Dorin Recean
Recean in 2023
Prime Minister of Moldova
Assumed office
16 February 2023
PresidentMaia Sandu
Deputy
See list
Preceded byNatalia Gavrilița
Defense and National Security Advisor to the President – Secretary of the Supreme Security Council
In office
7 February 2022 – 16 February 2023
PresidentMaia Sandu
Preceded byAna Revenco
Succeeded byStanislav Secrieru
Minister of Internal Affairs
In office
24 July 2012 – 18 February 2015
PresidentNicolae Timofti
Prime MinisterVladimir Filat
Iurie Leancă
Preceded byAlexei Roibu
Succeeded byOleg Balan
Deputy Minister of Information Technology and Communications
In office
29 January 2010 – 24 July 2012
PresidentMihai Ghimpu
Vladimir Filat
Marian Lupu
Nicolae Timofti
Prime MinisterVladimir Filat
MinisterAlexandru Oleinic
Pavel Filip
Personal details
Born (1974-03-17) 17 March 1974 (age 49)
Dondușeni, Moldavian SSR, Soviet Union
CitizenshipMoldova
Political partyIndependent
Children2
EducationAcademy of Economic Studies of Moldova (BA)
Newport International University (MBA)
Occupation
  • Politician
  • professor
  • businessman

Dorin Recean (born 17 March 1974) is a Moldovan economist and politician serving as Prime Minister of Moldova since February 2023. Since 2022 he has also served as Presidential Advisor on Defense and National Security, and Secretary of Moldova's Supreme Security Council. He previously served as Minister of Internal Affairs of Moldova from July 2012 to February 2015. He has extensive experience in the private sector and in the IT industry with a specialisation in data, including big data, and information analysis. He also worked in development institutions and was previously a lecturer at several universities.

He is considered to be pro-Western and a strong supporter of the accession of Moldova to the European Union.[1] He has opposed and criticised Russia's invasion of Ukraine and supported subsequent steps to reduce Moldova's economic dependence on Russia, expressing his sympathy and support for Ukraine in the conflict.[2] He has argued for an end to Moldova's military neutrality and increasing military cooperation with NATO.[3][4]

Early life and education

Recean was born in Dondușeni in the Soviet Union on 17 March 1974.[5] He later moved with his family in Mîndîc village, Drochia district. In 1996, he graduated from the Academy of Economic Studies of Moldova with a Bachelor's degree in International Business Management.[6] In 2000, Dorin Recean graduated with a Master's degree in Business Administration from Newport International University's Belgium branch.[6]

Career

Academia

Dorin Recean started his career as a lecturer in 1995 at his alma mater, the Academy of Economic Studies, and continued teaching there until 2007.[7] From 2002 to 2010 he also worked in different private companies in various capacities. He also taught at the Chișinău-based Newport International University from 2000 to 2010.[7]

Politics

In January 2010, Dorin Recean was appointed Deputy Minister of Information and Communication Technology, where he was responsible for implementing new secure documents, including the biometric passport, as part of the visa-liberalization action plan. He has been a member of the Governmental Task Force on Visa-liberalization with the EU.[8]

In July 2012, he was appointed as Interior Minister in the Cabinet led by Vlad Filat, replacing Alexei Roibu.[9][10] On May 31, 2013, Recean was reappointed as Interior Minister in the Cabinet led by Prime Minister Iurie Leancă.[11][12]

Immediately after the November 2014 elections, Recean announced his retirement from politics and that he would pursue a private business career in Fintech.[13] He promoted IT technologies in the field of mobile remittances and payments with the aim of broadening the access of migrant workers and their relatives to secure and affordable money transfers and payments.

On February 7, 2022, he was appointed by President Maia Sandu as Presidential Advisor on Security Issues and Secretary General of the Supreme Security Council.[14]

On September 26, 2022, Recean said that "Moldova can no longer rely exclusively on foreign policy instruments, one of which is its neutrality status, to ensure state stability," adding that "Moldova must start working on increasing its defence potential... The authorities need to obtain the conscious support of citizens who should understand that it is critical for the state's survival", calling for funds to be allocated to the task.[15]

Premiership

Main article: Recean Cabinet

In February 2023, Dorin Recean was appointed Prime Minister of Moldova by President Maia Sandu, following the resignation of Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilița.[16][17] He was sworn in on February 16, 2023.[18] Since being sworn in, Recean has continued to pursue Moldova's accession to the European Union.[19]

On March 1, during the meeting with the Romanian Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă and President Klaus Iohannis, both countries pledged to boost economic ties following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Romania reiterated its support for Moldova's accession to the European Union.[20]

On March 14, Recean announced that Moldova had reached an agreement with the International Monetary Fund on a new $94 million tranche under the existing lending program - as part of a larger $800 million fund agreed with IMF in 2022 to help Moldova deal with the impact of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.[21]

On March 24, Moldova and the European Free Trade Association announced that it had reached an agreement on a comprehensive free trade agreement, after two years of negotiations, allowing Moldova to export goods without paying customs tariffs to the other members.[22][23] The agreement was signed in Vaduz, the capital of Liechstenstein. At the summit in Switzerland, Recean met with representatives of Liechstenstein, Switzerland, Iceland, and the representatives of Google.[24]

On April 6, he thanked the Prime Minister of Poland, Mateusz Morawiecki, for expressing his government's support for an accelerated pathway for Moldova's accession to the European Union.[25]

