BIO

Dominic Fritz might be the only mayor in the world elected twice without holding the citizenship of the country he serves. Born in Germany, he first arrived in Timișoara at 19 as a volunteer in an orphanage — an experience that tied him to the city for life.
After studies in political and administrative sciences in Konstanz, Paris, and York, Fritz worked for the German Agency for International Cooperation and later as chief of staff to former German president Horst Köhler.
In 2017, inspired by Romania’s anti-corruption movement, he decided to step directly into politics. Running with the reformist, pro-European USR, he won the mayoralty in 2020 with 53% of the vote, defeating the incumbent, and was re-elected in 2024.
As mayor, Fritz has positioned Timișoara as a model of transparency and modernization: record investments in schools and mobility, nearly €350 million in EU funding, and Romania’s most digitalized city hall. In 2023, the city shone as European Capital of Culture.
Since June 2025, he also serves as president of USR, today part of Romania’s governing coalition formed after the May 2025 presidential elections. Dominic is married and has one daughter. He speaks fluent German, Romanian, English, and French.