

A dynamic mayor who transformed Chișinău's urban landscape and championed a pro-European vision for Moldova's capital.
Dorin Chirtoacă emerged as a central figure in Moldovan politics during a period of intense national reorientation. Elected Mayor of Chișinău in 2007, his tenure was defined by a push to modernize the capital's infrastructure and public spaces, often framing these projects as steps toward European integration. His leadership style, marked by youthful energy and a flair for public engagement, positioned him as a counterpoint to older political establishments. Chirtoacă's time in office, which lasted until 2018, coincided with significant political turbulence in Moldova, and he became a vocal advocate for anti-corruption reforms and closer ties with the EU. His career reflects the aspirations and complexities of post-Soviet Moldovan identity, navigating between Eastern and Western influences.
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Dorin was born in 1978, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
The biggest hits of 1978
#1 Movie
Grease
Best Picture
The Deer Hunter
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
The world at every milestone
First test-tube baby born
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Dolly the sheep cloned
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
He is the nephew of former Moldovan Prime Minister Iurie Leancă.
Chirtoacă is a trained lawyer, graduating from the Moldovan State University.
“We must replace Soviet-era concrete with parks that belong to a European capital.”