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Dodon in 2018

5th President of Moldova
In office 23 December 2016 – 24 December 2020
Prime Minister	Pavel Filip Maia Sandu Ion Chicu
Preceded by	Nicolae Timofti
Succeeded by	Maia Sandu
President of the Party of Socialists
Incumbent
Assumed office 23 March 2024
Preceded by	Himself (as Executive Secretary)
In office 30 December 2020 – 18 December 2021
Preceded by	Zinaida Greceanîi
Succeeded by	Vlad Batrîncea (as Executive Secretary)
In office 18 December 2011 – 18 December 2016
Preceded by	Veronica Abramciuc
Succeeded by	Zinaida Greceanîi
First Deputy Prime Minister of Moldova
In office 31 March 2008 – 14 September 2009
President	Vladimir Voronin Mihai Ghimpu (acting)
Prime Minister	Zinaida Greceanîi
Preceded by	Zinaida Greceanîi
Minister of Economy and Trade
In office 18 September 2006 – 14 September 2009
Prime Minister	Vasile Tarlev Zinaida Greceanîi
Preceded by	Valeriu Lazăr
Succeeded by	Valeriu Lazăr (as Minister of Economy)
Deputy Minister of Economy and Trade
In office 18 May 2005 – 18 September 2006
President	Vladimir Voronin
Prime Minister	Vasile Tarlev
Member of the Moldovan Parliament
In office 23 July 2021 – 28 October 2021
Succeeded by	Adrian Lebedinschi
Parliamentary group	Bloc of Communists and Socialists
In office 14 August 2009 – 15 December 2016
Succeeded by	Irina Mizdrenco
Parliamentary group	Bloc of Communists and Socialists

Personal details
Born	(1975-02-18) 18 February 1975 (age 50) Sadova, Călărași, Moldavian SSR, Soviet Union
Citizenship	Moldova Russia
Political party	PSRM (2011–2016, 2020–present)
Other political affiliations	PCRM (2010-2011)
Spouse	Galina Dodon (m. 1999)
Children	3
Alma mater	State Agrarian University of Moldova Academy of Economic Studies of Moldova IMI-NOVA International Management Institute
Awards	Order of Work Glory Knight of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem

Igor Dodon (born 18 February 1975) is a Moldovan politician. He served as the 5th president of Moldova from 2016 to 2020. He is currently the leader of the Party of Socialists of the Republic of Moldova since 2024.

Before becoming president, he was the Minister of Economy and Trade. He held this role from September 2006 to September 2009. He was also a member of the Parliament of Moldova from 2009 to 2016. In the 2020 Moldovan presidential election, he lost his re-election bid to Maia Sandu. He had previously defeated her in the 2016 Moldovan presidential election.

In May 2022, Dodon was investigated by Moldovan authorities. He was placed under house arrest for a period. He was released in November 2022, pending a court trial.

Early Life and Education

Igor Dodon was born on 18 February 1975. His birthplace was Sadova village in the Călărași District. This area was then part of the Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic. It is now part of Moldova. His parents were Nicolae (who passed away in 2012) and Galina Dodon. His mother was a Romanian language teacher.

Academic Journey

Dodon studied at the State Agrarian University of Moldova. He graduated from the Faculty of Economics in 1997. In 1998, he graduated from the Faculty of Management. This was at the Academy of Economic Studies of Moldova. He later studied law and economics at the International Management Institute. He earned a Doctor in Economic Sciences degree. This was from the Academy of Economic Studies of Moldova.

From 1997 to 2005, Dodon also worked as a teacher. He taught at several universities. These included the Academy of Economic Studies of Moldova. He also taught at the Free International University of Moldova. He met his wife, Galina, in May 1995.

Professional Career

After finishing his studies, Igor Dodon started working. In July 1997, he joined the Moldova Stock Exchange. He worked there until 2001. He held various roles, including senior specialist. He also managed electronic trading systems. Later, he became Director of the Marketing and Listing Department.

From November 2001 to May 2005, he was chairman. He was also a board member of the National Depository of Securities of Moldova SA. He chaired the Universal Commodity Exchange of Moldova. This was from September 2002 to May 2005. He was also part of expert committees. These were for the National Securities Commission of Moldova.

Political Journey

In May 2005, Dodon became an Associate Minister of Trade and Economics. This was during the government led by Vasile Tarlev. In September 2006, he became the full Minister of Trade and Economics. He held this position until September 2009. This was when the government of Zinaida Greceanîi ended. Dodon also served as Associate Prime Minister under Greceanîi from 2008 to 2009.

In 2005, the Communist Party won elections. They had a platform that supported closer ties with Europe. In 2007, many political groups aimed for a pro-European approach. Igor Dodon, during his trips to Brussels, assured European officials. He stated that he and his party supported European integration.

In September 2009, the Communist Party became an opposition party. Igor Dodon lost his ministerial role. He became a Member of Parliament. He was re-elected in November 2010. By 2010, the Communists shifted their focus. They became more supportive of Russia.

