Moldova’s Constitution marks 31 years: Key amendments over three decades
The Republic of Moldova celebrates Constitution Day on July 29, commemorating the adoption of its Constitution in 1994. This supreme document embodies the fundamental values of the state, including sovereignty, democracy, the rule of law, and fundamental human rights. The Constitution was approved by Parliament on July 29, 1994, and came into effect on August 27 of the same year, coinciding with the third anniversary of the country’s independence proclamation. Over the past three decades, the Constitution has undergone numerous revisions. Changes have included modifying the presidential election system, establishing Romanian as the official language, and designating accession to the European Union as a strategic objective. The Fundamental Law has thus been adapted to reflect the nation's realities and aspirations.
1994: The year of the adoption of the Constitution of the Republic of Moldova
Three years after the declaration of independence, the Parliament voted on the first post-Soviet Constitution amidst a period of political and economic transition and the ongoing Transnistrian conflict. The document, largely inspired by the French Constitution, was designed to establish the foundations of a democratic, pluralist state that respects human rights.
Administrative-territorial organization: From counties back to districts
After gaining independence, the Republic of Moldova retained the Soviet system of administrative division into districts. In 1999, the then-government attempted to revert to counties, as was the case before the occupation of Bassarabia, but this reform was canceled in 2003, shortly after the communists came to power in Moldova.
Today, the Republic of Moldova is administratively organized into villages, communes, cities, districts, municipalities, and the autonomous territorial unit of Gagauzia. Regarding the localities on the left bank of the Nistru, the Constitution stipulates that they may be granted special forms and conditions of autonomy in accordance with the special status defined by organic law.
2000: Presidential elections—from direct vote to parliamentary election
On July 5, 2000, a constitutional reform changed the method of electing the president. Previously, the president was directly elected by the citizens; however, after the amendment, the head of state was elected by Parliament with the support of 3/5 of the deputies.
This amendment was annulled in 2016 by the Constitutional Court, which restored the direct election of the president by citizens.
Controversies related to the official language
One of the most contentious provisions of the Constitution was Article 13, which originally stated, "The state language of the Republic of Moldova is the Moldovan language." This designation was contested by linguists, historians, and academic experts, who considered it a remnant of Soviet policy.
In 1996, President Mircea Snegur proposed returning to the designation "Romanian language," but the initiative was rejected.
In 2013, the Constitutional Court ruled that the Declaration of Independence, which recognizes Romanian as the state language, takes precedence over the Constitution, obligating the authorities to amend Article 13 of the Supreme Law.
Finally, in March 2023, Parliament voted to officially replace the terms "Moldovan language," "state language," and "official language" with "Romanian language" in all legal texts, including the Constitution. This law was supported by the majority party, PAS, but was contested by the pro-Russian opposition in Parliament, represented by the Communists and Socialists Bloc.
Integration into the European Union: A new constitutional chapter
A historic moment occurred in October 2024 when the citizens of the Republic of Moldova participated in a national constitutional referendum regarding the inclusion of the objective of European integration in the Supreme Law. According to the results, 50.35% of voters approved the constitutional amendment, which was validated by the Constitutional Court and published in the Official Gazette.
As a result, "Title V First – Integration into the European Union" was added to the Constitution of the Republic of Moldova, stipulating that EU treaties and European legal acts would take precedence over national laws after accession.
Additionally, two new paragraphs were added to the preamble of the Constitution:
Reaffirming the European identity of the people of the Republic of Moldova and the irreversibility of the Republic of Moldova's European path.
Declaring integration into the European Union as a strategic objective of the Republic of Moldova.
By 2025, a total of approximately 70 amendments, additions, or repeals of articles had been made to the Constitution.