On May 18, Recean announced at a security conference in Bucharest that Moldova was no longer using Russian gas or electricity, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, stating that "Moldova is integrated in the European energy network both technically and commercially."[26]

On June 26, he commented that the aborted Wagner mutiny in Russia "is a clear indication of the weakness of the Russian leadership and the Russian management of the army" and that "Russia is much weaker than people perceived it to be".[27] He also stated in regards to the Transnistrian conflict that "first of all Moldova will solve this Transdniestria issue peacefully". "This is fundamental. The first thing is to demilitarise the region where Russian troops are stationed illegally. This will most likely happen when Russians are pushed out of Ukraine."[27]

Political views

Recean supports Moldova's membership to the EU and closer ties with the West. Right after his oficial nomination, Recean declared: "The new government will have three priorities: order and discipline, revitalizing economy, and peace and stability. The new government will continue the implementation of Moldova's strategic course – integration to the European Union."[28]

Personal life

Recean is married and has two children. He speaks English, French, and Russian in addition to his native Romanian.[6]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Factbox: Who is new Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean?". Reuters. 16 February 2023. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  2. ^ Mînzat, Olga (25 May 2023). "Dorin Recean, at the Kyiv Security Forum: we stand by the people of Ukraine and share a common European future". Radio Moldova. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  3. ^ Golban, Ionela (28 April 2023). "Dorin Recean: Moldova will increase the spectrum of cooperation with NATO". Radio Moldova. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  4. ^ "MOLDOVA CONTINUES TO MODERNIZE DEFENSE SECTOR ACCORDING TO INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS". 17 May 2023. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  5. ^ "Deputy Minister". Ministry of Information Technology and Communications. Archived from the original on 13 April 2012. Retrieved 14 April 2013.
  6. ^ a b c "Dorin Recean, Minister of Internal Affairs". Government of the Republic of Moldova. Archived from the original on 22 November 2012. Retrieved 14 April 2013.
  7. ^ a b "Moldovan PM demanded Interior and Education Ministers to be dismissed". BASA Press. 24 July 2012. Archived from the original on 3 July 2013. Retrieved 14 April 2013.
  8. ^ "Factbox: Who is Dorin Recean, nominee for Moldovan prime minister?". Reuters. 10 February 2023. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
  9. ^ "Two Moldovan Ministers resigned". Politicom. 24 July 2012. Archived from the original on 28 December 2013. Retrieved 14 April 2013.
  10. ^ Ţurcanu, Aurelia (24 July 2012). "New ministers invested. See what their priorities are!". Tribuna. Archived from the original on 29 December 2013. Retrieved 14 April 2013.
  11. ^ "Iurie Leanca is new prime Minister and Cabinet appointed". Trade Bridge. 31 May 2013. Archived from the original on 28 December 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  12. ^ "Leanca's Cabinet, sworn in". Teleradio Moldova. 31 May 2013. Retrieved 28 December 2013.
  13. ^ "Ministrul Dorin Recean anunţă că pleacă în sectorul privat" [Minister Dorin Recean announces he is leaving for the private sector]. ipn.md (in Moldavian). 15 December 2014. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  14. ^ Străjescu, Carolina (10 February 2023). "Who is Dorin Recean, the candidate designated by Maia Sandu for the position of prime minister". Radio Moldova. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  15. ^ "Moldova can't rely only on neutral status, security aide says". Reuters. 26 September 2022. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  16. ^ Jardan, Cristian; McGrath, Stephen (10 February 2023). "Moldovan President names candidate for Prime Minister". ABC News. Associated Press. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  17. ^ "New government sworn in office in Moldova". Moldpres. 16 February 2023. Archived from the original on 16 February 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2023. The new government was sworn in office, after it had been given vote of confidence in parliament today.
  18. ^ "Moldova: New pro-Western government sworn in, faces 'crises'". AP News. 16 February 2023. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  19. ^ Day, Michael (20 February 2023). "Moldova fears it may be next country on Putin's hitlist as government vows to continue pro-West". i News. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  20. ^ "Moldova and Romania vow to boost ties amid war in Ukraine". Reuters. 1 March 2023. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  21. ^ "Moldova reaches agreement on new IMF tranche - PM". Reuters. 14 March 2023. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  22. ^ Kräuchi, Thomas. "Moldova | European Free Trade Association". EFTA. Archived from the original on 30 June 2023. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  23. ^ Rusica, Viorica (27 June 2023). "Moldovan producers will export goods to Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland without paying customs fees. Maia Sandu: "An important step"". Radio Moldova. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  24. ^ Rusica, Viorica (27 June 2023). "Dorin Recean had a meeting with the Prime Minister of Liechtenstein and representatives of the Google corporation". Radio Moldova. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  25. ^ "Polish PM says fast-track route for Moldovan EU membership is possible". Reuters. 6 April 2023. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  26. ^ "Moldova no longer using Russian natural gas, PM says". Reuters. 18 May 2023. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  27. ^ a b Revill, John (26 June 2023). "Moldovan PM says Russian mutiny shows Moscow's weakness". Reuters. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  28. ^ Jardan, Cristian; McGrath, Stephen (10 February 2023). "Pro-Western Recean set to succeed Moldova's PM who resigned". Associated Press. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
Political offices Preceded byAlexei Roibu Minister of Internal Affairs 2012–2015 Succeeded byOleg Balan Preceded byNatalia Gavrilița Prime Minister of Moldova 2023–present Incumbent
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