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Moldova
At stake: Parliament
Background
Following the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution, the territory of Bessarabia—or Eastern Moldova—declared its independence. In 1924, the area became the Moldovan Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic.
In 1940, the territory of Transnistria, which had been an autonomous area within Ukraine, was merged with Bessarabia to form the Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic. The territory became independent in 1991 after the collapse of the Soviet Union, and joined the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).
Moldova remains split along ethnic lines. Transnistria’s population has a high concentration of Russian and Ukrainian speakers, while two-thirds of all Eastern Moldovans are of Romanian descent. Transnistria attempted to become sovereign in the early 1990s. At least 1,500 people died after a civil war broke out. In 1992, Russian peacekeepers were deployed to secure the area.
The region is a self-described republic under the name Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic. It has been de facto independent since 1992 and Moldova exercises no control over the region. However, Transnistria’s independence has not been acknowledged by any state.
In 1994, the Moldovan Parliament allowed the Gagauz region—which houses a Christian Turkic minority—to achieve a form of autonomy with special powers. Two years later, Petru Lucinschi, who had commanded the area’s Communist Party in Soviet times, became president.
In 1998, Moldova’s economy suffered a massive blow when Russia, its largest trade partner, suffered a spectacular economic meltdown. Around 600,000 Moldovans left the country forced by their dreadful financial situation. Moldova’s population is calculated at 4.3 million.
In the February 2001 parliamentary ballot, Moldova became the first former Soviet Republic to democratically elect a communist administration. The Communist Party of Moldova (PCRM) won 49.9 per cent of the vote and 71 seats. The Parliament later picked Vladimir Voronin as president.
Moldova remains one of Europe’s poorest countries, and depends largely on Russia for energy supplies. Around 25 per cent of all Moldovan adults work outside the country.
In December 2004, a new party was created, the Democratic Moldova Bloc (BMD). It includes the founding parties of the Our Moldova (MNA) alliance—the Social-Democratic Alliance of Moldova (ASDM), the Liberal Party (PL), the Independents’ Alliance of Moldova (AIM) and the Democratic Peoples’ Party (PPDM)—as well as other democratic, liberal and environmental groups.
In the 2005 election, the Communists secured 56 seats—five less than the 61 required to elect a president. Parliament re-elected Voronin with 75 votes. Voronin retained Vasile Tarlev as prime minister.
Click here for Moldova’s 2005 legislative Election Tracker
Moldova aspires to become a member of the European Union (EU). In a televised speech in August 2007, Voronin declared: "European integration is our strategic direction. We understand that our country is not ready to join the EU tomorrow. But we cannot simply neglect European processes—we have to take efforts to turn into a country that will meet European standards."
In March 2008, Tarlev resigned, explaining that he was satisfied with a job well done and that it was time to allow another person to take over as head of government. Voronin nominated PCRM member and economist Zinaida Greceanii to replace him. Greceanii is the first female prime minister in the country’s history.
2009 Parliament Election
A legislative election must take place in Moldova by March 2009.
In late November 2008, a group of European ambassadors in Moldova asked the government to lower the six per cent threshold that political parties must reach in order to gain seats in the Parliament.
On Dec. 3, Moldovan president Vladimir Voronin rejected the suggestion, adding that countries such as Russia and Turkey have even higher thresholds for small parties to make it to Parliament.
Voronin has been president since 2001. Although he is the leader of the Communist Party of Moldova (PCRM), Voronin has fostered Moldova’s greater independence from Russia, and is seen as a mostly pro-Western politician.
A November poll by Public Opinion Polling Center Socioinform placed the PCRM as the most popular party in Moldova, followed by the Our Moldova (MN) party and the Liberal Party (PL).
On Dec. 20, Voronin said that his party is ready to share power with the opposition as long as other political leaders demonstrate to be "real statesmen" that "care about the country." The president added: "The Moldovan Communist Party is presently as strong a team as never before, able to continue the course Moldova has been following since 2001."
