| 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 |
| 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 office of the presidency in Moldova is largely ceremonial, with most of the formal political power exercised by parliament and the prime minister.[2] [3] However, because the president represents Moldova internationally, they have sway over the country's relationships with other countries. In addition, the president can influence public policy by using their high profile to initiate and participate in public discourse.[4]
A collection of organizational bodies collectively known as the Presidential Administration, whose members are appointed by the president, serves as the communication service between the government and the presidency. One office of the Administration, the Supreme Security Council, advises the president on foreign policy.[5]
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[6] and Moldova consequently returned to electing the president via popular vote.
One presidential term lasts for four years; presidents are limited to two 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 (Romanian; Moldavian; Moldovan: '''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 (Romanian; Moldavian; Moldovan: 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.[7]
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.[8] 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.[9] [10]
| 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 the Moldavian SSR | 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 | 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.