Independence Day, 27 August 1991

Constitution: new constitution adopted 28 July 1994; replaces old
Soviet constitution of 1979

Legal system: based on civil law system; Constitutional Court
reviews legality of legislative acts and governmental decisions of
resolution; it is unclear if Moldova accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction but accepts many UN and Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) documents

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Petru LUCINSCHI (since 15 January 1997)
head of government: Prime Minister Ion CIUBUC (since 15 January
1997) and four deputy prime ministers
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
recommendation of the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term;
election last held 17 November 1996; runoff election 1 December 1996
(next to be held NA November 2000); following legislative elections,
the leader of the majority party or leader of the majority coalition
is usually elected prime minister by Parliament; names of deputy
prime ministers are submitted by the prime minister for acceptance
by the president
election results: Petru LUCINSCHI ran against Mircea SNEGUR and was
elected president; percent of vote--LUCINSCHI 54%, SNEGUR 46%; Prime
Minister Ion CIUBUC was appointed by the president 15 January 1997
and was elected by a parliamentary vote of 75-15 on 24 January 1997

Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Parlamentul (101
seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve
four-year terms)
elections: last held 22 March 1998 (next to be held spring 2002)
election results: percent of vote by party--PCM 30%, CDM 19%, PMDP
18%, PFD 9%; seats by party--PCM 40, CDM 26, PMDP 24, PFD 11
note: the comparative breakdown of seats by faction is approximate

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders: Communist Party or PCM [Vladimir
VORONIN, first chairman]; The Democratic Convention or CDM (includes
the Christian Democratic Popular Front or FPCD and the Party of
chairman]; Bloc for a Democratic and Prosperous Moldova or PMDP

Political pressure groups and leaders: The Ecology Movement of
president]; Liberal Convention of Moldova (now the Liberal Party);

International organization participation: ACCT, BIS, BSEC, CCC,
CE, CEI, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, I