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REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA
Parlament (Parliament)

This page contains the full text of the PARLINE database entry on the selected parliamentary chamber, with the exception of Specialized bodies modules which, because of their excessive length, can be only viewed and printed separately.

Modules:
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE PARLIAMENTARY CHAMBER

Parliament name (generic / translated) Parlament / Parliament
More photos  >>>
Structure of parliament Unicameral
Affiliation to the IPU Yes
Affiliation date(s) 1992 -
LEADERSHIP
President Andrian Candu (M) 
Notes Elected on 23 Jan. 2015.
Secretary General Alla Popescu (F) 
Notes 16 July 2012 -
COMPOSITION
Members (statutory / current number) 101 / 101
PERCENTAGE OF WOMEN


More statistics  >>>
Women (current number) 23 (22.77%)
Mode of designation directly elected 101
Term 4 years
Last renewal dates 30 November 2014
(View details)
CONTACT INFORMATION
Address Parlamentul Republicii Moldova
105 Stefan cel Mare avenue
CHISINAU 2073
(Export mailing lists)
Phone (373 22) 26 82 42
Fax (373 22) 23 32 10
E-mail cristina.malcoci@parlament.md
Website
http://www.parlament.md/

ELECTORAL SYSTEM

Parliament name (generic / translated) Parlament / Parliament
Structure of parliament Unicameral
LEGAL FRAMEWORK
Electoral law 1 October 1993
Last amended on 20 July 2017
Mode of designation directly elected 101
Constituencies - 51 single-member constituencies for 51 seats to be filled under the majority system.
- 1 nationwide constituency for 50 seats to be filled under the proportional representation system.
Voting system Mixed: Parallel system using the first-past-the-post (FPTP) and List Proportional Representation (List PR) system with closed lists.

Candidates may run in both systems. If a candidate is elected in both systems, it is considered that he/she is elected under the FPTP system.
In the FPTP system, the candidate obtaining the highest number of votes will be elected.

Seats under the proportional representation system are distributed first to the parties which have surpassed the thresholds (see below) and according to their share of votes. The remaining seats are distributed sequentially, by each party (or other socio-political organization, each electoral bloc), starting with the electoral candidate who has obtained the largest number of votes in descending order.

The following proportions of valid votes cast nationwide constitute the threshold for representation:
- For a party or socio-political organization - 6%
- For electoral blocs - 8%

Vacancies for members elected under the List PR system which occur in between general elections are filled by the next-in-line candidates of the same party. By-elections are held if seats occupied by members elected from single-seat-constituencies become vacant.

Voting is not compulsory.
Voter requirements - age: 18 years
- Moldovan citizenship
Persons in detention (including convicts) may vote. Students are also allowed vote without a residence permit or visa in the area where they study.
CANDIDATES
Eligibility - qualified voters
- age: 18 years
- Moldovan citizenship
Persons with dual (or multiple) citizenship may run for parliamentary elections without restriction.
Incompatibilities - President of the Republic
- members of the government (parliamentarians appointed to the government may hold a government post for a maximum of six months but must relinquish one of the posts thereafter)
- Ombudsman
- any paid position, including those offered by a foreign State or international organization
Candidacy requirements - candidates nominated by parties, or as independents

Note:
In the single-member constituencies, budgetary support to political parties with more than 40% women candidates will be increased by at least 10% of the amount allocated to the respective parties for the budgetary year. Such parties will also benefit from budgetary support for every woman-candidate elected in the single-member constituency (based on the coefficient multiplied by the number of women-candidates elected).

LAST ELECTIONS

Parliament name (generic / translated) Parlament / Parliament
Structure of parliament Unicameral
BACKGROUND
Dates of election / renewal (from/to) 30 November 2014
Timing and scope of renewal The Alliance for European Integration (AEI), led by Prime Minister Iurie Leanca of the Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova (PLDM), retained its majority in parliament. It took a total of 55 of the 101 seats, but was not able to secure the 61 seats that will be needed to elect a new President when the presidency is renewed in March 2016. The AEI comprises former Prime Minister Vlad Filat's PLDM, former Speaker Marian Lupu's Democratic Party of Moldova (PDM) and former Speaker Mihai Ghimpu's Liberal Party (PL). The Party of Moldovan Communists (PCRM), led by former President Vladimir Voronin, saw its share halved to 21 seats while the Party of Socialists (PSRM), now led by former PCRM Member Igor Dodon, became the largest single party with 25 seats.

