Valeriu Ghilețchi (born 8 July 1960) is a Moldovan-Romanian Baptist clergyman and politician.

Biography

Working originally as an engineer, Ghilețchi was ordained Baptist pastor in 1996 following a programme of theological studies at Emmanuel Baptist University in Oradea, Romania. He holds undergraduate diploma in theology. Since 1994, he served as rector of the Holy Trinity Moldovan Baptist Institute and then as Academic Dean of the College of Theology and Education in Chișinău, Rep. Moldova. He served for two periods as bishop of the Union of Christian Evangelical Baptist Churches of Moldova. At present time Ghilețchi is associate pastor at Jesus the Savior Baptist Church in Chișinău, Rep. Moldova. Valeriu Ghilețchi was vice-president of the European Baptist Federation (EBF) from 2007 to 2009 and has been the president of EBF in 2009–2011. Hs is a member of the parliament of Moldova. Previously affiliated with Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova (PLDM) of Vlad Filat, Ghilețchi changed his party affiliation to People's European Party (PPE) of Iurie Leancă. He is a member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe since January 2010 (after a first term between 1998 and 2001). In this capacity, he served as Chair of the Social Affairs Committee. He was also the rapporteur on "Fighting Child Sex Tourism" and a member of the Parliamentary Network of Contact Parliamentarians to stop sexual violence against children for Moldova. Ghiletchi is president of European Christian Political Movement and is since 2024 Spitzenkandidat of ECPM.