Igor Dodon's views changed too. He became a strong supporter of Moldova's independence. He believed Moldova could be a meeting point for different countries. He saw it as a place where economic interests could connect. He thought Moldova was in a good position. It could link the interests of both the CIS and the EU.

In June 2011, Dodon ran for mayor of Chișinău. He lost to Dorin Chirtoacă, getting 49.4% of the votes. During this campaign, Dodon visited Brussels. He met with European officials. He wanted to build partnerships.

In November 2011, Dodon left the Party of Communists of the Republic of Moldova (PCRM). He hoped to help end a political crisis. This crisis had lasted since 2009. Zinaida Greceanîi and Veronica Abramciuc also left the party. Dodon said their goal was to avoid early elections. They wanted to ensure stability for Moldova.

On 18 December 2011, Dodon joined the Party of Socialists of the Republic of Moldova (PSRM). He was elected chairman of the party. In March 2012, Dodon and two other former communists voted for Nicolae Timofti. Timofti became the president of Moldova. Dodon later said he regretted this vote.

After becoming president, Dodon resigned as PSRM chairman. Zinaida Greceanîi became the interim leader.

Presidency

Igor Dodon became president on 23 December 2016. His inauguration took place at the Palace of the Republic. Soon after, the flag of Europe was removed from the presidential building. On 4 January 2017, Dodon met with Vadim Krasnoselsky. Krasnoselsky is the leader of Transnistria. This was the first meeting between leaders of Moldova and Transnistria in eight years. In October 2017, Dodon signed a law. This law reformed the Academy of Sciences of Moldova.

In an interview, Dodon said he was not "pro-Russian" or "pro-Western." He stated he was a "pro-Moldavian politician." He believed in respecting Moldova's own interests.

Igor Dodon and Vladimir Putin, 2018

In 2018, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko visited Moldova. He was the first foreign leader to meet Dodon in Moldova. Dodon also worked to make the Russian language mandatory in Moldovan schools.

In May 2018, Dodon announced a plan. He wanted to change Moldova from a parliamentary republic to a presidential republic. This would give the president more power. Polls in 2019 showed that Igor Dodon was the most trusted politician in Moldova.

The Presidential Palace in Condrița was renovated. This was done with help from the Turkish government. The renovated palace opened on 17 October 2018. Dodon and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attended the ceremony.

In October 2018, Dodon said Moldova could host a Pan-Orthodox Council. This council would discuss church matters. He also stated that Moldova would remain under the Moscow Patriarchate. He opposed the pro-Romanian Metropolis of Bessarabia.

In early 2019, President Dodon ordered a committee. This committee planned events for the 75th anniversary of Moldova's liberation. This included restoring monuments and making a documentary. Dodon also led celebrations for Moldova's 660th anniversary.

During the 2019 Moldovan constitutional crisis, Dodon was temporarily removed from his duties. A court decision led to this. Former Prime Minister Pavel Filip became acting president.

In 2020, Dodon ordered a commission. It would consider awarding medals to war veterans. This was for the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II. He also postponed Victory Day celebrations to August 24. This was due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Dodon announced he would run for another term on 9 September. He said he was doing it "on behalf of the people." He promised to dissolve parliament after the elections.

Temporary Suspensions

Igor Dodon was temporarily suspended from his duties several times.

On 17 October 2017, he was suspended. This was for not swearing in a proposed Defence Minister.
On 2 January 2018, he was suspended again. This was for not swearing in seven ministers.
Days later, he was suspended for vetoing a bill. This bill restricted Russian news broadcasts. The parliament then passed the law without his approval.
On 24 September 2018, he was suspended again. This was for not approving a candidate for Minister of Health.
On 9 June 2019, he was temporarily suspended as president. This was during a constitutional crisis. Pavel Filip was appointed interim president.

Foreign Relations

Dodon focused on Moldova's relationships with other countries.

Neighboring Countries

In January 2017, Dodon said Moldova would not officially recognize Crimea as Russian. He stressed the need for friendship with Ukraine. He also wanted to solve the Transnistrian problem. In September 2017, the Ukrainian Ambassador said he did not expect Dodon to visit Kyiv. This was because Dodon did not respect Ukraine's territory. Dodon also stated that the Gagauz city of Taraclia would not be affected by reforms.

Dodon never made an official visit to Bucharest, Romania. He believed Romanians who supported unification with Moldova were an "enemy." However, he told Romanian President Klaus Iohannis that good relations were a "key priority."

Russia

Igor Dodon is seen as a pro-Russian politician. He supports the idea of Moldova becoming a federation. This aligns with views from Russian officials. In late September 2019, Dodon said Moldova had moved away from an anti-Russian stance. This was through its partnership with the Party of Action and Solidarity. In August 2020, he planned to take a Russian COVID-19 vaccine. He said he trusted it more than an American one.

