Presidency of the Republic of Moldova
For the purpose of strengthening the constitutional order and sovereignty of the SSR Moldova, rights, freedoms and security of citizens, improving the interaction of central state bodies, the Supreme Soviet of the Moldavian SSR, by Law No.250-XII from September 3, 1990, established the office of President of the Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic.
According to that law, President of the Moldavian SSR – Head of State was elected by citizens of the republic – based on universal, equal and direct electoral law, under free and secret ballot – for a five year period.
The Presidential Council operated under the President of Moldavian SSR. It had the task to develop measures for achieving the main directions of internal and external policy of the state. The president of the Republic issued binding decrees throughout the country.
By decision of the Supreme Soviet of Moldavian SSR No. 251-XII from September 3, 1990, Mr. Mircea Snegur was elected President of the Moldavian SSR.
On May 23, 1991, the name of Moldavian SSR was changed to Republic of Moldova (Law No. 589-XII of 05.23.1991 of the Supreme Soviet of the Moldavian SSR).
Under the Constitution of the Republic of Moldova, the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova set elections for the office of President of the Republic of Moldova on December 8, 1991 (Decision No. 722-XII of September 19, 1991 of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova). Mircea Snegur was elected President of the Republic of Moldova.
The new Constitution of the Republic of Moldova (in force since August 27, 1994) was adopted and the Constitution from April 15, 1978 was abrogated on July 29, 1994, with subsequent amendments and completions.
Mr. Petru Lucinschi was elected President of the Republic of Moldova for a term of four years, according to Article 80 of the Constitution, in January 1997.
The Constitution was amended by Law No. 1115-XIV of July 5, 2000. Under the new version of the Supreme Law, the president of the Republic is elected by Parliament by secret ballot.
Election of Mr. Vladimir Voronin in office of President of the Republic of Moldova was confirmed by the Decision No. 24-XV of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova on April 4, 2001.
Vladimir Voronin was re-elected in office of President of the Republic of Moldova by the Parliament on April 4, 2005.
Following the resignation of President Vladimir Voronin, the Chairman of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova Mihai Ghimpu ensured the interim office of president of the Republic of Moldova as from September 11, 2009. The office of the President of the Republic of Moldova was declared vacant based on the majority vote. Under Article 91 of the Moldovan Constitution, which provides for “that the interim office shall be devolved on the Parliament Speaker” Mihai Ghimpu became the acting president of the Republic of Moldova until the Parliament elected a new president of the country.
Marian Lupu was elected on December 30, 2010 as Speaker of Parliament and he took over the interim office of the President of the Republic of Moldova.
The fourth President of the Republic of Moldova is Nicolae Timofti, who was elected by the Parliament on March 16, 2012. The head of state took the oath on March 23, 2012.
