Octavian ÃÂîcu (born 21 August 1972) is a Moldovan politician, historian, and former professional boxer serving as a Member of Parliament in Moldova since 2019. He was Ministry of Youth and Sport in 2013.
Octavian ÃÂîcu is a research coordinator at the Institute of History, Academy of Science of the Republic of Moldova and associate professor at Moldova State University and Free International University of Moldova (ULIM). Octavian ÃÂîcu holds a degree in history from the Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of IaÃÂi, Romania, where he also studied for a Ph.D. (1994âÂÂ2000). He is author of ten books (published in Germany, USA, UK, and Romania).
ÃÂîcu was a member of the Commission for the Study of the Communist Dictatorship in Moldova. He has received numerous awards that allowed him to do research in Romania, Russia, Hungary, France, Switzerland, Lithuania, and the United States of America. Presently he is a researcher-coordinator at the Institute of History, Academy of Science of Moldova.
On February 26, 2013, Octavian ÃÂîcu assumed office of Ministry of Youth and Sport of Republic of Moldova. He was elected member of Parliament of Moldova in the 2019 parliamentary election running as independent within the ACUM Electoral Bloc.
On September 17, 2019, he left Bloc ACUM invoking the continuation of alliance with pro-Russian Socialist Party, considered "a political mistake", and run as independent candidate for Mayor of ChiÃÂinÃÂu, coming in 4th place with 5% of votes. On December 7, 2019, he was elected President of the National Unity Party (PUN), which is an unionist, pro-Romanian oriented political party. In November 2020 he participated as candidate of PUN to the Presidential elections and achieved the 6th place with some 2% of votes (27 thousands voters). Next year, as result of lost Parliamentary elections on July 11, 2021, O.ÃÂîcu has retired from PUN leadership and from political activity, and returned to academic issues.
On 4 August 2024, ÃÂîcu became the candidate for running for President of Moldova for the bloc Together, a coalition of four small parties: DA Platform, Coalition for Unity and Welfare (CUB), League of Cities and Communes, and the Party of Change. ÃÂîcu, who did not belong to any of the member parties, beat two challengers; Igor Munteanu of the CUB, and ÃÂtefan Gligor from the Party of Change. In his acceptance speech ÃÂîcu stated that he would be the voice for European and unionist Moldovan citizens. Shortly after his nomination CUB announced they would be rescinding their support for ÃÂîcu due to "serious disagreements on vision and political strategy" with Igor Munteanu calling ÃÂîcu "a conservative candidate obedient to the current government."
ÃÂîcu has stated that the principal goal of his presidency if elected would be Moldova's integration into the European Union and the rejection of Putinist forces throughout the country. ÃÂîcu would also say that he would prosecute "corrupt politicians and those who benefit from illegal financing in the election campaign and in the destabilization of the Republic of Moldova." He also vowed to increase the quality of life and economic strength in Moldova, promising to support domestic producers through tax breaks, preferential loans, and access to export markets in the European Union and in the world. He also noted that education, healthcare, research, culture and sport are areas of national interest and called for pay raises in those fields.
ÃÂîcu was endorsed by Iurie ReniÃÂàwho stated that if ÃÂîcu is elected president one of the first things he will do is demand the withdrawal of the Russian military presence in Transnistria and criticized incumbent president Maia Sandu for not doing so, and for engaging in "electoral demagogy" for only focusing on domestic economic issues instead of foreign relations.
On 9 September 2024, ÃÂîcu called on Foreign minister Mihai PopÃÂoi to resign after the Hungarian Foreign minister Péter Szijjártó criticized Ukraine at a joint press conference hosted by PopÃÂoi.
ÃÂîcu would lose in the first round, earning 14,315 votes or 0.93% of the electorate, placing in 8th.