The President of the Republic of Moldova Maia Sandu celebrates her birthday. She turns 50 today. She is the first woman in the country’s history who was elected to office of President, IPN reports.

Maia Sandu was born on May 24, 1972 in Risipeni village of Fălești district. Between 1989 and 1994, she studied at the Academy of Economic Studies of Moldova, the Faculty of Management. Since 1995 until 1998, she studied international relations at the Public Administration Academy under the President of the Republic of Moldova. In 2010, she graduated from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. In 2010 -2012, she worked as an adviser to the World Bank Managing Director Washington. In July 2012 - July 2015, Maia Sandu served as minister of education.

In May 2016, Maia Sandu founded the Party of Action and Solidary (PAS), being elected its president. The party mounted multiple protests against the government of the Democratic Party. She ran in the presidential elections of 2016, reaching the runoffs.



Since February 2019 until June 2019, she sat as an MP. In June 2019, she was elected Prime Minister and held this post until November 2019.

Maia Sandu led PAS until December 2020, renouncing this post after she won the presidential elections.



On December 24, 2020, Maia Sandu was installed as President of the Republic of Moldova after her victory in the presidential runoff of November 15, 2020.