President of Moldova facts for kids

Quick facts for kids President of the Republic of Moldova
Presidential standard
Incumbent Maia Sandu since 24 December 2020
Executive branch of the Government of Moldova Office of the President of Moldova
Style	Madam President (informal) Her Excellency (diplomatic)
Member of	Supreme Security Council
Residence	Presidential Palace
Seat	Chișinău
Appointer	Popular vote
Term length	Four years, renewable once consecutively
Constituting instrument	Constitution of Moldova
Inaugural holder	Mircea Snegur
Formation	3 September 1990
Deputy	President of the Moldovan Parliament
Salary	MDL 155,520 annually

The President of the Republic of Moldova (Romanian: Președintele Republicii Moldova) is the head of state of Moldova. This means the president is the main representative of the country. The current president is Maia Sandu, who started her job on December 24, 2020.

What Does the President Do?

The president "represents the State." They are also the person who makes sure Moldova stays independent and united. The president helps keep the government working smoothly and makes sure everyone follows the country's laws. When a president starts their job, they promise to work for Moldova's success, follow the Constitution and laws, protect democracy, and keep Moldova strong and united.

Moldova is a parliamentary republic. This means that most of the president's powers are used with the approval of the Parliament or based on advice from the Government. So, the Moldovan presidency is mostly a ceremonial role. However, because the president represents Moldova to other countries, they have a big say in Moldova's foreign policy. The president can also influence what happens inside the country by talking about important issues. Most importantly, the president has special powers to protect Moldova's laws and government system.

Helping the Government Work

To keep the country's democratic process going, the president does several important things:

• They call for a new Parliament meeting within 30 days after an election.
• They suggest a person to become the prime minister. They do this after talking with leaders from different political parties in Parliament.
• If Parliament agrees with the suggested prime minister and their team of ministers, the president officially appoints them.
• If the prime minister cannot do their job (for example, if they resign or pass away), the president chooses another minister to act as prime minister temporarily. This temporary prime minister leads the government until a new one is appointed.

Besides helping to form the government, the president also signs laws passed by Parliament to make them official. They also handle things related to foreign relations and national defence.

For foreign relations, the president:

• Sends Moldovan ambassadors to other countries and calls them back home.
• Welcomes diplomats from other countries to Moldova.
• Allows new diplomatic offices to open or close in other countries.

As the leader of the Armed Forces, the president can:

• Order a general or partial mobilisation (calling people to serve in the military).
• Defend the country if it is attacked.
• Declare a state of war if needed.
• Take other steps to keep the public safe and maintain order.

All these actions are done with the government's advice and need the prime minister's signature to be valid.

Special Powers of the President

The president has some special powers they can use on their own. These include:

• Calling special meetings of Parliament.
• Suggesting new laws to Parliament.
• Attending Parliament meetings and speaking about important national issues.
• Ending Parliament's session and calling for new elections.
• Making agreements with other countries on behalf of Moldova. These agreements then need Parliament's approval.
• Giving out medals, awards, and special ranks to military and diplomatic officers.
• Deciding who can become a Moldovan citizen and granting political asylum (protection) to people.
• Appointing public officials as allowed by law.
• Granting pardons to individuals (forgiving them for crimes).
• Asking Moldovan citizens to vote in a referendum on important national topics.
• Giving higher qualifications to officers in courts and other public services.
• Stopping government rules that go against laws passed by Parliament, until a special court decides if they are legal.
• Sending a law back to Parliament for a second look if the president doesn't agree with it. If Parliament votes for the law again, the president must sign it.
• Appointing judges based on suggestions from the Superior Council of Magistracy.
• Setting up and leading the Presidential Administration, which is a team that helps the president. This team includes the Supreme Security Council, which advises the president on foreign policy.
• Using other special powers given by law.

How the President is Chosen

The president is chosen in a special election with two rounds. If no candidate gets more than half the votes in the first round, the top two candidates have a second vote. This system started when Moldova's Constitution was created in 1994.

In 2000, the Constitution was changed so that Parliament would choose the president, needing 61 votes. But on March 4, 2016, the Constitutional Court said this change was against the Constitution. So, Moldova went back to letting people vote directly for their president.

