Any citizen of the Republic of Moldova over 40 years of age with the right to vote that has been living in the country for at least 10 years and speaks the State language can run for the office of President of the Republic of Moldova (Article 78 paragraph (2) of the Constitution).

The President of the Republic of Moldova shall be elected by the secret vote of the Parliament. The candidate obtaining at least three fifths of the votes cast by elected deputies shall be considered elected. If no candidate obtains the required number of votes, a second ballot shall be held to choose from the two first-placed candidates, in the order of the number of votes cast for them in the first ballot. If after the second ballot no candidate obtains the required number of votes, repeated elections shall be conducted. If after repeated elections the President of the Republic of Moldova is not elected, the acting President shall dissolve the Parliament and establish the date of new Parliamentary elections. The organic law determines the procedure of electing the President of the Republic of Moldova (Article 78 of the Constitution).

The Constitutional Court will validate the result of the election of the President of the Republic of Moldova. Within 45 days from the date when elections were completed the candidate whose election was validated shall take the oath before Parliament and the Constitutional Court (Article 79 of the Constitution).

The President of the Republic of Moldova takes office on the oath-taking day and his term has a duration of 4 years. The Head of the State exercises his mandate until the next President is sworn in. By organic law the mandate of the President of the Republic of Moldova may be prolonged in the event of war or catastrophe. However the office of the President of the Republic of Moldova may be held by the same person for no more than two consecutive terms (Article 80 of the Constitution).