Voronin has announced that he will not seek a new term as president, but intends to remain as chairman of the PCRM.
On Jan. 1, 2009, Voronin declared during his new year’s address: “The forthcoming electoral year will be very important for the unconditional reassertion of our state’s commitment towards the democratic and European values.”
On Jan. 21, Serafim Urechean, parliamentary leader of the opposition Our Moldova alliance, urged voters to support his party, calling Voronin’s time in office a “dictatorship” and adding, “As a politician who has withheld this entire epoch in the opposition, I must free my compatriots from this deceit, must bring democracy back for the country, and must build a state power system accountable to the civil society.”
On Jan. 26, Voronin assured that the current government “has made progress in all the social and economic sectors over the last eight years,” adding, “The positive results led to the consolidation and significant improvement of living standard of Moldovan citizens.”
On Jan. 27, a parliamentary commission suggested holding the election on Apr. 5.
On Mar. 27, the PCRM issued a communiqué, where it announces its decision to abstain from any televised political debates. The statement claims that the opposition’s lists "are full of citizens of foreign countries, criminal authorities and internationally wanted people" and that engaging in a debate with other parties "represents an insult against our electors, a profaning of Moldova’s democratic institutions."
Voting took place on Apr. 5. Electoral commission chief Eugen Stirbu declared: "The count of the votes is continuing but it cannot significantly influence the results. The Communist Party may receive 61 of the 101 seats in parliament, and three opposition parties of the liberal orientation would get a combined 40 seats."
Turnout for was tabled at 59.49 per cent, exceeding the 50 per cent minimum to declare the election valid.
Electoral observers from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) described the election as free and fair, and “offering voters a distinct political alternative.”
On Apr. 7, opposition supporters rejected the preliminary results that granted a new majority to the PCRM, and a series of riots took place in Chisinau. Crowds attacked the presidential office and the parliament building. Almost 300 people were arrested in connection with the riots.
On Apr. 10, Voronin—who had referred to the events in Chisinau as a “coup d’état” organized by “fascists drunk with anger”—called on the Constitutional Court to authorize a recount of all ballots.
On Apr. 21, Central Election Commission announced the results of the recount, which saw very little variation from the original returns. On Apr. 23, the Constitutional Court upheld the results of the election.
On Jun. 3, the new parliament was unable to elect a president for the second time. Zinaida Greceanii of the PCRM garnered 60 of the 61 votes required to become president. The failure to elect a president triggered a new election.
On Jun. 15, Voronin confirmed that a new legislative ballot would take place on Jul. 29, saying, "I have issued a decree of the dissolution of parliament. The atmosphere for this election is much worse than it was before the April election. The opposition wants destabilization, chaos, and the defeat of Moldova."
Political Players
President: Vladimir Voronin - PCRM
Prime minister: Zinaida Greceanii - PCRM
The president is elected to a four-year term by Parliament.
Legislative Branch: The Parlamentul (Parliament) has 101 members, elected to four-year terms by proportional representation with a six per cent threshold.
Results of Last Election:
Parliament - Apr. 5, 2009
|
Vote% |
Seats |
|
|
Communist Party of Moldova (PCRM) |
49.48% |
60 |
|
Liberal Party (PL) |
13.13% |
15 |
|
Liberal Democratic Party (PLD) |
12.43% |
15 |
|
Our Moldova (MN) |
9.77% |
11 |
|
Social-Democratic Party of Moldova (PSDM) |
3.70% |
-- |
|
Christian-Democratic People’s Party (PPCD) |
3.04% |
-- |
|
Democratic Party of Moldova (PDM) |
2.97% |
-- |
|
Centrist Union of Moldova (CUM) |
2.75% |
-- |
|
Social-Political Movement "European Action" (AE) |
1.01% |
-- |
|
Conservative Party (PC) |
0.29% |
-- |
|
Party of Spiritual Development "United Moldova" (PDS-MU) |
0.22% |
-- |
|
Republican Party of Moldova (PRM) |
0.09% |
-- |