the Judiciary
5. Presidency
6. Personal Life

Early Life and Education

Nicolae Timofti was born on December 22, 1948, in the village of Ciutulești in northern Moldova. He grew up in a large family and attended the local school for his primary and secondary education.

Legal Career

In 1967, Timofti enrolled in the law faculty of the Chișinău State University. He graduated in 1972 with a degree in law. After completing his military service, he became a consultant at the Ministry of Justice of the Moldavian SSR. In 1976, he was appointed as a judge in the Frunzensky District Court of Chișinău.

In 1980, Timofti was promoted to the Supreme Court of the Moldavian SSR. In 1990, he became Vice-Chairman of the Supreme Court and head of the Criminal Law Division. After Moldova declared independence in 1991, Timofti retained his positions until 1996.

Leadership in the Judiciary

In 1996, Timofti was elected as the Chairman of the Moldovan Association of Judges (Asociația Judecătorilor din Moldova, ASM), a position he would hold multiple times throughout his career. He also became the Chairman of the Chișinău Court of Appeals. As a member of the Higher Council of Magistracy, he oversaw the appointment, promotion, and disciplinary measures for judges.

In 2001, Timofti unsuccessfully ran for the position of Chairman of the Higher Council of Magistracy. In 2002, after the Communist Party of the Republic of Moldova came to power, Timofti was dismissed from his position as head of the Court of Appeals without any official reason. The ASM included his name in a list of judges who had been removed for "political reasons."

Return to the Judiciary

Timofti continued to work in the judicial system, serving as a judge in the Civil and Administrative Law Division of the Chișinău Court of Appeals from 2003 to 2005. In 2005, he was appointed to the Higher Judicial Council and re-elected in 2009.

Presidency

In 2012, the Alliance for European Integration coalition nominated Timofti as their candidate for President of Moldova. He was elected on March 16, 2012, with the support of 62 deputies. He was sworn into office on March 23, 2012.

Personal Life

Nicolae Timofti is married and has three adult sons. It has been reported that one son is a lawyer, one is a sports journalist, and the third works abroad.