A president's term lasts for four years. A person can be president for two terms in a row. Before the 2000 changes, the term was five years.

To be a candidate for president, a person must be a Moldovan citizen, be able to vote, be over 40 years old, have lived in Moldova for at least 10 years, and speak the official state language.

The President's Place in the Constitution

According to Article 77 of the Constitution of Moldova (1994), the president of Moldova is the head of the state. They represent the country and make sure Moldova's independence, unity, and territory are protected.

Acting President

An acting president of Moldova (Romanian: Președinte interimar al Republicii Moldova) is someone who takes over the president's duties if the president cannot do their job or if the position is empty. This is a temporary role set out in Moldova's Constitution.

Article 91 of the Constitution of Moldova (1994) says:

When the office of the President of the Republic of Moldova becomes vacant or the President has been suspended from office, or finds himself in the temporary impossibility of discharging his duties, the responsibility of the office shall devolve ad interim on the President of Parliament or the Prime Minister, in that priority order.

Suspending the President from Office

According to Article 89 of the Constitution of Moldova (1994):

• If the president does something very serious that breaks the Constitution, Parliament can vote to suspend them from office. Two-thirds of the members must agree.
• At least one-third of the Parliament members must suggest this suspension. The president must be told right away and can explain their actions to Parliament.
• If Parliament agrees to the suspension, a national vote (referendum) will be held within 30 days to decide if the president should be removed from office.

When the President's Office Becomes Empty

According to Article 90 of the Constitution of Moldova (1994):

• The president's job can become empty if their term ends, they resign, they are removed from office, they can no longer do their duties, or they pass away.
• The request to remove the president is brought to Parliament, which then makes a decision.
• New elections for a president must be held within 3 months from the day the office is announced as empty.

Presidential Symbols

Presidential Standard

The presidential standard (Romanian: Stindardul Preşedintelui) is like a special flag for the president. It has the Coat of Arms of Moldova on a purple background. Around the edge, there are squares in Moldova's national colors. The rules for this standard are approved by the president. The original standard is given to the president when they start their job and is kept in their office. Copies of the standard are displayed at the Presidential Palace or other presidential buildings when the president is there.

Presidential Band and Music

The official song for the president is the Marș de Întîmpinare «La Mulți ani» (Slow March «To many years»). This song is played when the president arrives at special events, similar to "Hail to the Chief" for the President of the United States. The Presidential Band of the Republic of Moldova is the main military band for Moldova's armed forces. They perform for the president at state events, like welcoming foreign leaders, during military parades, and when new ambassadors are welcomed.

The President's Team

The Office of the President has many people who help the president do their job. Here are some of the key people:

• Lilia Tonu – Deputy Secretary General
• Adrian Băluțel – Chief of Staff
• Olga Roșca – Advisor on Foreign Policy and European Affairs
• Stanislav Secrieru – Defense and National Security Advisor; Secretary of the Supreme Security Council
• Stella Jantuan – Advisor on Political Issues, Relations with Public Authorities and Civil Society
• Valentina Chicu – Education and Research Advisor
• Elena Druță – Advisor on Diaspora Relations
• Igor Zaharov – Press Secretary and Public Communication Advisor

Past Presidents of Moldova

Moldavian Democratic Republic (1917–1918)

Party

      Socialist Revolutionary Party

No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Took office	Left office	Political party
1	Ion Inculeț	Ion Inculeț (1884–1940)	December 15 [O.S. December 2] 1917	April 9 [O.S. March 27] 1918	Socialist Revolutionary Party

Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic (1940–1991)