Europe

In a 2020 speech, Dodon spoke about Europe. He supported the idea of a united Europe. He imagined it stretching from Lisbon to Vladivostok.

Dodon with Italian President Sergio Mattarella in November 2017

Other Countries

In August 2018, Dodon mentioned Moldova's allies. He said Russia and Turkey were close friends to Moldova. In December 2018, after visiting Israel, he considered moving Moldova's embassy to Jerusalem. In July 2017, he welcomed a delegation from North Korea. He said North Korea had potential for trade with Moldova. He mentioned their interest in Moldovan wines.

Position on Transnistria

Dodon's views on Transnistria changed over time. Early in his presidency, he suggested Moldova could be federalized. Currently, he believes Transnistria should have special self-governing status. This would be similar to Gagauzia. He noted that Transnistria's attempts to gain independence had not succeeded.

Neutrality

On 3 October 2017, Dodon met with military commanders. He was the first Moldovan leader to do so. He shared his vision for the armed forces. He wanted to ban Moldovan soldiers from overseas exercises. This would require his approval.

Foreign Visits

Dodon's first two international visits were to Moscow and Brussels. Since taking office in December 2016, he made 47 foreign visits. These were to 19 different countries. Twenty of these visits were to Russia. In October 2019, he visited Istanbul. He attended the opening of Istanbul Airport. He also attended a ceremony for Turkey's 95th anniversary.

In 2019, he attended the Munich Security Conference in Germany. He also attended the Seventy-fourth session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York City. He called his UN visit "successful." He felt he promoted Moldova's interests well. In June 2018, he attended the 2018 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony in Moscow. He also attended the 2019 European Games in Minsk. In October 2018, he spoke in French at a summit in Yerevan.

Visits Hosted in Chișinău

Dodon hosted several leaders in Moldova:

Country	Leader	Date(s)
Belarus	Alexander Lukashenko	April 2018
Republic of Macedonia	Gjorge Ivanov	16–18 July 2018
Turkey	Recep Tayyip Erdoğan	17–18 October 2018
Hungary	Viktor Orbán	15 March 2020

2020 Election

After the first round of the 2020 Moldovan presidential election, Dodon criticized the Moldovan diaspora. He said they were out of touch with Moldova. He felt their preference for Maia Sandu showed this.

During the second round, Dodon used a proverb. He said, "do not change the pigeon on your hand by the magpie on the fence." He referred to himself as the "pigeon." This led to many online jokes and memes. People who opposed Dodon used this phrase as an insult. Sandu responded by saying, "an injured pigeon came out to the press." She also posted a video of herself feeding pigeons.

The day after the elections, Dodon met with his party. Socialist deputies suggested he return to lead the PSRM.

Dodon faced criticism for not giving president-elect Sandu a security guard. This is a tradition for incoming presidents. On 24 December 2020, Sandu was sworn in. She then met Dodon at the Presidential Palace. Dodon officially transferred power to her.

Post-Presidency

After his presidency, Igor Dodon visited Russia. He went as the head of the PSRM. He discussed trade agreements for Moldova. He said he discouraged protests after the election. He wanted to prevent unrest in the country. He also claimed that many people would realize they were wrong about the election results. He accused Sandu of trying to take power. He also said her security council was a threat to national security.

In March 2021, Dodon suggested using Moldova's foreign currency reserves. This was to help with the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the governor of the National Bank of Moldova opposed this. He said the idea was against the law.

On 6 May 2021, Dodon visited Minsk with Zinaida Greceanîi. They unveiled a monument to a Moldovan war hero. During this visit, he met with President Lukashenko.

Election Season

In May 2021, Dodon formed an alliance. He joined with former President Vladimir Voronin. They created the Electoral Bloc of Communists and Socialists. This alliance ran in the 2021 Moldovan parliamentary election. This alliance surprised many people. Dodon and Voronin had previously accused each other of wrongdoing.

Personal Life

Igor Dodon married Galina Dodon in 1999. They have three sons: Bogdan, Vlad, and Nicolae. His oldest son, Vlad, enjoys playing water polo. Igor's brother, Aleksander, co-owns a waste management company.

Dodon speaks several languages. His native language is Romanian (which he calls Moldovan). He also speaks Russian, French, and English. He has used French and English in public speeches. He is good friends with Colonel General Victor Gaiciuc. Gaiciuc is one of his advisers. Dodon had suggested Gaiciuc for defense minister. Dodon supports the Union of Officers of Moldova. He holds an honorary rank there.

On 9 September 2018, Dodon was in a car accident. It happened on the Chișinău-Călărași highway. Dodon was not hurt. However, his mother and middle son, Nicolae, had serious injuries.

Awards

Order of Work Glory (25 March 2008)
Order of the Holy Sepulchre (Holy See)
Order of St. Sergius of Radonezh (Russian Orthodox Church)
Medal "75 Years of Victory in the Great War for the Defense of the Fatherland" (Belarus)