The article forms part of IPN’s information campaign that presents biographical data, information about the incomes and property and professional experience of candidates for mayor general of the municipality of Chisinau.

Ion Ștefăniță is running for the post of mayor general of the municipality of Chisinau on behalf of the Party “Respect Moldova Movement”, which was founded by the former MP of the Democratic Party Eugeniu Nikiforchuk.

Ion Ștefăniță was born on March 3, 1980 in Leova town. He is married and has two children.

In 1998-2002, he studied at the Faculty of History and Ethnopedagogy of the State Teacher Training University “Ion Creangă”. In 2003-2004, he studied for a master’s degree at the same Faculty. In 2003-2009, he studied at the Faculty of Law of the Moldova State University, while in 2005-2006, he studied for a professional master’s degree at the University of Perpignan Via Domitia in France, being offered a French Government Scholarship.

In September 2003, he started his professional career as a scientific researcher at the National Museum of Ethnography and Natural History. In 2006, he worked as an intern at the Charlier Museum in Brussels, Belgium. In time, he had internships in China, France, Brazil, Canada, Japan and other countries.

In 2009, he was named acting director general of the Agency for Monument Inspection and Restoration. He held this post for 12 years. In 2015, for his effort and prodigious work in the cultural sector, the pan-European federation of heritage Europa Nostra conferred the highest European Union award - Europa Nostra Award – on him. In November 2021, he was dismissed by an order made by the current minister of culture.

Since December 2021 until present, he had headed the Sustainable Energy, Investments and Innovations Unit of the General Housing and Amenities Division of the Chisinau Municipal Council.

For the period between January 1, 2022 and December 31, 2022, he declared over 136,000 lei earnings from the General Housing and Amenities Division, over 16,000 lei earnings from the municipal enterprise “Chișinăuproiect” and 38,722 lei salaries from the Agency for Monument Inspection and Restoration. For teaching, scientific and creative activities, Ion Ștefăniță was remunerated 1,523 lei in salary from the State Teacher Training University “Ion Creangă”. The candidate also obtained €54,000 from the sale of an asset. His wife collected over 85,000 lei salaries and an allowance of 18,126 lei from the state-run enterprise Technological-Experimental Station “Maximovca”.

In 2022, Ion Ștefăniță acquired a villa to the value of €74,000. He also owns ½ of another two villas whose value in the property statement is shown to be 30,000 lei each. Since 2021, the candidate has owned a car made in 2005, whose value is of 30,000 lei.

“I’m motivated to open the investment gates and to contribute to the continuous development of our city. Together we can build a thriving and modern Chisinau, a city in which each resident enjoys a better quality of life. I’m determined to become involved in the development of our infrastructure, to support the local community and to promote transparent and efficient government,” Ion Ștefăniță said when he was registered as an election contender.

As it was decided by draw, Ion Ștefăniță will be under No. 4 on the ballot.