Moldova - Government
Based on the etymolgy of Moldova, it was named for the Moldova River in neighboring eastern Romania. The Government system in this country is the parliamentary republic type and the different Administrative divisions includes:
32 raions (raioane, singular - raion), 3 municipalities (municipii, singular - municipiul), 1 autonomous territorial unit (unitatea teritoriala autonoma), and 1 territorial unit (unitatea teritoriala)
raions: Anenii Noi, Basarabeasca, Briceni, Cahul, Cantemir, Calarasi, Causeni, Cimislia, Criuleni, Donduseni, Drochia, Dubasari, Edinet, Falesti, Floresti, Glodeni, Hincesti, Ialoveni, Leova, Nisporeni, Ocnita, Orhei, Rezina, Riscani, Singerei, Soldanesti, Soroca, Stefan Voda, Straseni, Taraclia, Telenesti, Ungheni
municipalities: Balti, Bender, Chisinau
autonomous territorial unit: Gagauzia
territorial unit: Stinga Nistrului (Transnistria)
National symbols
Aurochs (a type of wild cattle); national colors: blue, yellow, red.
The flag
The National flag of Moldova has three equal vertical bands of Prussian blue (hoist side), chrome yellow, and vermilion red; emblem in center of flag is of a Roman eagle of dark gold (brown) outlined in black with a red beak and talons carrying a yellow cross in its beak and a green olive branch in its right talons and a yellow scepter in its left talons; on its breast is a shield divided horizontally red over blue with a stylized aurochs head, star, rose, and crescent all in black-outlined yellow; based on the color scheme of the flag of Romania - with which Moldova shares a history and culture - but Moldova's blue band is lighter; the reverse of the flag displays a mirrored image of the coat of arms.
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note: one of only three national flags that differ on their obverse and reverse sides - the others are Paraguay and Saudi Arabia
The National Anthem
| Title | "Limba noastra" (Our Language) |
|---|---|
| Lyric/music | Alexei MATEEVICI/Alexandru CRISTEA |
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note: adopted 1994
More about the government of Moldova
| Date of Independence | 27 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union) |
|---|---|
| National holiday | Independence Day, 27 August (1991) |
| Legal system | civil law system with Germanic law influences; Constitutional Court review of legislative acts |
| International law organization participation | has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction |
| Constitution | |
| History | Previous 1978; latest adopted 29 July 1994, effective 27 August 1994 |
| Amendments | Proposed by voter petition (at least 200,000 eligible voters), by at least one third of Parliament members, or by the government; passage requires two-thirds majority vote of Parliament within one year of initial proposal; revisions to constitutional articles on sovereignty, independence, and neutrality require majority vote by referendum; articles on fundamental rights and freedoms cannot be amended; amended many times, last in 2018 |
| Citizenship | |
| Citizenship by birth | no |
| Citizenship by descent only | at least one parent must be a citizen of Moldova |
| Dual citizenship recognized | no |
| Residency requirement for naturalization | 10 years |
| Executive Branch | |
| Chief of state | President Maia SANDU (since 24 December 2020) |
| Head of government | Prime Minister Dorin RECEAN (since 16 February 2023) |
| Cabinet | Cabinet proposed by the prime minister-designate, nominated by the president, approved through a vote of confidence in Parliament |
| Elections/appointments | president directly elected for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 15 November 2020 (first round held on 20 October 2024, the runoff will be held on 3 November 2024); prime minister designated by the president upon consultation with Parliament; within 15 days from designation, the prime minister-designate must request a vote of confidence for his/her proposed work program from the Parliament |
| Election results | 2024: In the first round of presidential elections, incumbent Maia SANDU (Action and Solidarity Party) wins 42.5% of the vote, Alexandr STOIANOGLO (Party of Socialists of the Republic of Moldova) 26.0%, Renato USATII (Our Party) 13.8%, and Irina VLAH (independent) 5.4%; turnout is 51.7%; the runoff will take place on November 3. 2020: Maia SANDU elected president in second round; percent of vote in second round - Maia SANDU (PAS) 57.7%, Igor DODON (PSRM) 42.3% 2016: Igor DODON elected president in second round; percent of vote - Igor DODON (PSRM) 52.1%, Maia SANDU (PAS) 47.9% |
| Legislative branch | |
| Description | Unicameral Parliament (101 seats; 51 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 50 members directly elected in a single, nationwide constituency by closed party-list proportional representation vote; all members serve 4-year terms |
| Elections | Last held on 11 July 2021 (next to be held in July 2025) |
| Election results | Percent of vote by party - PAS 52.8%, BECS 27.1%, SOR 5.7%, other 14.4%; seats by party - PAS 63, BECS 32, SOR 6; composition - men 58, women 40, percent of women 40.8% |
| Judicial branch | |
| Highest court(s) | Supreme Court of Justice (consists of the chief judge, 3 deputy-chief judges, 45 judges, and 7 assistant judges); Constitutional Court (consists of the court president and 6 judges); note - the Constitutional Court is autonomous to the other branches of government; the Court interprets the Constitution and reviews the constitutionality of parliamentary laws and decisions, decrees of the president, and acts of the government |
| Judge selection and term of office | Supreme Court of Justice judges appointed by the president upon the recommendation of the Superior Council of Magistracy, an 11-member body of judicial officials; all judges serve 4-year renewable terms; Constitutional Court judges appointed 2 each by Parliament, the president, and the Higher Council of Magistracy for 6-year terms; court president elected by other court judges for a 3-year term |
| Subordinate courts | Courts of Appeal; Court of Business Audit; municipal courts |
| Diplomatic representation in the US | |
| Chief of mission | Ambassador Viorel URSU (since 12 December 2022) |
| Chancery | 2101 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 |
| Telephone | [1] (202) 667-1130 |
| FAX | [1] (202) 667-2624 |
| Email address and website | [email protected] https://sua.mfa.gov.md/en |
| Diplomatic representation from the US | |
| Chief of mission | Ambassador Kent D. LOGSDON (since 16 February 2022) |
| Embassy | 103 Mateevici Street, Chisinau MD-2009 |
| Mailing address | 7080 Chisinau Place, Washington DC 20521-7080 |
| Telephone | [373] (22) 408-300 |
| FAX | [373] (22) 233-044 |
| Email address and website | [email protected] https://md.usembassy.gov/ |
| National heritage | |
| Total World Heritage Sites | 1 (cultural) |
| Selected World Heritage Site locales | Struve Geodetic Arc |
Key Political parties and their leaders in Moldova
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International organization participation
All Important Facts about Moldova
Want to know more about Moldova? Check all different factbooks for Moldova below.
