| Octavian Țîcu | |
| Office: | Leader of the National Unity Party |
| Office1: | Member of the Moldovan Parliament |
| Term Start1: | 9 March 2019 |
| Term End1: | 23 July 2021 |
| Birth Date: | 21 August 1972 |
| Birth Place: | Costuleni, Moldavian SSR, Soviet Union |
| Citizenship: | |
| Party: | Together Bloc |
| Otherparty: | Independent (2013-2019), National Unity Party (2019-2021) |
| Spouse: | Viorica Țîcu |
| Alma Mater: | Alexandru Ioan Cuza University |
| Profession: | Historian |
| Office2: | Minister of Youth and Sport |
| Term Start2: | 26 February 2013 |
| Term End2: | 30 May 2013 |
| Parliamentarygroup1: | Dignity and Truth Platform National Unity Party |
| President2: | Nicolae Timofti |
| Primeminister2: | Vladimir Filat |
| Predecessor2: | Ion Cebanu |
| Successor2: | Octavian Bodișteanu |
| Termstart: | 7 December 2019 |
| Termend: | 13 December 2021 |
| Predecessor: | Anatol Șalaru |
Octavian Țîcu (born 21 August 1972) is a Moldovan politician, historian, and former professional boxer serving as a Member of Parliament in Moldova since 2019.[1] He was Ministry of Youth and Sport in 2013.[2]
Octavian Țîcu 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 Țîcu holds a degree in history from the Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iași, Romania, where he also studied for a Ph.D. (1994–2000). He is author of ten books (published in Germany, USA, UK, and Romania).
Țîcu was a member of the Commission for the Study of the Communist Dictatorship in Moldova.[3] 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 Țîcu assumed office of Ministry of Youth and Sport of Republic of Moldova.[4] 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 Chișinău, 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.Țîcu has retired from PUN leadership and from political activity, and returned to academic issues.
See main article: 2024 Moldovan presidential election. On 5 August 2024 Țîcu announced that he would be running for President of Moldova for the Together Bloc, a coalition of four small parties; DA Platform, Coalition for Unity and Welfare (CUB), League of Cities and Communities, and the Party of Change.[5] Țîcu, who didn't belong to any of the member parties, beat two challengers; Igor Munteanu of the CUB, and Stefan Gligor from the Party of Changes.[5] In his acceptance speech Țîcu stated that he would be the voice for European and Unionist Moldovan citizens.[5] [6] Shortly after his nomination CUB announced they would be rescinding their support for Țîcu due to "serious disagreements on vision and political strategy" with Igor Munteanu calling Țîcu "a conservative candidate obedient to the current government."[7]
Țîcu 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.[6] Țîcu 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."[8] 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.[8] He also noted that education, healthcare, research, culture and sport are areas of national interest and called for pay raises in those fields.[8]
Țîcu was endorsed by Iurie Reniță who stated that if Țîcu 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.[9]
On 9 September 2024, Țîcu called on Foreign minister Mihai Popșoi to resign after the Hungarian Foreign minister Péter Szijjártó criticized Ukraine at a joint press conference hosted by Popșoi.[10]
Țîcu would lose in the first round, earning 14,315 votes or 0.93% of the electorate, placing in 8th.[11]