The functional duties of the President

Convocation of Parliament

The President of the Republicof Moldovashall convene the Parliament not later than within 30 days after the elections (Article 63 (2) of the Constitution).

The right to legislative initiative

The President of the Republicof Moldovahas the right to legislative initiative (Article 73 of the Constitution).

Messages to Parliament

The President of the Republicof Moldovais entitled to attend the working sessions of the Parliament. The President addresses the Parliament messages related to main issues of national interest (Article 84 of the Constitution).

Promulgation of laws

The President of the Republicof Moldovapromulgates laws and has the right, if he/she objects against one law, to submit it, within two weeks, to Parliament for reexamination. If the Parliament maintains its previous decision, the President shall promulgate the law (Article 93 of the Constitution).

The dissolution of the Parliament

If forming the Government is not possible or the procedure of passing laws is blocked for a period of 3 months, the President of theRepublicofMoldovais entitled to dissolve the Parliament upon consulting with parliamentary factions. The Parliament can be dissolved if it has not passed the vote of confidence for setting up a new Government, within 45 days since its first request and only after the rejection of at least two requests of investiture.

Along with these possibilities, there are certain restrictions with regard to dissolution of the Legislative body. Thus, the Parliament can be dissolved only once in the course of a year. It cannot be dissolved during the last six months of the Presidential term, or during a state of emergency, state of siege or war (Article 85 of the Constitution).

The attributions of the President in appointing the Government

Investiture

The President of the Republicof Moldova, after consulting with parliamentary factions, appoints a candidate for the position of Prime-Minister, and appoints the Government based of the confidence vote of the Parliament. In case of Government reshuffle or vacancy of the position, the President of the Republicof Moldovashall remove and appoint members of the Government, proposed by the Prime-Minister (Article 98 of the Constitution).

Appointment of the Interim Prime-Minister

The President of the Republic of Moldova shall designate another Government member as an Interim Prime-Minister, in case where it is impossible for the Prime Minister to perform functional duties or in case of his/her death, until a new Government is set up (Article 101 of the Constitution).

Attributions in the field of foreign policy

The President of theRepublicofMoldova, personifying the state and representing it in relations with other States at the highest level, is the official representative of the state in collaboration with the Parliament and the Government and has the following attributions in the field of foreign policy:

• takes part in negotiations, conclude international treaties on behalf of theRepublicofMoldovaand presents them to Parliament for ratification, under the terms of the law and within the period prescribed by law,
• upon the proposal of the Government, the President accredits and recalls diplomatic representatives of theRepublicofMoldova, as well as approves the creation, cancellation or changes in the ranking of diplomatic missions.
• receives letters of accreditation and of recall of foreign diplomatic representatives in the Republicof Moldova(Article 86 of the Constitution).

Attributions in the field of National Defense

The President of theRepublicofMoldovais the Supreme Commander of the armed forces. Upon prior approval of the Parliament, the President of theRepublicofMoldovais entitled to declare partial or general mobilization of the armed forces. Also, in case of armed aggression against the country, the President of theRepublicofMoldovashall undertake the necessary steps to repulse the aggression, as well as to de­clare the state of war and notify the Parliament whereupon. If the Parliament is not in session, it shall be legally convened within 24 hours from the outbreak of the aggression.

The President of the Republicof Mol­dovacan take other measures to ensure the national security and public order, according to the law and within its limits. (Article87of the Constitution)

Appointment of Judges

The President of the Republicof Moldovaap­point judges in the courts of law, upon the proposal submitted by the Superior Council of Magistracy. (Article116 (2)of the Constitution).

Other Powers

The President of theRepublicofMoldovaalso fulfils the following duties:

a) awards decorations and titles of honor;

b) awards supreme military ranks as envisaged by the law;

c) settles issues related to the citizenship of theRepublicofMoldovaand grants political asylum;

d) appoints public officials, under terms provided by the law;

e) grants individual pardon;

f) can request the expression of citizens’ will on matters of national interest through referendum;

g) awards diplomatic ranks;

h) confers superior degrees of qualification to officers holding positions within prosecuting bodies, courts of law and to other categories of civil servants, according to the law;

f) suspends the acts of the Government, contravening the legislation, until the final ruling of theConstitutional Court;

j) exercises other functional duties as stipulated by the law(Article88of the Constitution).

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