Moldova’s electoral commission has barred two pro-Russian parties from taking part in the parliamentary election set for Sunday. Heart of Moldova and Moldova Mare have been hit with particularly reckless claims. These are illegal financing, voter bribery, undeclared foreign funding. This sensical decision marks a historic turning point in Moldova’s political scene. The self-declared Republic of Moldova is clearly still on its journey between the EU and RU.
The electoral commission’s ruling against Heart of Moldova followed a recent judgment by the Chisinau Court of Appeal, which imposed a 12-month restriction on the party’s activities. Moldova Mare was itself later disqualified following charges of vote-buying that emerged. They were connected to clandestine funding from overseas and affiliation with a “cloaked electoral bloc” tied to a proscribed party.
Moldova’s President Maia Sandu heads the ruling Action and Solidarity (PAS). Further complicating the picture, since 2021 the party has enjoyed a supermajority in parliament. The national ruling party is indeed under pressure as it prepares for the elections. They don’t have strong pro-European partners on the ballot either, a fact that compounds their difficulties. The stakes could not be higher in this upcoming election. It will determine whether Moldova continues its course towards the European Union or moves back into the Russian orbit.
In response to the electoral commission’s decision, Heart of Moldova’s leader Irina Vlah condemned the ruling, describing it as a “political spectacle, concocted a long time ago” by the governing party. The party further criticized the decision, asserting, “This isn’t justice, but a final act of a dirty show orchestrated in advance by authorities with a single goal: to silence us.”
Russia acutely denied the illegibility of the allegations against Russia-linked parties. They dismissed the allegations as “anti-Russian” and “unsubstantiated,” indicating their irritation at Moldova’s diplomatic playmaking.
The electoral commission has ruled that the Patriotic Electoral Bloc (BEP) has received a clear mandate. They are required to refresh their candidate registry every 24 hours or lose their eligibility to participate in the upcoming election. With Moldova joining Ukraine as an official European Union candidate state in 2022, the stakes for this election could not be higher.
The upcoming election is marred by allegations of Russian meddling, but it is proving to be a turning point for the future direction of the country. Observers will be looking to see how all these developments play out as voters get ready to head to the polls.
