SERAFIM URECHEANU
General Mayor
of Chisinau Municipality

Serafim Urechean was born on 2nd of February 1950 in Larga Village, Bricieni District, in the family of peasants. After graduating the high school from the native village he continued his education at the Polytechnic Institute from Chisinau, faculty of industrial and civil construction, which he graduated in 1974, having the qualification of engineer in construction.

In the same year he begun the military service, in the frame of which, during 2 years, enriched his knowledge at the building site of automobile works from Toliatti City, taking an active part at its construction.

After demobilization, in 1976, he continued his professional activity in the native district – Briceni as a chief of a building site and chief of construction at the District Association of construction. He was managing the construction of a lot of important institutions of the district.

In 1978 he was invited to work in the party bodies. He was in the position of chief of Industrial and Housing Division and then, the Second Secretary of the District Committee of Briceni of the Communist Party of Moldova.

In 1985 graduated the High School of Political Studies from Leningrad, after which he came back to the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Moldova having the position of inspector. In the same year was transferred to the position of the Second Secretary of the Anenii Noi District Committee of the Communist Party of Moldova. In November 1985 was elected as a chairman of Anenii Noi District Executive Committee.

In the period of 1987-1994 developed his activity in the management of the Trade Union of Moldova, at the beginning as Deputy Chairman an then as the first Deputy Chairman and the Chairman of the Federation.

In the period of 1991-1994 he was the Deputy in the Parliament of Republic of Moldova, being the Chairman of the independent deputies and the candidate to the state important positions, for example the position of Prime Minister of the state.

In August 1994, by a Decree of the President of Republic of Moldova he was appointed to the position of the Mayor of Chisinau Municipality. As follows, during the elections of 1999 and 2003 the majority of the citizens of the capital entrusted him the same position, being Mayor till present days.

Despite the difficult economic situation of the country, Mr. Serafim Urechean has the outstanding merit in the reanimation of economy of municipality, urbanism and culture of the Capital of Republic of Moldova. At his initiative and under his management was restored the Cathedral “Nasterea Domnului” from the centre of Chisinau, also was build the Steeple of the Cathedral, were opened a lot of libraries, bookshops and important cultural monuments.

Were opened new trolleybus lines: at Botanica, Schinoasa, Durlesti, Posta Veche and Ciocana. Were reconstructed a lot of streets in the centre and periphery of the capital. Was increased the amount of new urban passenger transportation units as buses and trolleybuses.

Mayor Serafim Urechean made big efforts in social field. Due to the good fiscal activity, Chisinau Municipality became a locality in which in the most hard times were not registered delays in paying pensions and indemnities.

Serafim Urechean develops rich activity as the member of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe (CLRAE), being the member of the Statutory Committee of CLRAE.

At the same time he is the President of the Federation of Local and Regional Authorities of Republic of Moldova, the President of Chess Federation of Republic of Moldova, the President of the Branch from Republic of Moldova of the International Academy of Engineering.

He has a lot of scientific merits. Doctor in Economy, Correspondent member of Institute for International Afairs, Paris, Doctor Magna cum Laude of International Free Uiversity of Chisinau, Correspondent Member of International Academy of Informatisation, UN, Doctor Honoris Causa nr. 0434 of International Cultural Institute by Correspondence, Correspondent Member of International Management Academy, Honorable Academician, Member of the International Academy of Engineering, Correspondent Member of the Personnel Academy from Kiev (Ukraine).

For the successful activity he was decorated with the “Order of Republic”, “Badge of Honor” bestowed by the Presidium of Supreme Council of Soviet Union, Medal for Public Order Protection, bestowed by the Presidium of Supreme Council of Moldova, "St. Dumitru" Order of IInd degree and "Sergii Radonejsky" Order of IInd degree bestowed by Alexeii II, the Patriarch of Entire Russia, International Diploma of Honor and Gratitude Diploma bestowed by International Pedagogues Association for World Peace, Diploma "Ad Honores" nr. 21/95 of European Academy of Arts, "St.Stanislav" Order, Order for the Development of Science and Education.

Serafim Urechean is a good family man. He has two children and two grandchildren, whom he loves very much. Being Aquarius he possesses the best qualities of people born in this zodiac.

He appreciates the beauty. In his activity of Mayor of the municipality he had always sustained artists, scientists, and people with creative spirit.

He practically has no free time, but he does not miss any occasion to have a rest in the middle of the nature.