icipiul), 1 autonomous territorial unit (unitatea teritoriala
autonoma), and 1 territorial unit (unitatea teritoriala)
raions: Anenii Noi, Basarabeasca, Briceni, Cahul, Cantemir,
Calarasi, Causeni, Cimislia, Criuleni, Donduseni, Drochia, Dubasari,
Edinet, Falesti, Floresti, Glodeni, Hincesti, Ialoveni, Leova,
Nisporeni, Ocnita, Orhei, Rezina, Riscani, Singerei, Soldanesti,
Soroca, Stefan-Voda, Straseni, Taraclia, Telenesti, Ungheni
municipalities: Balti, Bender, Chisinau
autonomous territorial unit: Gagauzia
territorial unit: Stinga Nistrului

Independence:
27 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)

National holiday:
Independence Day, 27 August (1991)

Constitution:
new constitution adopted 29 July 1994, effective 27 August 1994;
replaced old Soviet constitution of 1979

Legal system:
based on civil law system; Constitutional Court reviews legality of
legislative acts and governmental decisions of resolution; 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 Vladimir VORONIN (since 4 April 2001)
head of government: Prime Minister Vasile TARLEV (since 15 April
2001), First Deputy Prime Minister Zinaida GRECIANII (since 10
October 2005)
cabinet: Cabinet selected by president, subject to approval of
Parliament
elections: president elected by Parliament for a four-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 4 April 2005 (next
to be held in 2009); note - 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 15 April 2001, cabinet
received a vote of confidence 19 April 2001
election results: Vladimir VORONIN reelected president;
parliamentary votes - Vladimir VORONIN 75, Gheorghe DUCA 1; Vasile
TARLEV designated prime minister; parliamentary votes of confidence
- 75 of 101

Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament or Parlamentul (101 seats; parties and
electoral blocs elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 6 March 2005 (next to be held in 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - PCRM 46.1%, Democratic
Moldova Bloc 28.4%, PPCD 9.1%, other partie