Lucinschi, Petru (1940– )

Moldovan politician, president 1996–2001. He was a member of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU) 1964–91. He became a member of the central committee of the CPSU in 1989 and served as secretary 1990–91. He was also a member of the CPSU Politburo 1990–91. He served as the Moldovan ambassador to Russia 1992–93, becoming the chair of the Moldovan parliament from 1993. He served as the president from November 1996.

Born at Floreşti, he was educated at Chişinǎu (Kishinev) University and at the CPSU Central Committee Higher Party School in Moscow. He served in the Soviet Army 1962–63, and undertook Komsomol work for the central committee of the Moldovan Communist Party 1963–71. He held a number of posts in the CPSU, rising to the post of deputy head of the central committee's propaganda department 1978–86.