Mircea Chelaru (born 3 July 1949) is a Romanian general[1] and the last leader of the Romanian National Unity Party (PUNR) after Gheorghe Funar resigned as leader. After the PUNR was absorbed by the PC (Conservative Party), Chelaru stepped down from his position.
Chelaru was born in Breazu village, in Rediu commune, Iași County and attended the Vasile Alecsandri High School in Iași, followed by the Ștefan cel Mare Military School in Câmpulung Moldovenesc. He graduate from the Nicolae Bălcescu Land Forces Academy in Sibiu in 1970 and the Military Academy in Bucharest in 1976. He advanced in rank to lieutenant (1970), captain (1977), lieutenant colonel (1989), colonel (1990), brigadier general (1997), major general (1990), and lieutenant general (2000), going into the reserves in 2001.[2] Chelaru served as Chief of the Romanian General Staff from 7 March to 31 October 2000.
He was a member of the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR).[3] However, he is now a member of the Romanian Nationhood Party (PNR).[4]