| Post: | President |
| Body: | the Republic of Moldova |
| Insignia: | Flag of the President of Moldova.svgborder |
| Insigniasize: | 125px |
| Insigniacaption: | Presidential standard |
| Native Name: | Romanian; Moldavian; Moldovan: Președintele Republicii Moldova |
| Incumbent: | Maia Sandu |
| Incumbentsince: | 24 December 2020 |
| Style: | Madam President (informal) Her Excellency (diplomatic) |
| Department: | Executive branch of the Government of Moldova Office of the President of Moldova |
| Residence: | Presidential Palace |
| Appointer: | Popular vote |
| Termlength: | Four years, renewable once consecutively |
| Formation: | 3 September 1990 |
| Inaugural: | Mircea Snegur |
| Deputy: | President of the Moldovan Parliament |
| Salary: | annually[1] |
| Status: | Head of state Commander-in-chief |
| Member Of: | Supreme Security Council |
| Seat: | Chișinău |
| Constituting Instrument: | Constitution of Moldova |
The president of the Republic of Moldova is the head of state of Moldova. The current president is Maia Sandu, who assumed office on 24 December 2020.
The president "represents the State" and is "…the guarantor of national sovereignty and independence, as well as of the territorial unity and integrity of the State."[2] [3] In this capacity, the president ensures the continuity of the Moldovan state, arbitrates and mediates the regular functioning of public institutions, and upholds the rule of law. This role is in keeping with the president's solemn oath, taken at inauguration, "…to devote all my personal strength and abilities to the prosperity of the Republic of Moldova, to abide by the Constitution and the laws of the country, to defend democracy, fundamental human rights and freedoms, the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Moldova."[4]
Moldova is a parliamentary republic wherein most of the president's powers are in practice ministerial, meaning they are exercised as stipulated by the Constitution, in accordance with the confidence of Parliament or, on the advice of the Government. The Moldovan presidency is thus a largely ceremonial institution.[5] [6] Nevertheless, because the president represents Moldova internationally, they have ultimate say over the country's foreign policy. In addition, the president can influence domestic policy by using their status to initiate and participate in public discourse.[7] Perhaps most importantly, the president enjoys a broad suite of discretionary powers which they may use to protect the established constitutional order.
The president, in order to maintain the continuity and stability of the democratic process, summons a new Parliament not later than 30 days following a general election and nominates a candidate for the office of prime minister after consulting the leaders of the different political parties in Parliament.[8] [9] If Parliament gives its vote of confidence to the nominee and to the nominee's list of ministers, the president appoints the resulting prime minister-designate as prime minister and the other persons as ministers of the Government.[10] Whenever the prime minister is incapacitated, including as a result of resignation or death in office, the president is likewise required to nominate another minister of the Government as acting prime minister. The acting prime minister is thereafter responsible for leading the Government until either a new prime minister is appointed or the incumbent prime minister's incapacitation ceases.[11]
Government formation aside, the president promulgates the laws passed by Parliament.[12] Moreover, the president performs other functions in matters of foreign relations and national defence. As it concerns foreign relations, the president accredits and recalls Moldovan ambassadors and envoys stationed in foreign states, receives the credentials of foreign diplomats to Moldova, and authorizes the opening, closure, or change in rank of diplomatic missions operating abroad.[13] As commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces, the president may order general or partial mobilisations, repel armed aggression, declare a state of war, and take other due measures to safeguard public security and maintain public order.[14] All of these functions are exercised on the advice of the Government and require for their validity the countersignature of the prime minister.[15]
The president in their absolute discretion may:
The president is elected in a two-round direct election, with a runoff taking place between the top two finishers if no candidate receives a majority in the first round. This system was put in place when the constitution of Moldova was adopted in 1994.
In 2000, the Constitution was amended changing the process to an indirect election by the Parliament of Moldova, with a supermajority of 61 votes required. On March 4, 2016, the Constitutional Court ruled that the amendment was unconstitutional[32] and Moldova consequently returned to electing the president via popular vote.
One presidential term lasts for four years; presidents are limited to two consecutive terms. Before the 2000 amendments, the presidential term lasted for five years.
Under Article 78 of the Constitution, candidates must be citizens of Moldova with the right to vote and over 40 years old who had lived or has been living permanently in Moldova for no less than 10 years and speaks the official state language.
According to the Article 77 of the Constitution of Moldova (1994), the president of Moldova is the head of the state and represents the state and is the guarantor of national sovereignty, independence, and the unity and territorial integrity of the nation.
The acting president of Moldova (ro|'''Președinte interimar al Republicii Moldova''') is a person who fulfils the duties of the president of Moldova when cases of incapacity and vacancy occur. It is a temporary post provided by the Constitution of Moldova.
