Maia Sandu is a Moldovan stateswoman and politician, President of Moldova (2020 – present).
Place of Birth, Education
She was born on May 24, 1972 in the village of Risipeni, Falesti district in Moldova.
In the period from 1989 to 1994, she studied at the Academy of Economic Education of Moldova.
From 1995 to 1998, she studied at the Academy of Public Administration under the President of Moldova. She studied international relations.
In 2010, she studied at the Harvard John Fitzgerald Kennedy Institute of Government.
Career
Since July 1, 1994, Sandu has worked as a chief specialist of the Department of Cooperation with the European Union (EU) and the Black Sea Basin of the Department of Foreign Economic Relations of the Ministry of Economy of Moldova.
In June 1996, she was appointed a consultant in the General Directorate for Cooperation with International Economic Organizations.
In the period from 1997 to 1998, she served as deputy head of the department.
In 1998 – 1999 she held the position of consultant, and from 1999 to 2005 she worked as an economist at the World Bank office in Chisinau.
In the period from 2005 to 2006, she worked at the Ministry of Economy of Moldova as Director of the Main Directorate of Macroeconomic Policy and Development Programs.
From March to September 2007, she was a program coordinator within the United Nations Development Program in Moldova, and during 2007 – 2009 she was a consultant on the reform of central public administration.
Between 2010 and 2012, Sandu served as Advisor to the Executive Director of the World Bank in Washington, D.C., United States of America (USA).
On July 24, 2012, she was appointed Minister of Education of Moldova. While holding the position, she initiated a number of reforms in the field of education, in particular, changed the procedure for conducting national exams. Enhanced control over their assembly was introduced: metal detectors were installed at the entrances in many centers, and all classrooms were equipped with video surveillance cameras. The examination papers of students exposed in cheating were annulled, and the violators themselves were deprived of the opportunity to retake the exams during an additional session.
Political Activities
On December 22, 2015, Sandu announced the founding of her own political force – the Action and Solidarity party.
In October 2016, she took part in the presidential elections in Moldova and took second place in the first round, receiving 38% of the vote. The first was Igor Dodon, leader of the Party of Socialists, who scored 48%. The second round of elections took place on November 13, 2016. Sandu won about 48% of the vote and lost to Dodon, who won 52%.
On June 8, 2019, Sandu was elected the 13th Prime Minister of Moldova. On the same day, the country’s Constitutional Court declared her appointment unconstitutional, causing a political crisis. A week later, the court’s decision was overturned.
On November 12, 2019, the Moldovan parliament decided to resign the government headed by Sandu.
In July 2020, the Action and Solidarity Party (PAS) nominated Sandu as a candidate for the presidency of Moldova. In the first round of elections, which took place on November 1, she won first place, receiving 36.16% of the vote. In the second round, which took place on November 15, 2020, Sandu won with 57.75% of the vote.
On November 3, 2024, Sandu again won the second round of the presidential election, receiving 55.33% of the vote, which secured her a second term as head of the country.
Marital Status
Sandu is not married.
There are no children.
