Anca Dragu
Anca Dana Paliu Dragu | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 3, 1972 Romania |
| Occupation(s) | Economist, politician |
| Years active | 1996–present |
| Known for | First female President of the Senate of Romania; Minister of Public Finance (Romania); Governor of the National Bank of Moldova |
Anca Dana Paliu Dragu (born 3 May 1972) is a Romanian economist and political figure. She held the position of Romania's Minister of Public Finance and made history as the first female President of the Senate of Romania from 21 December 2020 until 23 November 2021. In December 2023, after acquiring Moldovan citizenship, she was named Governor of the National Bank of Moldova.
Biography
Born on 3 May 1972, Anca Dana Paliu Dragu completed her studies at the Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies in 1996. She furthered her education at Georgetown University between 1999 and 2000. In 2007, she obtained a master's degree in public administration from the National University of Political Studies and Public Administration, and later earned a doctorate in economics from the Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies in 2010.
Her professional career began at the National Bank of Romania, where she worked as an economist from 1996 to 2001. Subsequently, she was employed by the International Monetary Fund's Bucharest office. In 2013, Dragu joined the Directorate-General for Economic and Financial Affairs within the European Commission. She then served as Romania’s Governor at the European Investment Bank before being appointed Minister of Public Finance in November 2015, a role she fulfilled until January 2017.
Following the December 2020 Romanian parliamentary election, Dragu secured a seat in the Senate of Romania representing the USR PLUS party. In December 2020, with backing from USR PLUS, the PNL, and the UDMR, she was elected President of the Senate, a position she held until November 2021 when a candidate from PNL succeeded her. During 2021, USR PLUS underwent rebranding to become the Save Romania Union (USR).
On 22 December 2023, Dragu was appointed Governor of the National Bank of Moldova (NBM), succeeding Octavian Armașu following his dismissal. Upon receiving Moldovan citizenship, she resigned her Senate mandate on that same day; her resignation was officially recorded on 29 December.