Moldovan parliamentary election, 24 February 2019

Summary:

Reports, analyses and information relating to the legislative election held in Moldova on 24 February 2019.

Further information:

The 101 seats in the national Parliament was elected according to a mix system introduced in 2017, by which 50 members are elected on party lists and the 51 other members in individual constituencies. The electoral threshold varied depending on the type of lists and turnout must be at least 33% to ensure the election's validity.

The election campaign was tainted by allegations of violence and abuse. Media sources also reported on the elimination of hundreds of fake Facebook accounts, ahead of the parliamentary election.

The electoral results produced a hung parliament - while the opposition Socialist party gathered the highest amount of seats (34), it was still not enough to obtain a parliamentary majority. The incumbent Democratic party obtained the second highest number (30), while the ACUM platform became the third biggest force in Parliament (27 seats).

• Political tension in Moldova over formation of government following parliamentary election

Commentary and Analysis

Wikipedia: 2019 Moldovan parliamentary election https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019_Moldovan_parliamentary_election

ISPI: Commentary, 06/02/2019: Elections in Moldova: A ‘Window of Opportunity’ for Transnistria - and Russia https://www.ispionline.it/it/pubblicazione/elections-moldova-window-opportunity-transnistria-and-russia-22107

Reuters, 13/02/2019: Election may keep Moldova in 'grey zone' between West and Russia https://uk.reuters.com/article/-idUKKCN1Q21SE

Carnegie Europe: Strategic Europe, 21/02/2019: Moldova Election: A Democratic Illusion? https://carnegieeurope.eu/strategiceurope/78416

IFES Election Guide: Moldovan Election for Parliament, 24 February 2019 http://www.electionguide.org/elections/id/3120/

Euro|topics, February 2019: Hung parliament after elections in Moldova https://www.eurotopics.net/en/215259/

Balkan Insight, 21/02/2019: Lead-Up to Moldova’s 2019 Elections https://balkaninsight.com/2019/02/21/lead-up-to-moldovas-2019-elections/

Euronews, 22/02/2019: Moldova mulls Moscow or Brussels as voters head to the polls https://www.euronews.com/2019/02/22/moldova-mulls-moscow-or-brussels-as-voters-head-to-the-polls-euronews-explains

TASS, 26/02/2019: Moldova’s Party of Socialists retains leadership after 100% of ballots counted http://tass.com/world/1046357

Bloomberg, 26/02/2019: Moldova’s Vote Is a Cautionary Tale for Putin’s Foes https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2019-02-26/moldova-s-vote-is-a-cautionary-tale-for-pro-european-forces

The Economist, 25/02/2019: Moldova is still caught between Russia and the EU https://www.economist.com/europe/2019/02/25/moldova-is-still-caught-between-russia-and-the-eu

OSW: Analyses, 25/02/2019: Moldova: elections without hope https://www.osw.waw.pl/en/publikacje/analyses/2019-02-25/moldova-elections-without-hope

Chatham House: Expert Comment, 26/02/2019: Moldova’s Weak Democracy Is a Growing Risk for Europe https://www.chathamhouse.org/expert/comment/moldova-s-weak-democracy-growing-risk-europe

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News

Balkan Insight, 24/01/2019: Moldovan Journalists Under Unprecedented Fire Before Election https://balkaninsight.com/2019/01/24/moldovan-journalists-under-unprecedented-fire-before-election-01-21-2019/

Reuters, 23/02/2019: If election is not decisive, I'll call another, Moldova's president says https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKCN1PH1P9

Balkan Insight, 14/02/2019: Facebook Shuts Moldova Officials’ ‘Fake News’ Accounts https://balkaninsight.com/2019/02/14/facebook-shuts-moldova-officials-fake-news-accounts/

BBC News, 14/02/2019: Moldovan election prompts Facebook to remove accounts https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-47237920

EurActiv, 15/02/2019: Ahead of EU polls, Facebook voids accounts targeting Moldovan election https://www.euractiv.com/section/eu-elections-2019/news/ahead-of-eu-polls-facebook-voids-accounts-targeting-moldovan-election/

TASS, 20/02/2019: Moldovan president warns of possible destabilization attempts ahead of election http://tass.com/world/1045468

France24, 21/02/2019: Young Moldovans fight corruption as election nears https://www.france24.com/en/20190221-young-moldovans-fight-corruption-election-nears

Reuters, 21/02/2019: Moldova opposition election candidates: We're being poisoned https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKCN1QA1X3

EurActiv, 22/02/2019: In Moldova, voters choose between Russia and Europe https://www.euractiv.com/section/europe-s-east/news/in-moldova-voters-choose-between-russia-and-europe/

Deutsche Welle, 24/02/2019: A choice between EU and Russia in bad-movie Moldova vote https://p.dw.com/p/3DurV

TASS, 25/02/2019: Pro-European opposition says Moldova parliamentary election was rigged http://tass.com/world/1046202

Euronews, 25/02/2019: Moldova vote produces hung parliament https://www.euronews.com/2019/02/24/voting-polls-open-in-moldova

Deutsche Welle, 25/02/2019: Moldova: Pro-Russian party leads without majority https://p.dw.com/p/3E11r

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Official

OSCE: ODIHR: Moldovan Parliamentary Elections, 24 February 2019 https://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/moldova/389342

UNDP: Projects: Enhancing democracy in Moldova through inclusive and transparent elections http://www.md.undp.org/content/moldova/en/home/projects/enhancing-democracy-in-moldova-through-inclusive-and-transparent.html

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