Moldovan parliamentary election, July 2021

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Publication Date 2021
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Summary:

Information Guide concerning the legislation election held in Moldova on 11 July 2021.

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The 101 seats in the Moldovan Parliament are elected by party-list proportional representation in a single nationwide constituency. The nation-wide electoral threshold varies depending on the type of list; for single parties or organisations it is 5%; for an electoral bloc of two or more parties it is 7%. For independent candidates the threshold is 2%.

The early election was triggered following the dissolution of the Parliament on 28 April 2021, made effective by decree signed by the President of Moldova. This was allowed only after two decisions were issued by the country's Constitutional Court - the first one confirming the conditions had been met for such dissolution, and a second one lifting the state of emergency introduced in relation to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. Dissolving the Parliament was the answer to the chamber's inability to endorse a new cabinet within the constitutional deadlines, following the resignation of Prime Minister Ion Chicu.

This election was widely regarded as a stand-off between those arguing for closer relations with Russia and those defending closer relations with the European Union (EU). Following the election of Maia Sandu as Moldova's President, pre-electoral polls suggested momentum was with the latter group. The electoral campaign also focused on matters such as poverty and the fight against corruption, and more widely on the need for Moldova to come to terms with its recent history.

The official results largely reflected the momentum gained by the pro-EU side leading up to the election. Centre-right PAS party was the clear winner of the election (52.8%), grabbing the status of largest party in Parliament from the pro-Russian BECS party (27.2%). The Eurosceptic Șor party was third in the polls (5.7%).

Related Links
Commentary and Analysis
Wikipedia: 2021 Moldovan parliamentary election https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021_Moldovan_parliamentary_election
IFES Election Guide: Republic of Moldova - Election for Parliament (Moldovan Parliament) https://www.electionguide.org/elections/id/3739/
Emerging Europe: Tag: Moldova Parliamentary Election 2021 https://emerging-europe.com/tag/moldova-parliamentary-election-2021/
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: Article, 17/05/2021: Inventing Crisis in Moldova: All Geopolitics Is Local https://carnegieendowment.org/2021/05/17/inventing-crisis-in-moldova-all-geopolitics-is-local-pub-84530
LSE: EUROPP Blog, 28/06/2021: Moldova’s election: Should polling stations be opened in Transnistria? https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2021/06/28/moldovas-election-should-polling-stations-be-opened-in-transnistria/
GMFUS: Blog, 30/06/2021: Corruption and Connectivity at Stake in Moldova’s Elections https://www.gmfus.org/blog/2021/06/30/corruption-and-connectivity-stake-moldovas-elections
ECEAP: Publication, 30/06/2021: Parliamentary Elections in Moldova 11 July 2021 https://eceap.eu/publication/parliamentary-elections-in-moldova-11-july-2021/
IFES: FAQs, 06/07/2021: Elections in Moldova 2021 - Parliamentary Elections https://www.ifes.org/faqs/elections-moldova-2021-parliamentary-elections
International Institute for Peace: Blog, 08/07/2021: Snap elections in Moldova: what is at stake? https://www.iipvienna.com/new-blog/2021/7/6/snap-elections-in-moldova-what-is-at-stake
Euro|topics, July 2021: New election in Moldova: Points win for the president https://www.eurotopics.net/en/264374/

News
EurActiv, 26/04/2021: Moldova’s pro-EU President dissolves parliament, sets July elections https://www.euractiv.com/section/europe-s-east/news/moldovas-pro-eu-president-dissolves-parliament-sets-july-elections/
EurActiv, 09/07/2021: Moldova holds parliament vote set to weaken Russia’s grip https://www.euractiv.com/section/europe-s-east/news/moldova-holds-parliament-vote-set-to-weaken-russias-grip/
RFE/RL, 10/07/2021: Moldova's Snap Elections Seen As A Referendum On Its Russian Past Versus A European Future https://www.rferl.org/a/moldova-elections-west-russia/31351858.html
Deutsche Welle, 11/07/2021: Moldova election: Pro-EU party headed to victory https://p.dw.com/p/3wJzv
France24, 11/07/2021: Moldova's snap election set to weaken Russia's influence https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210711-moldova-s-snap-election-set-to-weaken-russia-s-influence
RFE/RL, 11/07/2021: Pro-European Party Leading Moldova's Snap General Elections https://www.rferl.org/a/moldova-election-sandu-dodon-/31352546.html
Reuters, 12/07/2021: Pro-Western party wins Moldova election, preliminary data shows https://www.reuters.com/world/moldovans-elect-new-parliament-amid-concerns-over-graft-stalled-reforms-2021-07-11/
Politico, 12/07/2021: Moldova on pro-EU course after elections https://www.politico.eu/article/moldova-pro-eu-election-center-right-pas-parliament/
Euronews, 12/07/2021: President Maia Sandu says 'reign of thieves' is over after Moldova election https://www.euronews.com/2021/07/12/president-maia-sandu-says-reign-of-thieves-is-over-after-moldova-election
Balkan Insight, 12/07/2021: Pro-European Forces Score Landslide Win in Moldova Election https://balkaninsight.com/2021/07/12/pro-european-forces-score-landslide-win-in-moldova-election/
Associated Press, 12/07/2021: Early returns in Moldova point to win by pro-EU reformers https://apnews.com/article/europe-business-health-government-and-politics-elections-4156c5fa1283f554bc6c65bbc57c1e56
EurActiv, 12/07/2021: Moldova president pledges ‘end to rule of thieves’ as party leads poll https://www.euractiv.com/section/europe-s-east/news/moldova-president-pledges-end-to-rule-of-thieves-as-party-leads-poll/

Official
Official Website of the Central Electoral Commission of Moldova https://a.cec.md/en/11072021-8251.html
OSCE: ODIHR: Early Parliamentary Elections in Moldova, 11 July 2021 https://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/moldova/488497
Council of Europe: Statement by PACE pre-electoral delegation ahead of the early parliamentary elections in the Republic of Moldova https://www.coe.int/en/web/chisinau/-/statement-by-pace-pre-electoral-delegation-ahead-of-the-early-parliamentary-elections-in-the-republic-of-moldova
EU EEAS: Moldova: Statement by the High Representative Josep Borrell and Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi on the parliamentary elections (12 July 2021) https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-homepage/101650/
Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs: News, 13/07/2021: MFA statement on parliamentary election in the Republic of Moldova on 11 July 2021 https://www.gov.pl/web/diplomacy/mfa-statement-on-parliamentary-election-in-the-republic-of-moldova-on-11-july-2021

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