According to Article 91 of the Constitution of Moldova (1994):
According to Article 89 of the Constitution of Moldova (1994):
According to Article 90 of the Constitution of Moldova (1994):
The presidential standard (ro|Stindardul Preşedintelui) consists of the Coat of Arms of Moldova in front of a purple background and a border composed of squares of 1/9 in the national colors of the republic. The regulations of the Standard of the President is approved by the decree of the President with the opinion of the National Heraldic Commission. The original of the Standard of the President is handed over to the President at the inauguration ceremony and is kept in their office. Duplicates and copies of the standard are displayed at the Presidential Palace or at other presidential residences while they are on these premises.[33]
The official march of the presidency is the Marș de Întîmpinare «La Mulți ani» (Slow March «To many years»), which is used during the arrival of the president at special occasions, similarly to Hail to the Chief for the President of the United States.[34] The Presidential Band of the Republic of Moldova is the main military band of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Moldova and specifically serves the president during all functions of state. The band performs at welcome ceremonies of foreign officials on state visits, military parades, and the accreditation of ambassadors.[35] [36]
| No. | Portrait | Name | Office term | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pyotr Borodin | 2 August 1940 | 11 February 1942 | ||
| 2 | Nikita Salogor | 13 February 1942 | 5 January 1946 | ||
| 3 | Nicolae Coval | 5 January 1946 | 26 July 1950 | ||
| 4 | Leonid Brezhnev | 26 July 1950 | 25 October 1952 | ||
| 5 | Dmitri Gladki | 25 October 1952 | 8 February 1954 | ||
| 6 | Zinovie Serdiuk | 8 February 1954 | 29 May 1961 | ||
| 7 | Ivan Bodiul | 29 May 1961 | 22 December 1980 | ||
| 8 | Semion Grossu | 22 December 1980 | 16 December 1989 | ||
| 9 | Petru Lucinschi | 16 November 1989 | 5 February 1991 | ||
| 10 | Grigore Eremei | 5 February 1991 | 23 August 1991 | ||
| No. | Portrait | Name | Office term | Cabinets | Election | Prior office | Political party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mircea Snegur | 3 September 1990 | 15 January 1997 | Druc (1990–91) | 1991 | Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of SSR Moldova | Independent | |
(Lost re-election campaign) | Muravschi (1991–92) | |||||||
| Sangheli I (1992–94) | ||||||||
| Sangheli II (1994–97) | ||||||||
| 2 | Petru Lucinschi | 15 January 1997 | 7 April 2001 | Ciubuc I (1997–98) | 1996 | Democratic Agrarian Party | ||
(Opted out of second term in office) | Ciubuc II (1998–99) | |||||||
| Sturza (1999) | ||||||||
| Braghiș (1999–2001) | ||||||||
| 3 | Vladimir Voronin | 7 April 2001 | 11 September 2009 | Tarlev I (2001–05) | 2001 2005 | Minister of Internal Affairs of the Moldavian SSR | Party of Communists | |
(Resigned) | Tarlev II (2005–08) | |||||||
| Greceanîi I (2008–09) | ||||||||
| Greceanîi II (2009) | ||||||||
| – | Mihai Ghimpu | 11 September 2009 | 28 December 2010 | Filat I (2009–11) | — | President of the Parliament | Liberal Party | |
| – | Vlad Filat | 28 December 2010 | 30 December 2010 | — | Prime Minister of Moldova | Liberal Democratic Party | ||
| – | Marian Lupu | 30 December 2010 | 23 March 2012 | Filat II (2011–13) | — | President of the Parliament | Democratic Party | |
| 4 | Nicolae Timofti | 23 March 2012 | 23 December 2016 | Filat II (2011–13) | 2011–12 | President of the Superior Council of Magistrates | Independent | |
| Leancă (2013–15) | ||||||||
(Opted out of second term in office) | Gaburici (2015) | |||||||
| Streleț (2015) | ||||||||
| Filip (2016–19) | ||||||||
| 5 | Igor Dodon | 23 December 2016 | 24 December 2020 | 2016 | First Deputy Prime Minister | Party of Socialists | ||
| (Lost re-election campaign) | Sandu (2019) | |||||||
| Chicu (2019–20) | ||||||||
| 6 | Maia Sandu | 24 December 2020 | Incumbent | 2020 2024 | Prime Minister of Moldova | Party of Action and Solidarity | ||
| Gavrilița (2021–2023) | ||||||||
| Recean (2023–) | ||||||||
The Presidential Palace is located in the Buiucani sector of Chișinău. It was constructed between 1984 and 1987 to the design of architects A. Zalțman and V. Iavorski. The distinctive building was originally the meeting place of the Supreme Soviet of the Moldavian SSR.