First Secretaries of the Moldavian Communist Party

No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Office term
1		Pyotr Borodin (1905–1986)	2 August 1940	11 February 1942
2		Nikita Salogor (1901–1982)	13 February 1942	5 January 1946
3		Nicolae Coval (1904–1970)	5 January 1946	26 July 1950
4	Leonid Brezhnev	Leonid Brezhnev (1906–1982)	26 July 1950	25 October 1952
5		Dmitri Gladki (1911–1959)	25 October 1952	8 February 1954
6		Zinovie Serdiuk (1903–1982)	8 February 1954	29 May 1961
7	Ivan Bodiul	Ivan Bodiul (1918–2013)	29 May 1961	22 December 1980
8	Semion Grossu	Semion Grossu (born 1934)	22 December 1980	16 December 1989
9	Petru Lucinschi	Petru Lucinschi (born 1940)	16 November 1989	5 February 1991
10		Grigore Eremei (born 1935)	5 February 1991	23 August 1991

Chairmen of the Supreme Soviet of SSR Moldova

Party

      PCM

No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Took office	Left office	Political party
1	Mircea Snegur	Mircea Snegur (1940–2023)	27 April 1990	3 September 1990	Communist Party of Moldova

Republic of Moldova (1991–present)

Parties

      PDAM       PCRM       PL       PLDM       PDM       PSRM       PAS       Independent

Status

     Acting President

No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Office term		Cabinets	Election	Prior office	Political party
1	Mircea Snegur	Mircea Snegur (1940–2023)	3 September 1990	15 January 1997	Druc (1990–91)	1991	Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of SSR Moldova	Independent
			6 years, 134 days (Lost re-election campaign)		Muravschi (1991–92)
					Sangheli I (1992–94)
					Sangheli II (1994–97)
2	Petru Lucinschi	Petru Lucinschi (born 1940)	15 January 1997	7 April 2001	Ciubuc I (1997–98)	1996	President of the Parliament	Democratic Agrarian Party
			4 years, 82 days (Opted out of second term in office)		Ciubuc II (1998–99)
					Sturza (1999)
					Braghiș (1999–2001)
3	Vladimir Voronin	Vladimir Voronin (born 1941)	7 April 2001	11 September 2009	Tarlev I (2001–05)	2001 (indirect) 2005 (indirect)	Minister of Internal Affairs of the Moldavian SSR	Party of Communists
			8 years, 157 days (Resigned)		Tarlev II (2005–08)
					Greceanîi I (2008–09)
					Greceanîi II (2009)
–	Mihai Ghimpu	Mihai Ghimpu (born 1951) Acting	11 September 2009	28 December 2010	Filat I (2009–11)	—	President of the Parliament	Liberal Party (Alliance for European Integration)
–	Vlad Filat	Vlad Filat (born 1969) Acting	28 December 2010	30 December 2010		—	Prime Minister of Moldova	Liberal Democratic Party (Alliance for European Integration)
–	Marian Lupu	Marian Lupu (born 1966) Acting	30 December 2010	23 March 2012	Filat II (2011–13)	—	President of the Parliament	Democratic Party (Alliance for European Integration)
4	Nicolae Timofti	Nicolae Timofti (born 1948)	23 March 2012	23 December 2016	Filat II (2011–13)	2011–12 (indirect)	President of the Superior Council of Magistrates	Independent (Alliance for European Integration)
					Leancă (2013–15)
			4 years, 275 days (Opted out of second term in office)		Gaburici (2015)
					Streleț (2015)
					Filip (2016–19)
5	Igor Dodon	Igor Dodon (born 1975)	23 December 2016	24 December 2020		2016	First Deputy Prime Minister; Minister of Economy and Trade	Party of Socialists
			4 years, 1 day (Lost re-election campaign)		Sandu (2019)
					Chicu (2019–20)
6	Maia Sandu	Maia Sandu (born 1972)	24 December 2020	Incumbent		2020 2024	Prime Minister of Moldova	Party of Action and Solidarity
			4 years, 177 days		Gavrilița (2021–2023)
					Recean (2023–)

Timeline of Presidents (since 1990)

The Presidential Palace

The Presidential Palace is where the president lives and works. It is located in the Buiucani area of Chișinău, the capital city. The building was built between 1984 and 1987. It was originally designed as a meeting place for the Supreme Soviet of the Moldavian SSR.

Images for kids

• 

  Official residence on Stephen the Great Boulevard.

See Also

In Spanish: Presidente de Moldavia para niños

• President of Transnistria