Facts
Name: Republic of Moldova
Area: 33,851 sq km
Capital: Chisinau (Kishinev)
Independence: 1991 from the Soviet Union
National Holiday: 27 August
Constitution: adopted 29 July 1994; effective 27 August 1994; note - replaced 1979 Soviet constitution
Population: 4,320,748 (July 2010 est.)
Suffrage: universal, 18 years of age required
Ethnicity: Moldovan/Romanian 78.2%, Ukrainian 8.4%, Russian 5.8%, Gagauz 4.4%, Bulgarian 1.9%, other 1.3% (2004 census)
Languages: Moldovan (official), Russian, Gagauz (a Turkish dialect)
Religions: Eastern Orthodox 98%, Jewish 1.5%, Baptist and other 0.5% (2000)
Geography
Location: Eastern Europe, northeast of Romania
Geographic coordinates: 47 00 N, 29 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area: 33,851 sq km
Land: 32,891 sq km
Water: 960 sq km
Area – comparative: slightly larger than Maryland
Land boundaries: total: 1,390 km
Border countries: Romania 450 km, Ukraine 940 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: moderate winters, warm summers
Terrain: rolling steppe, gradual slope south to Black Sea
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Dniester River 2 m
Highest point: Dealul Balanesti 430 m
Natural resources: lignite, phosphorites, gypsum, arable land, limestone
Geography – note: landlocked; well endowed with various sedimentary rocks and minerals including sand, gravel, gypsum, and limestone
Political System
The constitution declares Moldova to be a parliamentary republic and provides for multiple political parties, a separation of powers between branches of government, a market economy and respect for human rights.
The President
President elected by Parliament for a four-year term (eligible for a second term); last successful election held on 4 April 2005, most recent (failed) election held on 10 December 2009)
Acting President Mihai GHIMPU (since 11 September 2009)
note: Vladimir VORONIN, president since 4 April 2001, resigned on 11 September 2009; Mihai GHIMPU, the Speaker of Parliament, is serving as acting president until new elections can be held, possibly in 2010; the parliament twice failed to elect a president in 2009 and must wait until at least late 2010 to dissolve itself and hold new presidential elections, given that the constitution forbids parliament from being dissolved more than twice in a 12-month period
Executive
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 from the Parliament regarding his/her work program and entire cabinet; prime minister designated on 17 September 2009; cabinet received a vote of confidence on 25 September 2009.
Prime minister: Vlad Filat (since 25 September 2009)
Legislative
Moldova has a unicameral Parliament or Parlamentul (101 seats; members elected on an at-large basis by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
Judiciary
Supreme Court; Constitutional Court (the sole authority for constitutional judicature)