The 2014 elections were held amid ongoing conflict in neighbouring Ukraine. Parties were divided over the country's future path: greater integration with the European Union (EU) or stronger ties with the Russian Federation. The PLDM promised to work for the country's accession to the EU by 2020 while establishing dialogue with Russia. PDM Deputy leader Vlad Plahotniuc called for "integration into the EU and development of cooperation with the CIS" (Commonwealth of Independent States). The PL promised stronger pro-NATO and pro-European policies. PCRM leader Voronin said cooperation with the EU would be more beneficial for the country. Several PCRM members left the party, accusing the leader of not taking a stronger pro-Russian stance. In November, PSRM leader Dodon met Russian President Vladimir Putin and promised to cancel Moldova's Association Agreement with the EU and establish stronger ties with Russia.
Date of previous elections: 28 November 2010

Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature: 29 November 2014

Timing of election: Upon normal expiry

Expected date of next elections: November 2018

Number of seats at stake: 101 (full renewal)

Number of candidates: 1,934 (1,315 men, 619 women)

Percentage of women candidates: 32%

Number of parties contesting the election: 21*
*20 parties and one electoral bloc

Number of parties winning seats: 5

Alternation of power: No

Number of parties in government: 2

Names of parties in government: Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova (PLDM) and the Democratic Party of Moldova (PDM) with the support of Party of Moldovan Communists (PCRM)

Date of the first session of the new parliament: 29 December 2014

Name of the new Speaker: Mr. Andrian Candu (Democratic Party of Moldova, PDM)
STATISTICS
Voter turnout
Round no 130 November 2014
Number of registered electors
Voters
Blank or invalid ballot papers
Valid votes
2'800'827
1'649'402 (58.89%)

Notes
Distribution of votes
Round no 1
Political group Candidates Votes % of votes
Party of Socialists (PSRM)
Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova (PLDM)
Party of Moldovan Communists (PCRM)
Democratic Party of Moldova (PDM)
Liberal Party (PL)
Distribution of seats
Round no 1
Political Group Total of seats
Party of Socialists (PSRM) 25
Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova (PLDM) 23
Party of Moldovan Communists (PCRM) 21
Democratic Party of Moldova (PDM) 19
Liberal Party (PL) 13
Distribution of seats according to sex
Men

Women

Percent of women
80

21

20.79%
Distribution of seats according to age
Distribution of seats according to profession
Comments
Note on distribution of seats according to sex:
Twenty-one women were elected in November 2014. After the formation of the new government in February 2015, the total number of women parliamentarians increased to 22.

Sources:
Parliament (18.12.2014, 22.12.2014, 26.01.2015, 06.03.2015, 01.01.2017)
http://cec.md/r/r/

PRESIDENCY OF THE PARLIAMENTARY CHAMBER

Parliament name (generic / translated) Parlament / Parliament
Structure of parliament Unicameral
APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE
Title President of Parliament
Term - duration: 5 years (term of legislature)
- reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, recall on a proposal by the parliamentary group which proposed him/her as a candidate, vote on the responsibility of the President, death, dissolution

Appointment - elected by all Members of Parliament
- the election is held once Parliament has been legally constituted
- after two-thirds of the mandates have been validated
Eligibility - any Member of Parliament may be a candidate
Voting system - formal vote by secret ballot
- a simple majority is required. Only the two candidates who have obtained the most votes may stand in the second round. In case of a tie, a third round is held in which new candidatures are admitted.

Procedures / results - the senior Member presides over Parliament during the voting
- the Chairperson of the Special Committee supervises the voting
- the Chairperson of the Special Committee announces the results without delay
- the results may be challenged

STATUS
Status - acts as interim Head of State during the latter's absence
- represents Parliament in international bodies
- in the absence of the President, one of the two Vice-Presidents can assume his/her role and functions
Board - the Standing Board is regulated by the Rules of Procedure
- consists of 9 members: the President, the two Vice-President; the other members are elected taking into account the proportional representation of the parliamentary groups
- term of office lasts five years
- constitutes a genuine collegial presidency
Material facilities - allowance
+ expense allowance
- official car
- secretariat
- bodyguards

FUNCTIONS
Organization of parliamentary business - convenes sessions
- establishes and modifies the agenda
- organizes the debates and sets speaking time
- refers texts to a committee for study
- proposes the setting-up of committees of enquiry

Chairing of public sittings - can open, adjourn and close sittings
- ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders
- takes disciplinary measures in the event of disturbance, and lifts such measures
- establishes the list of speakers, gives and withdraws permission to speak
- establishes the order in which amendments are taken up and selects which amendments are to be debated
- calls for a vote, decides how it is to be carried out, verifies the voting procedure and cancels a vote in the event of irregularities
- checks the quorum
- authenticates the texts adopted and the records of debates
Special powers plays an essential role in:
- establishing the budget
- recruiting, assigning and promoting staff
- organizing the services of Parliament
- is responsible for relations with foreign Parliaments
- is responsible for safety, and in this capacity, can call the police in the event of disturbance in Parliament
Speaking and voting rights, other functions - takes the floor in legislative debates
- provides guidelines for the interpretation or completion of the text under discussion
- takes part in voting
- proposes bills or amendments
- intervenes in the parliamentary oversight procedure
- must be consulted in certain circumstances (dissolution, etc.)

This page was last updated on 20 June 2018
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