Podman does not require privileged mode (root) as a mandatory setup option for running Ansible Molecule tests in a GitLab CI/CD environment. It is designed to be a rootless container engine allowing users to create and manage containers without requiring root privileges.
Some specific Molecule drivers or test scenarios might require elevated privileges but it's not an inherent requirement of using Podman with Molecule.

Test Ansible Roles using Molecule and Podman
Developing and Testing Ansible Roles with Molecule and Podman

While Podman can operate without root privileges, the specific requirements for running Ansible Molecule tests in a GitLab CI/CD environment will depend on your particular use case.